The heavy wooden doors creaked open, and Violet stepped into the chamber, her violet hair catching the soft glow of the lanterns. Her presence immediately shifted the air—calm, confident, and sharp, even at seventeen.
"Violet, my daughter!" her father exclaimed warmly, rising to his feet with genuine pride. His voice boomed across the room, filled with excitement.
Violet offered a graceful bow, her eyes flicking between her father and the unfamiliar faces in the chamber. Then her gaze landed on Derius.
Derius, caught off guard, shot to his feet instinctively. His heart hammered in his chest. Up close, she was even more radiant than on stage.
"So this is the famous Violet," Derius's father remarked dryly, arms crossed. "The girl who made an entire platoon of soldiers look like fools."
Violet smiled gently, her expression calm but softened for her father.
Her father couldn't hold back—he stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You don't know," he said, his voice thick with pride, "how proud I am to have a daughter like you."
"Ehh—your grip is too tight, Daddy!" Violet winced, her voice muffled against his chest.
He let go reluctantly, clearing his throat, trying to mask the emotion that had slipped through. Violet smoothed her hair, then looked him straight in the eye.
"Dad… I wanted to talk."
But his expression hardened suddenly, sharp and almost frightening. He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder.
"There's nothing we need to discuss right now."
The shift in his tone sent a chill through the chamber. Even Derius blinked in surprise.
Derius's father folded his arms. "Hmph. If she wants to talk, then let her. Or is there something you're hiding?"
Violet's father's lips curled into a forced smile. "We can talk later, isn't that right, Violet?"
Violet's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, her voice turning cold. "...Yeah. Later."
The silence pressed heavy for a moment before her father broke it with a laugh that felt too light to be genuine. He gestured toward Derius.
"Why don't you spend some time with the boy in your room? We'll talk afterward."
Violet's eyes flicked to Derius. For a brief second, her cold expression cracked into the faintest smile.
"Sure," she said softly.
Derius's heart leapt. He tried to keep his composure, but inside, he was grinning like an idiot. God must really be on my side today…
"Don't cause any trouble," Derius's mother warned, eyeing her son suspiciously.
"Yes, Mother," Derius said quickly, but his mind was racing. Trouble? No chance. This is the best day of my life!
Violet walked ahead with her usual calm grace, her violet hair swaying softly with each step. Derius trailed behind her, his hands clammy, his heart racing.
God, I'm so nervous… I can't believe this is happening.
As they crossed the palace halls, another young girl from the palace—about Violet's age—skipped up, her eyes curious.
"Who's this?" she asked brightly.
"He's my father's friend's son," Violet replied simply, flashing a polite smile.
"Ohhh. Hey, cutie—what's your name?" the girl teased, leaning down with a playful grin.
Derius puffed his chest proudly. "Derius!"
"Wanna play with us?" she asked warmly.
Before Derius could answer, his instincts betrayed him. He quickly darted behind Violet's back, hiding like a scared child.
Violet froze, blinking in surprise. What the…?
The girl giggled softly. "Ohhh, I see. He just wants to stay with you, Violet."
Violet gave a faint, polite smile. "…I guess so." She reached back and tugged Derius forward gently. "Let's get going, shall we?"
"See you later, Violet!" the girl called, waving as they left.
Derius barely noticed her goodbye. His eyes were sparkling. Finally… I'll get to see her room!
The doors creaked open. Violet stepped inside first. Derius eagerly followed—only to be shoved forward suddenly.
THUD!
He hit the floor hard, rolling across the rug. Pain shot through his arms, but he barely understood what had happened. "Wh-what—?"
When he looked up, his blood ran cold.
Violet's eyes had changed. Gone was the gentle smile from earlier. Her face was icy, her violet gaze cutting through him like blades.
"Piece of trash," she hissed, her tone sharp as steel. "How dare you touch me with your filthy hands?"
Derius's eyes widened. His chest stung more than his scraped arms. "I-I didn't—"
"Stay down there," Violet snapped, pointing to the floor with a chilling finality. "Don't move until I say so."
Then, without another glance, she turned away and collapsed lazily onto her bed, the weight of her presence filling the room.
Derius lay on the floor, his knees aching, tears welling in his eyes. His heart twisted painfully.
