CHAPTER 29
A being powerful enough to handle the Demon King Beelzebub, and one who granted him the might to rule the world—
The witch, Erika.
She was the “second bride” that the former Demon King Beelzebub had once sought.
‘Thankfully, Mephisto doesn’t seem to know that… yet.’
The reason Mephisto was trying to kidnap Rosiana likely wasn’t because he knew her soul was Erika’s.
‘If he knew, there’s no way he’d be this quiet.’
The extraordinary power of the dragon and the holy energy that the imperial princess was born with…
And the fact that she survived by harnessing both using the powers of Graham’s priest and archsage.
That was likely all Mephisto knew about Rosiana.
Ordinarily, those two powerful forces couldn’t coexist in one body. But they flowed through Rosiana simultaneously.
Of course Mephisto would be drawn to that power.
‘That has to be all it is.’
Asterios Tenebres bit his lip.
But what if Mephisto discovered that Rosiana held Erika’s soul and that the powers of the witch flowed through her as well?
‘He’d stop at nothing to possess her.’
If necessary, Mephisto would destroy the world.
That was how important she had become.
A thousand years ago, Tenebres had made a choice to save Erika—but all he’d really done was buy a thousand years of time.
The core problem still remained.
In the end, Tenebres had only one goal:
‘She must become strong enough that no one can ever control her again.’
That’s why he had come all this way.
To protect her.
To place every last ounce of power she would need within her.
‘But… was that what she truly wanted?’
A voice—like a reproach from someone deep within—rose in his thoughts.
‘…’
No. It had been his own selfish desire.
He had never once asked Erika.
Whether she’d wanted to survive even if it meant losing her witch sisters.
Whether she’d wanted to leap through time and space, even if it meant parting with her beloved Tenebres.
‘I never asked her. I never got her permission.’
Instead, he’d been desperate to keep it all hidden from her.
He knew, deep down, that was his greatest sin.
And because he knew Erika wouldn’t have wanted it, the sin was heavier still.
She would’ve chosen a glorious death alongside her sisters.
That was the witch’s way. That was her way.
Asterios Tenebres knew this better than anyone.
‘It was me who couldn’t accept her death.’
So the selfish plan had been set into motion.
And now, a thousand years had passed.
Now, he wanted to atone by protecting her.
No—he was starting to want more than that.
‘I never intended to confess my feelings or ask for her forgiveness.’
He had thought he could bear her hatred and resentment if it meant protecting her.
A faint laugh escaped him.
Because his heart trembled helplessly at Rosiana’s beautiful smile.
Because his chest ached, as if cut by a blade, when she looked at him with her cold eyes.
Because her enchanting violet eyes, still capable of stirring his soul, were Erika’s eyes—through and through.
‘What a fool I am.’
The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.
He hadn’t realized he could be this foolish.
Still—now was not the time to wallow in sentiment.
‘Mephisto is extremely sensitive to presence. If he comes face to face with Rosiana, he’ll definitely notice something’s different.’
He must never allow Mephisto to meet her.
In the thousand years since, Mephisto had grown even stronger.
Meanwhile, Tenebres was still unable to wield his full power.
He had dispersed fragments of it across the world.
‘There’s no time to relax.’
As his clenched fist tightened unconsciously, dark energy surged and gathered around it.
“Lord Asterios.”
A sweet, clear voice—Rosiana’s—called out to him.
His golden eyes calmed at once, and he turned to the beautiful, grown princess.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He bowed respectfully.
“You’ll stay by my side no matter where I go from now on, won’t you?”
Curious eyes sparkled at him.
A chill ran down Asterios’s spine.
Even after all these years, he still remembered the habits of the woman he loved.
‘That’s the look Erika had whenever she thought of something mischievous…’
And yet, she was in a dangerous situation—at risk of being ambushed or kidnapped.
But her smile was carefree, relaxed.
“…Yes. I’ll accompany you wherever I can. And where I cannot, Mari, Fiona, and Angela will attend to you.”
His reply was perfectly calm and composed, the very model of a royal guard.
Rosiana gave a small nod.
“Just as I thought.”
Then her violet eyes curved gently, gleaming like melting frost.
She leaned in, her fragrant lips whispering:
“Then let’s hurry. I want a private audience with His Majesty—immediately.”
“…”
Asterios silently exhaled and extended his hand.
“I shall escort you.”
‘Good thing I had Nox removed from my mind beforehand.’
Rosiana walked the long corridor toward the emperor’s office, deep in thought. If Nox were still inside her, reading her every thought, she never could’ve devised such a daring plan.
Nox had promised to fulfill their contract on the next new moon.
That night—when the power of darkness was strongest—he would send her back in time, to when her sisters were still alive.
‘But there’s always the next new moon.’
Saving her sisters was important, yes—but just as important was understanding the situation surrounding her in the present.
Something was moving behind the scenes, out of her sight.
‘I don’t know the details, but Tenebres and my sisters must be involved.’
It had always felt odd, how everyone had left her alone a thousand years ago.
There had to be a reason—and the idea that Tenebres and her sisters were hiding it from her made the puzzle pieces finally click into place.
‘I’ll find the truth myself now.’
She would uncover the answers with her own hands.
Whether saving her sisters or resolving this mystery—it was all up to her now.
Even the contract with Nox had gone too smoothly. That, too, seemed suspicious.
‘It’s almost like… he trapped himself inside me on purpose to help me.’
If her theory was correct, then Nox’s master must want to help her.
But who were they?
And why help her?
Questions piled upon questions, unanswered.
‘Only once I figure this out can I return to the past and truly save my sisters. So I’ll go take care of this first.’
That’s why Rosiana had asked Nox to delay the contract until the next new moon.
Tap, tap. Her heels echoed through the hallway.
Beside her, Asterios walked in silence, his steps soundless.
He held her hand lightly as they walked—escorting her as her knight.
‘Warm…’
Through his glove, she could feel the faintest warmth.
“Don’t worry, Lord Asterios. I’ve got a good plan.”
Rosiana explained that she was merely going to get the emperor’s approval for her operation.
“To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies, right? Once I get His Majesty’s permission, I’ll tell you everything—even if I keep it from others.”
“…Understood.”
His voice was low and calm, his golden eyes steady.
But somehow… he seemed a little down.
‘Tenebres used to sound like that when he was disappointed, too…’
Even though his face was hidden behind a mask, she felt the same air of quiet dejection.
This knight, who kept reminding her of her former lover Tenebres—she couldn’t ignore him.
But now, it didn’t feel unpleasant.
‘Maybe Tenebres had his reasons for leaving me and calling my sisters to the demon realm.’
That thought brought her some peace.
She wasn’t as angry at him as she once was.
‘Although the fact that he married someone else and had children to carry on his family… that still pisses me off.’
“You’ve arrived.”
As Rosiana approached, the Gold Guardians standing by the emperor’s office bowed deeply to her and Asterios.
“Yes. Please inform His Majesty of my request.”
Soon after, the heavy doors swung open, and Rosiana stepped inside the lavish office alone.
Looking back briefly, she smiled brightly at Asterios.
“I’ll be right back, Lord Asterios.”
With a warm farewell, she walked forward.
Asterios said nothing—he simply watched as her silver hair shimmered like starlight.
The door slowly, heavily closed behind her.
—
Two days later.
In Rosiana’s room, a stunning beauty with long white hair sat gracefully in an elegant dress.
