After the announcement, people began stepping out of their homes one after another.
The once noisy streets of Hope City slowly grew orderly as everyone moved toward the central courtyard before the palace.
No one spoke loudly.
No one dared to act out of line.
Alvana walked beside Elena, his thoughts still unsettled from everything he had learned. Aster remained in her arms, quiet as always, his eyes open and observing everything around him.
They reached the gathering point and stopped among the crowd.
One by one, people dropped to their knees.
Elena leaned slightly toward Alvana.
"Do not bow," she said quietly. "No matter what happens."
Alvana hesitated for a brief second, then nodded.
His mind was already heavy. Adding fear to it would not change anything.
A loud voice echoed through the courtyard.
"All bow to King Derek!"
The crowd lowered their heads completely.
Only three people remained standing.
A woman nearby noticed immediately. She tugged at Elena's sleeve, panic written all over her face.
"You must be new," she whispered urgently. "Please, just bow. If you don't, you'll die. The boys will be taken."
Elena looked at her and gave a calm smile, but her body did not move.
At the front, King Derek sat on an elevated throne.
His gaze moved slowly across the kneeling crowd and it stopped on the trio
His expression shifted slightly, he was curious as to who'd dare oppose him. and immediately he felt he had seen the lady in front before.
He stood up.
The spokesperson beside him stiffened immediately.
"My king…" the man whispered, already nervous.
Derek did not respond. He stepped down and began walking toward the three figures who refused to bow.
The closer he got, the clearer his expression became.
Elena's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then widened.
"…Derek?" she said, almost in disbelief.
Derek stopped a few steps away from her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he let out a quiet breath.
"Elena…"
There was no authority in his voice now, he was surprised and elated
Alvana looked between them. "You know him?"
Elena did not answer immediately. Her eyes stayed on Derek.
"I thought you were dead," she said finally.
Derek gave a faint smile, but there was something heavy behind it.
"I could say the same to you."
Silence fell between them for a few seconds.
Years of distance. Questions. Things unsaid.
Derek's gaze shifted briefly to Alvana, then to Aster.
Then back to Elena.
"You disappeared," he said. "No trace. No word."
Elena looked away slightly. "I had no choice."
Derek studied her face carefully, as if trying to confirm she was real.
Then he exhaled.
"…You're really here."
There was something like relief in his voice but he quickly hid it
He straightened slightly, remembering where he was and he quckly regained his kingly disposition
He turned to the guards.
"Take them inside."
The crowd remained bowed as Elena and the others were escorted away.
Behind them, whispers began.
==========
Inside the palace, they were led into a wide hall.
Servants moved quietly. No one spoke unless spoken to.
Alvana stood beside Elena, still observing everything carefully.
Aster remained silent, his eyes moving slowly around the room.
Derek entered shortly after.
For a moment, the room cleared, leaving only the four of them.
Derek looked at Elena again.
"You look… different," he said.
Elena gave a small, tired smile. "Life has a way of doing that."
Derek let out a quiet breath, almost like a laugh.
"I searched for you," he said suddenly.
Elena's expression shifted slightly.
"For years," he continued. "After everything that happened… I thought at least you made it out alive."
She did not respond immediately.
Then she said quietly, "I survived. That's all."
Derek nodded slowly.
His gaze softened again, just for a moment.
Then it shifted to Alvana and aster
"And this are?"
Elena looked at him. "My sons."
Derek raised a brow slightly, surprised.
"…You have a son?". "two?"
There was no mockery in his tone. Just genuine surprise.
Elena nodded.
Derek looked at Alvana more carefully this time.
Then his gaze shifted to Aster.
He paused.
Something about the child caught his attention, but he said nothing.
"…I see," he said eventually.
He turned away slightly.
"You must be tired. I'll have rooms prepared."
He paused, then added, quieter,
"We can talk later."
Elena gave a small nod.
Not long after, they were taken to their rooms.
The door closed behind them.
The moment they were alone, Elena's expression changed.
She walked toward the window, then turned back.
"We need to leave," she said.
Alvana frowned. "Already?"
"I don't trust him," she replied. "Something feels wrong."
Alvana thought for a moment.
"If we leave now, it will raise suspicion."
Elena stayed silent.
"Give it time," Alvana continued. "We prepare first. Then we leave quietly."
She looked at him.
"How long?"
"…Three days."
A few seconds passed.
Then she nodded.
"Fine."
Elsewhere in the palace, a woman walked through the royal garden.
Servants lowered their heads the moment she appeared. No one dared to look directly at her face.
She moved with calm confidence, her presence alone enough to silence the space around her.
She was the princess.
The only daughter of King Derek.
Beautiful beyond reason. And feared beyond measure.
In Hope City, people whispered her name with dread. They called her the Devil's Angel. Not just because of the lives she had taken, but because of what lay beneath her beauty.
Years ago, a curse had been placed upon her and It did not show at first, but as she grew, it revealed itself.
A constant hunger. A restless sexual craving that no one had ever been able to satisfy.
Men who were brought before her either lost their minds trying… or lost their lives failing.
Over time, the palace stopped questioning it.
And the city learned to stay silent.
Two large men followed behind her, carrying a heavy box.
She did not speak until they entered a secluded building.
Inside, several men stood waiting.
The box was placed on the ground.
"Open it," she said.
They obeyed.
Inside was a large stone, marked with faint glowing patterns.
Something was sealed within it.
"I need it opened," she said calmly.
No one moved.
And then her Her gaze shifted. it was cold and unforgiving
One of the men beside her stepped forward.
A scream followed Blood splashed around. one of the men had his neck sliced
The room froze.
She looked at them again.
"I will not repeat myself."
A man stepped forward, trembling.
"I will do it… but you must let us go after."
She studied him for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Alright."
The man quickly got to work, pulling others with him.
Time passed.
Fear filled the room.
Finally, the stone cracked.
A glowing blue pearl rolled out.
The moment she saw it, something in her expression changed.
Her fingers brushed against it.
A strange familiar warmth spread through her body.
She closed her eyes briefly, steadying herself.
Then she picked it up.
Behind her, the burly man dropped to his knees.
"We've done what you asked… please…"
She turned slowly.
"I remember you," she said.
The man nodded quickly. "Yes… your highness…"
"You said you would do anything."
"Yes… anything…"
She stepped closer, her presence overwhelming.
For a moment, she studied him carefully.
Then she spoke, her voice low.
"And you believe you can satisfy me?"
The man froze.
Hope flickered in his eyes, mixed with fear.
"I… I can try…"
She held his gaze for a second longer.
Then her expression faded.
"You can't."
The words were calm and final.
The man's face collapsed into desperation.
"Please… I can..."
He didn't finish, more like he couldnt.
A blade flashed and silence followed.
The princess turned away, already losing interest.
This had happened too many times.
None of them were enough and none of them would ever be.
She walked toward the exit, the pearl resting in her hand.
But just as she stepped outside, she stopped.
Her grip tightened slightly.
Her eyes shifted toward a distant direction.
The pearl had reacted.
Something was calling to it.
And whatever it was…
It was close.