I quickly stood up, heart pounding, and grabbed the keys from the desk. Wrapping a robe tightly around my body, I opened the door and peeked into the hallway. The coast was clear.
Without thinking, I slipped into the corridor, moving swiftly and quietly. I vaguely remembered the path to the study from before, and every step echoed louder in my chest than on the floor. I ducked behind pillars and tapestries whenever I heard footsteps, pressing myself into the shadows as guards passed by.
After what felt like hours of tense creeping, I finally reached the door to the study.
I fumbled with the keys. Too many... why are there so many? My fingers trembled. Footsteps approached. My pulse thundered in my ears. No, no... faster!
Click. I exhaled in relief and slipped inside, gently closing the door behind me just as two guards strolled by.
Leaning against the door, I let out a breath. Then I turned, determined. I went straight for the cabinet drawers. The first one was full of documents on the Demon Kingdom. The second—military records. The third and fourth were the same.
But then I opened the fifth drawer.
A single document sat inside.
"The Illusion."
I pulled it out with trembling hands and flipped it open. Inside were charts, statistics, and notes—on me. On Serena.
Day 1: Serena is adapting. No memory retention. Stable condition.
Day 2: No change. No side effects.
Day 12234: Minor disturbances. Serena has strange dreams. Illusion may be cracking. More magic required.
Day 14555: Illusion unstable. Magic reinforcement failing. Retrieving her manually.
Day 14666: Retrieval failed. I'll go in myself.
Then on the final page, freshly inked words froze my blood:
Intruder breached illusion. Fallen angel posing as her brother.
Name: Lucien.
My head spun.
Lucien? A fallen angel? Pretending to be... my brother?
I flipped back through the document again, reading the cold, clinical record of my life—my thoughts, my dreams, my relationships. Everything had been monitored.
I felt like a lab rat.
Footsteps. The door creaked.
I shoved the paper back into the drawer, locked it, and dove under the desk.
Jason's voice.
"Your Majesty?" he called out. His boots clicked softly on the stone floor. "Strange… why is the door open if he's not here?"
I held my breath.
After a pause, Jason left, the door clicking shut behind him.
I waited. One heartbeat. Two. Then I slipped out from under the desk, checked the hallway, and bolted. I locked the door behind me and pressed my back against it.
My thoughts were chaos. My heart still racing.
Lucien… Fallen angel… illusion…
Everything I thought I knew was falling apart.
No… no, no…
I ran through the hallway, barefoot and panicked, clutching the key tightly in my hand. My vision was a blur of motion, and my mind was a blur of denial.
That wasn't real.
It couldn't be.
Lucien isn't a fallen angel… he's my brother. He's my brother.
The words looped over and over in my head like a shield I didn't want to let go of. I burst into the room and slammed the door behind me, chest heaving, lungs burning.
The document was fake… it had to be.
I slid down the door until I was sitting on the cold floor, arms wrapped tightly around my knees. The pressure in my chest grew heavier with every breath.
My memories. My friends. My life… It wasn't an illusion. It can't be. That would mean…
My throat tightened.
That would mean none of it was real. That everything I thought I knew was a lie.
"No…" I whispered out loud.
I shook my head violently.
Lucien is my brother. I know him. I love him. He raised me. That's real.
I pressed my forehead to my knees, trembling, trying to push away the rising tide of doubt crashing in my chest.
A soft knock echoed through the door.
"Your Majesty?"
I quickly wiped my eyes and stood up, placing the keys back where they belonged as quickly as I could. Steady… stay calm…
"Yes?" I called out, voice tight but steady enough.
Lila entered with her usual cheery smile. "Good morning, Your Majesty," she said sweetly. "I came to help prepare you for breakfast."
I nodded, still rattled, but grateful for the distraction—until she added, "And I also brought the materials I promised you yesterday."
She pulled out a sleek black bag from behind her back and handed it to me.
Confused, I took it and peeked inside… and nearly choked.
Lingerie.
And not just any lingerie—thin, lacey, barely-there pieces that looked like they belonged in the private wing of a pleasure palace.
My face turned bright red as I shoved it back into the bag.
"Lila!" I yelped, horrified. "What the hell is this?!"
She just grinned mischievously. "Your Highness, these are for your intimate bonding. Weren't you the one who asked me for tips?"
"I never asked for this!"
"Oh? And here I thought you'd appreciate the help—especially after how well my suggestions worked."
I blinked. "What?"
"The book. The hot springs." She raised an eyebrow playfully. "Judging by your expression, I'd say it worked wonders."
Images from last night suddenly flooded back.
Ciel's hands. His lips. His voice in my ear. The bath.
My face turned a dangerous shade of red.
"Oh my stars…" I groaned, covering my face with my hands.
"Ohhh, so it did work," Lila said triumphantly. "Come on, you can tell me—how was it?"
"Just shut up, Lila!" I hissed, peeking at her from behind my hands.
She burst into laughter. "It's alright. I won't pry—though your blushing says enough."
She finally calmed down and pulled out a soft lavender dress with subtle embroidery from the wardrobe.
"Now, let's get you ready for breakfast," she said, placing the dress on the bed with a wink.
Lila dressed me quickly and neatly, humming to herself as she brushed my hair and adjusted the lavender dress. Her cheerfulness was oddly calming, even though my mind was still spiraling.
Once I was ready, she led me downstairs for breakfast. Ciel was already seated at the grand table, waiting. As soon as I saw him, the words from the report came rushing back.
Lucien… a fallen angel…
My stomach tightened. I could still see the handwriting on the page. The charts. The record of my dreams. My entire life listed like a project report. Why would such a thing exist?
It's just what he wants me to think, I told myself. Lucien is my brother. He's my brother.
I forced the thoughts down as I reached the final step. Ciel stood up with a soft smile and took my hand gently.
"Good morning, my love," he said warmly, guiding me to my seat.
I nodded and gave him the most natural smile I could fake. "Good morning."
As we began eating, I did my best to keep my expression neutral. But then he suddenly looked at me.
"Are you excited for the banquet this evening?"
I blinked. "The… banquet?"
He chuckled softly. "Yes. It's today, remember? This evening. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
Of course. I inwardly cursed. How could I have forgotten? The banquet had slipped from my mind entirely amidst all the chaos and panic.
And then, like a flame catching in the darkness, I remembered.
Lucien's letter.
He said he'd see me at the banquet. That was today.
A rush of anticipation lit up inside me, chasing away the doubts like sunlight through mist. Lucien's coming. I'll finally see him.
I smiled, brighter this time—this one genuine.
"Of course I didn't forget," I said with a light laugh. "I've just been… preoccupied with other things."
Ciel tilted his head slightly, observing me, then smiled. "You seem happier now."
"Oh, it's nothing," I said quickly. "I'm just looking forward to seeing if the banquet will help bring my memories back."
He nodded. "You'll enjoy it, I promise. Some very special people will be attending."
"Special?" I repeated, curious.
I remembered what Jason had said a few days ago—something about important foreign guests arriving soon.
Ciel only smiled again. "It's a surprise."
I tried to act casual, but my thoughts were already racing again.
I ate quietly, while the storm continued brewing behind my calm mask.