*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

"May I have your time, my Emperor?" A female voice was behind the door waiting for a response on the other side of the door.

"Let her in"

Having permission to open the door, the imp guards welcome the beautiful woman. Even though she was wearing a maid uniform, the guards and maidservants lightly bowed when she passed by them. She has the aura of being different from the other maid working in the castle.

'Geez. she gets more respect than I do.' S'lva thought while looking at the woman standing across the table.

"Greetings my Emperor. I, E'za, has come to your service."

"What does the head maid requires of me?" S'lva immediately cut to the chase.

Hearing his response, the E'za took something from her pockets and presented it to S'lva.

"What is this?"

"I believed it was a present, my Emperor."

"From whom?"

"They didn't want their identity to be revealed, my Emperor."

'Oh look, someone bothered to do so.' S'lva was surprised that a present came through, considering how much hate he is getting right now.

Despite the fact not knowing the sender or their intention, S'lva was quite happy that something emperor-like thing happened to him.

He took the silver box from the hands of the head maid and opened it gracefully like it was the most valuable glass. Seeing the S'lva's action, E'za couldn't help but smile over the Emperor's cute behaviour.

'A ring?'

S'lva gave a ring a closer look at whether there was something special about it. Unfortunately, after inspecting it thoroughly, the only thing that stands out was an engraved symbol he never saw before. He felt a little disappointed. Nonetheless, he was still happy to receive a gift as the Emperor.

'It's a nice ring, but I don't prefer wearing one.'

S'lva was about to place the ring back into the box when he catches sight of a letter folded neatly at the bottom of the box.

When he opened the letter, the first thing he noticed was that the language it was written in was 'Humas'. Luckily, he was taught by the sister A'rta how to read and write using their language.

[Dear, Demon Emperor

I congratulate you on becoming the next Emperor. The news has already reached in our nation. When we heard how you won the throne, all Humas celebrated the fact that their longtime enemy has a useless ruler.

I find you quite amusing for a Demon, becoming the Emperor without even lifting your weapon, very unusual considering that you demons just love to fight. I guess you're just incompetent at being a Demon.

All that aside, I believe that you're the perfect person for it. You can save us 'Humans' from the Devil. I know it is sudden and asking too much, but I have no choice.

Sincerely yours,

Reinold of Audraviel

P.S. Oh, by the way, pour a single drop of blood on the ring to activate it.]

...

"What a load of crap!" Salva shouted after reading the letter.

"Asking for my help after dissing me in the very same letter. How shameful can this guy be."

The burst of emotion from S'lva has gained the curiosity of E'za towards what was written on it. Picking up the paper S'lva just threw, E'za was able to read and get the gist of what the content of the letter was.

There was only one thing though that caught the attention of E'za.

"Reinold...Reinold of Audraviel?... REINOLD OF AUDRAVIEL?!?!" It was the head maid's turn to shout.

Surprised by how E'za reacted, S'lva asked, "You can read in Humas to?" with all seriousness.

The ignorance of his Emperor has dumbfounded E'za. A breath of sigh has escaped through her little mouth before explaining the situation S'lva was involved in.

"Do you know who the sender is?" E'za tried to confirm first whether S'lva knew something. But seeing his negative response, E'za continued with her explanation.

"Prince Reinold Reinold of Audraviel, also known as the Sword Hero. He is considered as the strongest among the 'Chosen ones.' He is the pillar for the Kingdom of Audraviel and all of the Humas, but he barely shows his presence in public or private."

"So, what does the Hero want from me?"

"That I do not know. But based on his letter, he seems to be asking for help." E'za tried to think of any problems the Kingdom of Audraviel have. Her pondering gave the room another fit of silence.

S'lva felt something was off when everything went quiet for a second. Only when he saw the plate on the table that he noticed how long time has passed.

'Does it take this long for food to be cooked?' Now that he remembers what he was here for, S'lva was getting impatient over the fact none of what he requested was served yet.

"Can you check if something's wrong at the kitchen" S'lva ordered one of the maidservants nearby.

"I guess that's the cue for me to leave" After the maidservant left, E'za went ahead and excused herself out, but before she was able to leave, S'lva tries to confirm one last time whether she knows the reason why the Sword Hero have sent the letter.

"I'm afraid I do not, my Emperor... It won't matter for you anyway." E'za answered, but midway through her sentence, her voice was barely audible to S'lva.

