Chapter 10- The Moonlit Garden & The Demon’s Wrath

The corridors stretched endlessly before Liam, bathed in soft golden glows from enchanted lanterns. The palace was extravagantly grand, a realm of pure wealth and power, yet every step he took made his presence feel heavier. The gazes. He felt them like knives piercing his skin. Some were indifferent, some filled with disgust, and others burning with pure hatred.

They did not want him here.

The air was thick with unspoken words as nobles and servants he passed gave him looks of resentment. Some quickly turned away, feigning ignorance, but he could feel their lingering hostility. An angel in the demons' land—unwelcomed, unwanted.

Liam lowered his gaze and continued walking, trying not to let the unease settle in his heart. He had done nothing wrong, yet their silent condemnation wrapped around him like a suffocating shroud.

That was when he saw her.

A woman stood in the corridor ahead—a vision of ethereal beauty. She had long, cascading golden locks, deep emerald-green eyes, and a figure sculpted to perfection. She wore an exquisite gown that clung to her frame in all the right ways. Every movement she made spoke of elegance, confidence, and something much darker—resentment.

Liam tilted his head slightly. Why was she looking at him like that?

Her emerald gaze bore into him, laced with pure loathing. Liam, confused by the intensity of her hatred, instinctively took a step back.

She was no ordinary maid.

He had overheard the palace whispers—she was the daughter of a Count, a noblewoman who had willingly chosen servitude, hoping to catch the eye of either Maximilian or Elijah. But she had failed countless times. Now, Liam was another obstacle in her already failed desires.

But Liam had no intention of standing in her way—he didn't even know why he was here. Still, her cold stare made his stomach churn uneasily.

Feeling out of place, he lowered his gaze and continued to his chambers.

---

That night, Liam lay in his massive bed, staring at the elaborate ceiling. The intricate carvings of dark roses, the glistening silver lining, and the heavy velvet drapes surrounding his bed felt overwhelming. Everything about this place was too much.

The silk sheets beneath him were softer than anything he had ever touched. The air smelled of exotic spices and midnight roses, unlike the clean, crisp scent of the Angelic Realm. It was too foreign, too unfamiliar.

He turned restlessly, trying to find comfort, but the extravagance suffocated him.

His old chamber in the Angelic Realm had been small, simple, modest. The bed was firm, the air light and fresh. It was nothing like this—nothing like this dark and luxurious world.

Liam sat up, sighing. He couldn't sleep. His body refused to relax.

Maybe a walk would help.

He hesitated for a moment, remembering Maximilian's words:

"Be careful while you wander here… It's not your Angelic Realm. Demons won't think twice before harming you."

Liam bit his lip but pushed the thought away. It was just a stroll inside the palace—nothing would happen.

Quietly, he moved toward the grand doors and froze.

There were no guards.

His delicate brows furrowed. Maximilian had mentioned keeping an eye on his safety. Shouldn't there be someone stationed here? It was strange, almost suspicious.

But he brushed it off. Maybe they had been reassigned.

The dimly lit corridors seemed endless as he walked, the grand marble floors cold beneath his bare feet. The palace, which was breathtakingly beautiful in daylight, looked completely different at night. It was darker, eerie, and strangely… dangerous.

Liam felt something shift in the air. A strange sensation crept up his spine—something was not right.

He turned a corner and found himself in a vast hallway. At the very end, there was an open archway that led outside.

His heart eased. The Royal Garden.

Maybe fresh air would calm him.

Stepping forward, he was immediately mesmerized.

The moonlit garden was a realm of fantasy, more breathtaking than anything he had ever seen. The vast expanse of mystical flowers shimmered like stardust, glowing faintly under the silver light of the full moon. Fireflies danced in the air like golden spirits, and at the very center, a massive waterfall cascaded down like liquid diamonds, reflecting the night.

It was the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes on.

For a moment, Liam forgot all his worries.

He stepped forward, reaching out toward the luminous petals of a midnight blue flower—

A sudden shift in the air.

Before he could react, a cold hand clamped around his throat.

Liam gasped, his back slammed against the stone wall. His body was lifted effortlessly off the ground, feet dangling, as an iron grip squeezed his neck.

His wide blue eyes locked onto the face of his attacker.

Elijah.

His raven-black hair looked almost otherworldly under the moonlight, framing his dangerously handsome face. His crimson-red eyes burned with murderous intent, dark and unreadable, like an abyss of flames.

The sheer pressure of his presence was suffocating.

Liam's hands instinctively clutched at the wrist holding him up, his delicate fingers barely making a dent against Elijah's brute strength.

The demon prince smirked.

"So, are you a spy, little one?" His voice was a dangerous whisper, dark and mocking. Cold. Calculating.

Liam trembled, his lungs burning for air.

"Because if you are…" Elijah leaned in, his lips barely an inch away from Liam's ear, his voice dropping to something lethal.

"Fuck the bond… I'll kill you right now."

Liam shivered to the bone.

The garden, which had once been a realm of ethereal beauty, now felt like a death trap.

His vision blurred slightly from lack of oxygen. His body was not built to withstand such force.

But the moment his lips parted, a choked sound escaping, Elijah's grip loosened. Just slightly.

Liam's knees hit the ground as he was dropped abruptly, coughing, gasping for breath.

Elijah's gaze burned into him, studying him, calculating every inch of his fragile frame.

The demon king tilted his head slightly.

"You don't seem like a spy… but then again, looks can be deceiving, angel."

Liam, still breathless, looked up at him, confused and afraid.

Why did Elijah want to kill him? What bond was he talking about?

Why… did he feel like this was only the beginning?