The sky was dangerously red, the scent of blood thick in the air. The atmosphere itself seemed alive with dread, and even the wet green grasses trembled as though shivering from an unseen terror.
Lying upon that bed of trembling grass was a baby wrapped in a white towel, eyes closed as if sleeping peacefully.
The chilling wind did nothing to disturb her calm face. Though the forest was deep, dark, and filled with the presence of unseen beasts, none dared to emerge to claim the child as prey.
Two men appeared beside the infant.
One was dressed entirely in black — his long hair matching his attire, his crimson eyes burning with a fearsome aura.
The other man, however, was something beyond terrifying. Dangerously handsome, he exuded power with every breath. His long robe shimmered faintly in the gloom, his bloody red eyes commanding respect and fear alike. His hair was pure white, though it carried a mysterious glow, as though its color could shift at any moment.
His very presence was majestic — no one alive would dare meet his gaze. He stared down at the baby, his expression utterly unreadable.
"Interesting," he muttered coldly. "A demon and a human dared to bring a half-breed into my territory. Silas, do you think I've been too lenient with these creatures?"
The man beside him, Silas, immediately dropped to one knee. "Your Majesty, the baby looks as though she was just born moments ago. Perhaps… you should take a closer look," he pleaded softly.
The white-haired man's brows furrowed slightly as he regarded the infant. "Indeed," he murmured, lifting the baby as though she weighed nothing more than a feather. "Still sleeping peacefully?" His brow creased in mild irritation.
"Your Majesty…" Silas whispered cautiously.
Before the man could make his final judgment, the baby's eyes fluttered open.
Eyes as clear as the ocean — pure, blue, and bright as the stars. One glance at them could melt even the hardest heart.
For the first time, the cruel man hesitated. The child smiled up at him, her tiny arms stretching toward his face.
To Silas's shock, the man — the Devil himself — leaned closer, allowing her to touch him.
Silas's eyes widened in disbelief. "His Majesty just now…" he thought, completely stunned.
The powerful being continued to gaze at the innocent baby, who giggled softly as her small hands brushed his cheek. Then, almost imperceptibly, his lips curved into a faint smile.
"What if I make her my bride now?" he mused aloud, still staring at the baby. "After all, this little one just showed her interest in me." A low chuckle followed his words.
Silas froze. "He smiled… His Majesty actually smiled. For the first time in years!" His heart raced with both disbelief and excitement.
"Your Majesty is wise," Silas uttered reverently, lowering his head. "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
The man chuckled again. "My name is Daevriel. From this moment, you are my bride, and I share my name with you. You shall be called Riel."
At his declaration, the heavens themselves seemed to tremble. The earth quaked beneath their feet. Whispers of congratulations echoed through the air, carried by unseen voices.
The Devil had found his perfect half — and by sharing his name, he had bound his strength and his weakness to her forever.
---
Six Years Later
"Rose, why don't I have big chests like yours? I want to have some too!"
A little girl with long blonde hair sat on a chair, her ocean-blue eyes wide and glistening with tears. She was heartbreakingly adorable in her delicate blonde skirt, which matched her hair perfectly — an outfit that would be a priceless treasure to the poor, yet to her, it served only as a handkerchief as she wiped her tears with it.
"Your Highness, don't cry," Rose, her black-haired maid, cooed gently. "You're still young. Once you grow up like me, they'll come naturally. Be patient, alright?"
But the little girl's tears only flowed faster. "I want to see Deav!" she wailed.
"Your Highness," Rose implored softly, "His Majesty is in a meeting right now. It wouldn't be proper to disturb him. I'll take you to him once he's finished, alright?"
The child didn't reply. Instead, she sprang to her feet and dashed toward the grand palace.
"Ah! Your Highness, please stop running!" Rose cried in alarm, chasing after her. "You can't just barge into the palace — His Majesty will be furious!"
Yet the girl was far quicker than her maid. In the blink of an eye, she had burst through the enormous palace doors.
Inside, the atmosphere was suffocating. Ten men sat in silence, drenched in sweat but too terrified to wipe it away. The air itself seemed to hum with deadly power.
At the center of the hall sat a man — the same man from six years ago. Daevriel. The Devil himself.
His robe was black as night, his elbow resting on the arm of his throne, his chin against his knuckles. His crimson eyes were closed — though he was far from asleep.
The moment the door creaked open, those deadly eyes snapped open, glowing like molten fire.
The little girl's gaze met his. She froze, momentarily forgetting her tears.
Rose fell to her knees instantly. "Forgive us, Your Majesty!" she cried, trembling. "It wasn't the Little Queen's fault. I failed to stop her — please, punish me instead!"
The hall grew even more tense. No one dared breathe. The courtiers exchanged terrified glances, uncertain whether the child's sudden intrusion meant salvation — or doom.
The little girl furrowed her brows, confused by everyone's reaction. But she didn't care. She wiped her tears once more and ran straight toward Daevriel, who remained motionless on his throne.
"Your Highness!" Rose shouted, panic-stricken.
But it was too late.
Everyone in the hall could feel their knees trembling.
"It's over!" one thought miserably. "His Majesty was already in a bad mood, and now the Little Queen has stormed in!"
"Why didn't I pretend to be sick and skip this meeting?" another cursed inwardly.
"If His Majesty harms the Little Queen, none of us will leave here alive," a third thought, cold sweat dripping down his neck.
Their faces drained of color as fear rippled through the room like a wave. Every soul present shared one single thought — they were doomed.