THE BEGINNING

BEFORE THE MARRIAGE📍📍

Hazel swept through the palace corridors, trying to shake off the morning's events. She had, once again, turned down a suitor her father had handpicked. It was the third prince that month. Though they all came from noble lineages, each proposal made Hazel feel more like a pawn than a princess. Her father, King Eldric, was determined to see her married off, but Hazel wanted more than an arranged match—she wanted a love that was true and genuine.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand her father’s concerns. Their kingdom was surrounded by powerful rivals, and alliances through marriage had long been a tactic for securing peace. But Hazel believed there had to be another way. She yearned for freedom, for the chance to make her own choices, and to live a life beyond the palace walls. Yet, every attempt to voice these desires was met with her father’s stern, unyielding gaze.

As she entered the gardens, Hazel tried to calm herself, inhaling the fragrance of blooming roses and watching the soft flutter of butterflies. This garden, beautiful as it was, often felt like a gilded cage—a reminder of the life she was expected to lead, regardless of her dreams.

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Meanwhile, back in his chambers, King Eldric’s mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with the problems that had recently begun to surface. The neighboring kingdoms were becoming restless, alliances were growing thin, and murmurs of unrest had started to reach him. The once-stable relationships he’d cultivated over the years seemed to be unraveling, slipping out of his control. He had tried to keep these threats from Hazel, hoping she wouldn’t sense his growing unease, but the weight of his worries was heavier than ever.

With each passing day, the threats mounted. An influential lord who had once pledged allegiance was rumored to be conspiring with rival territories. Another nearby ruler, with whom Eldric had once forged an alliance, now eyed his borders with increasing interest. In his desperation, Eldric had sent envoys to mend fences, but they returned with grim news: his allies were slipping away, and his kingdom's strength was more vulnerable than ever.

Eldric knew he had to act quickly, yet his options were limited. He couldn’t protect his kingdom alone, and finding powerful allies willing to stand by him was growing increasingly difficult. He thought of all the kingdoms in the land, searching for someone strong enough to aid him and feared enough to deter his enemies. But as he scanned his mind for possibilities, one name kept coming up—a name that sent chills down his spine.

The Devil King, Damon.

Ruthless, relentless, and feared throughout the lands, Damon was a man of terrifying power. Rumors of his kingdom’s strength and Damon’s own fearsome reputation as a ruler were known far and wide. Yet, no one dared to approach him lightly. The idea of seeking aid from the Devil King felt like bargaining with a beast, but as Eldric considered his dwindling options, he realized he might not have a choice.

But Eldric wasn’t ready to risk everything just yet. Damon’s price, whatever it might be, could be more than he was willing to pay.

The thought of asking Damon for help made his blood run cold.