It had been eight hours since the meeting began—eight grueling, drawn-out hours. Even with a brief intermission to rest, fatigue had settled deep into every nerve. It wasn't just physical tiredness; it was the mental exhaustion that came from navigating the politics of nobles and self-serving councilors.
Hinata sat in silence, her patience thin. They could've simply asked us to keep an eye on Atem instead of dragging this nonsense out, she thought bitterly.
That, after all, was the true reason she was called here—to act as insurance. A safeguard against the unknown power of the Demon Lord who now ruled the thriving nation of Eterna.
To those who knew Atem personally, he was not just a demon lord—he was something greater. His presence commanded both respect and unease, his eyes sharp as if he saw through the souls of men. But to those who didn't know him, he was a force they couldn't comprehend—an unknown they feared to provoke.
They called it diplomacy, but to Hinata, it was just nobles trying to look clever.
Still, she had to admit—Atem's mere existence had thrown the balance of the world into motion. The Empire's quiet movements, the alliances shifting in silence, even the sacred orders that once claimed absolute authority—all now revolved subtly around him.
The meeting had spiraled into endless speeches about safety, laws, and potential threats. But Hinata saw the truth beneath their polished words.
Johann and Count Gavan—two noblemen she had watched closely—were not just concerned with politics. They were using the fear of the Eastern Sovereign Alliance to secure more power for themselves within the council.
The smaller nations, frightened and uninformed, followed their lead like sheep.
When the final vote came, it was no surprise. The motion passed overwhelmingly—Eterna, the nation ruled by Demon Lord Atem, would be formally invited to join the council.
The speaker's voice echoed:
"Then it is decided. The Western Council approves the Eterna Federation's membership. An invitation shall be sent to His Majesty, Demon Lord Atem. Upon his confirmation, a second meeting will be held."
The hall erupted in murmurs, relief, and cautious optimism. But Hinata simply exhaled, her expression unreadable.
"Never again," she muttered under her breath. "I'm done dealing with nobles and their politics."
She turned to leave, her mind set on returning to the Church. But fate, it seemed, wasn't finished testing her patience.
"Hinata-san, a moment of your time, please."
A voice too smooth to trust.
She turned—and her eyes narrowed slightly. A young man stood there, surrounded by guards. His golden hair gleamed under the lights of the hall, and his bright smile carried the polish of noble upbringing.
Prince Elric of the Kingdom of Ingracia.
"Prince Elric," she greeted flatly, keeping her tone professional.
"Ah, Hinata-san," he said warmly, as if they were old friends. "I must apologize for keeping you after such a long day. I have a small request—one that only someone of your caliber can handle."
'Hinata-san?' she repeated inwardly, irritated. Since when did we become close enough for him to drop formalities?
Her patience, already strained from hours of empty speeches, was wearing thin. Still, Elric's position meant she couldn't simply walk away. A prince of Ingracia wasn't someone she could snub without causing a diplomatic headache later.
She sighed. "What is it you need, Your Highness?"
He smiled again—too polished, too rehearsed. "It's about the next council session. We'll be meeting with His Majesty Atem directly."
Hinata said nothing, but her eyes sharpened.
Elric continued, his tone conspiratorial. "Many of the councilors are uneasy about a demon lord sitting among us. The people, too, will be… unsettled. So I plan to test him a little. I'd like to see how far his patience extends—how much influence he's willing to grant us."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "That's why I need your help."
Hinata's eyes flashed with cold irritation. "Help you? With what exactly?"
He gave a slight, self-satisfied laugh, as if her question amused him. "Oh, don't misunderstand. I don't mean anything reckless. I merely want to observe how His Majesty responds—to certain provocations. You know him, don't you? Surely, with you present, things won't get… dangerous."
That was when Hinata's expression turned razor-sharp.
"Are you suggesting," she asked slowly, "that I stand by while you provoke someone who could erase this entire council with a single thought?"
Elric froze for a moment. "W-well, I wouldn't put it that way, of course. I simply—"
Hinata cut him off with a step forward, her presence suddenly heavy, her eyes cold as steel. "Prince Elric. If you value your life—and the peace of this continent—you'll choose your words carefully when standing before Atem."
Her tone carried the kind of authority that silenced battlefields.
Elric's confident smile faltered, if only for a second.
Hinata exhaled softly, regaining her calm. "If you wish to test his character, you'll see it soon enough. But don't mistake his mercy for weakness. His power isn't something you measure—it's something you survive."
The prince didn't reply immediately. He just stared, his charming mask cracking slightly as he realized that the woman before him wasn't speaking out of flattery—she was warning him.
Hinata turned to leave.
And as she walked away, her final thought lingered coldly in her mind—
This council has no idea what they've invited into their world.
Elric had expected her to be more cooperative. A part of him even believed Hinata would feel honored to be involved. Yet her cold, disinterested stare unsettled him. He forced a calm smile, pretending the situation was still in his control.
"W–well, allow me to explain," Elric began, clearing his throat. "Even though this is just a test of his temperament, we are talking about the Demon Lord Atem here. It would be problematic if he were to lose control. That's why we hope you would act as our bodyguard."
