“What are you planning?” As she gobbled a goblet of red wine in one go, the Demon Empress Sitana asked Cian with an expression full of displeasure. The obvious anger and displeasure were plain to see on anyone who saw her face—thus, the party had somehow turned into a different mood from the usual.

People started avoiding the table where the prince and the Empress were at, enduring the awkward and tense atmosphere hanging on the party hall. Stiff smiles and awkward expression appeared on most people…

“Let’s just say… I fell in love…” Cian smiled mischievously.

BAM! The Empress slams her hand at the table, startling the surrounding people. Laughter and whispers immediately ceased as their heads turned towards one direction.

“Aanuel, if you don’t give me goddamn reason… I would do something you would surely regret…!!” The Demon Empress eyes turned solemn and silent and her expression was calm—but something in this calmness make one couldn’t help but feel apprehended.

Terrifying stillness, dreadful calm.

If any people in front of her saw her right now, they would surely fell down shivering, wetting their pants in the process.

But Cian was different. He smiled, “Calm down, mother. I ain’t doing something you need to be angry for,”

“Angry?! You disobeyed me and even ignored my opinion? And you say you are not doing anything? Aanuel, have I spoiled you too much, perhaps?!” She was now calling me, Aanuel… huh… Cian smiled wryly.

It seems like the Demon Empress was extremely shaken she could destroy an entire kingdom right now.

“Mom, Sibylla would be an important key for me to rise. Furthermore, although it’s hard to admit, Southern Territory is indeed quite rich and precious for us to throw away just for some measly Marriage Arrangement.” Cian muttered indifferently as he picked up his glass and drink leisurely.

“I’m not the same as before… now, I had changed. I can see everything and understand anything. I am not a child anymore that would cling to you, mother… that would depend and rely on you unconditionally. I had said before, I would now start my own journey…”

“…?!”

Cian turned towards Demon Empress and meet her eyes, without backing out, he continued; “I wouldn’t avert my eyes anymore and depends on a power that belongs to someone else. I want to stand with my own two feet… and that Sibylla Vandlehouse would become my first stepping stone in my journey. Thus, I can’t let you stand before me and block my advancement… even if it’s you, mother…!”

"... ..." The demon Empress eyes widened in shock, then after a moment, her expression regained its usual calm.

Her face lit up with a faint smile, so gentle one can wither a steel rock heart.

Ruby eyes that seemed to suck him in. Light red flushed cheeks and well-formed thin soft lips. The Demon Empress smiling appearance, bathed in the dim lights made her look like a painting.

An untainted beauty.

With her original captivating appearance, it could be counted as foul play. Cian was so embarrassed he averted his gaze from her.

“You know son, the more I see the new you, the more enigmatic you seem.”

“Enigmatic?” Cian repeated in surprise from the sudden unfamiliar word. After all, it was the last quality he would have attributed to himself.

“Yes.” The Demon Empress smiled calmly as she picked up a napkin and wipe the edge of her soft lips. “There seem to be two possible reasons for your sudden change and activities: one is that you are planning to rise in rank just as you said and become quite a person in the Empire—no one would dare confront or see you eye to eye—riches and wealth, fame, and women within your reach.”

“… …”

“…And the other is that you secretly hate the idea of someone above you, someone better or superior to you—such as me, or your siblings."

"You want to rise up, confront us and fight us if ever you wanted it. You can defeat us and chased us away in our current status as you will it, never will anyone stand up against you anymore—always wanting things to run circles within your palms and not out of your control… you said you wanted something else… Peace? Love? Harmony? Freedom…? Are they really what you wanted?”

“… …”

“Ha ha ha,” After talking, the Demon Empress turned to glance at her son and was… momentarily shock.

Her eyes widened. However, it was only for a moment, as sparkles gleamed on her pair of beautiful eyes and she couldn’t help but burst into laughter from the sudden realization…

“Ha ha ha, I like your eyes my dearest son… ah, that’s right… that’s the expression I wanted to see… Ha ha ha ha ha,” The Demon Empress laughter caused a different kind of shock from the surroundings and even the sounds of music for the party had stopped for a moment, causing the laughter to fill the entirety of the hall.

A moment of intense anger… but after a second, it was then replaced by extreme happiness…!

Only the Second Prince can do such miracle that even others couldn’t help but envy…

Just what are they talking about that could change their terrifying Empress mood in an instant?

