Chapter 14: The Truth Behind the Demon Monarch
The sun had just risen, casting a gentle golden glow through the windows of the mansion. A soft breeze passed through the open window, carrying the fragrance of the garden's fresh flowers into the room where Mickey and Elena were seated at the dining table. The morning was peaceful—birds chirped outside, the breakfast was warm, and everything seemed perfectly normal.
After finishing the last bite of his toast, Mickey leaned back slightly and looked at Elena with a curious expression. He stirred his juice absentmindedly before asking a question that had been haunting him for days.
"Elena," he said thoughtfully, "do you know anything about the Demon Lord... or the Demon Monarch?"
Elena, who was sipping tea, blinked in surprise. She gently placed her cup down and looked at him with a mixture of caution and concern. "Why do you ask such things, Master Mickey? That's not something most people would casually bring up."
"I was just wondering..." Mickey replied, trying not to sound too suspicious.
Elena sighed and crossed her arms, then began to explain in a serious tone. "Demons are immortal beings, feared throughout all of Mecatopia. They are the natural enemies of humanity. The strongest among them is the Demon Lord—ruler of the dark lands and the ultimate enemy of the five nations. Right below him in power, status, and fear… is the Demon Monarch, the second most powerful demon in existence. Some even say he commands armies of shadows and can control time itself."
Mickey's expression tensed. He hesitated, then decided it was time to reveal the truth. "The reason I asked is because... during the summoning test... I, um..."
Before he could finish, Elena's eyes widened. "Wait, master—you didn't... you summoned a demon?!"
Mickey raised his hands, trying to calm her down. "Let me finish! I didn't summon just any demon... I summoned the Demon Monarch."
Elena stared at him in stunned silence. For a moment, she thought he might be joking. But Mickey's calm expression said otherwise.
Then, without warning, a cold, eerie aura spread across the room.
A dark shadow began to stretch and rise from beneath Mickey's feet. From the depths of that blackness, a tall figure emerged—cloaked in a royal black mantle, with glowing red eyes and curved horns. His very presence made the air heavy and froze the light for just a second.
It was him—Draco, the Demon Monarch.
Elena's mouth fell open in shock. Her knees weakened and she stumbled back, falling onto the floor. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "T-that's... that's not just any demon... that's an immortal being... summoned by a human?!"
She clasped her hands to her chest in disbelief, watching the majestic figure as he stood tall next to Mickey.
Draco's eyes slowly scanned the room before speaking in a deep, regal voice. "Fear not, human girl. I have not come to harm. I am Draco—the Monarch of the Demon Realm, the right hand of the Demon Lord, and ruler of ten thousand shadows. From this day forward, I serve only one master..."
He turned to Mickey and kneeled before him, his head bowed. "My eternal loyalty belongs to Lord Mickey Windgrace. Until the end of time, I shall protect him, guide him, and destroy all who dare threaten him."
Elena's jaw dropped again. "I-I don't believe this... you're... you're really the Demon Monarch! And you're kneeling before Mickey?!"
Draco didn't respond, his head still respectfully lowered.
Elena turned to Mickey, her eyes sparkling with awe and confusion. "Master... you wield power that's beyond comprehension. Not even the royal family could dream of such strength. You're just a boy, and yet you've summoned a being that rivals the gods themselves... You're not just powerful—you're beyond human."
Mickey scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. "Well... I didn't really expect this to happen."
Draco finally rose from his kneel. "You may not yet understand the full extent of your abilities, Lord Mickey... but the world will. And when it does, they shall either kneel—or fall."
Elena slowly stood back up, still overwhelmed. She gave Mickey a small bow. "From now on, I'll do more than just serve you, Master Mickey. I'll stand by your side with pride. You're destined for something far greater than any of us could imagine..."
And with that, a new day in the life of Mickey Windgrace began—not just as a summoner, but as the boy who had bound the Demon Monarch himself.
Little did they know, this was only the beginning of something far bigger than anyone could predict.