The roaring, chaotic standoff at the outer gates of the Rosenberg estate was reaching a dangerous, feverish pitch.
The Empress Eldoria stood directly outside the iron barriers, surrounded by a heavy battalion of imperial soldiers.
Her face was completely contorted into a demonic mask of pure, unadulterated fury as she gestured wildly toward the grand mansion.
“Bring out that useless, magic-less piece of filth this instant, Rosenberg!
Or else things will not end well for you!” the Empress roared, her voice carrying an absolute, murderous vibration that pierced straight through the stone walls.
Inside the grand hall, the lively music of the orchestra had ceased completely.
The elite guests stood frozen in absolute terror, murmuring anxiously among themselves as the Empress’s voice echoed through the high ceilings.
Killian stood at the center of the floor, his midnight-blue eyes turning incredibly dark as he heard every single insult thrown at his fiancée.
His jaw clenched, and his boots clicked sharply against the marble as he immediately began to march forward toward the grand exit.
But just as he took his third step, Sebastian moved swiftly, sliding directly into his master’s path to halt him.
The sophisticated head butler adjusted his spectacles, his deadpan expression entirely grave.
“My Lord…
allow me to go and reason with them.
I shall make them understand.”
Killian paused, staring at his loyal butler for a long, silent second before his freezing aura settled slightly.
“Very well, Sebastian.
Go.”
“Thank you, My Lord,” Sebastian replied with a respectful bow.
Sebastian marched toward the grand double doors, throwing them open as he descended the marble stairs into the courtyard.
Standing at the perimeter, a solid wall of Rosenberg guards was barely keeping the imperial soldiers at bay.
The moment the Empress’s sharp eyes landed on the head butler, her hysterical screech cut through the air.
“Where is that runaway piece of garbage?!
Bring her before me this instant!” the Empress screamed, her fan fluttering madly in her trembling hand.
Sebastian stopped a respectful distance away, his posture flawless and his expression an unbothered wall of butler etiquette.
“My Lady, please calm yourself.
We extended a formal invitation to your imperial family to join us in celebrating this grand engagement, not to speak such vile words.
Princess Evelyn is now officially the fiancée of my Lord Rosenberg.
Therefore, please, maintain your composure.”
Hearing a mere butler address her with such calm defiance, the Empress’s rage exploded completely.
Her eyes flashed with lethal magic as she pointed her finger at him.
“How dare a common, worthless butler like you speak to me in such a manner?!
And that too to defend a disgrace like Evelyn?!”
High above on her private guest balcony, Evelyn stood clutching the cold stone railing.
Her amethyst eyes were wide with deep, paralyzing dread as she watched her mother’s psychotic outburst.
Her entire body shook uncontrollably with pure horror.
The Empress didn’t waste another second.
With a swift, sharp gesture of her hand, she signaled the royal carriages waiting in the rear.
Instantly, the heavy wooden doors of two alternate carriages flew open, and four highly formidable imperial wizards stepped out, their dark robes flowing in the night wind.
“You still possess a single opportunity!” the Empress snarled, her voice dripping with venom.
“Surrender her to my custody this instant!”
The four wizards stepped forward in unison, their hands moving in rapid, complex patterns as they began to conjure dark magic.
Brilliant, glowing magic circles and arcane spells manifested in the air directly in front of them, humming with an intense, destructive power designed to obliterate the entire grand mansion into absolute dust.
Sebastian watched the glowing spells form, his deadpan expression remaining entirely unchanged as he spoke in a measured, chillingly calm tone.
“My Lady…
this behavior truly does not suit your royal stature.”
The Empress let out a harsh, bitter laugh of pure malice.
“Today marks the absolute end of you all!
Destroy them!”
The magic spells suddenly burst with a blinding, violent light, preparing to release their devastating energy.
But before the wizards could unleash the spell, a sudden, colossal vibration violently shook the entire estate.
BOOM!
The ground beneath their feet began to violently shake and quake, as if the earth itself was screaming in terror.
The sudden, massive earthquake completely disrupted the wizards’ focus, their glowing chakras shattering into thin air.
The imperial soldiers lost their footing, the young Prince staggered back in panic, and the Empress herself nearly tumbled to the cobblestones as her balance completely tilted.
Sebastian remained standing perfectly still, looking at the trembling imperial court as he spoke smoothly.
“I did warn you, My Lady.”
Right at that exact second, the heavy main doors of the mansion creaked open fully.
Killian stepped out into the night air.
With every single step his boots took down the marble stairs, the massive quaking of the earth intensified, the ground splitting slightly beneath the sheer weight of his presence.
