Ch 9: Meeting with the Devil

In response to Waltham's threat, Roy could do nothing but grind his teeth. He looked at Desmond, feeling frustrated that Waltham had survived.

He began pacing the room restlessly, his anger building, and his anxiety increasing. After a moment's thought, he abruptly left the room.

Leaving the house, he made his way to another building, an ominous structure resembling an ancient mansion.

As Roy stepped into the hall-like room, he saw a man standing near the door. Roy approached him, and the man immediately stood respectfully and said, "How are you, sir?"

"I'm fine. Go inform him that I've arrived," Roy ordered.

The man went inside and returned after a few moments, signaling for Roy to enter. As soon as Roy stepped inside, the man quietly closed the door.

The room was large, filled with strange objects displayed on shelves embedded in the wall, as if they were carefully arranged. In the center was a raised platform where Lucien sat, his eyes closed. His face looked even more terrifying and peculiar.

The atmosphere was heavy with an eerie silence, the dim light casting shadows that seemed to spread fear throughout the room.

At the faint sound of Roy's approach, Lucien slowly opened his eyes and looked at him. Seeing Roy, a smile appeared on Lucien's face, and he gestured for him to sit.

There was no chair or place to sit, so Roy glanced around and then smiled, saying, "I'm fine."

"No, sit," Lucien commanded harshly. "Here, next to me."

Roy obediently sat on the edge of the platform.

Roy, who normally spoke with authority and dismissed others with ease, now sat meekly before this ominous figure. And why wouldn't he? Roy was someone who followed Lucien's every word, willing to do anything at his command. To Roy, Lucien was everything, and one gesture from Lucien could strip him of his reason, freezing his thoughts.

"It's been a while since you've visited," Lucien said. "Have you forgotten us?"

"You told me to come today," Roy replied respectfully. "How could I come without your permission?"

"Everything is slipping from your grasp. I told you not to marry that girl. She won't bring you any benefit, but you were blinded by her beauty," Lucien remarked.

"I told you that my marriage was just a personal choice. I will marry a second time wherever you choose," Roy said. "I only married with your blessing."

"Then get ready for the second marriage. What you've lost will stop slipping away. Everything will be drawn towards you—your wealth, your power will continue to grow. She has such a destiny, such a fate," Lucien said, looking at him. "Your fortune will change."

"Who is she?" Roy asked, intrigued.

"She's under our watch. Her name is Alice. Like her name, she is the queen of fate," Lucien said with a smile, revealing his yellowed teeth, making his face look even more grotesque.

"Alice? How will I reach her?" Roy asked.

"Everything will be arranged. You're my special one. I've set a guard on her for you. Her every move is under our surveillance," Lucien explained. "Just for you, for your happiness."

"I'm grateful to you. What should I do now?" Roy asked, looking at him with grateful eyes.

"Just don't get involved in anything else right now, or you'll sink deeper into destruction. Wait for a few days. When you marry her, the world will be in your grasp. If you fail to marry her, you'll be reduced to dust, trampled underfoot."

"I will marry her, at any cost," Roy said, trembling at Lucien's words, with firm determination.

"Now go. Don't waste any time when you receive my message," Lucien said in an imperious tone.

Roy said nothing and got up to leave. As he reached the door, Lucien called out, "Roy..."

Roy immediately stopped and looked back at him. "Yes, what is your command?"

"Don't waste time. Come as soon as I call."

Roy nodded. "It has never happened before, and it won't happen now."

"This time, be very careful," Lucien advised, then gestured for him to leave.

Roy left. As soon as he was gone, the eerie silence returned to the room, the same ominous stillness and strange sense of terror. Suddenly, Lucien looked towards the door and said, "Let her in." His tone had shifted as he spoke.

The door creaked open, and a terrifying woman with long hair and a face covered in wrinkles entered the room. Her tongue was hanging out, and as she moved, a hissing sound accompanied her steps. This horrifying figure stood respectfully in front of Lucien.

He reached out and grabbed her hair, yanking it harshly two or three times, causing her screams to echo through the room.

"Defiance, are you? Why did you scare her?" Lucien demanded in a harsh tone.

"I didn't scare her," she replied in pain.

"Don't lie to me. Do you think I don't know? Why were you in her room when she was asleep?" Lucien asked, yanking her hair even harder this time. Her screams grew louder as she cried out in agony.

"I just went in for no reason," she whimpered.

"Did I tell you not to go in there?"

"Yes, you did."

"Then how did you dare to go? You were placed to watch over her, nothing more. No one knows what you truly are. You are simply her guardian. If you make another mistake, I'll ensure your punishment is so severe that your descendants will remember it," Lucien's tone became increasingly menacing. "I know you're envious of her beauty. Remember, you are under my control, and I can destroy you."

"I won't do it again," she responded, her voice filled with misery.

"That girl is for a special friend of mine. It's your duty to protect her as long as I command it. Understand? And be careful. The hissing of your feet alerts her, and even I cannot stop that sound. Choosing you to guard her was a mistake, but there was no other option; only you could stay with her. Now get out, and don't let me hear any more complaints," Lucien said, shoving the terrifying creature to the ground.

On the other side, the door to Alice's room burst open with a bang, and Grace, who had fallen to the floor, suddenly sat up. Alice, who was standing by the window with her gaze fixed outside, turned her head quickly at the sound of the crash.

"What happened, Grace?" Alice asked.

"My foot got caught, and I tripped," Grace said as she got up, running her hands through her hair to straighten it.

Alice looked at her intently and said, "What's the matter, Grace? Your hair is all tangled, as if someone pulled it."