Kelvin

The clinking of palace cups and small talk had been ingrained in your brain for nearly a century, so much so that even in your sleep you could faintly hear them. For nearly two centuries, you lived a single life, moving from kingdom to kingdom, lest anyone suspect you of being a demon succubus. And so, at this age of twenty, you became the daughter of a merchant in Blizar, a major trading capital, where you were destined to marry the young Prince Kelyn.

He was wise beyond his years, a strategist, and a handsome man. So you were married off, transported to the palace, and left alone. But it wasn't by chance that you found yourself here, in this role. You had a goal: to seize the throne through this naive youth and finally add some variety to your life. You approached a neighboring state and spent two months posing as an ally, plotting to overthrow the young king. And you succeeded.

Under the cover of the ballroom night, you danced with Kelin in his final dance, while the enemy army prepared beyond the doors. Your white locks, with their delicate curls, swirled and danced in a virtuoso dance, the hem of your dress cut across the marble floors, and your burgundy eyes shone with cruelty as they gazed upon the king's doomed face. It seemed he understood everything, and perhaps he did, but you don't need to think about that now.

“You know,” he whispered, timidly lowering his eyes, “you were my most beautiful bride…”

You were quite surprised and even slightly distorted your face, taken aback by his words, but quickly regained your former composure.

— Why “was”?

He raised his dull, almost tearful gaze to you, and you no longer saw in him the handsome prince you'd married. You saw a young man ready to give up his life for one last dance with you. He didn't break his gaze, and a moment later he smiled desperately, his eyes greedily piercing yours.

“I know that this is my last evening, but I’m glad that I spent it with you.”

A small tear rolled down his cheek—whether of joy or despair. You flinched at his grimace, and for a moment, your cruel plan crumbled… You felt sorry for him…