A terrifying, violent wave of brilliant blue aura was erupting frantically from his body, and his midnight-blue eyes had turned completely glowing blue, radiating a lethal, demonic power.
Killian descended the final step, walking directly up to the perimeter and standing face-to-face with the trembling Empress.
His voice dropped into a freezing, gravelly register that froze the very blood in their veins. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
“If you desire your own survival…
then get lost this very instant.
Otherwise, I shall completely wipe your entire kingdom off the face of this map.”
The absolute weight of his murderous intent hit the imperial forces like a physical blow.
The four formidable wizards began to tremble uncontrollably with pure, unadulterated terror, their magic completely draining away.
The young Prince’s face turned entirely translucent as he clutched his mother’s arm, his voice cracking in sheer panic.
“M-Mother…
it is best if we depart from this place immediately!
This…
this is truly the monster they all whisper about!
The Monster Duke!”
The Empress clenched her teeth with absolute, burning fury, her body shaking as she realized she was completely outmatched by his overwhelming power.
She glared at Killian with deep, venomous hatred, spitting out her final words.
“I shall depart for now…
but this bitter enmity will cost you an absolute fortune!”
Without a single second of delay, the Empress, the terrified Prince, and the trembling wizards scrambled back into their royal carriages.
The horses surged forward frantically, fleeing from the Rosenberg territory as fast as their legs could carry them.
The moment the carriages vanished into the dark woods, the violent shaking of the earth ceased completely.
The brilliant blue aura radiating from Killian’s body slowly began to fade away, his glowing blue eyes returning to their natural, calm state.
High above on the balcony, Evelyn let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Seeing the threat vanish, she instantly spun on her heel, rushing back into her chamber and sprinting toward her room’s door to head downstairs.
Killian turned around, walking calmly back into the grand hall alongside Sebastian.
The elite guests inside the ballroom were still huddled together in a far corner, paralyzed with fear after witnessing the Duke’s terrifying display of power outside.
Suddenly, the hurried clicking of heels echoed down the grand staircase.
Evelyn came running down the marble stairs, completely ignoring the staring crowd as she sprinted directly up to Killian, stopping right in front of him.
The moment Killian’s icy gaze landed on her flushed, worried face, his freezing, intimidating demeanor vanished into thin air, turning entirely peaceful and gentle.
Evelyn looked up into his handsome eyes, her voice laced with an incredibly deep warmth and overwhelming gratitude.
“Thank…
thank you so very, very much, Killian.
You are truly, remarkably kind.”
Hearing her soft, loving words, the formidable Grand Duke felt a sudden, intense heat rush to his cheeks.
Deep within his mind, he began to blush furiously, completely caught off guard by her sweet praise.
He cleared his throat lightly, turning his gaze slightly away as he spoke with a gentle, protective authority.
“It matters not.
Do not worry about anything.
No one possesses the right to speak a single vile word to you as long as I am here.”
Killian then turned his body toward the frozen crowd of nobility, his voice returning to its calm, commanding tone.
“Please, everyone, do not let this disturbance disrupt your evening.
Enjoy the celebration.”
Hearing his words, the noble guests let out a collective sigh of relief, their anxious postures relaxing as the grand orchestra began to play a soft, beautiful melody once more.
Killian turned back toward Evelyn.
With absolute, flawless grace, the silver-haired Duke slowly bent his body forward, performing a beautiful, gentle royal bow before her.
He extended his large, gloved hand toward her, his midnight-blue eyes locking onto her amethyst gaze.
“Will you dance with me, Evelyn?”
Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat, her entire face erupting into a deep, beautiful blush at his sudden gesture.
Her heart hammered wildly with sheer shyness as she stuttered softly, “Y-Yes, absolutely.”
She slowly, delicately placed her small hand directly into his massive palm.
Killian’s grip tightened gently, guiding her out onto the center of the grand polished dance floor.
As the orchestra played a sweeping, romantic waltz, the two began to move across the floor together.
However, because she was entirely inexperienced with high-society ballroom dancing, Evelyn’s steps were completely uncoordinated.
Every few seconds, her foot would slip, and she would violently step directly onto Killian’s expensive leather boots.
Stomp.
Evelyn froze, her face flushing an even brighter crimson with sheer embarrassment.
“Oh no, I am so sorry—”
Killian looked down at his scuffed boot, a genuine, rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he looked at her flustered expression.
“It seems you are in desperate need of some practice, Evelyn.”
Evelyn lowered her head in deep shyness, whispering softly as they continued to sway.
“Perhaps…
it will take me a bit of time to properly master this skill.”
