Chapter 4: Blood Moon Festival

For three days, Seraphina told no one what she had discovered.

Not because she trusted her family.

Quite the opposite.

She trusted them so little that she couldn't bear the thought of confronting them before she understood everything.

The covenant book remained hidden beneath a loose floorboard in her room.

Every night she reread its pages.

Every night she hoped she had misunderstood.

And every night the same horrible truth stared back at her.

She had been promised before she was born.

Sold before she could speak.

Given away by the people who were supposed to love her.

The realization hurt more than the mention of the Devil.

Far more.

Because monsters were expected to be cruel.

Parents weren't.

The manor transformed as the days passed.

Servants decorated hallways with crimson banners.

Fresh flowers arrived daily.

Musicians were hired.

Guests began sending letters confirming their attendance.

Everyone seemed excited.

Everyone except Seraphina.

The upcoming Blood Moon Festival had become a nightmare.

A countdown.

A ticking clock she could hear every second of every day.

One afternoon, while walking through the eastern corridor, she heard laughter coming from a sitting room.

The door stood slightly open.

Inside sat Rosalie and several noble girls.

Normally Seraphina would continue walking.

But then she heard her own name.

"...she'll finally be useful."

The girls laughed.

Rosalie smirked.

"You shouldn't say things like that."

"Why not?" another girl asked.

"You've complained about her for years."

Rosalie leaned back comfortably.

"That's different."

"How?"

A cruel smile appeared on her face.

"Because soon she won't be my problem anymore."

The room erupted into laughter.

Seraphina's fingers tightened around her skirt.

Every word felt like a knife.

Yet she remained where she was.

Listening.

Unable to stop.

One of the girls tilted her head.

"Have you ever wondered why your parents keep her hidden?"

Rosalie's smile froze briefly.

Then she shrugged.

"Father has his reasons."

The answer sounded rehearsed.

Careful.

As though she knew more than she was saying.

Another girl giggled.

"At least you'll inherit everything."

"Of course I will."

Rosalie sounded pleased.

"After all, I'm the daughter they actually wanted."

The words struck harder than they should have.

Seraphina quietly stepped away from the door.

She didn't want to hear anymore.

She wasn't sure she could.

That evening, she sat alone in the neglected rose garden.

The sun was setting.

Golden light painted the sky.

For a moment the world seemed peaceful.

Normal.

A lie.

"Miss Seraphina?"

She looked up.

The voice belonged to a young gardener.

His name was Ethan.

Unlike most servants, he occasionally spoke to her.

Not often.

But enough.

He carried a basket filled with freshly cut roses.

When he noticed her expression, concern crossed his face.

"Are you alright?"

The simple question almost made her cry.

Because nobody ever asked.

Nobody cared enough to ask.

She forced a small smile.

"I'm fine."

He looked unconvinced.

But wisely chose not to argue.

Instead he offered her one of the roses.

A beautiful white bloom.

"For you."

Seraphina blinked.

"For me?"

He nodded awkwardly.

"It seemed wrong to throw it away."

The gesture was small.

Insignificant.

Yet it touched her more deeply than he could imagine.

"Thank you."

A faint blush appeared on Ethan's face.

Before he could respond, a strange wind swept through the garden.

Cold.

Sharp.

Unnatural.

The white rose suddenly slipped from Seraphina's fingers.

Both of them watched as it landed on the ground.

Then something impossible happened.

The flower transformed.

Its white petals darkened.

Slowly.

Gradually.

Until every petal became black.

Silence filled the garden.

Ethan stared.

Seraphina stared.

Neither understood what they were seeing.

The gardener swallowed nervously.

"I... don't think roses are supposed to do that."

"No," Seraphina whispered.

"I don't think they are."

The strange wind vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Yet an uneasy feeling remained.

Watching.

Waiting.

Protecting.

Far beyond the mortal realm—

Lucien sat upon his throne.

A black rose rested in his hand.

His golden eyes reflected irritation.

The image of the gardener lingered in his thoughts.

A harmless conversation.

A simple gift.

Nothing important.

Yet he disliked it.

Greatly.

One of his advisors noticed immediately.

"My King?"

Lucien's gaze shifted.

The demon instantly regretted speaking.

"Yes?"

The single word carried enough power to make mountains tremble.