“I don’t know what you are talking about, mother…” Cian was shaken but he tried pretending he was not as he averted his gaze.

“Was that really so? Or do you want me to grab a mirror for you to see what you’re expression look like right now…”

“… …” The Demon Empress words struck Cian like a physical blow. He picked up his glass and awkwardly realized that it was already empty… his eyes twitched.

At this moment, while muttering ‘your highness, let me get you another one’ a maidservant walk over bringing a wonderful design teapot—however, after seeing Cian’s gritting expression, the poor maidservant couldn’t help but shiver in fright.

What?

What did she do?

Fortunately, due to embarrassment, Cian managed to regain a certain amount of self-possession and put down the glass he was holding on the table. But his efforts to appear cool and poised must have been singularly unsuccessful, for, seeing him like this, the Demon Empress smiled naughtily and said, “Don’t look so horrified. I didn’t mean to shock you.”

“... I didn’t know I was so oblivious. I was always been confident in maintaining my expression and behavior opposite of what I intended to show…” Cian said wryly.

“Oh? Then, you must be disappointed. After all, who can understands their children the most will always be their mothers. And for me, you happen to have one of those faces that reflect your moods… perfectly. I would never overlook it…”

“That’s rather a drawback, isn’t it?” Cian said, uncomfortably.

“Nonsense! I’ve never cared for those faces and visages that stare out of the court, beautiful yet a part of exotic masks and disguises. They may be very well necessary for statuses but they’re not at all kind of thing a woman wants to live with. Among you siblings, I understand that the most. We are demons and our character was always true to our desires…”

“…?”

“And as a royalty, bearing the noble blood—you siblings had carried the most regal bloodline, making your characters unique among other demons. All of you are true to your deepest desires,” As she said that, Cian noticed a hidden meaning behind her words—sadness, sorrow, anger…? What is this…?

“Thinking that no one would realize, is too pathetic… just showing how you are still a child.”

“Mother…?”

The Demon Empress smirked. She turned around and her pupils narrowed ever so slightly, “That is probably the reason why I like you better than your siblings, my precious Aanuel. Your emotions reflected in your expression when you think otherwise… and that makes you extremely adorable…” She faced Cian with a grand smile.

“… …” Cian felt like his brain was melting. A sweet something gentle entered his brain and took away his ability to think.

For a moment, Cian didn’t know how to respond.

“Not as much as my proud brother… I guess,” he muttered, trying to divert the topic. “He was always been proud and successful….”

“Probably…” Cian’s sudden comment caught the Demon Empress by surprise. She was not able to hold back a giggle. And as if remembering something, she hastily wiped the edge of her mouth and smiled, “Actually, he’s one of those gloriously beautiful creatures who managed to look a proper demon as well—true to his very blood,”

“Yes, he is, isn’t he?” Cian hoped that this time, he was not revealing any kind of emotions her words gave him.

The Demon Empress glanced at him quickly, and he said flatly, “You think I’m jealous of Lucifalion, don’t you, mother?”

The Demon Empress stared at him in silence for a moment before answering judiciously, “I don’t think it’s quite as simple as that.”

Recalling Aanuel’s personality and behavior up until now, she continued; “Up till now, I wouldn’t say there was any question of rivalry between you, brothers. I’d say you’ve always accepted the fact that you’re out of the running course, as far as Lucifalion is concerned. In fact, I was always worried that you would slip into your role as second fiddle without too much regret.”

“… …”

“But of course, things are different now, aren’t they?” The Demon Empress smiled warmly as if showing how happy she was for his son’s growth and maturity.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Cian said in alarm, then felt a sense of overwhelming relief when she added,

“After you were attacked, I had always thought that something must have happened to you or that you wouldn’t be the Aanuel that I always know—seeing that after waking up, you were no longer overshadowed by anything or anyone. Your fierceness and ferocity were starting to resurface, that blood hunger within your blood, started boiling—but in the end, you are still my child. That I realized."

"Only your ambitions started to bud… It’s just like your sleeping self has awakened and was now starting to move and take action, baring its face into the world…”

“Saying it at that, are you not afraid I would scheme against you and dethrone you, mother?” Cian taunted, his lips curling upwards.

“Ha ha ha, would I? No, I don’t think so. You can drag me away from the throne if you wanted it. But when that time comes, you need to make sure your wings are as wide and durable as it is, or else you will be consumed and devoured by what others knew…"

“… …”

"...as responsibility.”