Lilia’s mind drifted, the warmth of Alex’s embrace pulling her into memories she had long suppressed. As her breathing slowed, exhaustion weighing down her body, her thoughts spiraled into the past—back to where it all began.

Not wanting to stay in the demon realm’s castle, Lilia decided to come to the academy. The palace was suffocating after all.

Everywhere she looked, there would be people wanting to make use of her. But well, that was the same for every child of the demon lord; she wasn’t the only one.

The thing that she hated the most, however, was the fact that she was judged because she was a woman and a succubus.

“She’s weak.”

“A succubus with no real combat ability? She’ll never survive outside without a strong man protecting her.”

“She should just stick to charming fools. That’s all she’s good for.”

That’s what others thought of her. But she wanted to prove that this wasn’t all to her.

Yes, her dream wasn’t that grand. She didn’t want to become the demon lord, nor did she want to live a life filled with luxury; all she wanted was to become a singer one day.

She loved singing, so she wanted to make a name in that profession.

But when she reached the academy, she found out how reality can be different from expectations.

Her background was stuck to her. No matter where she went or what she did, she would always be the demon lord’s daughter.

A beautiful daughter of a very influential person. That was all she was. People approached her only because of her backing, always having some ulterior motive.

Lilia then formed a wall around her. She cut off her dreams and decided to do everything she could to grow stronger. While looking for ways, she one day came across shocking news.

She found out that she was a descendant of a very dangerous being. It was information so dangerous that it was sealed away.

Since then, she made up her mind that she would search for her ancestors’ legacies. She chose to dedicate herself to doing nothing but growing stronger.

It was then she met Alex.

He had been different from the others. He had never looked at her with condescension, never dismissed her powers as mere tricks. Instead, he had treated her as an equal, as someone valuable in her own right.

He was the first one to ask if she had a dream.

He was the one who made her realize that she could still pursue her dreams.

He said he was rooting for her. Slowly, he made her mind, which was focused on only growing stronger, divert to mundane things.

Lilia started enjoying her academy life. She saw things she couldn’t before. She realized that she wasn’t the only one with problems and that there were many other people, yet they smiled.

“You look better when you smile.” That was the first compliment Alex had given her, and it was not when they first met but the time when she smiled on the stage.

It was the time when she, for the first time, tried hosting an event.

Lilia had felt alive that day, and the smile she wore that day was real. That was something only Alex could tell, and since then, something within her changed.

‘He’s different,’ she had thought to herself.

From curiosity to fun, and from fun to friendship. She had unknowingly started to like his company.

Lilia didn’t even know when she started liking him.

‘Does it really matter?’ Lilia wondered, smiling as she hugged Alex tighter, her cheeks rubbing on his chest.

The scene from before flashed past her mind. The scene of Alex fighting against all of these vampires just to save her.

Lilia didn’t know how it came to this. From what she knew, she had entrusted her subordinates to bring her here. But when she woke up, she was in prison, and all she saw around her was Alex fighting against Lucian.

It didn’t take her long to realize what was going on.

Lucian was an annoyance that had disturbed her life after all. He was just like those other fools who thought that she was a possession they could have.

He was overbearing.

Lilia had known that if she asked Alex for help, he would save her from this problem, but she didn’t want to do that.

She wanted to prove to herself that she could take care of this type of annoyance.

But then, things changed again.

Lilia trembled a little, recalling Alex’s relationship with Zahara.

‘I-I shouldn’t be doing this—’ Lilia, gritting her teeth, tried to distance herself from Alex.

The feeling she wanted to suppress by distancing herself from Alex was appearing again. Lilia felt that if this went on, then she might really want to replace Zahara. She felt she might end up doing something wrong.

The reason she ran away from the academy was because she didn’t want to come in between Alex and Zahara, but now she was doing just that.

“Hey,” Alex stopped her, his grip on her waist tightening as he pulled her closer. “Just stay still.”

His words were gentle yet forceful at the same time.

“I-I’m fine now—” Lilia, struggling in his arms, tried to move away, but he cut her words off again.

“Lilia,” he called, making her eyes turn to his, only to freeze.

“Please. Just rest. You saved my life.” The way his voice carried utmost sincerity and the look in his eyes as if he was worried that she might break if his gaze were hard caused Lilia’s lips and gaze to quiver.

‘You were the one who saved me…’ She protested inwardly, but on the outside, she just nodded, lowering her head and relaxing in his arms.

She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know if what she was feeling was alright, but for now, she was fine with feeling this. She would think about other things later.

Alex, on the other hand, held her close, his expression unreadable yet gentle. “Sleep for now. By the time you wake up, I would’ve taken care of everything.” He murmured, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

“Um,” was all she said in reply, closing her eyes and letting the soothing sensation of the healing potion settle.

But just then, the sound of wind whistling was heard. It was very low, barely perceivable, but Lilia heard it.

Alex heard it as well; his entire body tensed. He turned his head sharply, his instincts flaring to life.

Then—

Pierce!

Lilia, who had turned to look up at Alex, froze, fresh warm blood smearing her face.

She could see his expression filled with pain, his breath hitched, a wet cough escaping his lips as he looked down at his chest.

A claw. A black, razor-sharp claw had pierced cleanly through his chest, dripping with his own blood.

Lilia gasped, her vision blurring as she struggled to understand what was happening. She couldn’t make anything out.

It was then that both Alex and Lilia heard a voice.

“Alex…”

It was Lucian, standing behind Alex.

He was alive.

And smiling.

“It was you… but not anymore.” Lucian’s voice was a whisper, dripping with malice. His crimson eyes burned with a sickening glow, his form wreathed in an unnatural darkness.

Alex’s eyes, cold and unfeeling, stared at the guy as he gritted his teeth. ‘How?’ That was the only question in his head.

‘H-Huh?’ Lilia, on the other hand, was still in shock. ‘L-Lucian was dead…’

She was sure that he died. She had seen Alex crushing that guy’s heart. No one could survive with their heart crushed.

But the blood on her face…

Lilia’s finger touched the blood on her face, her body trembling as she realized that it was real.

Lucian was alive, and all of this was happening.

Her eyes widened in horror. “A-Alex…!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep