A Queen in the Devil's Palace
1023 Words
Chapter 3: A Queen in the Devil's Palace
Seraphina couldn't sleep.
She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the moon reflected on the lake below. The room was warm and elegant, but her heart felt colder than ever.
Only a few hours ago, she had celebrated her birthday with the only family she had ever known.
Now they were gone.
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
"I couldn't save you..." she whispered.
She tightened her grip on the strange black ring the mysterious man had given her. The symbol engraved on it—a crown wrapped in thorns—glowed faintly under the moonlight.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her shoulder.
She gasped.
The crescent-shaped birthmark burned as though someone had pressed hot iron against her skin.
"What is happening to me?"
Before the pain could grow worse, a knock echoed from the door.
"It's Victor, Miss."
She quickly wiped away her tears.
"You may come in."
The elderly butler entered with a silver tray carrying hot tea and a small plate of pastries.
"I thought this might help you sleep."
"I don't think anything can."
Victor offered a gentle smile.
"Grief never disappears overnight. It simply teaches us how to carry it."
His words reminded Seraphina of her adoptive father.
She looked away before the tears returned.
"Thank you."
Victor placed the tray on the table.
"The Boss also requested that I show you around the mansion tomorrow."
"I don't need a tour."
"He believes you should know where you are staying."
She frowned.
"Does he always give orders?"
Victor chuckled.
"He prefers to call them instructions."
"There's no difference."
"Not when you're Lucien De Luca."
As Victor prepared to leave, Seraphina stopped him.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"What kind of man is Lucien?"
Victor became unusually quiet.
"I've served him for nearly twenty years."
"And?"
"I've watched him destroy criminal empires with a single command."
Seraphina swallowed.
"I've also watched him pay for children's surgeries without anyone knowing."
Her eyebrows rose.
"He secretly funds orphanages."
"He does?"
Victor nodded.
"He has built schools in villages that governments forgot."
"But..."
"He has also buried men who betrayed innocent people."
Seraphina stared at him.
"I don't understand him."
"Neither do most people."
Victor smiled sadly before leaving the room.
Alone again, Seraphina couldn't stop thinking about Lucien.
Was he truly the monster the world feared?
Or was there another side hidden beneath the cold expression he never allowed anyone to see?
---
Downstairs, Lucien stood alone on the mansion's balcony overlooking the estate.
His trusted friend and bodyguard, Dante Romano, approached quietly.
"You've been out here for an hour."
Lucien didn't answer.
"You've barely spoken since bringing the girl home."
Silence.
Dante leaned against the railing.
"So... she's really the one?"
Lucien finally spoke.
"My wolf recognized her."
Dante sighed.
"Mate."
Lucien nodded once.
"After all these years."
"And the curse?"
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"It hasn't disappeared."
Dante lowered his voice.
"If she becomes your queen..."
"She'll die."
The words hung heavily in the night air.
Lucien closed his eyes.
"I won't allow that."
"You don't control fate."
"No."
"But I control everyone who stands in its way."
Dante had known Lucien long enough to recognize that look.
Someone was going to die.
---
Elsewhere...
Miles away from the mansion, inside the ruins of the Ravenwood estate, hooded figures surrounded a massive stone altar hidden beneath the burned mansion.
An elderly witch dipped her fingers into a bowl filled with dark crimson blood.
"The seal has weakened."
A man wearing a silver mask stepped forward.
"Can she remember?"
"Not yet."
"Then we still have time."
The witch looked into the flames.
"I saw something."
"What?"
"The Devil has found his Queen."
The masked man's expression darkened.
"So the prophecy has begun."
He drew a silver dagger.
"Then Lucien De Luca must die before the next Blood Moon."
---
The following morning, sunlight poured into Seraphina's room.
For the first time since the attack, she slept peacefully.
She dressed in the clothes Lucien had chosen and stepped into the hallway.
Victor was already waiting.
"Good morning, Miss."
"You were expecting me?"
"The Boss dislikes delays."
She smiled faintly.
"I've noticed."
As they walked through the mansion, Seraphina admired the elegant architecture.
Every hallway was spotless.
Every servant greeted Victor respectfully.
Some stared curiously at her before quickly looking away.
"They're afraid of me."
"They're curious."
"Because of Lucien?"
Victor nodded.
"Very few people are ever invited into this house."
"So why me?"
Victor hesitated.
"You'll have to ask him."
They entered a magnificent library with thousands of books arranged from floor to ceiling.
"This place is incredible."
"The Boss spends most of his nights here."
"He reads?"
Victor looked surprised.
"Every day."
She laughed softly.
"I expected weapons."
"There are plenty of those too."
As she reached for an old leather-bound book, something caught her eye.
A portrait.
It showed a beautiful young woman with long silver hair and brilliant blue eyes.
She looked strangely familiar.
"Who's she?"
Victor's smile faded.
"Lady Isabella De Luca."
"Lucien's mother?"
"Yes."
Seraphina stepped closer.
The resemblance was uncanny.
Not to Lucien...
To herself.
Before she could ask another question, a deep voice echoed through the library.
"You shouldn't be looking at that."
She turned.
Lucien stood at the doorway wearing a tailored black suit, his hands tucked into his pockets.
His expression was unreadable.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because some memories are better left buried."
She folded her arms.
"I'm tired of secrets."
"So am I."
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Neither looked away.
The silence between them felt strangely intimate.
Then...
A loud alarm blared throughout the mansion.
Red lights flashed across the ceiling.
Guards rushed into the hallways.
Dante appeared, breathing heavily.
"Boss!"
Lucien turned immediately.
"What happened?"
"The outer gate has been breached."
"By who?"
Dante's face turned grim.
"They're here."
Lucien's eyes became as cold as ice.
"The Shadow Order."
He looked at Seraphina.
"They've come for you."
Outside, explosions shook the estate as dozens of armed attackers stormed the gates.
The war had begun.
- Writer