As the first prince, Elric had lived his entire life with people bending to his will. His confidence was unshakable. He was used to praise, admiration—even worship. He knew he was handsome, noble, and powerful. To him, no woman would dare turn him down.
And surely, he thought, Hinata Sakaguchi would be no exception.
But Hinata only looked at him with quiet confusion.
Did he seriously expect her to agree to something like that?
She crossed her arms, her tone flat and cutting. "Why me though?"
Elric blinked, surprised she didn't seem impressed. "Why? Obviously because we recognize your strength. You are the strongest commander of the Holy Knight Order in generations—the Right Hand of the Divine, the Head Knight of the Pope's Imperial Regiment! We all know your feats. In the Western Nations, no one can stand against you. I even heard you managed to fight Demon Lord Atem to a draw! With someone as strong as you protecting us, we can provoke Atem safely—to expose his true nature, while ensuring our security!"
Elric straightened proudly, thinking his reasoning flawless.
Hinata's expression didn't change, but internally, she sighed.
What is this idiot even talking about?
She had fought Atem once. Calling that battle a "draw" was nothing short of a lie. Atem was not a being that could be provoked like some reckless fool. His presence alone radiated overwhelming authority—a charisma that could silence entire armies. Behind his calm words was a mind sharper than any blade, and a power that dwarfed all others.
Atem wasn't like ordinary Demon Lords. He was beyond that—so far beyond that even the Church itself no longer dared to call him enemy.
She spoke firmly. "You should abandon that idea immediately. That man isn't someone you can just provoke. He's stronger than you can imagine. If he truly became angry, no one could stop him."
Elric laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "Ah, you're being far too modest. There's no need to act all shy in front of me, Hinata."
Her smile vanished completely. The light in her eyes hardened into something dangerous.
Before she could speak, another voice joined in—loud and mocking.
"Hahaha! Hinata-dono, no one would blame you for falling for Elric-sama," said the large knight standing beside the prince. His silver armor gleamed beneath the candlelight. His name was Reiner, the proud Knight Commander of Ingracia. His arrogance hung in the air like poison. "But the prince already has me as his bodyguard. Still, if you insist, we could use your help to guarantee absolute safety. After all, even the great Hinata might want to stand close to royalty, yes?"
Hinata's patience snapped.
"I refuse."
Her voice cut through the room like a blade. The faint pressure that radiated from her sent a chill crawling up Reiner's neck.
"The Western Holy Church and the Holy Empire of Lubelius have signed a non-aggression pact with the Eterna Federation. And one more thing…" she looked directly at Elric, her gaze unwavering. "A word of advice—don't anger Demon Lord Atem."
"W–what did you just say?" Elric's expression twisted, his pride stung.
"You dare to speak to me like that?!" Reiner barked, hand on his sword.
Neither had expected her outright rejection. The silence that followed was suffocating.
Hinata stepped forward slowly, her boots echoing against the marble floor. "If this were a formal request from the Council, I might have considered it. But what you're doing right now—approaching me without notice, trying to use my title for your personal schemes—is nothing short of foolish."
Her words struck deep. The room trembled under the pressure she was holding back.
She continued coldly, "If you had gone through proper channels, there would have been negotiations. I would have ensured that any action taken did not violate our treaty with Eterna. But instead, you came here trying to manipulate me into your mess."
Elric's face turned red with anger. "You'll regret this, Hinata-dono! Reiner-sama is the High Commander of the Ingracia Knight Order! Do you really intend to make an enemy of him?"
Reiner's men shouted behind him, "That's right! You cannot allow a Demon Lord to act unchecked! Wouldn't the Church want to stop Atem from disrupting the Council?"
Hinata's gaze swept across the group, her tone calm but final. "How unfortunate… but personally, I trust Demon Lord Atem. He doesn't act without reason—and he doesn't need to prove himself to the likes of you. Goodbye."
She turned away, her cloak brushing lightly against the floor as she left.
Elric and his knights stood frozen, unable to respond.
Hinata's words weren't loud, but they carried weight. Her refusal had been absolute. She had shown them just enough restraint to keep things from escalating into a diplomatic disaster.
Still… her thoughts grew uneasy as she walked down the corridor.
Idiots. Are they really planning to provoke Atem?
She clenched her fists. Atem was no ordinary being. He ruled Eterna with divine authority, his judgment absolute, his presence impossible to defy. If they dared to cross him, their arrogance would be the last thing they ever had.
I didn't join their plan, she thought grimly, but I hope they have enough sense to back off.
If they wanted to deal with a being like Atem, they would need more than politics and pride. They would need armies—champions beyond mortal reach. But that would take time. Time they didn't have.
Summoning a Demon Lord to their own domain could have been an opportunity for diplomacy… yet these fools only wanted to test him. It was reckless beyond measure.
Or perhaps… was this all planned from the start?
She shook her head. "No. That's impossible," she murmured under her breath. Still, unease lingered in her chest.
A faint whisper of Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, brushed her mind—a flicker of insight that made her stop in her tracks. Something wasn't right.
Hinata exhaled slowly, pushing down the anxiety creeping into her heart.
I'll have to be careful next time…
And with that closing thought, Hinata continued walking down the long, quiet hall—unaware that her refusal had already set unseen wheels into motion.