I Decided to Go Exploring

Lila's POV

The palace staff's astonishment at my continued survival was palpable. Typically, a slave in the Demon Prince's service faced a swift and brutal demise within days. Princess Celeste, however, seemed confounded by the Prince's declaration and dragged her brother away, likely inquiring about my unusual survival.

With my daily tasks complete, I seized the opportunity to explore the sprawling palace grounds, curious to unravel its mysteries and to take my mind off certain things. 

Inside me, was begging that the palace guards would not interrupt my lovely session. Technically, I have not disobeyed any rules and it was the Demon Prince who "ordered" me to explore the castle so I would not have trouble in the future. Besides, I could also complain about them to the Demon Prince and hope his highness does not disintegrate me.

"Why are you lurking around, slave?" a guard sneered, his tone dripping with menace as he fixed an intimidating glare on me. "Do you suppose the Demon Prince is in need of another plaything? Would he take pleasure in tormenting a feeble wretch like yourself?"

I couldn't comprehend the sudden surge of emotion within me, but a profound sense of resentment welled up in my gut. It was a burning resentment toward how "supernaturals" instinctively harbour disdain for humans simply based on our existence.

"Sorry," I screeched, my ear-piercing voice probably damaging his ear that he would have tinnitus for the rest of his life, "I distinctly recall that the Demon Prince gave me special permission to explore the palace. So if you have any disregards to that, please shove it up your ass and vomit it out later on the prince."

The expression on his face was priceless, contorting with a mix of fury and shock at how a seemingly ordinary girl like me could muster the audacity to insult him. However, I should have realized that, after my previous encounter with the Pet Master, criticizing my superiors would only be tempting fate.

"Oh please," the guard mocked, his expression doubling in laughter, "You do realise that the Demon Prince has a reputation of killing mortals. Why do you think you are any different to him? He is bound to kill you one day. I will just be saving the trouble of when?"

The guard's mocking laughter reverberated down the dimly lit corridor, his cruel amusement slicing through the air like a jagged blade. My cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and growing frustration as I stood before him, his words chipping away at the fragile hope I had clung to. It was true; the Demon Prince had a fearsome reputation for dealing harshly with mortals, and I had no tangible reason to believe I was any different from those who had met their grim fates within these palace walls.

Despite the stinging taunts, I summoned my inner resolve, forcing my voice to resonate with a tremulous yet unwavering determination. "Oh, please," I retorted, my words cutting through the tension, "perhaps it's precisely because I don't believe I'm any different that I'll strive to be. One can't truly know unless they try, don't you think?"

The guard's laughter waned, gradually replaced by a cold and calculating gaze, his mirth giving way to a more serious demeanor. "You've certainly got guts," he conceded, his tone devoid of mockery. "But remember, courage alone won't be enough to ensure your survival in this treacherous palace. It will be a shame to kill you now. If only you were a supernatural..."

With my hands raised in a feeble defensive stance, I proved utterly inadequate against the guard's overpowering strength. His unrelenting grip clamped around my throat, constricting my airway and rendering every breath an agonizing struggle. My face contorted, taking on a purplish hue as each inhalation felt like a desperate gasp for survival. In that harrowing moment, the grim reality washed over me like a tidal wave – my life was teetering right now, a fate all too common for slaves subjected to such merciless conditions.

"Stop what you are doing," a voice jostled me out of my thoughts.

Just as in the previous dire circumstance, Princess Celeste arrived to my aid, her hands clenched tightly and her brow furrowed with fury. With a burst of power, she unleashed a destructive force that left the guard writhing in excruciating pain. In the blink of an eye, he was transformed into a motionless statue.

"Run!" Princess Celeste shouted at me, her voice hoarse from exertion.

Without a second thought, I sprinted in the opposite direction, heedless of my destination. Anywhere was preferable to the perilous situation where my life hung in the hands of the supernatural creatures every hour.

I arrived in a dark forest. It loomed before me, shrouded in an eerie, oppressive silence. Towering ancient trees, their gnarled branches forming a canopy that blocked out the feeble light, cast long, sinuous shadows on the forest floor. The air was thick with the pungent scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, while a chilling breeze whispered through the twisted undergrowth. Strange, unidentifiable sounds echoed from unseen corners, heightening the sense of foreboding.

"The girl is located in this forest," I heard a voice cackle, sending shivers done my side.

The hushed voices of the guards drifted to my ears, and it was painfully evident that they were discussing me. But why would they, or anyone for that matter, care about a lowly servant like myself? It was a question that had haunted me for as long as I could remember. Why was my life so thoroughly entangled with the cruel whims of fate?

"I've devised a plan," a woman's voice hissed with cunning, her malevolence palpable. "We shall employ that girl as bait to ensnare the Demon Prince, luring him out of his fortress, and then, we can negotiate with him."

The man wore a perplexed expression. "But why would the Demon Prince deign to notice a mere servant like her? She's far beneath his consideration."

With a hint of sinister glee, the woman elaborated, "It's because she's his... animae socius," she murmured, drawing nearer to avoid eavesdropping.

The man's disbelief was evident. "Are you truly serious?"

"Yes," the witch affirmed. "I employed a spell to ascertain it, and it's factual. She is intrinsically linked to him as his animae socius."

The man couldn't help but chortle. "This will become the jest of the century – the almighty Demon Prince iuncta to a lowly slave."

My mind whirled with a torrent of questions, each one more perplexing than the last. The terms "iuncta" and "animae socius" tumbled through my thoughts, shrouded in mystery, leaving me to ponder their significance in the eyes of the Demon Prince.

"Harry, hold your tongue," the witch cautioned in a hushed tone, her words laced with suspicion. "I detect something."

My heart drummed a furious rhythm within my chest as I stood there, caught between the fear of being pursued by the palace guards and the unsettling presence of this coven of witches. Were they to become my captors?

"At last, you've arrived," a voice sneered, dripping with venomous intent. "I've been expecting you."

Desperation gripped my voice as I pleaded, my words trembling, "Please, I'm merely a servant to the Demon Prince. He harbors nothing but disdain for me."

The man, however, met my plea with a scornful laugh. "Did he not disclose your true significance to you?"

"Release me!" I cried out, my voice echoing through the darkened woods. I clung to a fragile hope that some unseen savior might emerge to rescue me from this dire predicament. Yet, my cries fell on deaf ears, as they had always done.

As they tied me up, I felt the rope tightened against my skin. This time, I made no effort to overcome the agony and fell into a dreamless sleep.

"Stay there Lila," a voiced cried in my head, "I will come to you."