The Threads of a Silent Pact

A long time ago in the world of Terramyr, within the elven kingdom, sick and tired of living trapped in what she considered a suffocating golden cage, the elven princess, Adeline, made the firm decision to escape the palace to explore the outside world for the very first time.

"I must hurry and dress for the occasion."

Despite the reckless nature of her choice and the obvious dangers lurking beyond the royal walls, the young girl blindly trusted her ability to disguise herself well enough to prevent any guard or villager from discovering her true identity.

"Hmm-hm-hmm~♪"

So, humming a cheerful melody without a single care, Adeline opened her massive wardrobe and picked a sexy white silk bodysuit from among her dresses to put on.

"It's a bit eye-catching..."

That white silk lingerie set, covered by a wispy robe of the same fabric, was actually Adeline's favorite lightweight outfit for being comfortable in her chambers.

"..."

However, it was deeply strange and contradictory that she had selected her most provocative and revealing garment just to sneak out and explore the outside.

"...Wait... Why am I putting this on...?"

Consequently, right at that moment, a spark of lucidity caused the princess to begin perceiving that something was wrong with her own decisions, questioning why she was dressing in such a suggestive and inappropriate outfit for traveling along the roads.

"......"

However, after a brief, fleeting moment of doubt, a subtle yet implacable external influence clouded and silenced her thoughts once more.

"...No, everything is normal."

As a result, shaking her head to push away the confusion, the elven princess completely forgot that concern and immediately continued with her preparations. Once everything necessary was done, Adeline used the last remnants of her magic to shape a doll that looked like her; a figure without facial features or senses that could only move erratically at random.

"This should buy me extra time."

Right after, Adeline neatly tucked and hid the doll under her blanket to pretend she was sleeping in bed, ensuring she avoided any suspicion from the maids while she slipped away in search of her freedom.

Nevertheless, that decision—silently driven by the invisible hand of "something" else—would ultimately cause her, in a tragic and symmetrical twist with the empty doll occupying her place in bed, to lose her own true freedom.

"How strange, isn't that Princess Adeline...?"

Sometime later, in the deep darkness of the night, a guard in charge of patrolling the courtyard perimeter spotted the slender silhouette of a noblewoman stealthily approaching the palace's outer gates.

"Is she planning to go out?"

Despite the young elven princess's earnest efforts to conceal her face under the shadow of a wide-brimmed hat and even trying to discard the elegant posture and haughty bearing fitting of royalty, her exceptionally long blonde hair shone with a distinct intensity, completely giving her away to any observer.

"Please, wait..."

Perceiving the situation, the guard prepared to step forward to stop and question her, until...

"...Hold on."

Suddenly, the companion beside him interrupted, grabbing his arm tightly to bring him to an immediate halt.

"Let her pass. Maybe the princess just wants to go out for a quiet night walk..."

In a manner completely incoherent with his rigorous personality and the strict protocol of his duty, the guard showed himself to be strangely lenient, taking full responsibility should any trouble arise after letting the supposed noblewoman leave.

"...Well... If you insist so much..."

In response, the first guard had no choice but to yield, accepting the unusual order without realizing how unnatural the situation truly was.

"Don't worry, brother, what are the odds that something bad actually happens?"

With that, the enigmatic companion gave the guard a reassuring pat on the shoulder and answered with an illogically, unnaturally carefree smile.

"Are you sure this will work...?"

Meanwhile, inside a luxurious aristocratic villa situated on the outskirts of the capital, the wealthy Duke Gurum was conversing in the shadows with a grotesque entity manifesting through the darkness.

"Do you perhaps doubt my power... mortal...?"

Obsessed with achieving his twisted goal of possessing the princess and obtaining what he so desperately craved, the wealthy noble Gurum had invested an obscene fortune into researching every dark and forbidden means possible to reach his goals, regardless of the moral cost.

"...No, I wouldn't dare doubt your methods... Lord Demon King..."

As a result, after funding ruinous expeditions and examining lost grimoires, the noble had stumbled upon forbidden rituals and cursed relics left behind as vestiges of an ancient past.

"Do not worry, human, those of our kind always fulfill our bargains."

Thanks to this, the ambitious duke uncovered secrets long forgotten by the world...

"... But in return... You must also fulfill your pact..."

Gurum discovered secrets ranging from the bloody origin of the magic swordsomen—originally born from failed cloning attempts to recreate artificial life whose genes had diluted over the passage of ages—to forbidden knowledge regarding the existence of multiple universes interconnected with one another.

"... If you deliver the princess to me... Then I shall fulfill my word..."

Regardless of the world, the era, or the form of existence, curiosity...

"... And I will let you in."

... Will always lead to the danger of the unknown.