The Damned Demon - Chapter 827

The room was darkly lit by the soft glow of enchanted candles, their flickering light casting shifting shadows across the walls.

Papers were spread across Rowena's desk, maps marked with strategic notations, documents detailing supplies, and plans for her people's survival.

Even if her people were broken and weakened to take part in quests, she wanted to find some alternatives for them to survive as they recover.

She had spent the past few days drowning herself in work, refusing to sit idly despite her kingdom lying in ruins.

Everyone—Igrid, Isola, even the consorts—had insisted she rest, that she should focus on the child growing inside her rather than burden herself with matters of state. But she could not sit still, not when there were so many lives depending on her and enemies possibly waiting to finish them off.

Her plans to train herself to improve her abilities and hone her powers had already been put on hold for the sake of her unborn daughter. That, she had agreed to. But doing nothing? That was never an option.

She can't let her people crumble.

She was their queen. She was their hope. And she refused to let that hope die.

She also couldn't forever depend on Lakhur's generosity and burden him with taking care of her and her people. His kingdom would weaken if that were to happen, and he was already under great risk by doing so.

Her mind was focused—until a sudden gust of wind swept through the room.

The dark curtains of her balcony billowed violently, the air shifting as if someone—or something—had just entered.

Rowena leaned back slightly, her grip tightening around the quill. Her cold, crimson eyes lifted toward the fluttering drapes, her senses sharpening. She wasn't alone.

But she remained still, calm.

The presence in the room was not unfamiliar.

"...Valeria?"

The name left her lips before she even fully stepped past the curtains.

And there she was.

A tall, imposing figure stood just beyond the balcony railing, clad in heavy, dark armor. The moonlight gleamed against the jagged edges of her plating, her crimson cape fluttering behind her. A massive, ominous sword rested sheathed against her back, the very weight of it exuding a silent warning.

But what caught Rowena's attention first—was the small black cat with twin tails sitting atop her helmet.

"Meowww..." Twilight purred, her tiny fangs peeking as she let out a content sound. Her dark red eyes shimmered in the night, gazing at Rowena as if she had just spotted an old friend.

Rowena's lips parted slightly before she let out a soft breath.

Even after all this time, she still carried around this pet. She must be fond of her.

Valeria took a single step forward, standing like a silent protector before speaking in that same emotionless, calm tone.

"Asher wanted me to hand this over to you, Your Majesty."

A letter.

Rowena's heart stilled at the sight of the dark red envelope in Valeria's gauntleted hand.

Her fingers twitched.

It had been a week.

A week since she had received his last letter. A week since she had struggled to decide whether she should read his next letter. A week since she had restlessly wondered if he was even still alive.

Now, standing here, staring at the envelope before her, her heart clenched painfully.

This was proof.

Proof that he was still there. That he still existed.

Before she even realized it, her hand had already reached out.

The cold steel of Valeria's gauntlet briefly brushed against her fingers as she took the letter.

Rowena tightened her grip around it, her breath uneven.

She stared at the envelope as though it held something dangerous, something that would ruin the delicate balance of her thoughts.

"Asher named you," Rowena suddenly said, her voice quiet but firm.

Valeria tilted her helmet slightly in acknowledgment.

"Isola told me," Rowena continued, lifting her gaze. "Even though it was against our traditions, I believe you deserved it."

Valeria silently listened.

"You are no longer bound by duty to me or this kingdom like I told you in the past," Rowena stated. "You are free. You don't have to address me as your queen anymore. You may address me by name, Valeria."

A moment of silence passed between them before Valeria inclined her head ever so slightly.

"If that is what you wish, Rowena."

It was the first time she had ever heard Valeria say her name like that. It felt strange yet at the same it didn't.

Rowena wasn't sure why she felt that way.

Valeria turned to leave, but just as she did, Rowena spoke again.

"...Wait."

Valeria paused, her cape shifting in the wind as she turned slightly to look back.

Rowena opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

She didn't know what she wanted to ask. She didn't know why she had stopped Valeria in the first place.

After a long moment, she merely shook her head.

"...It's nothing. You may leave."

Valeria gave a single nod before leaping into the air, disappearing into the night sky as quickly as she had come.

Now, Rowena was alone again.

Alone, with the letter.

She walked inside, her fingers tightening around the envelope as she slowly sat on the edge of her bed.

Her breath was uneven.

Her thoughts swirled.

There was a part of her that wanted to keep it aside.

A part of her that told her she didn't need to read his words.

That she shouldn't listen to a man who had lied to her for almost their entire time together.

And yet—

Before she even realized what she was doing...

She had already opened it.

Her eyes swept over the inked words, her heart pounding despite herself.

What did he have to say this time?

And more importantly—

Why did she desperately need to know?

The words blurred together for a moment before she focused—and read.

Rowena's hands were weak as she held the letter, her eyes scanning the inked words written by a man she once trusted, once loved.

The last letter she read pulled her deeper into a whirlpool of emotions, more than she wanted to acknowledge.

