Chapter 2: The king's Pawn
Prince Eric was delighted to be spending time with both Victoria and Phina, unaware that his father, King Zack, had a much darker motive. The King was hiding a deep, dangerous secret about the kingdom of Axel and planned to use Victoria's pure heart and popularity to distract the public and secure his failing throne.
When the sisters returned home, Lina and Zane once again ignored Victoria's presence, showering Phina with affection instead. Secretly, Phina and her mother celebrated, believing their plan to manipulate the Prince was working perfectly.
The next morning, Victoria encountered the mysterious old man, Karl, on her way to the riverbank. Sensing her fear, he calmed her and offered a warning: she must not trust the King or Prince Eric. He told her a haunting story of a demon leader who was betrayed by a man he once saved, leading to the loss of a kingdom where every demon is bound to a single soul. While Victoria spent the day learning these ancient truths from Karl, Phina continued her "friendship" with Eric.
The King's advisor, Brian, noticed that Eric was spending all his time with Phina and reported this to the King. Fearing the throne would be handed to Eric's cousin, Liam, King Zack gave his son an ultimatum: he must marry Victoria within three months to appease the council. Eric was furious; he wanted Victoria as a conquest for his bed, not as a royal partner. However, realizing he couldn't lose his power, he agreed to his father's terms—all while maintaining a secret romantic affair with Phina.
Later, Victoria's friend Nia convinced her to sneak out to a festival in the market. There, she ran into Prince Eric. He invited her to sit beside him, and for the first time, the people of Axel saw them together. Because the citizens loved and trusted Victoria, they began to accept the arrogant Prince by association, exactly as the King had planned.
A month later, Prince Eric stood before the Council of Elders. Guided by the King's hidden influence, the Elders formally requested that Eric take Victoria as his wife, believing her public popularity would stabilize the kingdom. Ever arrogant, Eric insulted the council and stormed out.
He immediately met with Phina, who was furious to learn that her sister was officially set to become the future Princess. Their conversation turned heated; Eric's temper flared to the point of nearly striking her, but Phina—understanding his volatile nature—calmed him with affection. Despite their secret romance, Eric's pride was wounded; he despised the idea of his crown being linked to a "nobody" like Victoria, and he hated her for the genuine love the people gave her. Together, he and Phina conspired to humiliate Victoria, though Phina secretly began brewing a much darker plan involving Victoria's death.
For the next two months, Eric put on an elaborate performance, showering Victoria with calculated affection to make her fall in love. His goal was simple: win her heart, then shatter it.
Unaware of the trap, Victoria eventually agreed to the courtship. She felt a sense of relief, hoping the palace would be a sanctuary from her miserable home life. Surprisingly, even Lina supported the engagement. This sudden kindness from her stepmother made Victoria uneasy; she sensed a trap but couldn't identify the danger. In the back of her mind, the warning from the old man, Karl, began to echo: *Be careful of the King and Prince Eric.*
Suspicious of Lina's sudden support for the marriage, King Zack ordered Brian to spy on her. Upon learning of her schemes, the King realized that Phina's ruthless ambition matched his own, yet he insisted Eric marry Victoria to maintain the public's favor. To ensure Eric's cooperation, the King finally revealed the dark secret he had been keeping. However, Phina and Lina overheard this revelation and immediately pivoted their plan: they decided the King must die.
Meanwhile, the "Ruthless Prince" maintained a secret chamber filled with disturbing evidence of his debauchery—drugs, alcohol, and blood-stained clothing. Only his friend, Marcus, held the key. One night, they drugged a girl and left her for dead. Although Nia witnessed Marcus dumping the body and warned Victoria, Victoria dismissed it, not realizing the Prince was involved. When the body was discovered the next day, the kingdom fell into chaos, and the King knew his son was the culprit.
Seeking peace, Victoria took Eric to the riverbank, where they encountered the old man, Karl. Karl interrogated the Prince, who became visibly terrified and evasive. Before vanishing, Karl reminded Victoria to sing if she ever needed him. Eric's suspicious behavior left Victoria unsettled, questioning how a royal prince could be so intimidated by a mysterious wanderer who spoke only in riddles.
Unable to sleep, Victoria sought counsel from Nia's family. Nia's parents shared an ancient legend: Axel originally belonged to the demons, led by a ruler named Zancus. Zancus had saved a dying, exiled human named King Arthur. Though Zancus treated Arthur as an equal, Arthur grew jealous of the demon leader's popularity. Arthur eventually betrayed and murdered Zancus and his wife, though their son, Lucas, escaped. With his final breath, Zancus bound every demon to a human, decreeing they could only be summoned by a blood contract.
Nia's parents warned Victoria that although the demons seem powerless, they are simply waiting. Only a descendant of the demon leader, summoned by their bonded human, can undo the ancient pledge. Victoria left Nia's house burdened by the truth, unaware that Phina and Lina had just finalized a plan to dispose of her forever.
Prince Eric, troubled by his encounter with Karl, told his father about the mysterious riddle. However, even King Zack could not decipher its meaning. Eric then shared the riddle with Victoria, unaware that his strange behavior had already planted seeds of doubt in her mind.
The riddle was cold and ominous:
> "I do not shout my intentions, and I do not appear as a stranger. I wait until you are comfortable, until your guard is completely down. I am a knife that is already in your back before you realize I was ever in your hand."
Without hesitation, Victoria provided the answer: **"Betrayal."**
She looked at him pointedly, asking why an old man would offer such a dark warning to a Prince. Though she already suspected the truth, she wanted to see if Eric would confess. Instead of answering, he avoided her gaze and hurried away. Meanwhile, Phina's deadly plan had been set in motion. She and Lina waited patiently to strike, confident that this time, Victoria would have no way to escape their trap.