Deep within the Underworld.
A vast white palace stood in the middle of a silent wasteland.
It was a land where even demons walked carefully.
A place ruled by one of the oldest beings in existence.
Upon a throne made from pure white stone sat the Primordial White herself.
Testarossa.
Or as she was once known in ancient times—
Blanc.
Her long white hair cascaded down her shoulders like flowing silk, her crimson eyes half-lidded with boredom.
She rested her cheek against her hand as she gazed lazily down at the two figures kneeling before her.
The vast throne room was silent except for the faint echo of their breathing.
Finally, she spoke.
"…Well?"
Her voice was soft.
Elegant.
And cold enough to freeze the soul.
The two demons kneeling immediately stiffened.
One was tall and thin, his posture perfectly straight.
The other was slightly shorter, though still powerful, her expression tense under Blanc's gaze.
These two were among Blanc's most trusted subordinates.
Later history would know them as Moss and Cien.
But at this point in time—
They had no names.
Only titles.
And fear.
Blanc tapped her finger lightly against the armrest of her throne.
"I asked you a question."
Her eyes slowly sharpened.
"So…"
"Have you succeeded?"
Moss swallowed.
His voice came out calm, though tension was obvious beneath it.
"…We are progressing, my lady."
Blanc's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"…Progressing?"
Cien quickly lowered her head further.
"We are making preparations for your manifestation into the Cardinal World. However—"
He hesitated.
"—the process is… complicated."
Blanc's eyes slowly narrowed.
Moss continued carefully.
"To manifest fully into the Cardinal World requires an enormous amount of energy and stability."
"Currently…"
"…the gateway is still unstable."
Cien nodded.
"We are working as quickly as possible."
Silence filled the throne room.
For a moment.
Nothing happened.
Then—
Blanc slowly stood up.
Her heels clicked against the marble floor.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each step echoed throughout the enormous chamber.
Moss and Cien felt their spines stiffen instinctively.
Blanc stopped directly in front of them.
"…As quickly as possible?"
Her voice was still gentle.
Which made it far more terrifying.
Moss kept his head down.
"Yes, my lady."
Blanc stared down at them.
Her expression blank.
Then—
THUD.
Her heel suddenly slammed down onto Moss's back.
The impact forced him flat against the floor.
Cien flinched.
"Too slow."
Blanc's voice remained calm.
But her eyes burned with irritation.
Her foot pressed harder against Moss's back.
"You have had weeks."
Her gaze shifted to Cien.
"And yet…"
"…you bring me excuses."
Cien's body trembled slightly.
"My lady—!"
THUD.
Blanc casually stepped onto him as well, pinning both demons beneath her feet.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Neither Moss nor Cien dared resist.
Because they knew.
If Blanc actually became angry—
They would cease to exist.
Blanc sighed softly.
"You two are truly useless."
She applied more pressure.
Not enough to kill them.
Just enough to remind them of their place.
"Do you know how long it has been?"
Neither of them answered.
Blanc leaned forward slightly.
Her expression changed.
The irritation slowly melted away.
And something else appeared.
Something far more disturbing.
A faint blush colored her cheeks.
Her fingers moved to her lips.
"…I miss him."
Her voice softened.
Almost like a whisper.
Moss blinked slightly.
Cien also froze.
Blanc closed her eyes slowly.
Her fingers slid gently across her lips.
"I want to see him again."
Her breathing became softer.
"Touch him…"
Her voice dropped to a dreamy whisper.
"Kiss him…"
Her cheeks flushed slightly deeper.
"…Hold him."
Silence filled the throne room.
Moss and Cien were completely still.
Their minds blank.
Because—
This was not something they expected to hear from their lord.
Blanc opened her eyes again.
And the expression on her face was pure ecstasy.
Possessive.
Obsessive.
Her fingers curled slightly as if grasping something invisible.
"My dear brother…"
Her voice trembled with excitement.
"He has finally appeared."
Her eyes gleamed.
"After all this time…"
Her smile slowly widened.
"…he's finally in the Cardinal World."
Cien very slowly raised her head.
"…Brother, do you mean Bordeaux my lady?"
Blanc looked down at them again.
Her expression instantly returned to calm elegance.
But the faint flush on her cheeks remained.
"Yes."
She smiled beautifully.
"A very precious brother."
Moss cautiously spoke.
"…Should we assume Bordeaux … is the reason you wish to manifest immediately?"
Blanc tilted her head slightly.
Then she giggled.
A light, delighted sound.
"Oh my…"
"Yes?"
Cien and Moss both remained silent.
Blanc stepped off them gracefully.
They immediately straightened up again, still kneeling.
Blanc began pacing slowly across the throne room.
Her long white hair swaying behind her.
"I can feel him."
Her voice carried excitement.
"He's strong."
"Very strong."
Blanc turned back toward them.
Her crimson eyes gleamed with pride.
"Yes."
"A wonderful little brother."
She clasped her hands together happily.
"I simply must see him again."
Her smile grew sharper.
"I want to hold him properly."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"And perhaps…"
Her voice lowered into a whisper.
"…play with him."
Moss and Cien exchanged a glance.
They both clearly felt the same thing.
This is dangerous.
Blanc suddenly stopped pacing.
Her expression turned cold again.
She looked directly at them.
"So."
Her voice dropped.
"Let us return to the matter at hand."
Both demons stiffened again.
Blanc smiled sweetly.
"How long."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Until I can manifest in the Cardinal World?"
Moss hesitated slightly.
"…If we accelerate preparations…"
"…perhaps a few years."
Blanc stared at him.
The room suddenly became cold.
"…Years?"
Her voice was quiet.
Very quiet.
Moss quickly added—
"—However!"
"We may be able to shorten the process if we divert more resources."
Cien nodded rapidly.
"Yes, my lady."
"We will push the process further."
Blanc watched them silently.
Then she smiled again.
A very gentle smile.
"I see."
She turned away from them once more.
Her fingers lightly touched her lips again.
"…That simply won't do."
Her crimson eyes gleamed.
"I cannot wait years."
Her voice became soft.
Longing.
"I want to see him now."
Her fingers slowly curled.
"I want to hear his voice."
Her breathing deepened slightly.
"…touch him."
She giggled softly.
Moss and Cien both felt chills run down their spines.
Blanc suddenly turned back toward them.
Her smile returned to something dangerously beautiful.
"So."
Her eyes gleamed brightly.
"You two will simply have to try harder."
The pressure in the room spiked instantly.
A suffocating aura filled the throne room.
Blanc's voice remained cheerful.
"Won't you?"
Moss and Cien both bowed deeply.
"Of course, my lady."
"We will accelerate the process immediately."
Blanc nodded happily.
"Good."
She returned to her throne gracefully.
Sitting down once more.
Her eyes gazed into the distance.
Far beyond the Underworld.
Toward the Cardinal World.
Toward the presence she could faintly feel.
Her lips curled into a delighted smile.
"Just wait for me…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…little brother."
Her fingers pressed gently against her lips again.
The smile on her face slowly grew wider.
"I'm coming to see you soon."
---
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