The mansion was silent after midnight.
Most of the staff had gone to sleep, and only the guards remained awake outside. The cold Seoul wind moved softly through the glass balconies while the city lights glowed in the distance.
Inside their room, Nithya sat near the window reading quietly.
Aryan had fallen asleep on the couch after hours of work.
For the first time since arriving in Korea, she truly looked at him peacefully.
No cold expression.
No sharp commands.
No dangerous aura.
Just Aryan.
Even sleeping, he looked exhausted.
Nithya closed her book slowly.
This man carried the weight of an entire empire alone.
Interesting.
And strangely lonely.
Suddenly, Aryan's phone vibrated on the table.
One message appeared on the screen.
"Eastern alliance movement confirmed near university."
Nithya's eyes sharpened instantly.
Danger.
She stood quietly and walked toward the balcony while dialing a secure number.
Viraaj answered immediately.
"Devil."
"Update."
"Our spies intercepted alliance communication," he said carefully. "They're planning something tomorrow."
"At the university?"
"Yes."
Nithya looked back at the sleeping Aryan.
"They want to send a warning."
"Should we interfere?"
For a moment, she stayed silent.
Then her voice became cold.
"No deaths."
Viraaj sounded surprised.
"You want us to hold back?"
"They're targeting Eagle's wife," Nithya replied softly. "Not Devil."
A dangerous smile appeared on her lips.
"Let them make the mistake first."
The next morning, Aryan personally drove Nithya to university.
No convoy today.
Only one black car.
Nithya noticed immediately.
"Reduced security?"
Aryan kept his eyes on the road.
"The convoy attracts attention."
"You still brought armed guards behind us."
Aryan glanced at her briefly.
"I said reduced. Not removed."
Nithya shook her head slightly.
Impossible man.
When they reached the university gate, Aryan stopped the car but didn't unlock the doors immediately.
Nithya looked at him.
"What?"
Aryan's expression was serious.
"Stay close to security today."
"That sounds dramatic."
"It's important."
Nithya studied him carefully.
He looked genuinely worried.
Not for himself.
For her.
That realization felt strange.
Before leaving, Aryan suddenly reached out and adjusted a loose strand of hair near her face.
A small gesture.
Gentle.
Unexpected.
Nithya froze for half a second.
Aryan noticed.
Then calmly he unlocked the door.
"Call me if anything feels wrong."
Nithya stepped out slowly.
"Okay."
As she walked toward campus, she could still feel his eyes following her.
Inside the university, the atmosphere felt normal at first.
Students talked loudly in hallways. Professors walked between classrooms. Everything looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Devil's instincts immediately noticed the difference.
Three unfamiliar men near the administration building.
Another standing beside the parking area.
Watching.
Nithya calmly continued walking like she noticed nothing.
During class, Ji-Hoon whispered quietly,
"You look distracted again."
"Just thinking."
"About your scary husband?"
Nithya almost smiled.
"Maybe."
Ji-Hoon laughed softly.
"You know, people are terrified of him."
"They should focus on studies instead."
"That's easy for you to say. You look fearless around him."
Nithya looked toward the classroom window calmly.
If only people knew the truth.
After class ended, Nithya walked alone toward the back garden area of the university.
The guards stayed at a distance like usual.
Exactly what the eastern alliance expected.
The moment she reached the empty pathway near the trees, four men quietly surrounded her.
Normal students would panic.
Nithya didn't even look nervous.
One man smirked.
"Eagle's wife looks calmer than expected."
Nithya looked at him lazily.
"You followed me all day just to say that?"
The men exchanged confused looks.
Another stepped forward.
"You should tell your husband to stop interfering with alliance business."
Nithya tilted her head slightly.
"And if I don't?"
The man grabbed her wrist suddenly.
Big mistake.
In one smooth movement, Nithya twisted his arm hard enough to force him onto his knees.
The other men froze instantly.
Her expression remained calm.
But her eyes turned terrifyingly cold.
"Don't touch me," she said softly.
The man groaned in pain.
Before the others could react, shadows moved rapidly around the pathway.
Devil's hidden guards.
Silent.
Deadly.
Within seconds, weapons pointed directly at the alliance members.
The men's faces turned pale immediately.
One whispered fearfully,
"Who are these people…?"
Nithya slowly released the injured man.
Then she stepped closer to the group.
For the first time, her aura completely changed.
No longer soft.
No longer calm.
Power radiated from her naturally.
Dangerous authority.
The alliance men instinctively stepped back.
Nithya's voice became ice cold.
"Tell your leaders something."
The men stared at her silently.
"Eagle's wife is not weak."
Then she smiled faintly.
"And next time… send smarter people."
At that exact moment, Aryan's black car suddenly stopped near the pathway entrance.
Aryan stepped out.
His sharp eyes immediately scanned the scene.
Armed men.
Fearful alliance members.
Unknown guards surrounding Nithya protectively.
Silence filled the air.
Aryan's eyes slowly moved toward Nithya.
For the first time since meeting her…
Eagle truly realized something terrifying.
His wife was hiding secrets too.