Velvet academy grand dining hall at lunchtime. Rei had known hunger. He had starved in dungeons, nibbled on questionable rations, even once eaten an entire bag of dried lizard jerky because Drakana called it "romantic."
But never in his life had he feared lunch itself. The Grand Dining Hall, with its polished marble floors, glittering chandeliers, and rows of long oak tables, had always been chaotic. But today? It was worse than chaos. It was… politics.
Every ambassador, noble envoy, and council representative in the academy was present. Spies disguised as students lined the walls. Professors sat stiff-backed like hostages. Even the cooks peeked nervously from the kitchen.
And why? Because sitting across from Rei Velvet, calmly cutting into her grilled salmon with the poise of a queen, was Lady Lucivella Nightshade. Demon Lord. Terror of nations. World-ending nightmare in a school uniform. And also, apparently, his fiancée.
