CHAPTER 54- AMUSING IDEA

Inside **Zaphery's study**, the air was thick with tension, the faint scent of burning parchment lingering as Sylvester stood before the window.

His grip tightened on the letter in his hand, the paper crumpling under the force of his demonic energy. The message was clear: **Xavier had escaped.**

Sylvester's expression was unreadable, his face a mask of calm, but beneath the surface, a storm of fury raged.

His magenta eyes flickered dangerously, the demonic energy within him threatening to spill over. He clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding together as he reread the words.

"Xavier... escaped," he muttered, his voice low and venomous. The letter burst into purple flames, disintegrating into ash that scattered into the air.

Sylvester's hand trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of his anger.

*How?* His mind raced, calculating every possibility. *The castle was fortified with the highest level of demonic wards. The Hell's Chains of 100 Spells should have rendered him powerless. And yet...*

The thought of Xavier breaking free, of his carefully laid plans unraveling, ignited a fury so intense it burned like hellfire in his chest.

Sylvester's demonic energy surged, dark purple tendrils curling around him like serpents. His sharp senses stretched across **Pyrexia**, searching for even the faintest trace of Xavier's demonic presence.

But there was nothing. No trace, no sign, no hint of where Xavier had gone.

"Twenty years," Sylvester hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "Twenty years I spent molding that body, nurturing it, preparing it to be the perfect vessel for the Demon Lord. And now... he dares to do this when the preparation has finally come to an end!"

His magenta eyes glowed brighter, the room trembling under the weight of his power. He slammed his fist into the wall, the stone crumbling like sand beneath his touch.

Dust and debris filled the air, but Sylvester didn't flinch. His mind was consumed by one thought: *Xavier Alexux Aelric, you will pay for this.*

Before he could dwell further, a familiar energy approached—frantic, furious, and laced with pain. Sylvester's eyes flickered back to their usual green, his demonic energy receding as quickly as it had emerged.

The door burst open with a deafening *thud*, and **Althea** stormed in, her silver sword gleaming in the dim light.

Her face was flushed with anger, her eyes red and swollen from tears. Without a word, she lunged at him, driving the blade into his shoulder.

Blood seeped through his shirt, staining the fabric crimson, but Sylvester didn't react. He stood there, impassive, as if the sword were nothing more than a thorn.

"Zaphery," Althea spat, her voice trembling with rage and grief. "What have you done? My son... my Dain... he's dead!"

Sylvester met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Dain was involved with the demon cult," he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.

"He attacked Selentia, revealed his demonic power, and used a forbidden technique. Ezekian intervened, and the backlash heavily injured him."

Althea's grip on the sword faltered, her eyes widening in shock. "No... that can't be. Dain would never—"

"It's the truth," Sylvester interrupted, his tone final. "I had him imprisoned, but the knights transporting him were ambushed. He's gone, Althea."

Her knees buckled, and Sylvester caught her before she could collapse.

She clung to him, her nails digging into his skin as sobs wracked her body. "Why?" she cried, her voice breaking. "Why couldn't you protect him? You promised... you promised you'd keep them safe!"

He held her close, his hand gently stroking her hair. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his tone void of any emotions.

As Althea wept in his arms, her mind churned with conflicting emotions. She hated this—hated the way his embrace could soothe her, despised how even in his unreadable tone she tried to find some kind of emotions.

She hated the man who failed to keep his promise and she hated how her heart still beated fast because of him.

She digged her finger into his back muscle as she clenched her jaw harder to prevent more sob to leave from her mouth.

"I hate you," Althea whispered, her voice raw with emotion. "I hate you so much, Zaphery."

"Then hate me," he replied. "If it makes the life more bearable, then hate me with everything you have."

He tilted her chin up, his thumb brushing away her tears. For a moment, their eyes met—hers filled with pain and resentment, his with something darker, something forbidden.

And then he kissed her, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was equal parts tenderness and desperation.

Althea froze, her body stiff with shock, but she didn't push him away.

Instead, she melted into him, her tears mingling with the taste of blood on his lips. It was a kiss born of pain, of longing, of a love that neither of them could admit.

Unseen, Edwin watched from the shadows, his ruby red eyes gleaming with amusement. He had come to see what made the entire mansion shake for a moment,

but what he found was far more interesting

*Well, well,* Edwin thought, a smirk playing on his lips. * WIll You look at this? *

He had seen the way Sylvester held Althea, the way his eyes softened when he thought no one was looking.

He had seen the guilt, the pain, the longing—emotions that had no place in a demon's heart.

*So this is why you've stayed in the mortal world,* Edwin mused, his smirk widening. *Not for power or anything deep, but for her. How interesting!!.*

Edwin's mind raced with possibilities. This was a weakness—a vulnerability he could exploit.

*If that so called demon lord learnt about it, he would have just died thousand times more.*.

" How should I use this piece of information?" Edwin mumbled with a dark expression.

But for now, Edwin would keep this secret close, savoring the knowledge like a fine wine.

*Let's see how far this little game goes,* he thought, his eyes glinting with malice. *A demon in love with a human... what a delightful twist.*

With a final glance at the study, Edwin turned and walked away, his laughter echoing softly in the empty hallway.