The first thing Liora noticed was the blood.
It stained the lavender field behind her cottage, dark and fresh against the pale purple flowers she had spent months growing.
She stood still for a long moment.
Then she sighed.
"…Please don't be dead."
Slowly, cautiously, she stepped closer.
A man lay among the flowers.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Black hair spread across the ground like spilled ink.
But that wasn't the strange part.
The strange part was the horns.
Two elegant black horns curved slightly from his temples, sharp and polished like obsidian.
Liora stared.
"…Of course."
A demon.
Because apparently the universe had decided her peaceful life was getting too boring.
She looked up at the sky.
"Really?"
The sky, unfortunately, had no answer.
The man groaned.
Liora froze.
He wasn't dead.
That was both good and extremely bad.
Because demons rarely traveled alone.
And if the Holy Church discovered a demon here…
They wouldn't ask questions.
They would burn the entire forest down.
Including her.
Liora rubbed her temples.
"I knew today felt cursed."
She crouched beside him carefully.
The demon was badly injured.
His clothes were torn.
Blood soaked the black fabric of his coat, and deep wounds cut across his side.
Even unconscious, his presence was overwhelming.
Magic rolled off him like heat from a fire.
Ancient.
Violent.
Dangerous.
This wasn't a normal demon.
This was something much worse.
Liora hesitated.
Then she muttered under her breath.
"…You're ruining my vegetables."
With considerable effort, she dragged the demon toward the cottage.
It took twenty minutes.
And several complaints.
By the time she pushed the door open and dragged him inside, Liora was exhausted.
She dropped him onto the floor with a heavy thud.
"There."
She brushed dirt from her dress.
"You're indoors. Try not to die."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Red eyes opened.
Liora jumped.
The demon was staring at her.
Those eyes were terrifying.
Deep crimson, glowing faintly in the dim candlelight.
Predator eyes.
Eyes that had definitely watched people die.
They studied her slowly.
Carefully.
"…Human," he said.
His voice was low.
Smooth.
Dangerous.
Liora forced a polite smile and pointed toward the door.
"The exit is that way."
Silence filled the room.
The demon blinked once.
Then his gaze drifted around the cottage.
Her shelves of herbs.
Her books.
The strange symbols carved into the wooden beams.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…This place smells like magic."
Liora's smile froze.
"Herbs," she said quickly. "Very magical herbs."
The demon looked back at her.
Long.
Suspicious.
Then he slowly tried to sit up.
Immediately, he collapsed again.
Blood seeped through his bandages.
Liora sighed.
"…Idiot."
She walked over and pressed him back down.
"Stop moving."
He stared at her hand where it touched his chest.
"…You're not afraid of me."
"I am," she said.
"You don't look afraid."
"That's because I'm tired."
The demon watched her carefully.
Then he asked quietly:
"Do you know what I am?"
Liora nodded.
"A demon."
"Not just a demon."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
His lips curved slightly.
"I'm a prince."
Liora paused.
Then she nodded again.
"Of course you are."
He looked offended.
"You don't believe me."
"Everyone who collapses in my garden claims to be royalty."
Silence.
Then unexpectedly—
The demon laughed.
A low, dark laugh that filled the room.
It made the air feel heavier.
More dangerous.
Finally he said:
"You're strange."
Liora crossed her arms.
"You're bleeding on my floor."
Their eyes met.
For a moment the world felt strangely quiet.
Then the demon tilted his head slightly.
"…Human."
"Yes?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Your magic is leaking."
Liora's stomach dropped.
"What?"
He smiled slowly.
Dangerously.
"There's a barrier around this house."
His red eyes glowed faintly.
"And only royal witches can cast that kind of spell."
The room went completely silent.
Liora's heart pounded.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Then the demon prince whispered:
"…Who exactly did I fall into the garden of?"