C7 CHAPTER7

Alexander, the Second Prince of the Devil, was often in a sour mood. Sporting a single horn atop his head, he bore a striking resemblance to a humanoid beetle. He strode back and forth in his palace, while his ever-obsequious subordinate stood before him, bowing as was customary.

"What's the news, Walter? I'm listening," Alexander inquired, his brow furrowed in anticipation.

"Master, it seems the third prince has incited the King's wrath, compelling the first prince to intercede on his behalf," Walter dutifully reported.

Alexander rolled his eyes dismissively. "Big brother's always been too lenient with that waste of space! What happened next?" he pressed.

Walter continued, "Subsequently, the Third Prince retreated to his quarters. Rumor has it he expelled a maid from his room after demanding The Bone. It's likely a repercussion of the Forbidden Spell."

With a snort of disdain, Alexander remarked, "So, the Forbidden Spell's aftermath has the Third Prince acting out? It's no surprise our Royal Father was livid upon witnessing his behavior." A sly smile then crossed his face. "Hold on, whose aura did we sense earlier?"

"The Third Prince, Master," Walter confirmed. "Princess Liv paid him a visit at his abode, only to emerge quite perturbed and flushed."

At that moment, the sound of splintering wood filled the air. Walter's gaze shot upwards to find the floor beneath Alexander cracked, his visage twisted in fury.

"That despicable wretch!" Alexander bellowed. "He dares to continue harassing Liv! We're going to confront that scoundrel."

*******

"Having you here brings me great comfort, Hector, yet I'm troubled by something," Devon confided.

"Your servant is attentive, Master," Hector responded.

"Excellent. Could you possibly assist me in avoiding marriage to the Princess?"

Upon Devon's inquiry, Hector assured him that his fate was to shadow the Third Prince at all times, and that he was at Devon's beck and call.

Devon's mind settled as he pondered his situation; this was the Second Prince's Capital, his domain. Was it feasible to simply abscond at will?

As he settled onto his bed, a voice pierced the silence from beyond his chamber door, urgent as before. "Third Prince, the Second Prince has arrived."

Devon sprang to his feet. What on earth was happening today? Had his home turned into a tourist attraction overnight? He was abruptly reminded of his older brother who harbored no fondness for him, a stark contrast to the First Prince who had always been his protector. The Second Prince, much like their father, harbored a dislike for Devon.

Devon understood the root of his brother's disdain. In a world where the Devil Clan reigned supreme in strength, his own lack of military prowess rendered him insignificant, unworthy of public acknowledgment. Moreover, he had a nagging suspicion that he had recently crossed Alexander.

It was as if there was an unspoken law in their world: the more powerful one was, the less fertile they became. It was a peculiar paradox. Consequently, Christian, the Devil King, despite his extensive harem, had fathered a mere three offspring.

To ensure the Devil Capital's lineage, Christian had taken wives from various factions within the Devil Clan. The First Prince was the son of a Main Clan wife, while the Second Prince hailed from the Crypt Clan, the same as Olivia.

The thought of Olivia sent a shiver through Devon. But the question remained, why had his brother come to visit him?

His pondering was interrupted by the door being violently kicked open. What was with people today? Couldn't they handle a door with a modicum of civility?

Alexander made a grand entrance, his stride confident and deliberate. The Devil Energy emanating from him was palpable, swirling into the room like a tempest.

Devon straightened up and faced his brother, nearly letting out a chuckle at the sight of Alexander's small eyes. He managed to stifle his amusement just in time.

"Hmmm? What's so funny?" Alexander demanded, advancing on Devon with the ferocity of a storm.

Hector, who had been observing quietly, stepped protectively in front of Devon, shielding him from the slicing winds.

"What is this?" Alexander's frown deepened as he eyed the man blocking his path. He appeared human, yet there was an unmistakable scent of death about him. Could he be an Undead?

"Hello, Alexander," Devon said, seizing the moment of distraction to address his brother. "What brings you here?" His tone was cautious, his memories not yet fully reconciled. Despite their fraught history, Devon resolved to remain composed. Perhaps Alexander had come with an olive branch.

Devon was well aware that the likelihood of that event was nonexistent.

Alexander didn't respond. Instead, he inquired, "Liv was just here a moment ago. What did she want?"

"Nothing," Devon said, pausing to gather his thoughts before continuing. "She gave me an earful as usual, then stormed off."

As Devon anticipated, Alexander's scowl softened into an expression of disinterest.

Alexander then turned to Hector and questioned, "Did you just cast a spell?"

Devon confirmed with a nod.

"When did you learn magic?" Alexander pressed, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

At that moment, Devon was reminded of his non-existent magical affinity. After all, magic was a human's domain.

Devon had always taken pride in his ability to deceive others, and he was grateful that this talent was proving useful in his exchange with his brother.

"I... I just woke up with the knowledge," he claimed.

"So, you conjured an Undead?" Alexander probed.

"Errrr, I suppose so," Devon replied, unaware that zombies fell under the category of the undead.

"It doesn't look half bad," Alexander remarked before signaling his guards to escort Hector away, completely disregarding Devon's input.

Devon's brow furrowed in an instant. He stepped back, eager to avoid the eerie sensations that permeated the room. He recalled how his brother used to take whatever he wanted from him without a second thought, and it was happening all over again. Back then, Devon never dared to express his anger, despite seething inside.

But that was the Devon of the past. The man he was now refused to tolerate disrespect from anyone, including his older brother.

What he did next left Alexander utterly astounded.