The advisor carefully chose his next words.

"You appear... troubled."

Silence followed.

Then Lucien looked toward the magical mirror displaying Seraphina.

His future bride.

His beloved.

The woman he had spent centuries searching for.

The woman he intended to cherish forever.

A dangerous shadow crossed his expression.

"Who is the gardener?"

The advisor froze.

"...the gardener?"

"The mortal."

Understanding dawned.

The demon fought desperately to hide his amusement.

The Devil King was jealous.

Of a gardener.

An ordinary human.

A human who had absolutely no chance whatsoever.

Still—

Nobody laughed at the Devil.

If they valued their existence.

"A servant, my King."

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

The advisor immediately continued.

"He appears harmless."

"Harmless."

"Yes."

Lucien looked unconvinced.

The demon quickly added,

"He fears Lady Seraphina."

That seemed to improve his mood slightly.

The advisor nearly sighed with relief.

Then Lucien spoke again.

"Remove him."

The demon blinked.

"My King?"

"Transfer him."

"...where?"

Lucien thought for a moment.

"Far away."

The advisor stared.

For several seconds.

Then bowed.

"As you wish."

After all, arguing with the Devil about his bride's social interactions seemed unwise.

Very unwise.

That night, Seraphina dreamed again.

This time she stood inside a magnificent palace.

Black marble floors stretched endlessly.

Crystal chandeliers glowed overhead.

The architecture was beautiful.

Yet strangely unfamiliar.

As though she had never seen it before.

And somehow remembered it.

She wandered through empty corridors.

Searching for something.

Someone.

Then she heard footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

Approaching.

Her heart began racing.

A tall figure emerged from the shadows.

The same man.

The same stranger from her previous dream.

His face remained partially hidden.

Yet she could feel his gaze.

Focused entirely upon her.

"You're crying."

His voice sounded gentle.

Concerned.

The observation startled her.

She touched her cheek.

Sure enough, tears stained her skin.

"I didn't realize."

The stranger stepped closer.

Much closer than before.

Still she felt no fear.

Only warmth.

Only safety.

Something that made absolutely no sense.

"Why are you sad?" he asked.

Seraphina laughed bitterly.

"That's a difficult question."

"I have time."

The answer almost sounded amusing.

As though time meant nothing to him.

Maybe it did.

She looked away.

"I found out my family never loved me."

The words hurt.

Even now.

Even speaking them aloud.

The stranger became very still.

Dangerously still.

For a moment the palace itself seemed to darken.

His voice lowered.

"Who told you that?"

"Nobody."

She smiled sadly.

"I figured it out myself."

Silence followed.

Heavy silence.

Then she felt a hand gently lift her chin.

The movement was careful.

Tender.

As though she were something precious.

Something fragile.

When she looked up, golden eyes met hers.

Beautiful.

Ancient.

Heartbreakingly lonely.

For the first time she saw them clearly.

The stranger's gaze softened.

"They were fools."

Her breath caught.

The conviction in his voice shocked her.

As though he genuinely believed it.

As though anyone who failed to love her had committed an unforgivable crime.

"You don't even know me."

"I do."

The answer came instantly.

Without hesitation.

Without doubt.

The certainty frightened her more than anything else.

"Who are you?"

The question lingered between them.

For the first time, the stranger looked troubled.

Almost reluctant.

His hand slowly lowered.

"I'm someone who has waited a very long time."

A strange sadness entered his eyes.

"A very, very long time."

Before Seraphina could ask another question, the dream began fading.

The palace blurred.

The stranger stepped forward.

Desperation flashed across his face.

As though he hated seeing her leave.

"Wait—"

The world shattered into darkness.

And Seraphina woke.

Her heart pounded violently.

Moonlight spilled across her room.

The dream felt more real than reality.

She sat upright.

Trying to calm her breathing.

Trying to forget those golden eyes.

Trying to ignore the strange ache in her chest.

Outside her window, hidden among the darkness, a tall figure stood upon the manor roof.

Watching.

Protecting.

Waiting.

Lucien gazed at the light in Seraphina's room.

A soft smile touched his lips.

"You remembered my eyes."

The words vanished into the night.

Below him, shadows moved restlessly.

The Blood Moon Festival was only days away.

And soon—

Very soon—

His bride would finally come home.

To be continued...

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