Chapter 170

"Do you have something to say, Alpha?" Caelum asked, voice calm but laced with playful authority.

He was now seated at the grand chair behind the desk, Alpha's chair just moments ago, with Pixie smugly perched on his lap, arms crossed as she stared down her eldest brother like a self-righteous queen delivering judgment.

Alpha, despite his towering height and commanding presence, sighed and lowered his head in exaggerated guilt.

"I'm sorry for making Pixie cry, Father."

Cecilion's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. The most massive man in the room, who looked like he could crush steel with one hand, was bowing his head… apologizing.

And more than that, they still couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that the man in front of them, this gentle, affectionate father, was Demon Lord Caelum, the very one who started the Great War that nearly destroyed all six human kingdoms of Solmara.

Because truthfully… there was no danger in his presence.

Not the kind they expected.

Not like when they first encountered Tuf, whose very aura screamed destruction. Or Luna, whose cold gaze could freeze blood.

Caelum?

He felt warm. Calming. Safe.

And somehow, that made him even more terrifying.

"But if I may defend myself," Alpha added, straightening slightly, "I only told her she couldn't claim Delphine as hers because… well, humans are not toys."

Pixie stiffened in her father's lap. Her smug expression dropped instantly, replaced by a wide-eyed, innocent look.

Because clearly, that wasn't what she'd told their father.

Caelum noticed the shift. His lips curved ever so slightly.

"Doll?" he said gently, lifting her off his lap and placing her carefully on the polished surface of the desk so she could face him directly. "Did you really cry… because of that?"

"Papa…" Pixie's voice was suddenly small.

"Doll," Caelum said patiently, his tone firm but kind, "Alpha is right. You can't claim humans as if they're yours. One, they're not toys. Two, they're fragile. If you throw tantrums and hit and kick like you always do, you might actually hurt them. And three… they're not from here. They have their own kingdom. Their families are waiting for them."

He stroked her cheek softly, trying to help her understand.

Pixie's bottom lip quivered.

"But Delphine is friends with Tofu," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't want her to end up like Big Sis Luna."

There was a beat of silence.

"…And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Luna said, one brow raised as she lounged now on the velvet sofa beside Alpha, arms crossed, eyeing her little sister.

"You're batshit crazy," Pixie declared, pure innocence in her tone but absolute savagery in her words.

The entire room froze.

"Excuse me?" Luna blinked. "I'm what?"

"You're batshit crazy," Pixie repeated, her eyes narrowing like she was doing Luna a favor by being honest.

Alpha let out a cough, clearly trying not to laugh. The three knights looked like they stopped breathing. 

"Doll," Caelum said carefully, somewhere between amused and exasperated. "Calling your big sister that is not… nice. And who taught you that term?"

"Alpha did," Pixie said without hesitation.

All heads turned.

Alpha blinked. "Why is it always me?" he protested, especially when Luna shot him a glare so sharp it could cut air. "I never said that!"

"Yes, you did," Pixie insisted.

"When?!" Alpha was scandalized.

Pixie sat up straighter and put on her best storytelling face. "You were with Big Brother Neko, Big Sis Peanut, and Big Sis Nugget. And Big Brother Neko said, 'Alpha, you should tell Luna.' Then you said, 'What? Why me?' And Peanut said, 'Duh, because you're the eldest.' And then you said, " Pixie paused to shift her tone and mimic Alpha's deep voice, "'No. I'm not going to tell that crazy woman the bad news. You know what happens when she's angry. She becomes batshit crazy.'"

She even narrowed her eyes and pointed dramatically like she was casting a spell.

"Ask Cosmo. He heard it too."

Everyone slowly turned to look at Cosmo.

The demon aide, ever composed, gave a small shrug.

"My loyalty will always be with you, Master Alpha," Cosmo said smoothly… and utterly unhelpfully.

It was a diplomatic way of saying, 'You're on your own now, sir.'

He then took a slow step back, as if quietly distancing himself from the inevitable war.

Alpha groaned dramatically, slumping back in his chair with an exaggerated scowl aimed at Cosmo.

"Thanks for nothing," he muttered.

They didn't miss the moment when Caelum leaned down and whispered something to Pixie, something that made her grin wide and nod eagerly.

"Okay?" Caelum asked her with a soft smile.

"Okay!" Pixie chirped, sliding off the desk with her father's help.

She skipped toward the door but paused before exiting, turning to give Delphine a cheerful wave. "Bye, my Delphine!"

Delphine gave a small wave in return, still stunned by everything, while the knights silently watched her disappear beyond the threshold.

They were so distracted that none of them noticed what was happening until…

"Batshit crazy?" Luna's voice rang out like a blade drawn in slow motion.

The humans snapped their heads around just in time to see her press a dagger deep into Alpha's side.

Alpha groaned his eyes rolling slightly. "Stop poking me! You're just proving me right. You're going crazy again, see?"

"Luna…" Caelum sighed.

Unbothered, Luna twisted the dagger once before yanking it out, then stabbed him again. And again. Five times in total. Precisely. Elegantly. Like she was threading a needle into fine silk.

The humans stared in horror, watching as golden blood slowly oozed from Alpha's side, staining his pristine white shirt.

"Kitten," Caelum called out mildly, as if reminding her not to leave the door open. "That's enough. We have guests."

Luna paused mid-motion, looked at her father, then casually dropped the dagger on the nearby tray.

Cosmo approached and handed Luna a fresh cloth to wipe her hands, then passed another one to Alpha.

It was all done with the air of routine.

Delphine blinked, struggling to comprehend what she had just witnessed.