It hurts…
He bit his lip, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. I can't believe this. I thought she was…
His thoughts cracked apart. The shining image of Violet on stage clashed with the cold reality of the girl before him.
"You ugly piece of trash!" Derius screamed, his small voice cracking with both anger and tears.
Violet, sprawled on the bed, froze in shock.
"You're the ugliest woman I've ever seen!" he shouted, his face red with rage. "Your voice is ugly! You smell like trash!"
And then—heart pounding—he bolted for the door. His hands slammed against the heavy wood. He yanked at the handle, pulled, shoved—nothing.
Why isn't it opening?! How does this stupid thing open?! His breath quickened, panic setting in.
Behind him, he heard the soft shift of sheets. Violet rose slowly from the bed. Her steps were measured, deliberate, like a predator closing in on prey.
"You spoiled little brat," she said coldly, her voice dripping with venom.
Derius's stomach dropped. Sweat trickled down his temple as he clawed at the door desperately. Shit, shit, shit—why did I say that?!
He turned around just enough to see her face. Violet's violet eyes gleamed faintly in the lantern light, her expression unreadable but terrifying in its calmness.
Each step she took echoed in his ears like a drumbeat of doom.
Derius's back pressed against the door, his chest heaving. What is she going to do to me…?
Violet closed the distance in two steps—
SLAP!
The sound cracked through the chamber. Derius's head snapped to the side, his cheek stinging violently.
His eyes widened in shock. This was the first time in his life anyone had hit him like that. Not even his mother had ever raised her hand against him. His small body trembled, and guilt welled up as tears spilled from his eyes.
"Tch," Violet hissed, her expression cold and disdainful. "You made me touch you again."
Her words cut deeper than the sting of her palm.
Something inside Derius snapped. The humiliation burned too much. His little fists clenched, his face twisted in anger.
"I'll show you!" he shouted.
Before Violet could react, he lunged forward and bit into her stomach with all his strength.
"UAGHHHHH—!!" Violet screamed, the pain raw and unexpected. "H-Hey—leave—STOP!"
Her body jerked in panic. She slammed her elbow down hard onto his back.
THUD!
Derius collapsed to the floor, gasping in pain, his small body curling up instinctively. "Uhhh—ahhh…"
Violet staggered backward, clutching her stomach, her breath ragged. "Ahhh—hahhh…" She looked down and saw it—his teeth marks, deep and red against her pale skin.
Her violet eyes widened with fury.
"You… fucking dog," she spat, her voice shaking with rage. "You've crossed every line!"
The air between them grew sharp, charged, like a storm ready to explode. Derius lay on the floor, tears and anger blurring together, while Violet stood above him, trembling from both pain and fury.
Moments later, Violet sat on the edge of the bed, carefully dabbing at the raw bite mark on her stomach with a cloth. Her breathing was still uneven, the sting of pain keeping her awake.
"Tch… filthy brat," she muttered under her breath, pressing the cloth harder before finally tossing it aside.
She lowered herself onto the bed, one arm draped over her eyes. But when she turned her head, her gaze fell across the room.
There—on the far wall—hung Derius.
He was suspended upside down, completely ensnared by Violet's chains. The cold, violet-tinged links had coiled tightly around his small body, binding his arms and legs, locking even his mouth shut. His eyes bulged with panic, muffled cries vibrating against the gag of chain links pressing against his lips.
Violet's expression was unreadable, half-hidden by her hair as she watched him struggle.
Every futile jerk of his body only made the chains creak tighter, rattling with a metallic hiss.
"You should be grateful I didn't break your bones," Violet said softly, her voice calm and chilling, as if stating a fact rather than a threat.
Derius writhed, muffled protests escaping him. His face was flushed from the blood rushing to his head, fear clawing up his throat.
But Violet only sighed, resting her head against the pillow, her violet eyes glinting faintly in the lantern glow.
"You brought this on yourself. Now stay there… until I decide otherwise."
The chains rattled once more as Derius kicked weakly, then stilled. For the first time in his life, he felt truly powerless.
Back to the present—
From that moment I have always prayed to God for her death, Derius thought, but…
Violet unleashed her Soulbind Chains, charging straight at the Monk. Every assassin that rushed her was either knocked out cold or cut down where they stood.
"What the hell are youuu?!" Dan screamed.