Despite her frown, Kelsey obeyed her lover's orders and continued drawing carefully, mimicking the Demon King's movements stroke by stroke.
After a few minutes, she realized there were symbols and characters inside the circle that she couldn't understand. Still, one thing was clear—it was a magic circle. What kind of spell it contained, however, was beyond her knowledge.
Only when Luca finally put down his brush did she release a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
It was strange. Simply drawing with her hands had left her drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, as though she had been pushed to the limit without food or rest.
"This is really tiring," she murmured. "What kind of magic circle is this?"
"You know it's a magic circle?"
"I've seen similar diagrams in magic books, but I don't know the spells within them. So… are we done?"
"Not yet."
Her eyes widened. "Not yet?! What else am I supposed to do?" She puffed her cheeks in protest. "Hmph!"
Without warning, Luca leaned in and kissed her.
Kelsey froze, her thoughts scattering. Instinctively, she clutched his clothes, as though that was the only thing anchoring her. A sharp sting followed—she gasped as he bit her lightly, drawing a drop of blood. Before she could protest, he soothed the wound, brushing his lips against hers again as he tasted her blood.
Her strength gave out, and she slumped unconscious in his arms.
"…Did I take too much?" Luca muttered, surprised. "But her blood…" He frowned thoughtfully. "It's the sweetest thing I've ever tasted."
He didn't know whether it was because she was the woman he loved—or because she was an Eternal. Rumors claimed that consuming an Eternal's heart blood could grant godlike power and elevate a noble demon to Demon Emperor. Yet no demon had ever succeeded. The Eternals had vanished long ago, having been relentlessly hunted.
Carefully, Luca guided the drop of blood onto the magic circle Kelsey had drawn. The faint yellow glow flared into brilliant light—the spell had activated.
The first stage is complete. Thought Luca.
After carrying Kelsey to the bed and laying her down gently, Luca pressed a finger to his own forehead. When he withdrew it, a stream of black mist slowly seeped from his brow.
He wrapped the mist in layers of demonic energy, compressing it repeatedly until it condensed into a black orb. He needed time, but he hadn't expected her to wake so soon.
"Luca! What are you doing?! Stop it!!"
Her panicked cry stabbed straight into his chest, but he didn't halt. With their difference in power, she couldn't stop him anyway.
"I didn't think you'd wake up for a few more hours," he said calmly.
"That doesn't matter! Why—why are you wasting your life force?!"
Luca looked at her in surprise. He hadn't expected her to recognize what he had been doing.
"Are you worried about me?"
"Please, Luca!"
Her eyes were glassy with tears, filled with genuine fear for him. If it weren't for the pearl necklace resting against her collarbone, he might have let himself feel happy.
If you regained your memories and awakened as an Eternal… would you still worry about me like this? Luca couldn't help but wonder.
"Kelsey, calm down," he said gently. "I'm a Demon King. Have you forgotten my age? Losing a few years of life force is nothing. I'll outlive you anyway."
"Really?"
"You do know I'm not some low-ranking demon, right?" He gave a faint smile. "And this isn't my personal life force—it's the Demon King's essence. It looks similar, but it's different." He paused. "Still… I'm surprised you can see what I'm doing."
"I… I don't know."
When Kelsey had woken earlier, her body had frozen in shock. She had seen black mist swirling around Luca, connected to his heart by a thin, pulsating thread of energy. She didn't understand what it was—but instinctively, she knew he was pouring something precious into it.
Life force was vital to all beings. Losing too much meant a shortened lifespan. Yet somehow, deep down, she knew Luca would survive.
Two conflicting voices fought within her. In the end, she resolved that if his life were truly in danger, she would stop him—no matter what.
"It's finished."
The black orb hovered before Luca's chest. Kelsey hugged herself as a chill ran through her. The demonic energy radiating from it was dense and oppressive.
She watched in silence as Luca manipulated the magic circle she had drawn, letting it envelop the orb. After a final infusion of his demon essence, the orb compressed into a smooth black pill.
He placed the pill into a palm-sized medicine case and summoned Iom.
"Deliver this to Lady Emmeline," Luca instructed. "Tell her I've changed my mind. She's been given a second chance."
As Iom departed, Luca sensed a piercing gaze boring into his back—but he didn't dare turn around.
"Who is Lady Emmeline?" Kelsey asked quietly. "I knew you wanted to save a demoness, but I didn't expect you to give up even your life force. And what do you mean by a second chance? Didn't you say you saved her because you felt guilty?"
Luca sighed. Even without memories of her past life, his bride was far too perceptive. "Kelsey… I'll explain everything."
A short while later—
"So the one who spread the rumors that endangered me was her," she said slowly. "And you countered them with false rumors that made the nobles hate her. Since you need the fox clan's support, you couldn't let her die—even if you hated her."
"And," she added quietly, "you promised me you wouldn't kill those you hate indiscriminately."
"I didn't kill her," Luca replied.
"But she was poisoned because of the rumors you created."
"…Yes."
"And you used the spell I drew—for her sake?"
"Yours," he corrected.
"Me?" Kelsey blinked. "What does Lady Emmeline have to do with me?"
"You'll understand when you meet her."
"How? I've never even seen her."
"You have. She was one of the bride candidates who passed the first round. The three of you were placed in the same room—don't you remember?"
Kelsey frowned. She remembered nothing about that. Still, she knew she must have done something to survive the first round.
Then realization struck her like lightning.
Lady Emmeline… is one of the bride candidates.The demoness who tried to kill her.
And Luca was willing to give her a second chance?