The Damned Demon

The next day, the crimson sun rose over the horizon, casting a bloody glow upon the land.

Rowena stood on the grand balcony, her slender yet curvaceous figure bathed in the eerie morning light, the gentle breeze lifting the dark strands of her hair.

Her hand instinctively rested on her slightly bulging belly, feeling the faint pulse of the life growing within her. It was strange—unreal, even.

This child…

A miracle.

It took a few moments to believe what everyone told her after she woke up.

Despite everything she lost, despite the ashes of her kingdom, despite the pain that lingered like a wound that would never close—

This baby was alive.

A healthy, special and strong girl.

Something pure, something untouched by war, betrayal, or bloodshed.

For the first time in what felt like eternity, she felt something she thought she had lost—

A glimmer of hope.

But just as quickly as that warmth came, his face invaded her mind.

Asher.

Her fingers clenched against the cold stone railing.

She closed her eyes, biting down the emotions that swirled within her like a storm.

She hated that thinking about this child always brought him back to her mind.

The man who had lied to her.

The man who had killed her father.

The man she had loved so deeply that she couldn’t bring herself to kill him.

Instead, she banished him.

But why?

Why did her heart still ache when she thought of him?

Why did she still feel like part of her had been ripped away the moment he left?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of approaching footsteps.

She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Isola.

Rowena let out a quiet breath, composing herself as the young woman stepped onto the balcony beside her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

They simply stood there, watching the rising sun, bathed in its crimson glow.

And then, finally—

Rowena spoke.

“…I’m sorry.”

Isola turned her head, her sapphire-blue eyes widening slightly. “For

what?”

Rowena’s crimson eyes lowered, her fingers tightening slightly against the stone railing.

“Your mother… I wasn’t able to save her.”

A shadow crossed Isola’s features, but instead of sorrow, there was understanding.

She shook her head, her voice soft yet with a hint of dolefulness, “There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

Rowena pressed her lips together, “She died to let me escape. She—”

“She died protecting our future,” Isola interrupted gently, placing a hand over Rowena’s. “And if she were here, she wouldn’t want you to blame yourself. My mother…she was always ready to make sacrifices for the people she loved.”

Rowena’s throat tightened. She could see the veiled pain in Isola’s eyes and how she was trying to appear normal for her sake.

She had always known Narissara was a strong and proud queen.

But to give her life so selflessly despite the history they shared…

For them…

For her…

Isola gave a small, sad smile, “If anything, I should be the one thanking you.”

Rowena blinked, her expression slightly confused.

“Thanking me?”

Isola nodded. “You risked everything to save my life. I hurt your feelings and made you feel betrayed. Yet…you came for me..”

Rowena’s fingers twitched slightly, “No matter what I was feeling…I knew I couldn’t lose you.”

“I also don’t want to lose you,” Isola said warmly. “That’s why I’m grateful. And…”

Her voice faltered for a second before she took a deep breath, her expression growing heavy.

“…And I’m sorry.”

Rowena pressed her lips together as Isola added, “For keeping Asher’s past a secret from you.”

Rowena’s entire body stiffened.

Isola noticed, but she continued, “I know I should have told you. But I… I was waiting for him to tell you himself. He was planning to do it after the war. He never expected you to find out before.”

Rowena’s fingers curled into a tight fist.

She looked away, the rising sun no longer warm but mocking.

Asher had so many chances to tell her.

So many moments where he could have spoken the truth.

And yet, he chose to keep her in the dark—

Until it was too late.

“…He killed my father,” Rowena finally said, her voice hollow, and added,

“Even if he had to do it because of the quest…I can’t forget that it was because of him.”

Isola lowered her gaze.

She had no excuses. No justifications.

Rowena’s crimson eyes narrowed, “What am I supposed to do with all this?” Rowena felt even more troubled, especially when thinking about the child growing in her.

Isola met her gaze, steady and unwavering.

“I can’t tell you what to do, but for now, maybe reading this could help you know what to do—” she slowly pulled something out from the folds of her dress.

A letter.

Sealed with dark red wax.

Rowena’s eyes flickered with something unreadable as Isola held it out to her.

“No matter how much you might hate him for what he did—He wanted you to read this,” Isola said.

Rowena stared at the letter.

She didn’t reach for it.

She didn’t even move.

She just stared.

Isola gently pressed the letter into Rowena’s hands.

“I know you might not want to read it, but at least hold onto it,” she said, “Even if you resent him for what he did. Even if you never forgive him. Please read it. You might then understand why he did what he did.”

Rowena’s fingers trembled slightly as they closed around the letter.

She didn’t know why she took it.

She didn’t know if she would open it.

But something inside her wouldn’t let her refuse it.

Isola gave her a small nod, “I’ll leave you to it.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Rowena alone on the balcony once more.

The morning air was still.

The sun continued to rise, the sky burning red.

Rowena looked down at the letter clutched in her hands.