Killian’s grip on her waist tightened slightly, his voice low and comforting. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“It does not matter at all.
Take your time.”
The two continued to dance gracefully under the sparkling chandeliers for several minutes, completely lost in each other’s presence.
The moment the music finished and they brought their movements to a elegant halt, the entire ballroom erupted into a deafening, enthusiastic round of applause.
The noble guests cheered loudly for the perfect couple.
The sudden roar of the crowd snapped them back to reality.
Evelyn’s entire face turned completely red like a ripe tomato, her shyness taking over completely as she looked at the floor.
Killian, too, felt a faint blush creeping onto his high cheekbones, turning his head slightly to hide his flustered state from the guests.
The grand celebration continued late into the night, officially drawing to a close as the stars reached their peak in the midnight sky.
Sebastian stood rigidly at the grand entrance gates, offering a polite, deadpan farewell to every single guest, thanking them for gracing the engagement gala.
Once the mansion was entirely quiet and the hour for rest officially arrived, Evelyn began walking down the dimly lit corridor, heading toward her designated guest room to sleep.
“Wait, Evelyn,” Killian’s deep voice suddenly echoed from behind her.
Evelyn stopped, turning around to see the silver-haired Duke walking toward her.
“Yes, Killian?
What is it?”
Killian stopped a few inches away, his expression calm but absolute.
“From this day forward…
we must share the same master bedchamber.”
Evelyn’s eyes instantly widened to the size of saucers, her entire mind entering a state of absolute panic and frantic worry.
Her voice trembled violently as she stammered, “W-What?!
How…
how on earth can the two of us sh-share a single room together like that?!”
Killian looked at her panicking state, his voice remaining entirely unbothered.
“You shall sleep comfortably on the grand bed, and I shall take my rest on the sofa.
There is no cause for concern.”
Hearing his reasonable explanation, Evelyn’s frantic breathing stopped instantly, her panic completely vanishing as she blinked in confusion.
“Huh…?”
Killian did not wait for her to process it further.
He gently guided her into the grand master bedchamber, closing the heavy oak doors behind them.
He walked over to the wardrobe, pulling out a crisp linen blanket and a plush pillow, and began organizing his sleeping space directly on the long velvet sofa.
He turned his head toward her, his midnight-blue eyes calm.
“Is this acceptable to you now?”
Evelyn’s cheeks burned with a lingering shyness as she sat on the edge of the massive bed, clutching the covers.
“Y-Yes…
it is fine, Killian.”
With a soft click, the lights inside the grand chamber were extinguished, plunging the room into a peaceful, moonlit darkness.
Killian settled his long frame onto the sofa, while Evelyn pulled the heavy blankets over her shoulders, both of them staring into the quiet dark, their hearts beating with an unfamiliar, shared rhythm.
Meanwhile, miles away across the mist-shrouded capital, a completely dark and terrifying scene was unfolding.
Deep within the subterranean depths of the Imperial Palace, inside a hidden, completely silent, and highly mysterious ritual chamber, the Empress stood rigidly alongside her biological son, the young Prince.
The room was illuminated only by the ominous, flickering glow of forbidden black magic candles.
Standing in a circle around a massive central pedestal were several dark imperial wizards, their hands trembling as they chanted an ancient, sinister incantation.
“My Lady…” one of the dark head wizards spoke nervously, breaking into a cold sweat.
“To summon and awaken this ancient demon…
it will require a considerable amount of time and immense sacrifice.
It cannot be rushed.”
The Empress turned her face toward the wizard, her features completely contorted into a hideous, terrifying mask of pure, demonic malice.
Her voice dropped into a chilling hiss that echoed through the stone vaults.
“I possess absolutely zero time!
I want that Rosenberg monster’s severed head lying directly at my feet as quickly as humanly possible!
Use whatever forbidden means necessary, but awaken this creature right now!”
The dark wizards bowed in terror, intensifying their forbidden chanting.
Directly in the center of the grand pedestal stood a massive, towering obsidian crystal.
Encased deep within the translucent stone was a terrifying, dark shadow—a colossal demonic entity.
The core of the crystal pulsed with a violent, blood-red light, throbbing rhythmically like a living, beating human heart.
The Empress stepped closer to the pulsing crystal, her eyes flashing with an unadulterated, murderous insanity as a sinister laugh escaped her lips.
“Rosenberg…
this humiliating defeat today was merely the absolute beginning,” she snarled into the darkness, her nails scratching against the stone.
“It is a grand debt that you…
and that useless girl…
shall pay strictly with your own fresh, flowing blood!”