187: Facing the demon

Facing the demon

Emily stopped in her tracks upon hearing Raylen's words. For a fleeting moment, a sense of relief had washed over her at being allowed to leave the mansion, not expecting him to stop her.

"Me?" Gloria whipped her head around to look at Raylen, who had his eyes fixed on Emily. She chuckled softly before her eyebrows drew together, and she looked at him in confusion. She said, "King Raylen, Emily is the one who wishes to return to the castle." 

When Emily turned, her eyes met Raylen's unwavering blue eyes. He said, "I have something to discuss with her." Then, he shifted his attention to Gloria and offered her a serene smile. "You are an understanding woman, and I am sure you would be more than happy to allow us some time to talk. We can continue our time together later." 

Gloria appeared to be at a loss for words, as her mind was still clouded by the pleasure she had received from him a short while ago. And when she continued to look reluctant, Emily spoke up, saying, 

"Lady Gloria doesn't need to leave. I am just experiencing a little headache and need some rest. There is nothing to—" 

"Gloria," Raylen uttered the blonde woman's name, and she promptly retrieved the shawl she had taken off earlier, draping it around her shoulders before exiting the room and the corridor. 

"Now, why don't we step inside and talk about what brought on your headache?" Raylen asked, moving aside from the door to allow Emily to enter. He refrained from mentioning her tears, fully aware that she would vehemently deny them. The princess possessed too much pride to acknowledge such vulnerability in front of others. 

Emily was still overwhelmed, and she clenched her hands into fists. She stated firmly, "There is nothing to talk about, King Raylen." 

"You are a princess accustomed to attending countless gatherings and meeting numerous people. I find it hard to believe something so simple would have caused you a headache, unless you didn't sleep well last night," Raylen stated, a subtle twitch at the corners of his lips, and he added, "We can do this all day long, Princess. Right here. So get in." 

As she heard footsteps echoing down the corridor, Emily promptly stepped inside the room. When she heard the door click shut behind her, she swiftly turned to meet Raylen's gaze. 

"To avoid anyone eavesdropping," Raylen explained before he walked past her and pushed aside the curtains, allowing light to filter into the room. 

Silence filled the room, and soon Raylen came to stand before her. She began, 

"I thought I could do it… but I don't think I can. Attending this gathering, I mean." 

Raylen's eyes subtly narrowed at Emily, for she had been fine until he left her side. The princess was well-versed in navigating crowds, which was why he hadn't continued to chaperone her after that. He questioned her, 

"What happened down there? Did someone say something?"

Emily struggled to say his name because the mere thought of him filled her heart with  tumultuous pain. She fought to keep herself from crumbling before she answered, "Nathaniel is here." 

"Nathaniel Lynx?" Raylen verified, and she nodded in response. "It's quite unusual for him to be in the same place."

"He's here with his wife, Layla," Emily confirmed. 

She had believed that this gathering was intended for unmarried men and women, and she hadn't expected to see them here. 

"Did you speak to him?" Raylen inquired, and she shook her head. 

"No," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She wasn't ready to speak to him. Her heart began to race at the possibility, and anxiety began to surge through her chest, slowly creeping into her mind. "I need to go home. Far away from him. I cannot bear to be where he is because it feels like my heart is being torn apart. Perhaps you should arrange a ship for me to return to Versailles. So, please," she pleaded, her readiness to flee evident. 

"That is very unlike you, Princess, to run like a coward, if that is truly what you are." Raylen's words carried a taunting edge, even though he delivered them with a straight face. 

Emily responded, "You can't truly understand what heartache is unless you've lived through it."

A smile appeared on Raylen's lips, and he remarked, "What can I say? It must be one of the perks of having a hollow chest." 

Emily was in no mood to banter with him and said, "A pitiable existence. Never mind. I will ask Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz for a carriage. Like I said, you don't need to accompany me." She turned and walked towards the door, prepared to open it, but just before she did, she heard him say, 

"If you run now, you will keep running for the rest of your life." 

Emily's hand tightened its grip on the doorknob, her fingers clenching around it. She knew she didn't deserve this, and even if she had done something bad in a past life, she was sure she had paid for it by now. 

"My grandmother managed to live her life both during and after Grandfather's death. I should be able to do the same," Emily stated with her back facing him. 

"You're sure about that?" Raylen queried.

