"Survive the curse, are you serious?" Caelen said in disbelief. "You're cursed? How and why?"
Evelyn sighed. "I don't know, okay? My family's dead and ruined because of it. All I know is I'm not dying like the rest of them. I plan to make sure that elf pays."
"I see," Caelen replied, thoughtful. "Maybe after the transformation into a demon, you'll be fine. If not... I don't know. I'm not looking to get dragged into sothing this deep. I already have two people I need to protect. You're an extra."
Evelyn looked at him with a half-smile. "You know, you're a different kind of person. That's why I thought you might do it. You're not like most."
That confused Caelen. She noticed.
"You stole from the Desmire family. That alone made you a threat," she explained. "Valen Desmire, who is Lucille's father, has been in a power feud with the nobles from Alr city. Lucy was supposed to be their new symbol. And then... you happened."
"I see your point," Caelen admitted. "But let make this clear so you can understand, you're asking to run into unknown territory and kill an elf I've never t, then deal with whatever hell follows. I'd be the one taking all the risk."
"And?"
"And I don't even know how strong that elf is. If they die, others will co for . And I'm supposed to convince those sa people to help us with the human transfomation stuff and information about demons that I don't even know."
Evelyn stayed silent.
"I've got three years," she said finally. "Three years before this thing kills . I may look young, but I'm thirty-two."
Her slightly brown skin, that raven black hair, and her youthful face that makes her look like one of those female CEO bosses, Caelen wouldn't have guessed she was that age. She still wore that crisp white shirt and long fitted pants, gold jewelry catching the low light of the library. Just like the day they t.
He nodded slightly. "You look younger. But even if I believed all this, three years still isn't a reason enough for us to die for it. You could pull it off if you focused. I'm not falling for the pity play."
"You really believe you and I can hide for three years?" she said bitterly. "Even this place won't protect . If they convince the teleportation gate mage to track us down, we are done."
"I was planning to move again anyway," Caelen said. "Look, we made a deal. We followed it. I don't owe you anything more. Don't guilt-trip or scare into doing this stuff."
He stood, voice cold now, and walked out of the library.
Evelyn said nothing as he left.
He glanced around, but the maid he was teasing when he ca here wasn't in sight. Fine. He took the path back toward his room, shoulders tense.
Then—
"Why didn't you help her?"
A voice. Cold. Familiar.
Caelen turned and saw Lucy. She wore a black vest, simple and casual, but her pale skin and blue hair gave her that distant, otherworldly presence.
He frowned. "Did you say sothing?"
"Why didn't you help her?" she repeated, slower this ti, every word weighed.
"Because it's suicide," he answered. "I'm not dragging us into that. We need the elves to help you turn human—and for everything else we don't understand about demons.", which you ladies said the Desmire family has brought in every single place. Now, how do we manage to get info in a new place if one of our travelling companions is murdering them?"
He paused. Then frowned deeper. "Wait, no. Why am I explaining myself? You already understand this better than I do."
Lucy crossed her arms but didn't answer right away. She watched him carefully.
"I do understand," she said softly. "That's why I asked."
He narrowed his eyes. "Then why act like I owe Evelyn anything?"
"I'm not," she said. "But I think... you're more like her than you realize."
He scoffed. "What?"
"She's selfish," Lucy said. "She dragged you into her curse without asking, and she wants you to risk everything for her."
"And?"
"You did the sa to ."
Caelen froze.
"I didn't—"
"No," she cut him off gently. "You just didn't care what it did to . Like Evelyn didn't care what it would do to you, but unlike her, she can't do what you did."
Silence.
"I heard what she said," Lucy continued. "She's desperate, cursed, and wants to use you. But you're doing the sa thing. Trying to protect us, sure, but I never asked for that. Just like you didn't ask to help her."
Caelen looked away. His jaw tightened.
"That's not the sa."
"It is," Lucy said. "Just different angles, you just don't see it that way."
He exhaled hard, rubbing his face. "So what, you want to go along with her? And make us new enemies? You care that much?"
"She lost her family because of it," Lucy said. "I think we should decide. Together. Not you alone. Not her alone. We're already involved, pretending we're not just makes it worse, and besides, you stayed. You listened to the whole thing. That ans sothing."
