Chapter One: The Queen's Birthday
1103 Words
Jade could hear the cheering and singing from her room.
It was true that today was her birthday.
And yet, somehow, the people of Tenebrous seemed happier about it than she was.
She stood near the window, gazing down at the crowds celebrating in the streets below. It still amazed her how, in just two years, she had gone from being the human girl they despised to the queen they worshipped.
Or at least, the queen they had accepted.
She could still remember the hatred and hostility when she first arrived in the demon realm. The whispers. The venom in their eyes. They had mocked her, the weak mortal girl standing beside their mighty king.
A girl with no memories.
A girl who should have never belonged.
She lifted her wrist, staring at the golden bracelet wrapped around it. A symbol of her status. A reminder of who she was now.
She had changed since then.
Hadn’t she?
She was no longer the naive, pathetic girl who flinched at cruel words or allowed even the maids to push her around.
Now, she was Queen.
And yet…
Her fingers brushed the windowsill, her gaze distant.
Why did it still feel like something was missing?
"Jade."
The deep, familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She turned to see him.
Xoraxys.
Her husband.
Her king.
He was watching her, that knowing smirk playing at the edges of his lips. “You look stunning, my love.”
He looked every inch the ruler of Tenebrous, his tailored black tailcoat embroidered with the royal crest, crisp white shirt, and high collar giving him an air of perfect sophistication. His golden crown sat effortlessly on his head, as if it had always belonged there.
Jade smiled. “I could never outshine you.”
She stepped forward, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek before glancing at herself in the mirror.
He wasn’t wrong—she looked beautiful.
Her white off-shoulder gown shimmered against her dark skin, the intricate lace of the bodice forming delicate floral patterns. The golden crown on her head, encrusted with rubies, sat perfectly in place.
She looked like she had stepped out of a fairy tale.
And yet, the smile on her face didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her gown. “Xorax… do you think I’ll ever get my memories back?”
It had been two years.
Two long years.
She had tried everything—spells, ancient texts, the best healers in the realm. But there was nothing. No matter how hard she tried, her past was a locked door she could never open.
Xoraxys stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder.
His voice was calm. Steady. “They will come back.”
Jade looked at their reflection in the mirror. She wanted to believe him.
He smiled, pressing a kiss to her temple. “And besides… everything is perfect now, isn’t it?”
She hesitated.
“Instead of worrying about the past,” he murmured, “why don’t we think about our present? About our future?”
His words were so gentle. So reassuring.
And yet…
She turned slightly, searching his expression. “But what if my past is important?”
Xoraxys sighed, his fingers brushing along her wrist. “Jade.” His voice was still soft, but there was something firm beneath it now.
“You told me, before you lost your memories… you had no family. You were an orphan. There’s nothing waiting for you in the past.”
Jade bit her lip.
She had heard him say it so many times.
She had no family.
She had ended up in the demon realm by accident.
She had no past worth remembering.
And yet…
Why did something deep inside her whisper that it wasn’t true?
She shook the thought away and forced a smile.
“You’re right.”
She turned in his arms, pressing a hand to his chest. “Now, let’s go downstairs. Everyone must be waiting.”
---
The Grand Ballroom
The palace was alive with celebration.
The chandeliers cast a kaleidoscope of colors, the orchestra played a melody that drifted through the air like magic. Nobles and commoners alike danced and drank, their voices blending into one joyous hum.
Xoraxys stood beside her, his hand possessively on her waist.
“Smile, Jade,” he murmured against her ear. His breath was warm, coaxing. “Tonight is for you.”
She smiled.
Because that’s what was expected.
Because tonight, Tenebrous was celebrating their queen.
Whether she truly felt like one or not.
She watched the crowds laugh and dance, her gaze flickering over familiar faces.
Until it landed on one she despised.
Elder Arcturus.
The only member of the demon council who had never accepted her.
He approached the dais where she and Xoraxys sat, his voice mockingly pleasant.
“Your Majesty,” he said with a small bow, his tone laced with false politeness. “A pleasure, as always.”
Jade forced a smile. “Elder Arcturus.”
She could practically taste the venom behind their words.
Xoraxys, on the other hand, didn’t bother with pleasantries.
“I was hoping you’d die on your way here, Arcturus.”
Jade nearly choked on her wine.
The elder stiffened, but Xoraxys only smirked, lazily swirling his drink. “Now leave. Looking at you ruins my appetite.”
She didn’t know whether to be horrified or amused.
Before Arcturus could retort, a sudden commotion at the entrance stole everyone’s attention.
A woman in a dark crimson gown strode into the ballroom.
Jade’s breath caught.
Lilith.
The woman who had made her life hell.
The woman who had caused her to lose her first child.
She should have been dead.
Instead, she smiled—sharp, knowing, victorious.
“I’ve come to give Jade a gift,” Lilith purred, eyes locked onto her.
Xoraxys’s voice was low and dangerous. “You are not welcome here.”
Lilith’s smirk widened.
“Oh, I think I am.”
She lifted a hand.
A shimmering pulse of energy erupted from her fingertips, shooting toward Jade.
Jade gasped as pain exploded through her skull.
Snippets of memories.
Laughter. A warm home. A name—Hazel?
Xoraxys reacted instantly, summoning a wave of dark energy to slam into Lilith’s spell.
The magic collided violently.
Lilith stumbled back, her form beginning to dissipate.
Her voice was a desperate whisper.
“Jade… remember… don’t trust him…”
And then—she was gone.
Jade stumbled backward.
The room spun.
And then, everything went black.
- Writer
