Case 113: To a bloody prelude.

Yuria felt as if she were living in a pivotal moment of history.

Even if she had simply gone through numerous coincidences to reach this point, it didn't take away the situation's transcendence. On the surface, she was about to witness a fight between the current demon ruler and the ghost of her species' past. And while that might have seemed like a sensational occurrence, it paled in comparison to what this battle implied.

''I plan to eliminate the progenitor's curse.''

If everything Cecilia said was true and if her words reflected even a bit of her true feelings, then Yuria might as well be the sole observer of a generational bout. Cecilia breaking the curse meant that the demon royalty—the stars of calamities—would lose the cruelty that had been forced upon them.

A sensible person wouldn't need any explanations to understand the effects this event might have on the world.

''...Alright. I have good memories, so count on me.'' The princess pleaded, her tone filled with determination.

Cecilia gently smiled as she heard those words. Yet that smile promptly disappeared as she turned to the steel door, ''Get ready and stay behind me. It'll be dangerous.''

Cecilia put down her suitcase and rested her hat on it. Silently sighing, she started to unbutton her little cape, leaving only a long, elegant white dress embracing her figure.

Once her luggage had been properly put aside, she approached the door.

''I-I'm ready.''

''Mhm.''

Sensing something was about to come, Yuria braced herself.

As soon as Cecilia's palm touched the steel surface, a violent burst of energy blew their way, illuminating the whole interior in a blood-red glow for a short second. Yuria witnessed Cecilia's growing sky-blue hair slowly losing its color, an ashen gray descending as it fluttered.

The door creaked open slowly, allowing the light to pour out.

In front of Yuria stood a figure alien to one that she knew. Not only did her appearance change, but the aura she released felt completely distant. Instead of the calm and commanding noblesse Cecilia had shown until now, there was something of madness and irresistible dominance etched in her sharp gaze.

A true beauty.

Yuria couldn't believe it was the same person she had been traveling with.

''...Ah.''

The princess snapped out of it as Cecilia took a step forward. Finally leaving Cecilia's mesmerizing attraction, she let the throne room's scene open before her.

A vast, almost unobstructed space, ridden with marble pillars and razed by a half-glass ceiling, through which the dilating blood moon cast its glance. A long, red carpet sprinkled with gold leaves stretched the way to the elevated throne.

Cecilia calmly treaded forward, her gait confident as if declaring she was worthy of what stood at the end of the road.

Yuria cautiously traced her companion's footsteps, her eyes constantly darting around the place. It was her first time witnessing this extraordinary stage.

Yet, her attention eventually fell onto what was embracing the grand throne—a pair of symmetrical wings which gleamed a soft ruby-red. Only the frontmost parts of them were lit, leaving the rest in complete shadow, dwarfed by the sheer spotlight on the throne itself.

It almost seemed deliberate.

And from that dark abyss, a figure emerged.

Long, wavy silver hair, pale white skin, crimson eyes with slit pupils—an exquisite beauty.

''You...''

A hoarse voice escaped her little mouth. One could almost see the sharp fangs between those dry lips.

The moment she saw Cecilia, all reasons vanished in her demeanor. Dragging her torn white dress through the floor, she hurled herself at Cecilia, sharp nails lunging forward.

''Kugh...!''

But Cecilia easily caught her wrist.

''You... damned royal blood!'' The woman yelled. ''Why did you have to come back after all these years?!''

''Livia Anora Dracul,'' Cecilia muttered. ''Get out.''

As if a powerless doll, Livia was thrown away at Cecilia's simple gesture. Though for Yuria, who recognized the woman as the current lord of all vampires and the Duchess of Dracul—someone who had been speculated to be on par with the former heroine herself... she couldn't help but tremble.

'So this is the power they possess...'

On the floor, Livia bit her lips in frustration as she glared at Cecilia. She bit it until it bled. The more she felt that cold gaze, that attitude of contempt, the more she detested herself... and the cowardly royals who abandoned their own kingdom.

She rose to her feet and stood facing Cecilia, seeming reckless.

''You damned royals... you damned fools... do you realize how desperate I was! For his recognition! And you! You came back with nothing but marks of a lowly vampire on your body! Have you lost your mind?!''

''...''

At the sudden crashout, Cecilia only kept her silence.

She hadn't expected Livia to hole herself in this room, longing for Astaroth's attention. This woman was one of the bloodthirsty high-demons in the monarchy and a sub-boss in the original game, as Cecilia remembered.

If Cecilia were solely Cecilia, the two would have joined forces a few years ago and caused quite a trouble for the heroine.

'Would it be better now if this woman had been allowed to battle the previous heroine party and simply perished...'

The truth was that the demon queen purposefully left out her forces and even went easy on Jeanne and her teammates. The reason, as Cecilia knew it, was rather ridiculous, but she couldn't change what had happened. Not that she really wanted to, anyway.

For now... neither Livia's fate nor her desires mattered.

''You're in the way, vampire.''

''...!''

Cynical words escaped Cecilia's mouth as she pushed the woman away. Enraged, Livia swelled her power and called upon her Soul Guardian, ''Rory!''

A crystallized bat materialized on Livia's palm, drawing out her blood. It then sank into her chest, empowering the vampire with unmatched might. The force she radiated was so overwhelming that it shook the whole place. The observer—Yuria—felt her heart practically come to a halt.

''Then... I'll end your blood here.''

Ridden with hatred and jealousy, Livia was prepared to sacrifice her all.

''How unsightly.''

But not in front of Cecilia.

Tearing through the streams of vampiric rage was a single longsword, a helplessly crimson blade, one forged in Cecilia's purest magical power. With a single push, as the tip of it clinked against Livia's chest, a tsunami befell.

''Ugh...?!''

Cecilia's magic swept through everything, the waves punching her against a pillar.

And just like that, Livia's all was powerlessly washed away. Cecilia stood there for a bit, staring at the limping Livia.

''You... heartless fool.'' The vampire princess cursed. ''You abandoned us...''

''...''

A single tear rolled down Livia's cheeks as her consciousness finally sank.

Without batting an eye, Cecilia strode forward, dragging her sword along. Belatedly, she was reminded of her own words, ''We are all shades of gray to one another.''

'That's right.'

Nothing is black and white.

The world is vast. No matter how terrible you are, someone will sympathize with you.

But if Cecilia was terrible both in the human eyes and the demon eyes... who was she supposed to rely on?

Images of the ones she held dear flashed in her mind. Cecilia wondered if they would accept her as she was. The road to the throne stretched and stretched as her thoughts weaved.

And when her heel met the first stair step toward the throne, she had made up her mind.

'Yeah, let's confess everything... whether I come back successful or not.'