The mont Valerie saw her Lord kissing soone who looked exactly like her, a cold certainty settled in her chest.
They were both demons.
She didn't doubt him. Not for a single second. No one knew him like she did. No one understood how sharply his eyes could spot the tiniest detail—the curve of her fingers, the way she breathed when nervous, the little scar behind her ear. There were more than ten things he always noticed about her, things no impostor could ever replicate.
And yet, he didn't recognize the fake?
Sure. As if she could believe that.
But instead of rushing forward and cutting them both down, she paused.
Sothing wasn't right.
Lately, too many strange things have been happening. That girl—friend of Averis. She suddenly got involved, always clinging to Trevor and singing his praises. And Trevor—who even was he? He ca out of nowhere, acting like so hero, helping everyone at just the right ti. Then ca the notice summoning the headmaster to the capital. All too convenient.
Maybe she was being paranoid, but after what happened nearly a month ago, she couldn't let her guard down. Not even for a breath. The only ti she allowed herself to be truly vulnerable was when she was safe in his embrace, wrapped in the warmth that lted every fear.
So this ti, she chose to act exactly as the enemy wanted her to.
She lashed out at the fake Austin.
And honestly, standing in front of the thing that dared to wear his face, his body… that dared to mimic his voice, his presence—it took everything she had not to rip the creature apart with her bare hands.
Her rage burned just beneath her skin.
But she held it in.
Instead, she forced a few tears—just enough—and turned away from the beach houses, walking off slowly, making sure the demon would feel comfortable enough to reveal itself.
She would let it believe she was broken.
Just long enough to find the truth—and then, she would crush it.
Just as she expected—when she looked weak, when she was alone—soone ca.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
It was him. The one she suspected the most. He stepped closer, slow and unsure like he didn't know whether to comfort her or not.
She can feel it now... that demonic presence.
Maybe earlier, the crowd had hidden it. But now, it was clear—dark, suffocating, and right in front of her.
There was no doubt. This was the one planning to trap her.
Valerie kept crying, head down, shoulders trembling. She waited. Let him think she was broken.
"I don't need your help… go away," she whispered, voice weak and shaky.
Trevor paused, then stepped closer. He sat beside her.
"I—ah!" he cried out.
A sharp spear drove into his chest, freezing his skin instantly.
Valerie rose to her feet, slow and calm. Her face was blank, cold. The weapon in her hand lifted him off the ground like he was nothing.
"State your na," she said, voice quiet but deadly. "Before I split you in two."
His shocked expression twisted into a wide, twisted grin. His eyes turned blood red.
"How did you know?" he asked, his voice deeper now.
His skin started to lt, revealing sothing darker underneath. The boy everyone knew as Trevor was gone. The real face began to show.
"You really thought you could create a rift between and my Lord with such a cheap trick?" Valerie snarled. The ice from her weapon crawled deeper into his body, crackling.
But the demon only laughed, unfazed. "You played your role well. I, the Master of Fakery, was fooled. Impressive."
His true face shimred—elegant, almost beautiful. But Valerie didn't flinch. She'd learned her lesson during the training with Selner—lessons no ordinary teacher could ever offer.
She had learned how to bury her emotions. How to kill her instincts when needed.
Without a word, Valerie twisted her spear and drove it down toward the demon's chest.
But it never landed.
A hand caught the shaft mid-swing. No struggle. No sign of effort. Despite all the strength Valerie poured into the strike, the demon simply held it—with a soft smile still resting on her lips.
"You're such an adorable creature," she whispered, her voice low and haunting. "And beautiful, too. Why don't you join ? I could make you soone he can't live without."
Her words crawled under Valerie's skin, cold and electric. It wasn't just the words—it was her voice, her presence. It made every hair on Valerie's body stand on end.
She knew exactly who this was.
"The weakest Demon General... the Queen of Nights. You were the one who targeted us during the contest," Valerie said, eyes narrowing.
That face—it matched the one Rudolph fought back then. And now, with her link to the demon Zevarath, her place in the demonic ranks was beyond question.
