She braced herself for the looks of contempt that would greet her when she entered the room, and yet it didn’t soften the piercing blow that was received. Each one of their gazes was cold, and it felt like ice was piercing her entire being.

Gulping, and taking in air that she desperately needed to calm her nerves, she rearranged her facial features into something that didn’t show her inner turmoil.

She took her seat at the head of the table and didn’t fail to notice that none of the elders had stood up in her presence. Illustrating further how much they were against her as their Queen.

Anger replaced her feelings of nervousness, and it threatened to overflow. And in the end, she couldn’t hold it back any longer.

Her fist slammed down on the table, shattering it instantly and sending glass every which way; some even pierced the chest of the nearby elders.

Their dark blood flowed out of their wounds and made rivulets on the ground.

The pale-faced elders didn’t dare to protest in the face of the Queen’s wrath, their disdain towards her faded somewhat.

“Do you all take me for some joke?!” her voice boomed out in the silent room and shook the eardrums of everyone within the room.

Even Xander had heard her voice from where ever he had been in the palace and had come rushing to see what the commotion was.

“Sis, calm down!”

Despite Xander wanting his sister to be more ruthless and put the elders in their places, he also knew that now wasn’t the right time. Her position still wasn’t secure on the throne, and there was now a situation with their brother - the prince who had been forced to leave.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Asteria yanked her arm free from his grasp. Black veins stood out on her skin, and her eyes glowed a deep shade of red.

“I’m sorry elders.” Xander bowed towards the old men who were still standing where the table used to be, and bid goodbye to them before dragging his sister from the room.

A concerned Orion was still outside the room, and all he saw was Asteria being pulled by her brother. Red marks were blossoming on her skin where he held her.

Orion scowled and tried to pry Xander’s fingers off of Asteria’s arm, but it was no use; the demon prince was many times stronger than him. It only resulted in Xander’s anger worsening, and he flung Orion away.

He smashed into the stone wall, causing rubble to rain down on him, and he slid down to the ground.

The Queen rushed to his side and aided him in sitting up.

“Asteria!” Taehyung got her attention and exclaimed, “you need to learn to control yourself. Those demons in there don’t care about who you are and what your status is. One wrong move and you’ll be forced into an eternal sleep. Be more careful.”

“I can’t lose you... not like...” He couldn’t continue his sentence, and his gaze softened as he saw the pain that decorated his sister’s features. “I’m sorry...”

And then he left, leaving his sister and an injured Orion behind.