Owned By The Devil's Obsession

Chapter One – Part 5: The Shadow Wearing the Devil's Crest

The messenger's final words lingered in the air like a curse.

"They weren't attacked by soldiers..."

"They were hunted... by a man wearing the crest of House Montecielo."

Silence swallowed the cathedral.

Even the choir, whose voices had moments ago filled the sacred hall with hymns, fell speechless.

Every pair of eyes shifted toward one man.

Duke Kael Draven Montecielo.

He stood motionless before the altar, his broad shoulders straight and his expression unreadable. If not for the slight tightening of his jaw, one might have believed the accusation meant nothing to him.

The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.

Some lowered their heads, unwilling to meet the Duke's gaze.

Others stared openly, curiosity burning brighter than fear.

Seraphina remained frozen beside him.

Only moments ago, she had become his wife.

Now, before the ink on their marriage record had even dried, whispers of murder and treason surrounded the man she had vowed to stand beside.

The silence was finally broken by King Lucien.

"What exactly did the survivors see?"

The messenger swallowed hard before answering.

"They claimed the attacker rode a black stallion, Your Majesty."

"The same breed used by the Northern Legion."

"He wore black armor engraved with the silver wolf of House Montecielo."

"And..."

The young knight hesitated.

His voice dropped almost to a whisper.

"They said his face resembled the Duke."

A ripple of disbelief swept through the cathedral.

Impossible.

Kael had been inside the cathedral since sunrise.

Hundreds of witnesses could testify to that.

Yet the description sounded far too precise to dismiss as coincidence.

The King's sharp gaze remained fixed on Kael.

"You understand why I must ask."

"I do," Kael replied calmly.

"Then tell me."

"Who is wearing your family's crest?"

Kael didn't answer immediately.

His silver eyes drifted toward the stained-glass windows where sunlight painted fractured colors across the marble floor.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than before.

"There is someone..."

The room grew still.

"...who should have died many years ago."

Seraphina turned to look at him.

It was the first crack she had seen in the wall surrounding the Devil Duke.

His expression remained controlled.

But for the briefest moment...

Pain crossed his eyes.

Not grief.

Not fear.

Regret.

Before anyone could question him further, the heavy cathedral doors burst open once again.

A knight clad in the crimson armor of the Royal Guard hurried inside, breathing heavily.

"Your Majesty!"

He dropped to one knee.

"The palace requests your immediate presence."

King Lucien frowned.

"What now?"

The knight lifted his trembling gaze.

"The Queen..."

Everyone leaned forward.

"...has collapsed."

The King's face drained of color.

Without another word, he rushed from the cathedral, followed by the Royal Guard and the palace physicians.

Within seconds, the celebration dissolved into confusion.

Nobles whispered among themselves.

Servants hurried through the aisles.

Musicians quietly packed away their instruments.

The joyous wedding that had been planned for months had ended before the sun reached its highest point.

Seraphina stood amid the chaos, clutching the folds of her gown.

She glanced toward Kael.

He had already shifted into the role of commander.

Orders flowed from him with quiet authority.

"Seal the northern gates."

"Send riders to Ravenshollow."

"No one enters or leaves the capital without my approval."

His voice was steady.

Precise.

There was no trace of the groom who had exchanged vows only minutes earlier.

This was the Duke the kingdom knew.

The Devil of the North.

When the last command had been given, he finally turned toward Seraphina.

For the first time since their wedding, they were truly alone.

"I apologize," he said.

She blinked in surprise.

"...For what?"

"For this."

He glanced around the nearly empty cathedral.

"This was supposed to be your wedding day."

Seraphina looked at the wilted flower petals scattered across the marble floor.

A faint smile touched her lips.

"I don't think either of us expected a fairy tale."

For a moment...

Neither of them spoke.

Then, to Seraphina's surprise, the corner of Kael's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

It wasn't quite a smile.

But it was enough to make her wonder if the stories about the Devil Duke had hidden only part of the truth.

Outside, thunder rolled across the distant mountains.

Dark clouds gathered over the capital.

Unseen by anyone inside the cathedral...

A cloaked figure stood atop the bell tower, watching the newlyweds from above.

Beneath the hood, a cruel smile spread across his face.

"The game has begun," he murmured.

"And this time, dear brother..."

"...I'll take everything from you."

The stranger disappeared into the shadows before the first drops of rain touched the cathedral roof.

Far below, neither Kael nor Seraphina noticed the pair of silver eyes watching them from the darkness.

The Devil Duke had just gained a wife.

But somewhere in the shadows...

His greatest enemy had already made his first move.

End of Chapter One – Part 5