The woman gave a soft, amused laugh.
"That's it? Is that all you know about ?" she asked, tilting her head as her dark wings unfolded behind her.
She began to float into the air, slow and graceful. The wind from her wings swept around her like a cloak of shadow.
As Valerie launched ice shards and lashes of frost, the demon simply drifted backward—dodging every strike without even looking. She cupped her chin lazily, smiling as if watching a child play.
"Tell sothing, did he tell you about his past life where he was in a relationship with a woman nad Monica?"
Montarily, she froze, but it was enough for the Succubus Queen to notice as, with a grin, she added, "Did he tell you how madly in love he was with her? Offering chocolates and flowers every ti we et and how he used to bring to his favorite places?"
She hugged her lithe form as if reminiscing those monts. However, unlike what she desired, Valerie only scoffed,
"You really think he didn't tell … about you?" Valerie spat, her voice laced with pure contempt. "While you're busy clinging to those pathetic mories, why don't you rember the day you begged him to let you go? The day you admitted you weren't good enough for him—and you were right."
She stepped forward, her gaze burning with rage.
"You're not his equal. You're not even his shadow. You're nothing but the Demon Lord's used-up toy—filth dressed in charm. A disgrace to won, a walking sha, and the last thing anyone like him would ever need."
The demon was no longer smiling.
She didn't move. Neither did Valerie.
But Valerie knew—she had struck a nerve. The perfect mont to attack.
She intended to slam her spear butt into the sand to launch forward—
CRACK!
Tentacles burst from the ground, wrapping around her wrists and ankles like iron chains. With a sickening snap, they broke her bones.
"Guh—!" Valerie grunted, her breath caught in her throat. The pain was sharp, but the pain she could handle. What mattered was that she was now wide open, exposed.
She gritted her teeth and commanded Shiverfall.
Even as her body trembled from the pain, the Shard rose off the ground, floating for a second before it scread through the air, aid straight for the demon's chest.
But the Succubus Queen didn't flinch.
She raised one dark wing—graceful, almost lazy—and let the spear stab through the flesh.
Not even a gasp left her throat.
The blade pierced clean through her wing and stopped… and the demon smiled again.
"You have successfully pissed off, bitch. I originally planned on using you against him but now," she added with her nails turning into claws, "You must die now."
Valerie clenched her fists, blood trickling from her lip, and called Shiverfall back to her hand.
But it didn't move.
The spear, like its master, was trapped—frozen in place as if bound by invisible chains.
The Succubus Queen stepped forward, each movent slow, deliberate. Her very presence pressed down on Valerie like a crushing weight.
anwhile, Jimmy fought his way toward them, cutting through demons left and right. But there were too many. They sward him like a flood.
Still, when he saw Valerie struggling, her life on the edge—he made his choice.
Now or never—
He raised his scythe, ready to teleport beside her.
But then—he froze.
Everyone did.
Even the demons stopped mid-step.
Sothing was coming.
The sky itself seed to grow silent. The world felt like it was holding its breath.
A presence far beyond anything a Demon General could ever radiate.
The Succubus Queen felt it too. A chill gripped her spine.
No... Impossible!
She had sent over two hundred elite demons underground to stall him—to bury him beneath sheer numbers.
And they all failed?!
Panic flashed in her eyes. She summoned her demonic sword, raising it high, aiming to finish Valerie in one swift strike—
But Valerie vanished.
The tentacles holding her turned to ash and scattered in the wind.
The pressure around the Queen rose higher—so much she could hardly breathe. Her body trembled as the air behind her warped with silent fury.
She didn't need to look.
She knew who was there.
"M-My Lord…" Valerie whispered, barely able to speak, her body aching, her eyes wide.
Strong arms held her close.
Warm. Safe.
"You can rest now," he whispered into her ear, voice low and steady. "Everything will be fine."
Valerie let out a shaky breath and slowly nodded. With her face buried against his chest, she finally allowed her eyes to close.
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. I had to edit this chapter thrice because of...the Succubus effect.
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