“Too much curiosity can hasten one’s demise.”

“I never thought I’d receive concerns about my lifespan from you of all people.”

It was absurd that someone with an immortal body like herself would hear this from Rubellan, who was half-mad. Of course, he was no longer the unstable being he once was, having become complete now. But in Sezl’s mind, he still remained in that unstable period of the past.

A half-brother who, though powerful, had never obtained an immortal body.

“This isn’t exactly pleasant dinner conversation.”

Rael, who had been listening silently, wiped her mouth and spoke up. Though she had eaten very little, she had already lost any desire to continue her meal. How could food go down easily when two people were practically at each other’s throats right in front of her?

“Shall I clear this away? Senior?”

Sezl wondered whether he meant the food or herself, but she was more interested in seeing how far this atmosphere would go. So she decided to quietly focus on their conversation.

“Is that how you treat a guest? I’m not a stranger. I’m family.”

Rael’s words were unexpected. Both Sezl and Rubellan looked bewildered by her response.

“As long as someone is a guest in the castle, they should be treated well. That’s how humans typically behave.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Rubellan answered immediately while stroking Rael’s shoulder, as though her words required no explanation.

Well, look at that.

Sezl realized their relationship was quite different from what she had imagined. If there was a power dynamic between them, it seemed the human was the one in control.

“How interesting.”

This scene was a hundred, no, a thousand times more fascinating than anything she could have imagined.

* * *

“What do you want?”

The dark reception room, with curtains fully drawn and not even a single candle lit, was hardly welcoming to guests. Though demons’ vision wouldn’t be hindered by darkness, even a pretense of hospitality was lacking.

“When have I ever needed a reason to act?”

“You’ve suddenly taken interest in a mere human.”

Rubellan twisted his lips into a smile. He knew better than anyone that Sezl, who had killed dozens or hundreds of humans with a single fingertip a hundred years ago out of boredom, was not friendly toward humans.

Undeterred by his sneer, her voice remained calm as she replied.

“Isn’t it intriguing that you, of all demons, are keeping a human close?”

Sezl sat cross-legged on the comfortable sofa, leaning back deeply, making herself at home.

“And after seeing you two together today, it’s beyond intriguing, it’s absolutely fascinating.”

As a cackling laugh followed from Sezl’s mouth, Rubellan’s eyebrows twisted slightly.

“Rubellan, shall I give you some advice?”

“How generous, advice too?”

“You’re my precious brother, nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

Standing with his back to the window, Rubellan looked down at Sezl, who was fidgeting with her nails while bouncing her leg. His languid gaze seemed to say, “Go ahead, let’s hear it.”

“The more precious something is to you, the less you should flaunt it. The more you do, the more others will covet what’s yours. Or perhaps even want to destroy it.”

At Sezl’s words, Rubellan contemplated whether he should get rid of her now.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not saying I’m one of those people. Just be careful around our other siblings.”

“I appreciate the advice.”

His sharp voice showed no trace of gratitude. His displeasure was evident.

“Your reaction is unusually immediate. The Rubellan I remember would turn away without blinking an eye even when siblings cut off his arm when he was young.”

“No reason to withhold an arm that would regenerate anyway.”

“Is it the same with that human? If she doesn’t die, would you not blink an eye at her being injured?”

Rubellan didn’t answer Sezl’s question, but she could already feel his answer clearly.

Rubellan didn’t even try to hide the murderous aura surrounding him. No, he probably didn’t even realize he was emanating such hostility.

“How could my interest possibly fade with this?”

Sezl became convinced that this human would become her brother’s sore spot.

“Poor Rubellan. Even gods cannot save a demon who has fallen in love.”

Love is poison to demons. Not once in the demon realm had she seen anyone escape this principle. When demons with cold hearts are swayed by emotions, only destruction remains.

“You’ll regret this.”

“We’ll see.”

Sezl looked with pity at Rubellan, who merely answered with a smile.

Would her brother walk toward destruction with that arrogant expression? Perhaps for him, that might even be a welcome fate.

“I didn’t come to torment you, so I should repay your hospitality.”

“Information?”

“Juletan is creating a chimera army.”

Sezl welcomed anything entertaining, regardless of who benefited. This included fights between her siblings.

“When has he not been doing that?”

Juletan combining monsters to create chimeras was nothing new. The information wasn’t surprising at all.

“He must be very angry, because this time he’s conducting quite an interesting experiment.”

Sezl wouldn’t have mentioned it if the information were trivial.

“It seems he’s transforming his own body into a monster.”

“What foolishness.”

