Zarathoz started shaking her, almost forcing her to answer him.
Luzbel, who was still burning inside, slowly turned her head. Very slowly. She looked him straight in the eyes, wearing an expression that carried all the hatred and resentment in the world.
"Go... to hell..."
That completely enraged Zarathoz.
But he didn't explode. He didn't raise a hand. He didn't do any of the things Luzbel was probably expecting. Instead, something in his face changed. The anger vanished, and what remained was something worse. Something cold. Calculated. A calmness that had nothing peaceful about it.
"Tell me... do you really think you have the right to be upset about this?"
The words reignited the fire inside Luzbel, but the coldness with which they were spoken cut her off before she could do anything about it. Zarathoz wasn't finished.
"As far as I remember, everything that has happened—absolutely everything that has happened up to this very moment—has been your fault."
That froze her. She said nothing. She couldn't.
And Zarathoz continued, unhurried, as if he were listing something completely ordinary.
"The training room. Her Majesty. The boy escaping and going missing for hours while no one could do anything about it..."
He paused. Licked his lips. A small, almost delicate smile crossed his face.
"And finally... me getting a taste of that boy."
He let the words hang in the air for a moment before finishing.
"It was all the fault of none other than you."
Luzbel's expression changed. The anger slowly faded until all that remained was pain. A pain she didn't quite know what to do with. She looked away.
Something inside her, some voice she didn't want to hear, was telling her he was right.
Zarathoz noticed immediately. With one hand, he turned her face back toward him. Not gently, but not brutally either—simply forcing her to look at him again.
"No, no, no. You have the nerve to look me in the eyes, tell me to go to hell, cause this entire mess, and nearly cross a line that both of us know should never be crossed... but the moment I tell you the truth, you look away?... No, no, no. You're going to look me in the eyes."
He leaned slightly toward her. His voice didn't rise even a single note.
"Are you mocking me? Idiot."
(He said it with a coldness that hurt more than any blow.)
That was the problem with Zarathoz. He never needed to shout.
Morgan had remained on the sidelines the entire time, unmoving, unsure of what to do or whether he even had the right to do anything. But something in that moment pushed him forward. He grabbed Zarathoz's arm suddenly, with more determination than he actually felt. His voice trembled—he couldn't hide that—but he spoke anyway.
"T-That's enough. Stop. Leave her alone."
Zarathoz looked at him. His eyes traveled up and down Morgan's body, noticing the trembling, noticing everything. There was something difficult to read in that gaze. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a slow breath, and let it out just as slowly.
Then, without saying a word, he shoved Luzbel toward Morgan. It wasn't a strike, but it wasn't gentle either. Morgan wasn't expecting it, but he reacted in time and caught her before she could fall.
"Damn it."
(Zarathoz muttered to himself, sounding more tired than anything else.)
"I have better things to do than argue with foolish little girls."
He turned toward the door. He walked to it with calm, measured steps, as if what had just happened no longer deserved any more of his attention. He was about to cross the threshold when he stopped.
He didn't fully turn around. He spoke while looking ahead.
"Settle your issues between yourselves. And Luzbel..."
A brief pause.
"You'd better start learning how to control your emotions. Because if you do something this stupid again, or if you attack me and cross that line once more, I'll personally make sure you're removed from my path."
He placed his hands behind his back. His posture was the same as always. Straight. Firm. As though none of this had disturbed him in the slightest.
"I trust I've made myself clear."
And without waiting for a response, Zarathoz left.
The silence he left behind was heavy.
Luzbel didn't move for a moment. Then, slowly, she looked away toward nothing in particular. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, gripping herself hard enough that her nails dug into her skin without her fully realizing it. Her teeth were clenched. Something in her chest refused to break, yet refused to stay still.
And in silence, with tears gathering in her eyes that she refused to let fall, she said to herself:
"Damn it."
End of Chapter.
Next Chapter: Reconciliation.