The Immortal Queen Cannot Escape the Lies and Obsession of the Demon — Not That She Wants To - Chapter 04

At that time, Ariana was thirteen years old.

She was a child who lived with her bed and books, knowing little beyond the scent of flowers and the taste of fruit.

“I could never be king…!”

She lamented that it was impossible. She couldn’t stop trembling under the pressure. Such an unreliable king, the people wouldn’t want one either.

But her mother wouldn’t allow it.

“Ariana, as a member of the royal family, become a slave to the nation. For the sake of passing the throne to the rightful successor.”

Shocked by the truth revealed amid her mother’s scolding, Ariana learned something astonishing.

Ariana was not the last of the royal family; there were others who could inherit the throne. Moreover, they were said to be the legitimate successors.

Ariana resolved to fulfill her role as a member of the royal family, acting as a temporary bridge until the next king, for whom coronation was currently difficult, could take the throne. To quell the nation’s turmoil and for the sake of a peaceful reign.

But…

“Arrogant royals, you’re the ones who should perish!”

The day of the coronation, after nearly a year of preparation.

Bared malice, accompanied by a dagger, threatened to snuff out Ariana’s resolve like a flickering flame of life.

“Restrain him!”

“He’s a doctor! Quickly, call a doctor!”

“Ariana! You mustn’t die!!”

All Ariana could see within her field of vision was the priest standing beside the archbishop holding the crown, pulling a knife from his robes.

As she bowed her head to receive the crown, Ariana couldn’t resist. In the midst of thunderous applause, her throat was slashed.

(…I was shocked.)

Ariana’s honest feeling was that she hadn’t realized she was so deeply hated. So, she had tried to fulfill her duties as a royal, just as her mother had instructed.

As a result, dying like a drowning person in a spray of royal blood was far too pathetic.

(It hurts.)

She had been ignorant. Foolish.

Even so, Ariana gritted her teeth, determined to live.

(It hurts, it hurts, I’m cold, it’s unbearable. No, I can’t get up, no…!)

Even if she was only a temporary king, she had a role to play.

To pass it on to the successor. So that a young king could rule and protect the people’s peace.

(I can’t die yet——!)

“Shall I save you?”

The one who extended a helping hand to Ariana was not a prince from a fairy tale.

In the chaotic cathedral, with people rushing about.

Lying on her back, Ariana spotted a boy floating leisurely, monopolizing the ceiling above her.

Backlit by the light streaming through the stained glass, his glass-bead-like eyes sparkled with amusement even in the silhouette. While all the participants wore white for the ceremony, he alone was dressed in gray.

The ethereal boy brought his face close to Ariana’s nose.

“If it means not dying, will you give me anything?”

He asked this frightening question in a sweet, tempting voice.

But to Ariana, it wasn’t a scary question at all.

(That’s what it means to be a slave.)

If there was something she could do, something she could offer, she would do anything. She had faced this day with that resolve.

Unable to nod, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly, hoping to convey her agreement. When she opened them, the smile had vanished from the boy’s face.

“…Oh, okay.”

A somewhat cold, dismissive voice.

Had she failed to get her message across? While Ariana panicked inwardly, the boy’s face moved closer to her slashed neck.

“Then, for now, I’ll take some blood. There’s plenty coming out right here, after all.”

“——!”

Instantly, a sharp pain shot through her neck, and Ariana screamed, thrashing reflexively.

At that moment, her mother, who was holding Ariana’s hand, called out, “Pull yourself together!” and Ariana realized the abnormality of the situation.

For some reason, no one but Ariana could see the boy floating in the air.

So, who in the world was he?

An incomprehensible being was now sipping her blood. Along with bottomless fear, hope swelled within her.

(Is he a god or something? Maybe he really will save me!)

Over ten seconds had passed since the slash. The doctors still hadn’t arrived, and Ariana was on the verge of fainting from pain and chills.

She had no choice but to believe.

Ariana prayed desperately.

(Please, I beg of you. If I survive, I will pass this down as a myth. Please!)

“…You’re way too resolute.”

A voice tinged with exasperation fell by her ear.

Before she knew it, the intense pain had stopped.

The boy, his mouth smeared with blood, floated back up and away from Ariana.

“This cathedral is too noisy; I’m going home. See ya.”

“Ah…”

Before she could stop him, the boy disappeared from Ariana’s sight.

In his place, her mother peered down with an anxious face.

“Ah, Ariana…?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Called by her name, she replied instinctively, as she always did.

Her mother was surprised, but Ariana was also startled by the unusually calm, almost drowsy sound of her own voice. It was hard to believe she was on the verge of death.

Why had the pain disappeared?

Ariana unconsciously traced her fingers over the wound on her neck. It felt slick with blood, but unlike skin, there was a scab-like texture. There was no pain.

“The wound, it’s closed?”

Had that boy really saved her?

Why? How? Such obvious questions were pushed aside by the overwhelming reality of having survived.

Ariana first tried to reassure her mother, offering a smile.

What she received in return was a trembling expression, as if looking at a monster.

After that, her mother began to avoid Ariana, and that was the last time she saw her mother’s face.