The Crown and The Rose
Chapter 43: Northern Demon Lord

Chapter 43: Northern Demon Lord

The Crown

"How come you are here?" I lift a curious eyebrow at him, "Aren’t you supposed to be in Syx?"

"Yeah." Erick shrugs, "But things happened. Lord Vermilion decided to keep me by your side, maybe because he wants to keep a tab on your every movement. Then he discharged Seraphina from her duty in the Syx. And appointed Felix in charge."

"How was the mission solved?" I wonder out loud, "I don’t know what happened after I faced those Abyliths last night."

"It turned out that Peter was possessed by a ghost and was doing all those kidnappings instead." Edward explains, "And as he was killed at last, our mission was accomplished. Lord Vermilion, set up a heavy layer of protection veil over the grounds of Syx after the incident."

"They also rescued the other student who got stuck in that forest of the human realm as they had no time to dispose of them. They also didn’t want to risk those students to be seen by any human." Erick continues as we turn around another corner, we are headed to my bedroom. "Lord Vermilion also canceled The Mock Festival for the year since it was disturbed."

I don’t say anything for a moment to let the information sink in. "Why is Seraphina here then?" I ask.

"This is something only the lord knows," Edward says. There are no horns on the sides of his anymore. I didn’t even realize when I got so accustomed to his horns, though I never liked mine. "But Your Highnesses, you have to be more careful from now on. You are living under the same roof as the enemy."

"Thank you for telling me that, Edward." I say with subtle sarcasm in my tone, "I didn’t know that."

Edward’s face darkens, "Mind your demeanor, Your Highnesses."

"Sorry, sorry." I apologize.

They both drop me in front of my room and then head toward their own. Phillip has given us a map of the palace so we don’t get lost here. And trust me when I say this palace is enormous. Not even the royal palace of Blade Empire is this big. But the good thing is that I am not forbidden to go anywhere inside the palace aside from Lord Vermilion’s sleeping chamber and his office room.

Well, I don’t plan to go there anyway... maybe.

***

I don’t know why, but maybe this is the negative magic of this castle or maybe there is no sleep in my system. Whatever the reason is, I can’t sleep. Not even a blink as I lay on my cold bed wide awake, my face facing the crystal clear ceiling, hundreds and thousands of thoughts racing inside my mind. I at last give up and sit up. There is no point lying around like this.

I wrap a shawl around me as I step outside the room. This place is as cold as an ice pool. I don’t want to freeze myself to death. I have memorized the layout of the palace before going to bed. I know just where the rooftop of this place is. I slowly make my way up there, walking like a cat as I don’t want to wake anyone at this hour.

Back in the palace of the Blade Empire, when I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I’d go out through the secret passageway that Edward made for me. I have always liked taking strolls at this hour. It’s so quiet and no one is around to disturb me. Other than that, the view of the night is as fascinating as a myth.

I climb up the spiral stairs to the rooftop, my teeth clattering slightly as I do, it seems like, the temperature is only dropping. The chilliness is almost unbearable. I strongly suspect that it will start to snow any moment now.

I push open the crystal door and the gust of night wind slams across my face, making a shiver run down my spine. I clutch my shawl more tightly and enter the roof.

I have always marveled over how exquisite the night sky is. Especially in the demon realm. It has never failed to make me awful. The night stars are shining like diamonds in the sky. And the moon is slowly fading to nothing. The new moon is just around the corner.

There is a large balcony attached to my bedroom but I haven’t gone there because it wouldn’t be any fun to walk there. The space is larger here. I lean against the railing and admire the sky for a bit.

"The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?" A familiar cold voice echoes in the night. I cringe. "What are you doing out here, Your Highnesses? I assumed that your servants have dropped you to your sleeping chamber."

I slowly spin around, the butterfly in my stomach, trying their hardest to break away from the cage I have put them into. "M-My lord..." And I am immobilized by the man’s beauty who is standing before me.

The moonlight makes Vermilion’s snow-white hair shine so brightly that it’s mesmerizing. Moonlight has made his inhumanly perfect features more beautiful and breathtaking. I wonder what kind of magic this man has cast over me. But whatever it is, it has got me tripping. And I am afraid that I might fall. I might fall so deep and end up hurting myself. I am afraid that I will be the one left with a bleeding heart.

"You haven’t answered my question, yet, Your Highnesses." Vermilion walks over to my side, his eyes never leaving mine. And I never want them to. I want him to look at me and only me.

The wind is strong tonight, making the environment even more freezing. What time of the year is it again?

"I-I couldn’t sleep." I lower my head, my gaze fixed on the crystal tiles floor as if there is something very valuable hidden in there and my gaze will thaw the crystal and will dig it out. "The palace is way too cold for my endurance."

Vermilion averts his eyes from me as if to realize that he is staring way too much, which he definitely is though he doesn’t show any kind of reaction. "Your Highness, is it possible that might you have low endurance for cold weather?"

"Yes..." I mumble.

When I was a child, my mother, the empress would always let me sleep by her side whenever I was cold. When I grew up, I started to appoint the fire magic wielders to keep my room warm. There have been always specially embroidered clothes to prevent me from being cold. As the crown prince, those were always my privileges.

"In fact, I am very bad with it." I smile helplessly, "Though I don’t hate it. Rather, I really like it. But seems like my body doesn’t like it. What about you, My Lord? Why are you here at this hour?" And I realize that I am being way too casual with my master. I snap my mouth shut and sneak a glance at Vermilion.

However, Vermilion doesn’t seem to mind it. "My intentions are rather secretive, prince. I cannot tell you." He then turns to me, "You should go to your room now. I am assuming that it is even more cold out here." I can’t fathom how a person is so unfathomable and unaffected. But well, there he is, standing tall before me.

I look around for a bit before nodding, showing respect to him, and head back to my room. I am secretively happy that Vermilion is showing me concern even if it is out of courtesy. It is enough to keep me happy... at least for now.

***

"Your Highnesses, you look like you slept well last night," Edward says as we head toward the throne room. We have been summoned there once again.

"Yes," I answer truthfully. Actually, the temperature started to increase last night and was a bit bearable last night.

"Good for you." Erick yawns, "Last night was incredibly hot."

I chuckle in response.

We enter the throne room, which is never changing. The same coldness and the same domineering presence are pushing the air out, making it hard to breathe freely here. This part of the palace showcases just how dominant a throne can be. It also showcases the power difference between us. Between the normal folks and this supreme lord.

But we are greeted by a new kind of view other than Phillip standing by Vermilion’s side. There is another tall man standing by Vermilion’s side other than Phillip. He is in a black and blue outfit. And he is strikingly handsome. There is a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth as he studies us.

The three of us show our respects to Vermilion. I want to ask him about the man, who is standing next to him. But it seems like Vermilion just knows what I am thinking.

"He is the lord of the northern domain of the demon realm." Vermilion introduces blandly, "Typhon."

And I know who this man is.

"The three of you will be assigned to a mission with him. You all are going to the northern territory." Vermilion announces further.