It had been seven days since Charles's world fell apart.
Since that small body—Lily—collapsed in his arms. Since her blood soaked the cobbled street, and her final smile was buried in silence.
Since that day, Charles's room had become a living tomb. The curtains were never drawn open, food left untouched, and even the sunlight seemed reluctant to enter.
The outside world? Let it rot.
All that remained was darkness and regret, thick like fog that refused to lift.
---
Outside that room, someone waited in silence.
Vespera, the demon, knelt before the door. Not with the pride of a creature of darkness, but with a fragile body and a human face carved with guilt. Her black hair was tangled, her cheeks hollow, her dress wrinkled. Her hands clenched in her lap, nails digging into skin.
She'd long since stopped counting the days.
Each night, she wished the door would open, and Charles would yell, curse, or even cry at her.
But no. There was only silence. And the stench of death.
Footsteps approached.
"Vespera?"
She looked up wearily. Before her stood Hugo, his travel coat dusty, eyes clouded with exhaustion—and deep worry.
"It's been a week," he said softly. "Still nothing?"
Vespera slowly shook her head like a servant who'd failed her master. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"No, Lord Hugo… I… I can't do anything."
"Has he eaten?"
"No."
"Drunk anything?"
"Only a single sip… two days ago."
Hugo stepped closer and sat beside Vespera. Their shoulders brushed slightly as they both stared at the closed door as if it were the gateway to a vanished world.
"It's not your fault," Hugo finally said. "I know you… care about him, too."
Vespera lowered her head. "But I should have protected her. I'm his demon guardian. And I failed."
"Charles… he's too human now."
"That's exactly the problem," Vespera whispered, more to herself.
Hugo sighed and stood.
"I'll try talking to him."
---
He knocked gently on the door.
"Charles?"
Silence.
"It's me. Hugo."
Still no response.
"Have you forgotten who you are? You're not just any man. You are Millverton. The child of two worlds. The ruler of despair and will… and you give up just because one light went out?"
He paused, then his voice softened.
"…But I know. She was more than just a light to you, wasn't she? She was… your hope for peace."
He touched the doorknob, praying for a sign of life behind it. But nothing.
"I know, Charles… losing her hurts. But if you stay like this… then her death was truly in vain."
Behind the door, Charles only hugged his knees tighter. His red eyes had long dried of tears. But his heart—still bled.
---
Night fell.
The sky above London was pitch black. Autumn wind carried the scent of damp decay, and no stars could be seen above.
Vespera stood in a narrow alley of the slums, where light never reached. Before her stood two figures—Louis and Noir.
Noir, the demonic katana, whispered even when unspoken to. Its blade gleamed bloodlust though it hadn't moved.
"You summoned me, Lady Vespera," Noir purred. His voice was sharp and sly. "Long time no see. I thought you'd drowned in that human's grief."
"Silence," Vespera hissed.
Louis looked uneasy. "Now what?"
Vespera stared at them coldly, the red glow in her eyes reigniting.
"Kill… the Ravensword family."
Louis furrowed his brow. "What?! No. Absolutely not. That's a noble family! They're…—Are you insane?!"
Vespera stepped forward, her gaze cutting like blades.
"That's exactly why."
Louis took a step back.
"Noir, say something!"
Noir chuckled. "Ah… pain on top of pain. Wounds on wounds. You truly are a devil, Vespera. I like it."
"This… is madness," Louis muttered. "That man will kill me if he finds out."
"If he kills you, that's your problem," Vespera sneered. "But if he doesn't leave that room… he'll rot with Lily's corpse in his memory."
Louis clenched his fists. "You're using me just to…"
Vespera leaned in, whispering darkly.
"All demons bow to me. Including Noir. You are just a man borrowing power."
Noir let out a sharp hum. "Command received."
---
The next morning.
The knocking at Milverton's house woke Hugo. He stumbled to the door, eyes still groggy, and opened it—one of the townsfolk stood there, panting, face pale.
"Lord Hugo… I-I'm sorry… But your family… they…"
Hugo froze.
"…they've been murdered."
The world shattered around him.
Without a word, he ran. His feet bled from hitting stones, but he didn't care.
"Damn it… this isn't a dream, right?"
At last, he reached his home—and everything stopped.
His father. His mother. His servants.
All lay still in the silence of death. The walls were smeared with blood. The bouquet on the dining table was splattered in crimson like a cruel joke.
Hugo fell to his knees and screamed. His voice pierced the morning air.
---
Milverton Estate.
Knock. Knock.
"Charles…"
Vespera stood at the door. This time, she didn't speak as a demon.
But as a sinner.
"…There's been a murder. The Ravensword family. All of them… are dead."
Silence.
One… two… three seconds.
Then—a creak of the bed. Footsteps.
And that door, locked for a week, opened.
Charles stood there. His face pale, his eyes sunken. But in those eyes—
A red glow burned.
"Repeat that," he whispered.
"…They're all dead, Charles."
Charles exhaled slowly. His left hand trembled.
"…Then let's begin again."
---