She hated him, yet a part of her heart ached for something.

She wanted to forget him.

And yet…

Her fingers slowly traced over the dark red wax seal.

The parchment felt heavy in her hands.

The wax seal was still intact, unbroken, but Rowena’s fingers trembled as they hovered over it.

Her mind was telling her not to open it, convincing her that she didn’t need to read whatever he had to say.

And yet—

She was still holding it.

Her hands moved on their own.

Before she even realized it—

She had broken the seal.

The faint scent of him lingered on the parchment. A scent she had tried so hard to forget.

Then, with a deep breath, she unfolded the letter.

——

[ Rona,

I don’t know if you’ll ever read this. I don’t know if you’ll burn it the moment you see my name. Maybe you’ll tear it apart like how I tore up your heart unintentionally. But if you are reading this… then I suppose there’s still a part of you that doesn’t completely hate me. Or maybe you just want to see what kind of excuses I have to give you. I wouldn’t blame you for that. ]

Rowena’s fingers tightened on the letter.

She had wanted to hate him.

She still did.

But why did the weight of his words feel like an anchor pulling her down?

She continued reading.

[ You don’t owe me anything. Least of all forgiveness. If I were in your place, I would have never let me live. I know how it feels to get betrayed…I experienced it once more, making me realize how shitty I am as a man. I took advantage of your feelings and trust to protect myself even though I never intended to make you feel betrayed.

I don’t deserve the kindness you showed me by letting me walk away and even stop me from interfering in the war. But Rona, there are things I need to tell you… things that I should have told you before it was too late. And maybe I’ll never get the chance to tell you in person. So I’ll tell you here, one piece at a time. If you still want to read them.

The truth is… I was forced to become a liar after waking up as a demon. A new life I never expected or was prepared to live. ]

Rowena inhaled sharply.

[ I didn’t want to become a liar. But because lying was the only thing that kept me alive for as long as I can remember. I had learned the hard way from my past life that the moment I told the truth, the moment I let my guard down, everything I cared about was taken from me.

So I didn’t want to repeat those same mistakes that ended up with me getting backstabbed by the very humans I fought with and cherished once. At that time, I felt like my whole world was collapsing on me…I know you must have felt something similar when you learned those things about me. ]

Rowena could feel something inside her twist.

The flames of anger she had carried for him—she wanted them to burn hotter, to consume everything, to reduce these words to ash.

And yet…

There was a sorrow in his words.

Something raw.

Something that made her grip the letter even tighter.

She had no idea he was betrayed like that. She thought the humans made up some story to get the credit for killing her father and wasn’t surprised they didn’t seem to care about Golden Prince’s legacy.

But she never expected this to be the true reason.

[ As a demon, it became a habit—no, a necessity to hide my true thoughts to protect myself and to one day take revenge on those who betrayed me. I believed this life was a second chance for me to do it.

It is true that I intended to make you fall in love with me to take advantage of your power to get my revenge. ]

Rowena pressed her lips together.

[ I didn’t feel any regret or remorse at that time because I hated demons more than anything. It was a hate I carried since I was a child. But I was ignorant. ]

I never understood that demons were people who could love and protect as well instead of only killing. And that demons like you were forced into such a life for the sake of survival. Not that you all are inherently evil. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire

Only by living as one and meeting you did I come to slowly realize that.

You helped me realize that and by that time…I had already fallen in love with you. ]

Rowena felt something tugging at her heart.

[ I didn’t lie to you because I wanted to hurt you. I lied because I was afraid. Afraid of losing you. Afraid that if you knew who I really was, what I had done, you would look at me the way you did that day. Like I was a monster.

And I was. Maybe I still am.

If only I could turn back time, I would have made sure to never hurt you in the slightest.

But I can’t…

That’s why I need you to know this, Rona. I never lied about loving you. I know you might not be able to trust what I am saying, but I have no more reason to lie. I will do whatever it takes to make you believe me. ]

Her breath hitched.

Her vision blurred.

Why…

Even now, when she wanted to hate him the most—

Even now, his words reached her.

[ I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I will keep sending these letters while I am stuck here, trying to reclaim everything we lost. You can throw them away if you want.

If you don’t receive another letter from me…then it means I failed. Failed you and our people. But even if it means going through the depths of the Seven Hells, I will make sure I won’t fail you all again.

I will love you until the end of my days.

Even if you never love me again. ]

—–

Her hands trembled as she slowly lowered the letter.

Her heart pounded in her chest, emotions clashing like an endless storm within her.

She wanted to forget about the letter.

To pretend it never existed or that she read it.

But she couldn’t.

Her fingers brushed over the parchment, tracing the indentations of his words.

Words written by his hands.

Words meant only for her.

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

A deep, aching emptiness settled inside her.

She wasn’t ready to forgive him.

However, she folded the letter and tucked it away in the drawer beside her bed before walking away with heavy steps.