Her Way

When the carriage had droved away, Roxus let out a sigh of relief.

Lucifer massaged his temples in frustration. "Roxe," he called.

"I'm sorry," Roxus said softly.

Roxus's sincere and honest apology almost made Lucifer choke on his breath. "Do you know what you did to apologize like this to me?" asked Lucifer sharply.

Roxus looked up. On the corner of her lips, there was still a stain of dried blood, but she smiled dryly, as if full of regret. Her cold, trembling fingers touched Lucifer's palm softly. Lucifer frowned. Roxus always does this to melt his heart, a devil. And it always works.

"I won't risk my life like this again," Roxus said softly.

Lucifer still looked annoyed, but it was clear that his gaze had changed. Roxus knows why Lucifer is angry. In the past, Lucifer was angry because as his contractor, Roxus often did something extreme and dangerous without telling Lucifer first. And although Roxus always survived, either in her own way or with Lucifer having to work hard, of course, Lucifer was always angry after all that happened.

If the contractor dies while Lucifer protects her, then the contract will be cancelled and Lucifer will fail to get what he wants. Right now, Roxus and Lucifer weren't a contractor and a devil, but the habits between the two probably wouldn't change.

"At least say something before you plan anything, My Love," said Lucifer dryly. "But… the root of this problem remains the same. We already know that killing her will trigger the intervention of the gods," he continued.

The reason why Roxus fell ill suddenly always had to do with that woman, Daisy. They don't know the reason yet, and they'll probably never know, considering that even while Lucifer was a demon, he didn't know either. That's why Lucifer always said, if Roxus wanted all her pain to end, then killing Daisy was the only way.

However, once they killed her, something else happened.

"I understand," Roxus said quietly.

"Since we can't kill her, the only way is to make sure she is away from me. But today was not part of my plans. At first, I didn't plan to leave the house," said Roxus.

"Then why did you go out of the house?" asked Lucifer.

"Because you wanted to take me out to buy Asters, but you didn't," Roxus replied.

Lucifer's expression turned cold. The vicious former demon's eyes stared at her emotionless and full of indifference.

Roxus chuckled. "Have you forgotten?" she asked. "Today is the day we first met. A week before spring starts, exactly one year in the future," said the woman.

In the future, Roxus would make a contract with him today, after that woman and her younger brother had been on the battlefield for about 7 months. That means Roxus's father and mother, Eoin and Amaranth Croix will be killed in about two months, in the middle of the aristocratic social season.

But this time, things will change. Lucifer saw Asters on the other side of the carriage seat. Roxus wants to arrange a Windbloom. Seeing Lucifer's expression, it seemed that wasn't enough to make Lucifer forgive Roxus.

"We'll talk after I finish the flower arrangement today. So let's put that conversation aside for later," Roxus said in a weak voice.

Lucifer turned his face. If what Roxus was doing today was improvising without any prior plans, then Roxus must have accidentally sensed the Crown Prince's presence on the road, then deliberately made it look as if their meeting was a coincidence. It's just that, if Roxus can sense the Crown Prince's presence with her magic, then she should be able to sense Daisy's presence too.

But Roxus, as the Roxus he knew, kept going at the risk she already knew.

.

Daisy felt she had to meet Leonid.

Whatever happens, she wants to see Leonid. She knew she had just returned to the past, but everything felt strange. It's not like the past she remembers. It was true that in the past Hamlet and Roxus split up after Roxus found out about her relationship with Hamlet, but compared to their past engagement, now felt too long, or stalled.

Hamlet visited her, but he also changed. Changing in meaning, it was as if Hamlet was starting to show symptoms that he was starting to compare her to Roxus sooner than before.

In the past, Hamlet started complaining to Daisy after Roxus completely left their life. But now, Hamlet had started complaining even before the engagement between the two was cancelled. Daisy also had to go through a painful period in her life once again, a time where she was always considered less or inappropriate to be the partner of Hamlet Ariaster just because she was a woman of common blood.

Of course, Hamlet has always denied that that's the reason. He may never have mentioned Daisy's background, but Daisy knew that was the real reason.

That's why, today, she decided to meet Leonid, no matter what. If she could meet Leonid, then maybe things would get better. Without inviting Mischel, her knight, Daisy went out.

She put on a robe and went to the market. After being Leonid's fiancé for many years, she also came to know Leonid's habits even before they were related. By relying on this information that only she knew, she was sure she would be able to meet Leonid. But something was strange.

On the path beside the main road, she did see Leonid, but Leonid seemed to be doing something else. He was following someone. A pale blond short-haired woman in such an elegant dress, walked several meters ahead of Leonid. Of course, Daisy could quickly identify the woman's pale blonde hair. Pale blonde hair that is more suitable to be called white—with a lavender glow as it reflects the sunshine.

Daisy's heart sank. The woman who escorted her to the guillotine, the woman who used her strength to overthrow the Royal Family. The woman who will bring destruction wherever she goes, Roxus Croix. Why did Leonid follow that woman?

Daisy decided to follow them. She noticed strange details. Roxus should have started cutting her hair short after she entered the military. But now, she has already cut her hair.

Moreover, the fact that Leonid interacted with Roxus was also strange. Leonid had never mentioned Roxus's name before, and although Roxus was a friend of his older sister who was about to die, it seemed that their relationship had never been good.

After a few minutes, Roxus entered the flower shop. Daisy winced because Leonid then also entered the shop. If the man aimed to follow Roxus secretly, then Leonid would not have gone in there. It seemed that after seeing the two of them come out of the flower shop, Daisy realized that Leonid was trying to get Roxus' attention.

And another surprise arrived. A man on horseback appeared and approached the two of them. Daisy turned pale. The man on horseback was the man who would be called the Sky Swordmaster, conferred the title of Duke, The Honourable Duke Lucius Victeur.

He is a man who is rumoured to be marrying the new King, Roxus Croix after changing the name of the Kingdom of Bertia to Croiso. He was an important figure who led some of the royal soldiers with his strength and heroism, making him admired not only by knights but also commoners from all over the country. It is said that Lucius beheaded a Demon Beast and received gratitude from a young Dragon.

Not to forget, he was also the one who taught Roxus's younger brother, Ernacht Croix to become a Spearmaster. Reportedly, they met when they were on the battlefield. Why has that man appeared now? And again... that man's hair should be red—

Daisy wanted to take a closer look, so she quietly approached, until suddenly Roxus seemed to stumble and lose strength in her body, immediately attracting the attention of the Crown Prince who was about to leave, and Lucius who was standing by her side.

Daisy frowned. Her plan to meet Leonid at this time also failed.

.

Demon Beast: A being created from demonic energy. Humans would sacrifice thousands of lives in exchange for Hell Essence to create Demonic Beasts. This is a forbidden practice in which methods are no longer known.