"I was trying to be civil," Caelen muttered.
"No, you were being human," she said. "And if she's wrong, we can stop her. But if she's right, if this really is the curse her whole family carried — then maybe you're not the only one with sothing to lose."
He dragged a hand through his hair. "And what if she's lying? What if it's just a clever way to manipulate us?"
"Then we find out," Lucy said simply. "And we hold her accountable."
He didn't reply.
Lucy stepped a little closer. "If her plan pulls you into danger, that is your fault. But pretending you're not already in it? That's just lying to yourself."
"You're getting good at this guilt thing," he muttered.
"It's not guilt," she said calmly. "It's clarity."
"Find if this is what it is, then we can do it secretly, and we are out. And whatever happens, we hold her accountable for it."
He let out a dry breath. "You're not making this easier."
"I'm not supposed to." Lucy looked off to the side, eyes dulling. "And if it were my mother who died because of sothing like this, I'd probably do worse, and if I can't, then I'd want soone to listen, and maybe help fix it." That's why I hate myself. And him."
There was a pause between them — not heavy, just honest.
"Making it personal now," Caelen said with a tired smirk. "Look, if you're serious about all this, you'll have to wait. I need ti to figure things out. aning your transformation... it might be delayed."
Lucy looked down at the floor, eyes a bit softer now.
"It's fine," she said. "I'm slowly embracing the idea that I might never return to who I used to be. And even if I do, my father won't trust again. So now I just want one thing."
"What's that? ?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"I want to rebuild a bond with my brother," she said with no hesitation. "He still cared about . He never gave up on ... even when I did."
Sothing in her voice had changed. Calr. Less sharp. Caelen noticed it and felt sothing small shift inside him.
"That's... a little growth right there," he said. "But what about Emma? I know she'll agree, and I hate that."
"That's her choice," Lucy replied. "Stop thinking it has to be your way. She's not your servant."
"I know that."
"Then let her decide. I won't get involved for now. I'll give you ti."
She started to walk past him, then stopped.
"Whatever ani type of system you have," she said dryly, "you better use it and get stronger. Fast if you really serious about protecting us."
When she disappeared down the corridor, Caelen stood still.
She'd heard the whole conversation.
He let out a quiet breath and, despite everything, smiled. Just a little at the whole thing, Lucy might get better during this whole thing, and maybe he can find a way to solve this without getting chashed by beautiful elves trying to kill him.
Ti passed, though it was still the sa day.
The lantern was dim, the room quiet. Caelen lay on his side, arm curled loosely under his head. Beside him, Emma was lying on her back, staring at the ceiling, still fully dressed. Her white robe was half-draped off her shoulder, but not in a way that ant anything. Just the way the cloth shifted.
There was no tension. Just calm.
Caelen finally spoke.
"So... what do you think about all this?"
She turned her head toward him.
He had told her everything about Evelyn's curse, the seed, the elf, the danger. Even Lucy's words after. He didn't hide anything.
Emma made a quiet "hmm" sound, as if weighing it all carefully. But then she smiled, leaned over, and kissed his cheek gently.
"I told you," she said, her voice light, "planning stuff is your thing. I don't mind following whatever idea you co up with."
Caelen exhaled softly. "I appreciate that... but I still want to know what you think. Let ask it like this—do you want to help Evelyn?"
Emma didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
"I see," he said, turning his eyes back toward the ceiling. "You know, I've realized sothing. I can get stronger just by racking up points through sex... and yet I haven't gone all in. I'm not as desperate as I should be."
He paused.
"Maybe I haven't fully embraced what I am. A demon that needs to be wiped out from this world."
There was no judgnt from Emma. She shifted, just a little closer, and looked at him quietly.
Then she spoke.
"Then think of it like this for now," she said. "Get strong. And one day you'll be able to help walk through the city. Walk anywhere in the world. If they know I have a powerful husband, they'll never touch . Never look at the wrong way."
He turned to her.
She was smiling again, soft and warm.
And then they kissed.
It started light—her hand on his cheek, his fingers brushing her wrist. But it deepened. Slow. Mutual. There was no pressure or urgency, just sothing real passing between them.
His arm slid around her waist.
And this ti, neither of them pulled away.
To be continued...
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