With the flowering tree as a backdrop, the Demon Queen herself looked like a flower, breathtakingly beautiful. But despite her beauty, Lucian had no time to admire her. An inexplicable feeling of unease furrowed his brow.

It was a kind of magic uncharacteristic of a demon – far too quiet.

Despite holding her hand, he could barely feel any trace of power. If the magic of the demon king Pluto was like a noisy beast, the magic of this woman was like a silent assassin. 

‘I need to find out what kind of fighting techniques she uses in advance. You never know when she might change her stance and try to hurt me, so it’s better to gather information bit by bit…’

“What are you doing, Lucian?”

Lucian snapped out of his deep thoughts at the call from the other side. The woman smiled and pointed with her finger above his head.

“We’re here. You should have a look.”

Unwillingly, Lucian lifted his head and for a moment his gaze froze, as if captured by the scene.

Spring was pouring down from the heavens.

Every time a light breeze brushed his shoulder, flower petals rained down from every direction. *The sound of rippling water lightly brushed his skin. Sheltered in the shade of the huge flowering tree, the moment felt as comforting and warm as the embrace of a mother from whom he had long been separated.

It was a breathtakingly beautiful sight. 

The branches of the flowering tree swayed gently in the breeze. Lucian’s eyes followed the petals as they drifted down to the lake. On the surface of the clear water, ripples shimmered like jewels.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Lost in the water, Lucian lifted his head slightly in the direction of the voice. Without him noticing, the woman had already risen from her seat and was approaching him.

Shaa…

Along with the sound of leaves brushing against each other, all the noise in the area suddenly disappeared.

For a brief moment it felt as if time had stood still.

It was as if they were the only two people left in the whole world, enveloped in profound silence. In the middle of the picturesque landscape, their eyes met. A voice, as light as a butterfly, landed softly in his ears.

“Do you like it?” 

For a moment he was enchanted. 

The woman stood amidst the rain of blossoms, like the reincarnation of spring descending from the heavens. Her skin, glistening in the sunlight, was as radiant and delicate as morning dew. 

Lucian, like a bee trapped in honey, couldn’t take his eyes off her, drenched in petals. Her short, pink hair fluttered gently in the breeze. 

“I’m glad. You seem to like it.”

Even as the woman rose from the other side and approached him, Lucian remained frozen, as still as a stone. 

Suddenly he couldn’t think of anything. 

His vision went white and everything around him seemed to disappear. The only thing he could see were her lips, blooming as beautifully as the full blossoms above his head. 

“Then give me something in return.” 

It was as if he had been put under a spell by a mischievous fairy. 

The sound of the canoe tilting reached his ears. Her face came closer. Her breath came like a whisper on the spring breeze. 

“It’s all right.”

She murmured, her voice dripping into his ears like honey. 

When Rose wrapped her arms around his neck, Lucian wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close as if under a spell. She brushed her hair back, her soft laughter sounding sweet. 

“Don’t think about anything.”

Rose, who had been whispering, tilted her face slightly. Lucian, lost in thought, found himself mesmerised by her eyelashes glistening in the sunlight. As her hand brushed the nape of his neck, his eyes slowly fluttered shut, as if lulled by the soft touch of feathers.

The two shadows, rippling on the surface of the lake, merged into one. At the moment their breaths met, a warm, alien sensation slipped between his lips.

“…!” 

At that moment, it was as if he had been pulled out of a swamp – his senses returned sharply. Lucian pushed her away. 

The canoe tipped to one side from the force. Lucian grabbed the opposite edge just in time to keep the boat from capsizing, but the sudden thrust sent the Rose tumbling into the lake. 

Splash! 

The water rippled violently. Lucian clung to the canoe to steady it, glaring as the Demon Queen’s head rose from the surface. His voice, sharp and angry, roared at her. 

“So now you resort to using mental magic?” 

Despite his hardened and hostile expression, the Demon Queen just laughed happily. 

“But isn’t it said that falling in love feels like magic?” 

“What nonsense are you talking about?” 

“It’s true. You just don’t understand because you haven’t experienced love yet, Lucian.” 

“What do you mean I don’t understand love?” 

“You’ve never been in love, have you? That’s why you still don’t know.” 

Leaning her arms on the edge of the canoe, the Rose laughed softly, her smile as carefree as ever.

“There should have been a kiss at that moment earlier.” 

“That’s just your opinion.” 

“Seriously, Lucian, you have no sense of romance.” 

Lucian swallowed a deep sigh that had been on the tip of his tongue. He’d told her countless times not to touch him without permission. 

“Lucian, hold my hand.” 

Seeing through her transparent tricks, he turned his head away, ignoring her completely. 

“Lucian, help me. Please?” 

“…….” 

“My ankle is caught in the waterweed and I can’t get out.”   

Rose pretended to struggle, grabbing the boat and shaking it dramatically. Knowing full well that reacting would only draw him further into her antics, Lucian deliberately offered a different answer.

“I’ll go back first. Get out.”

“Are you really leaving?”

“I’m leaving the boat here, so climb in and use it to get back.”

Without hesitation, Lucian turned his back on her and dove into the lake.

“Lucian!” 

The demon queen’s desperate call echoed behind him, but Lucian didn’t even look back. He swam steadily towards the castle. 

* * * 

When Lucian returned to his room, the demon queen did not follow. Every time he looked out the window from the corridor, he could see her still hovering in the same spot, waving at him. 

It was obvious that she could easily get out on her own, but she chose to stay. Her behaviour was nothing short of cunning and deceitful. Lucian now clearly understood how demons worm their way into the cracks of the human heart. 

He stripped off his wet clothes and entered the bathroom. He washed his body, along with the damp, heavy feeling that clung to him. When he came out, his discarded clothes were gone, replaced by neatly folded new ones placed by the door. 

Lucian lifted his eyes briefly to scan the room, but the demon queen was nowhere to be seen. Not even a trace of her presence could be felt. 

Is this the same magic she used to make my clothes last time? 

For some reason, feeling that he was being mocked, Lucian chose to dress in a *chiton* hanging in the bedroom instead of the formal attire provided. Curious, he stepped out into the hallway, only to find the demon queen still hovering in the same place. 

As soon as she saw him, she waved at him again. 

Lucian turned back with a blank expression. 

‘Did she think I’d come to her by preparing clothes for me?’ 

Not a chance. Let her stay there forever if she wants. 

After breaking the rules and shamelessly mocking him, Lucian had no further desire to show kindness to this demon. Without hesitation he returned to his bedroom and lay down. Having slept only a few hours the previous night due to the Demon Queen’s clinging to him, drowsiness quickly overcame him. 

Lucian soon fell into a deep sleep. 

* * * 

After Lucian left, Rose was left alone, clinging to the boat and floating aimlessly on the water. Her dark eyes flickered as she looked towards the distant bedroom with the curtains drawn. 

No matter how hard she called for him, Lucian didn’t turn around. He seemed genuinely annoyed by her sudden attempt to kiss him without permission. 

‘But in that moment, I was sure it was okay.’

Words weren’t always necessary for consent. Rose vividly remembered the look on Lucian’s face the moment their eyes met. 

He clearly felt the same as she did. 

Lucian might think that Rose had manipulated his feelings, but the magic she used was only enough to gently nudge someone who was already leaning. It was only meant to make Lucian forget his position for a moment, to remove the resistance created by the fundamental divide between a human devoted to the gods and a demon. 

The hands wrapped around her waist were undoubtedly his own choice. The stubborn man would never admit it if his life depended on it.