"Don't worry my Emperor. They will be here soon." E'za left those words while stepping out of the room.

...

A minute passed by before another knock on the door was heard. This time it was a maidservant whose face is covered by a black veil, came in dragging a cart full of different types of cuisine.

Bothered by the strange veil, S'lva tried to peek under to see her face but gave up when he saw the maid get uncomfortable with his actions.

'I guess she has reasons why her face is hidden.'

Taking his mind off the maid, S'lva began drooling again over the delicacies slowly being put down the table. When the last dished have been placed on top, he immediately took a huge bite of the Red Dragon Steak.

*Munch*

As soon as the meat entered his stomach, S'lva suddenly felt nauseous and dizzy. It became difficult to breathe and everything felt heavy. He tried to move his arms, but it only caused his body to drop on the table.

Glancing over his side, he saw the maidservant smiled under her veil before a chilling voice spoke, "That was quicker than I thought."

It didn't take him long to realize that the food was poisoned.

With great difficulty, a desperate call for help was able to escape from his mouth, but none of the maidservants or guards has any intention of moving away from their spot and help their Emperor. Some of the guards even have a smile on their face.

"W...Why?"

"Hahaha! Did you think you will become the Emperor? How Pitiful." The veiled woman mockingly laughs at the pitiful state S'lva was in.

"Every House wanted you out of the seat of Emperor. Even the House of Beleth, the one that took you in, didn't oppose this decision. I guess everyone wants you dead."

S'lva tried not to believe what the veiled woman was saying. But looking back, he clenched his fist in frustration because every single word she said was accurate.

"I guess you're thinking about how I can kill you without any consequences of the Oath." The veiled woman continued with her monologue.

'Come to think of it. No demon should able to hurt their Emperor.' S'lva just remembered.

"Easy. The oath does not bound me for I am not a demon but someone hired to do the dirty job demons can't do, and that is to kill you, my Emperor." She tried to act cool by pretending to read his mind.

'She talks a lot for someone trying to kill me...This is my chance.'

'Your honor power above all power. You deserve everything. I raise myself to bring fear and destruction. I give myself to the Almighty Ruler of hell, Beleth...INVOKE'

While the assassin was having fun talking to herself, a minor shaking of the ground followed by a ruthless wind ravages throughout the room. Glassware fell on the ground one by one, creating a shattering sound on what once was a silent night.

In the centre of all these phenomena was the strange aura coming out of S'lva, who was now standing. The once young-looking handsome demon has turned into a grotesque humanoid figure in a matter of seconds.

Nonetheless, no one present was surprised by his transformation.

"An ugly sight fitting for a houseless demon." The assassin ridiculed.

"Invoking a Ruler of Hell that's not your bloodline is just suicide. I can't believe A'rta took you."

Hearing A'rta's name, S'lva got furious and slashed his way to the veiled woman using the newly formed razor-like claws. But before he was able to react, he was immobilized by the dagger stuck in his chest.

"Can't even bother to fight an incomplete transformation."

She pulled the dagger that just pierced S'lva's and threw his lifeless body on the ground. The inhumane figure slowly reverts to its original young man look.

"Job is done." The woman said after cleaning her dagger and instructing the guards and maidservants who kept watching to leave the room. She soon followed them after ensuring that S'lva was going to bleed to death.

*******

'How did I end up here?'

I, S'lva, who was supposed to be the Demon emperor is now lying down dead on the floor. But I'm not gonna lie, the floor feels really good. I could sleep here all night if it weren't for the hole in my heart.

Hahaha. Be the Emperor forever my ass. I can't even last a single day as one. I guess those bastards were right after all. An idiot like me can never be someone great.

'Ahh~~ My whole body really hurts. Am I going to die like this?'

I felt another sharp pain coursing through my body. When I tried to look for anything that could help my situation, I saw a gold ring near me, giving a glint of light even though it is covered with my blood.

'It's the gift from the hero for me, the Emperor'

...How ironic. The one that is considered as my enemy is the only one that recognized me as the Demon Emperor. Maybe sister A'rta does but...

I don't care anymore.

With great difficulty, I was able to reach for the ring. It fit surprisingly well for something that requires measurements.

It took all of my energy trying to wear the ring on my finger and it didn't take long before I felt completely drained.

I laid down on my blood while drifting off to sleep. The calming sounds of rustling leaves and grass gave me peace in the last bit of my consciousness.