In a world where demons were born from people's desires and nightmares, Erythraen was divided into 7 kingdoms-each ruled by one of the deadly sins. And in that world, the Kingdom of Pride, Elkar, is the most prominent kingdom-the very center of Erythraen.
Our story begins in a beautifully dark palace adorned with jewels and gold in the Kingdom of Pride-and this Palace belonged to none other than the 9th Princess of Elkar-Kritanta Rose Von Elkar.
___________________________________________
'Annoying... So annoying... These pathetic bugs can't even handle to bring back one simple medicine!' In a dimly lit room, a woman sat with unsettling elegance, grumbling under her breath while biting her fingernails-her eyes sharp and cold with rage.
The clicking of heels and the sound of people wailing and begging for mercy is not the kind of sound she's fond of, but it's a sound she's used to.
"Your highness.. please forgive this pathetic servant of yours, I beg you!"
"Your highness, we really didn't mean to!"
"Your highness.. we beg you, please spare us!"
"Your highness...-"
"Shut up. I hate your begging"
The sound of one woman rang through the room and that was enough to keep them quiet. What else can they do? It's Princess Kritanta after all, one of the closest in line for the throne other than her older half-brother.
Kritanta kept tapping her heel onto the ground while looking at each of the men bowing and groveling at her feet with contempt and a murderous look.
"It's funny how you guys care so much about your life to be begging like this to me yet gives no ounce of care to my brother's life, the life of the 13th prince. As I see it, your actions are no different from treason."
She said with a cold tone-cold enough to freeze the entire room. Her face showed clear displeasure, rage, and disappointment-for herself who even though about trusting these idiots. She then slowly turned her eyes slightly to the woman beside her. This woman had a strikingly similar feature to Kritanta, with long jet black hair and a beautiful figure, however she was wearing a black and red cat mask with intricate gold designs.
This person was Sierra who had served Kritanta since they were children. Since she looked a lot like Kritanta whenever Kritanta would secretly go away from the palace, Sierra would often pretend to be her while she is gone-the mask is used so others won't see her face and know about this secret of theirs.
"Sierra, what happens again to people who commit treason against our Royal Family?"
"Then they are executed, your highness", Sierra, the woman beside her replied promptly
"Then do it", her voice was quiet yet it struck harder than a scream.
"As you command, your highn-"
"Wait wait your highness!" One of the servants nearly tripped over his words in nervousness.
"W-we actually managed to get the location of the bastard earlier! H-here!" One of the servants said with fear flickering in his eyes as he scrambled to hand a small rose brooch with a magic stone engraved on it.
"Huh? And didn't you tell me this sooner?" She said with contempt as she snatched the rose brooch.
"W-we placed a tracking spell on the man, your highness! Y-you can use the brooch to see his location.!"
Kritanta paused for a minute before channeling her mana into the brooch-and there she saw the man, in a forest and she saw him enter a strange portal. She immediately stopped.
She froze in her seat. She knew that forest, and that portal. It's the portal to-
"A human world..." She mumbled silently, her eyes shaking 'That bastard actually went to a human world!'
As she bit her fingernails in shock, she slowly starts to compose herself and looked at the servants.
"You actually used the brooch I gave you huh? Well good job." She took her time analyzing it before standing up and walking to the door. Just when she has opened it and just as she was about to step out, she said in a clear voice.
"For this, you all get to live... not without a price though." She then turned to look at Sierra and walked out of the dark, blood filled room as pleas and echoes for help along with the sound of a sword slashing could be heard from the other side of the room.
She walked through the seemingly endless halls within her palace-walls decorated with jewels and gold, the palace looked just as luxurious, elegant and as magnificent as the owner yet just as dark and terrifying.
As she walked through these halls, she wondered-'can I really afford to go to that human world and leave...him?'
Her elegant red dress adored with shining jewels from top to bottom and the delicate tiara she wore on her head matched her enchanting black hair, her blood-colored eyes and lips with her fair white skin. Even though people knew well enough to fear her-none could could deny the allure of her beauty
Through the endless halls of her palace, the only sound that could be heard was her heels as she walked towards what seemed to be the only bright room in the palace full of darkness.
She wondered so much earlier, her head was about to burst yet now, seeing this door, her eyes starts to sparkle with determination.
She slowly opened the door, and there she saw a child who looked almost the complete opposite of her. She looked dark and deadly while the child looked kind and friendly, with soft light blue hair and shiny golden eyes-he looked like a saint himself with his innocent looks. It's too bad he looked sickly and pale as he laid in his bed while staring at the window-not noticing his own sister enter the room.
Ever since he was born, this child has had an incurable disease known as 'Aethrill'-it was a sickness that weakens it's victim as time goes by and the oldest person who has lived with Aethrill in Erythraen was only 420 years old-equivalent to 21 years old in the human world.
Kritanta looked at the child who was staring out the window with fondness in her eyes and a hint of regret in her smile.
"Luci.. how are you feeling today?"
She said with a gentle and soothing voice that seemed to surprise the boy as he tried to hurriedly get up-Luci was the nickname she had made for him since he was born and has used it even now.
"S-sister..! I'm feeling all better now thanks to sister. No need to be worri-!"
"Luci, I know you aren't actually feeling better. And don't worry about me-I'm your sister... I'm strong and I'll definitely make sure you'll be cured." She said abruptly yet determined, her tone slightly cracking with sorrow.
Lucian who was taken by surprise at her sister's sudden hug soon gradually began to warm up and hug her sister back. At times like these, her sister is usually going through a tough decision-one that will most likely involve his life and death.
The wind swayed gently as the curtains fly as the two continued to hug each other without saying a single word. Time soon passed by unnoticed-or perhaps they've always noticed but she simply didn't want to let go, maybe she doesn't wanna leave her brother's side because the moment she does... she's back in a hellhole again.
By the time the warmth of the sun has gone outside, the sky has already been painted with then sunset's hues. She then soon let go of her brother and looked down, she couldn't dare look to up to face her brother. How could she... when she was about to leave him again? She's only leaving him for a little bit more than she did last time yet she's already feeling afraid-as if something would happen-as if he'd disappear..
She then took a deep breath as she held her brother in her arms once again and said he with a soft voice
"Luci.. I'm going somewhere and I promise I'll be back, so wait here for me okay?"
Luci hugged her and said with a gentle and understanding smile on his face
"Yes... I'll wait for you sister."
__________________________________________
Kritanta sighed as she looked at the rose brooch in her hands. She contemplated for a bit before making her decision.
"Sierra, get the things that I need ready."
She said with pure determination
"Your highness, are you really sure about this?"
Sierra paused
"Are you really leaving to go to the human world?"