Lyra's POV
"Your… what?!"
The words came out louder than I meant them to. Cathy's hands flew up, trying to shush me, her face turning red all the way to her ears.
"Yes… I am already engaged," she said quietly, fingers twisting the edge of the dress she was holding.
I just stared at her.
"You're engaged? Already?"
She nodded, her voice going small. "I am already two hundred and twenty years old. It was arranged by our elders long ago. We are going to get married in the future… we just haven't fixed the date yet."
She paused. Her fingers stopped twisting.
"There are still some problems between the demon clan and the dragon clan. Once everything settles… we will finally get married."
She sighed at the end. A quiet sound. The kind that carries more weight than words.
I frowned. "But why do you sound sad?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she sank down onto the carpet, folding her legs beneath her, resting her chin on her wrists. Her gaze drifted somewhere far away — past the walls, past the castle, past everything I could see.
"I don't think it will ever end," she murmured.
I sat down beside her. "Why do you think like that?"
"Didn't you see how Martin was shaking just speaking about the Dragon King in front of the Demon King?" Her voice was soft, distant. "The tension between the clans is not small. We have to wait until they become allies again."
Her eyes dimmed.
"But I don't think they will become allies… not in this lifetime."
I sighed without meaning to.
She turned her head toward me. "Why are you sighing?"
I gave her a helpless smile. "I think… the sigh suits me more."
"Why?"
I hesitated. Tried to find the words.
"Because… I'm just a human who got accidentally summoned into this world." The words came out slower than I expected. "I don't even know why I'm here. Or how I came here. And when I ask questions… nobody tells me anything."
I laughed softly. There was no humor in it.
"And suddenly… at the age of nineteen… I'm apparently getting engaged to a Demon King. Without my consent."
Even saying it out loud felt ridiculous.
"I don't know why I'm here. How I can go back. Or what's even happening around me." I pulled my knees up, wrapping my arms around them. "If I at least understood what was going on… maybe I could find a solution. But nobody seems interested in telling me anything."
I tried to sound calm. Casual. Like it didn't matter.
But it did. It all did.
"I just hope everything ends soon. I just want to go back to my cozy little room. My normal life. My small peaceful world. I don't want to get involved with anyone anymore."
I stared at the floor.
"It was supposed to be just a strange few days. But now I don't even know where this path is leading."
Cathy didn't say anything. She just moved closer and wrapped her arms around me, patting my back the way you'd comfort a child.
I smiled. Small. Tired.
At least in this strange world… I wasn't completely alone.
What I didn't know…
Was that someone had heard every word.
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He had been passing by. Nothing more.
But her voice had stopped him.
He stood in the shadow of the corridor, hidden from view, listening to words not meant for his ears.
"I don't even know why I'm here."
"Nobody tells me anything."
"I just want to go back to my small peaceful world."
Until now, he had seen her as reckless. Bold. The girl who called him a pig and laughed in the face of a demon king.
But this… this was different.
A softer side. A vulnerable side.
A human girl who had been thrown into a world she did not belong to.
He stood there for a long moment. Then, without a sound, he turned and walked away.
As if he had never been there at all.
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Lucian's POV
The Nether Hall was quiet when he returned. Shadows pooled in the corners, and the torches burned low.
Soon, Tengshe and Martin arrived to report on the engagement preparations.
Martin stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "My lord… the preparations are almost complete. Everything is nearly ready."
I nodded. "Increase the number of guards. Make the palace more secure and this is the thing that most of the clan members are waiting for and there will be disturbances and i don't want those disturbances to happen and ruin the engagement part, especially as she is a human you need to inform this beforehand to avoid any clashes. UNDERSTAND. "
I raised my voice and they nodded
My gaze shifted to Tengshe.
"Tengshe. I have a task for you."
Tengshe bowed his head. "Yes, my lord."
"Keep an eye on Catherine."
Both Martin and Tengshe looked up, confused.
"Why do you want to do that, my lord?" Martin asked carefully.
I leaned back in my seat, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
"The Dragon King and his phoenix will try to take her away. For now… she will stay here. She might be useful for us in the future."
They nodded slowly.
"And Martin." I paused. "Prepare some food from the mortal world for dinner."
Martin blinked. "My lord?"
"Make ready the eastern castle, and do it in a way that mimics the human realm. The chamber. The setting. Everything. It must feel like home." I turned his gaze to the window.
"Ask what things she prefers. And prepare them by tomorrow night."
Martin's lips curved into a knowing smile.
Beside him, Tengshe coughed lightly, clearly trying to suppress his amusement.
"My looooord…" Martin drew out the word. "By 'her'… who exactly do you mean?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"By her… I mean her."
Tengshe coughed louder this time.
Martin's face was perfectly innocent. Too innocent. "I… don't know who 'her' is."
I glared at martin.
Silently.
Slowly.
Tengshe leaned closer to Martin and whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, "If you continue pretending… you will become ashes in a few minutes."
Martin's smile vanished. He nodded quickly and left the hall, his footsteps a little faster than necessary.
After martin left, he looked at Tengshe. "Did you bring what I asked for?"
Tengshe handed me the item without a word.
He turned it over in his hands, examining it carefully.
A slow smirk appeared on my lips.
"This will be the perfect return gift for the Dragon King… don't you think?"
Tengshe said nothing. But his silence was answer enough.
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