But this time—it was different.

The words were heavier.

"There are things I never wanted to tell you, Rona. Things I had hoped you would never have to learn. Not because they weren't true—but because I never wanted to destroy the man you admired."

"You always spoke so highly of your father. And I— I never wanted to be the one to take that from you."

Rowena swallowed, her grip tightening on the paper as an unfamiliar chill spread through her veins.

Her father.

She had always revered him.

Respected him.

Loved him.

Through his rule, she had learned strength. Through his words, she had found wisdom. Through his eyes, she had seen what it meant to lead.

She never doubted him. Never questioned his judgment.

Then why...

Why did she already feel a deep, suffocating dread creeping into her heart?

Was everything Seron told her really true?

She took a deep breath and forced herself to read on.

"I won't ask you to believe me. But I need you to understand why I had to lie. Why I had to hide so much from you."

"Because the truth, Rona..."

"The truth is that your father let me suffer."

Rowena's breath hitched.

Her chest tightened.

Her eyes, wide and frozen, stared at the words before her.

Her father?

Let him... suffer?

Her fingers gripped the letter so tightly it crumpled in her hands.

"He knew, Rona. He knew everything. He knew that I was tortured, beaten, humiliated ever since he brought me into our kingdom. He knew that the nobles and servants alike took pleasure in trying to break my soul."

"And he did nothing."

A sharp stab of pain shot through her heart.

He was tortured for so long??

And her father had known?

He knew?

"I was a cripple. A powerless, soulless thing. And because of that, I was nothing more than entertainment to them, while for others, they were envious and delusional of what I had taken from them by simply existing."

"Oberon, Edmund, and the likes of them— they had their fun. They broke my bones, stripped me of dignity, made sure I knew just how worthless I was."

"And your father silently watched and let it happen."

Rowena pressed her lips together, shaking her head.

No... No, that can't be true.

"I don't know if he enjoyed it. I don't know if he did it out of hate or amusement. Maybe he just didn't care."

"But he let it happen."

"Every. Single. Time."

"But it doesn't end there. He knowingly sent your mother to a dangerous place, knowing she might not return. He probably worked together with Naida to betray us all."

Her breath trembled.

Her entire world trembled. She still hadn't recovered from the betrayal Naida had done by abandoning the kingdom and giving away the key. Naida was like a godmother to her, and she trusted her.

But now...reading this, she felt even more crushed.

Why did so many of her own people commit such betrayals to destroy their own kingdom? How could they be so ungrateful and dishonorable?

The cold rage she had suppressed because of their betrayals was threatening to spill from her eyes. Yet she suppressed it as the words she had read so far and was reading were causing her even more agony.

"Rowena, I need you to understand. I never lied to hurt you. I never wanted to take away the father you loved."

"But I had to lie. I had to keep it from you, because I knew— I knew how much you revered him. I knew that if you ever found out the truth, it would destroy you and that you might not believe me."

"I didn't want you to feel what I felt."

"The pain of knowing that the one person you trusted the most was the one who betrayed you the worst. I know you might not feel like believing me, but Isola has seen it all. She could help you see the truth."

The letter slipped from her hands.

It floated to the floor like a withered leaf, forgotten amidst the storm raging in her chest.

Rowena sat there, her hands limp, her body stiff, staring at nothing.

A deep, hollow ache expanded inside of her, stretching until it felt like she was going to break apart.

Her father—

The father who had taught her, who had raised her, who had shaped her into the woman she was—

Was this truly who he was?

Was this the man she had admired all her life?

The image of her father's proud, noble face blurred in her mind. The lessons he had given her, the wisdom he had spoken, the strength he had shown—

Were they all a lie?

Her vision shook.

Her breaths came out in uneven gasps.

The stabbing sensation in her chest grew unbearable as she clenched her hands into trembling fists.

She wanted to deny it.

She wanted to believe it was only a excuse.

That this was all a cruel deception.

But—

Her father had sentenced Silvan's mother to death just for bearing a noble's child.

Her father had destroyed the Eclipsion Kingdom, birthing Kira's hatred.

Her father had sent his own wife...her mother to her death. She already suspected something was off because he never conducted a proper investigation or even tell her what kind of quest her mother had gone for.

But that was not just it.

Hadn't she already seen glimpses of his cruelty echo even after his passing?

Hadn't she already realized the weight of his cold, merciless judgment in the past?

Hadn't she already wondered why Asher held such a deep, unrelenting hatred for Oberon and Edmund?

Or was she refusing to see it all?

Her fingers dug into her arms.

A violent storm of emotions swelled inside her.

Betrayal.

Pain.

Grief.

And something else—

Something she never thought she would feel toward her own father.

Doubt.

She pressed her palms against her face, her shoulders trembling.

She had always believed in her father's actions.

She had always believed in his wisdom.

She had always believed that he was a man of honor.

But now...

Now, she wasn't sure if she could believe in anything at all.

But most of all she felt her heart felt heavier than ever to realize the truths Asher had been keeping to himself for her sake.