“Did you hear about the prince? He’s been spotted close to here.” A maid paused her work so she could gossip with her friend.

“Really? I thought he had fled from the palace.”

“So did I. Rumours say the reason he ran away was because of the Queen.” The maids’ voices were drowned out by the roaring of the flames that burned their bodies down to ash.

“Sada!”

“Yes, my queen?” Sada appeared by his mistress’ side and bowed his head.

“Remove this filth from my sight and hire some new maids; ones who aren’t prone to gossip.” She dusted off her hands and left to find somewhere to cool her head.

Moonlight lit up the promenade that the queen stood upon as she gazed out at the Black Lake. Mutated birds akin to swans glided along the waters, and the queen scowled at the sigh. She felt even more disgusted than she already was.

What happened in the past with her and her runaway brother was none of anyone’s business - that included the palace’s staff, who were now nothing more than waste that was to be disposed of.

Sighing, she lent on her hand that was being propped up by the railing that ran alongside the lake and ignored the approaching footsteps.

“Um...”

Asteria turned at the sound of his voice and her troubled expression melted away. “My, what are you doing out here? Surely you’re not healed enough to be wandering around outside, and you definitely shouldn’t be alone. There are plenty of people who would love to see your head on a pike.” The queen laughed and ushered the dark-haired man over to a bench.

They sat in silence for a while and watched the swans glide across the lake, and the queen observed how the moonlight shone upon it.

When was it she had last wished to see even more light? Like the light you see on Earth. She had been told stories of what life on Earth was like since she was a child. Yet, each story was different depending on whom told them to her.

If it was her father, he would paint Earth in a bad light and would strike fear into her heart. And her grandmother would tell her stories of wonder and adventure. Of how much love could be found in every place you visit.

She had wished that love and adventure could be a part of demon culture, but that was just a fruitless dream; a fantasy imagined by a child.

Now, she was just as bad as her father and since the great falling out between her and her family, she had become an empty shell. It was something she had hoped she would never become. Her heart had lost all feeling and her soul was darkened. To her, there was no turning back; this was who she was now. No matter how much it was a bitter pill she had to swallow.

And bitter it was, and always will be.