So if they didn't have guests, would Caelum just let Luna stab Alpha? she wondered incredulously.

Cecilion was still frozen, expression blank.

No wonder Tuf is insane. His entire family is insane.

Alpha, meanwhile, looked at the golden blood spreading across his shirt and hissed.

"Can you not do that? I'm wearing white, Luna. White. You're staining my shirt."

Renee stared, dumbfounded.

He's more concerned about the stain? What is a stab wound to him, a mosquito bite?

Robin was still watching the blood in fascination.

So gold blood is normal for demi-humans… or is it just the Demon Lord's family?

Caelum, smiling gently, turned to them. "Apologies for my children's behavior," he said politely, as if Luna hadn't just tried to gut her brother in front of their guests.

Delphine tried to smile back but grimaced instead. It was hard to reconcile this man with being the father of Tuf, Luna, and especially Alpha. They looked more like siblings than father and children. Caelum didn't look much older, and he certainly didn't act like a ruthless warlord.

"It's fine, My Lord," she managed, still a little dazed.

Caelum's expression turned thoughtful. "I know Alpha already asked… but do you mind if you tell me again, how exactly did you end up here?"

Delphine straightened and nodded, then respectfully repeated the story, the portal, the unexpected closing, their inability to teleport back, and how they found themselves in Tuf's room. Her voice remained calm and measured despite the eyes on her. Caelum listened in complete silence, never interrupting, though he occasionally nodded slowly, as if weighing each word.

"And you can't tell me the Empress's reason for seeking me?" he asked gently when she finished.

"I'm sorry, My Lord," Delphine said with a slight bow of her head. "I don't believe it's my place to speak on her behalf."

Caelum didn't respond right away.

He simply stared at her.

Not coldly. Not cruelly. But deeply, intensely, as if reading her soul, peeling back every layer until only the truth remained.

Delphine swallowed hard, feeling exposed under his gaze.

Then, he smiled.

"You are very loyal to your Empress," Caelum said, finally offering her a soft, approving smile.

Delphine blinked.

Then flushed.

Before she could respond, Caelum continued, his tone shifting subtly.

"So… let me take advantage of that loyalty."

The room dropped ten degrees in tension.

Delphine's breath hitched. The knights stiffened.

"Whatever your Empress asks of me," Caelum said, "as long as it is not my life or any of my children's, and as long as it is within my power, I will grant it."

There was a pause. The air felt heavier, serious.

"In exchange," he continued, locking eyes with Delphine, "you will stay here in the Black Tower… and keep Pixie company for five days."

Delphine blinked. "What exactly do you want me to do, My Lord?"

"Just play with her," Caelum replied, shrugging gently. "Join her tea parties. Sit with her. Listen to her nonsense. I don't know why she's become attached to you, but she has. And since I can't exactly give you to her… just give her a few days of your attention."

Delphine fell quiet, considering.

"If you're worried about your safety," Caelum added, sensing her hesitation, "you don't have to be. You are our guest. I personally guarantee your security. Your knights may remain with you, if that helps you feel at ease."

He leaned back slightly, his tone softening further. "For the next five days, you will stay in Pixie's chambers. Your knights may sleep there too. If at any point you wish to explore Velrathis, you will be provided anything you want. Food, clothes, protection, transportation, just ask."

Delphine looked thoughtful. "If I agree… you won't ask anything of my Empress?"

"I won't," Caelum promised. "And if you doubt my word… we can seal it in a blood contract."

"Just five days?" she asked.

"Yes," he nodded. "Only five days. The portal closing might just be a fluke. This is Tuf's first time creating a portal that crosses beyond the Blinding Mist. Like you experienced, you can't teleport back to Aquilonis because of the Mist's layers."

He steepled his fingers. "The Blinding Mist isn't a simple spell, it's a network of spells layered atop each other. One of those is a neutralizing barrier. It cancels out any magic, skill, or teleportation that tries to cross it, unless the user has my blood."

He paused, then added casually, "And if I may share something with you… Tuf's ability is Replication. He can copy other beings' abilities, but only at ten percent of the original's strength. It might also be one of the reasons why the portal suddenly closed."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Even Alpha's jaw hung slightly open. He turned toward Luna, who remained unmoved, clearly, she had known this.

"And if you're worried you won't return," Caelum added, "then know this, if after five days, Tuf still hasn't arrived with your Empress, my daughter Vivi will create a portal for you. And if, by some chance, it fails, which I doubt, I will personally escort you back to Aquilonis."

Caelum glanced at Delphine again. "Do you have any more questions?"

"Yes, My Lord." She hesitated. "Does time move the same here as it does in Aquilonis?"

A perfectly reasonable concern.

Caelum smiled. "Yes. Time in Velrathis flows exactly the same as anywhere beyond the Blinding Mist. My son Milo is the one capable of manipulating time, and he only does so in specific chambers, mine or on my island, for now."

He gave her a reassuring look. "You don't have to worry. Five days here means five days outside. Not fifty years."

Delphine's shoulders relaxed.

"Then… I agree, My Lord," she said at last.

Because deep down, she wanted to spend more time with Pixie. And truthfully… she was curious. About the family. About this strange, terrifying, fascinating empire.

Caelum's smile warmed. "Your Empress is lucky to have you," he said, sincere. "And… what is the name of the current Empress of Aquilonis, if you don't mind my asking?"

Delphine smiled faintly.

"It's Empress Ceres Evadne, my Lord."

The smile vanished from Caelum's lips.

Just for a flicker of a moment.

A shadow crossed his eyes, sharp and raw.

Pain.

Deep. Real. Hidden, but visible. And Delphine saw it.