But such desperate measures merely amused Rubellan.

“Did you know Juletan has Father’s heart?”

Just as Rubellan was about to dismiss her with a comment about talking nonsense, Sezl’s words made him pause.

“I think Juletan is about to create an unprecedented incident this time. What do you think?”

Rubellan, arms crossed, intermittently tapped his fingers against his arm.

Juletan and Father’s heart. That combination was not just fresh, it was disturbing.

“Why tell me this?”

As she said, it wasn’t useless information. However, Juletan and Sezl were true siblings born from the same womb. Why would she betray her blood brother to share information with a half-brother?

“Am I the type to be swayed by blood ties? I don’t care whether it’s Juletan or you, as long as it amuses me.”

In fact, if they would fight bloodily, all the better.

“What use are siblings anyway?”

Her bright smile carried the implication that what she said about Juletan applied equally to Rubellan.

“Still playing both sides, I see.”

“You’re the one benefiting this time.”

She never intended to take anyone’s side. In her tedious existence, watching Rubellan and Juletan fight was her only entertainment. That’s why this moment was more enjoyable for Sezl than any other.

“Don’t be so cold to a sibling who thinks of you this way.”

Sezl’s face wore a rather lovely smile, designed perfectly to grate on Rubellan’s nerves.

* * *

And so, though an uninvited guest, Sezl was staying boldly at Rubellan’s castle. The one suffering from this was not Rubellan but Rael.

When Rael, who had been sleeping constantly due to overwhelming drowsiness, stretched her stiff body and headed to the garden to bask in the sunlight, she encountered Sezl there.

Sezl greeted Rael so naturally that it seemed suspiciously coincidental, and the two ended up walking side by side.

“Life here is unbearably boring. Trapped in such a suffocating place with nothing entertaining, isn’t it dreadful?”

“All places are the same when you live in them.”

Of course, she didn’t mean it. This place was indeed hell, but she didn’t want to bare her thoughts to Sezl.

“Hmm, you could be honest with me, you know.”

Sezl, with her quick perception, read Rael’s thoughts.

“But didn’t you say you were originally a mage?”

Sezl moved closer to Rael. Bending her upper body and examining Rael from both sides, her face moved right in front of Rael’s nose.

“Yes.”

“Then why is your magical power so weak? I don’t consider my senses particularly dull.”

“I was never exceptionally talented.”

At Rael’s words, Sezl gently stroked her chin and pushed out her lips.

“Being in such a dangerous place with barely any magical power must make you anxious, doesn’t it?”

“Even ordinary mages have limited magical power here.”

“Come on, you should at least be able to protect yourself.”

Rael couldn’t figure out why she was bringing this up or what her intentions were.

“I’ll give you a gift.”

“What?”

Regardless of Rael’s response, Sezl rummaged through her garments. She was wearing only a thin robe over the black dress she always wore, and it was puzzling where in those folds she could possibly store anything.

After searching for a while, Sezl exclaimed “Ah!” and pulled something out. Something silver and shiny dangled from the tip of her fingers.

“A bracelet?”

It was a bracelet with a thin silver chain and a small blue gem embedded in it. Though simple in design, it had an air of luxury.

“I wouldn’t bother if it were just a bracelet. This one has defensive magic on it.”

“What kind do you mean?”

“Even a weak human can generate enough magical current to save their life once when attacked by monsters.”

Honestly, Rael wasn’t interested in mere jewelry, but this object tempted her. She thought that if she had had it during her previous escape attempt, she might not have failed so miserably.

“I’ll give it to you as a token of our friendship. What do you think?”

Like a true demon, she produced exactly the item Rael couldn’t help but desire in this situation.

Though Rael had repeatedly vowed not to fall for a demon’s tricks, at this moment she couldn’t help but give in to temptation. How could she refuse something so useful?

“What do you mean by becoming friends?”

But she hadn’t abandoned all suspicion. Cautious that “becoming friends” might imply some kind of contract with a demon, Rael carefully asked.

“Exactly what it sounds like, just a bribe for you to be friendly with me. It’s not that weird thing you’re thinking of, so don’t worry.”

Rael couldn’t take her eyes off the bracelet and moistened her parched lower lip with her tongue. Sezl smiled gently and spread the bracelet wide in front of Rael.

“Hold out your arm.”

Rael extended her arm, seemingly entranced, and Sezl placed the bracelet on her wrist. The silver chain wrapped around Rael’s wrist as soon as it touched her skin.

“It suits you well.”

The bracelet sparkled beautifully on Rael’s wrist, looking perfectly at home there.