Emily disliked those words because they echoed the sentiments of her mother and sister, making her feel incapable. Her voice, filled with hurt and anger, rose as she retorted, 

"I told you I can handle it!" Tears welled up again in Emily's eyes, her grip on the doorknob loosening. 

Another bout of silence descended upon the room, and neither of them moved from where they stood. Emily's gaze remained fixed on the wooden door, her vision becoming blurred as she struggled to contain her tears, which threatened to break and spill like her emotions. 

"No one is doubting your capabilities," Raylen stated, his voice as calm as the weather that imbued one with a sense of languidness. He continued, "No one has been able to endure the pain of being soulless, as they ultimately wither and pass away. Your family sent you here for the same reason. The more you run, the more unbearable it will become, eventually evolving into an endless agony greater than what you're experiencing right now." 

Emily's hand slipped from the doorknob, and with a sigh, she spoke while still facing the door, "It is much harder than any of you realise." 

"No one ever said it would be easy. While people may consider it fortunate to have a soulmate, the design is flawed for those who are left behind. However, it doesn't mean there's no way to fix it." Raylen's tone softened slightly as he spoke. 

He considered himself to be among the lucky ones not to have a destined soulmate, knowing he was spared from the anguish that some of them endured. He had never been reborn as an earthling, having made a deal with Anastasia when she began cursing the archdemons one after another. 

Emily was well aware of this. She had read every available word about soulmates when she had come of age and had begun to eagerly anticipate the day she would meet her destined partner. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself, and then said, 

"Their presence caught me off guard. If I had known I would meet them here, I would have been better prepared." The last thing she wanted to do was to appear weak, and even though her eyes might betray her emotions, she continued to hold herself together. 

Raylen watched Emily's back, her dark blonde hair flowing freely. He said, "There's a mirror in this room. There must be some things here that you could use to freshen up. In the meantime, I will go have a drink, as my drinking session was interrupted."

Emily didn't move from her spot, but her ears picked up Raylen's footsteps as he walked towards the liquor trolley next to the couch. Hearing the sound of the bottle being uncorked, she slowly turned to the side, before her hazel eyes then shifted to where the oval mirror hung on the opposite wall. 

Approaching the mirror, she gazed at her reflection, noticing that her face had turned faintly pink due to the emotions she had experienced earlier. She adjusted a strand of her hair, letting it rest over her shoulder. 

After assessing her appearance, her eyes moved to the mirror's reflection of Raylen. She watched as he downed a glass of liquor and then picked up his black coat, putting it on. Turning away from the mirror, she walked back towards the door. 

"Ready to rejoin the crowd?" Raylen asked her, and Emily gave him a slight nod. He then said, "Push through the pain, Princess."

Opening the door, they stepped outside together. Raylen raised his arm, prompting Emily to furrow her brow and ask, "Is it necessary?" 

"In my experience, I have learned that when it comes to heartaches, it is often easiest to make the other person believe that you feel nothing. Let him realise what he has lost," Raylen advised her with a wink, and Emily's expression turned grim. "Lighten up. It wouldn't reflect well on your image if men discovered that you've been rejected by your soulmate. Have you danced with everyone on your dance card?" 

"I am not sure," Emily murmured before gingerly placing her arm around Raylen's. 

"What do you mean you're not sure?" Raylen's eyebrows arched, and he glanced down at her wrist, realising it was empty. "Where is your dance card?" 

"I removed it," Emily replied, avoiding Raylen's eyes as she kept her focus forward. She took it off after seeking refuge in one of the rooms, as at that moment, she wanted nothing to do with any man, her actions driven by the pain she felt. 

When they reached the lower floor, Emily's body tensed up. She said in a hushed tone, "You said I was easy to lose in the crowd." She was well aware that Nathaniel would likely look at her with indifference, as that was often how it went. 

"Hm? I don't recall saying that," Raylen denied in a nonchalant tone. 

Emily's eyebrows furrowed as she turned to see Raylen smiling at one of the passing guests. She reminded him, "You said it before we got into the carriage." 

A look of mischief appeared on Raylen's face, and mirth danced in his blue eyes as he said, "It seems you didn't get what I meant, Princess. Your tutor didn't do a good job of teaching you to infer things." 

Emily's eyes narrowed at the implication of her being unintelligent. She inquired, "What did you mean then?" She observed him wear a thoughtful look on his face before he responded, 

"Not too long ago, when Paxton—Mr. Hatt—went out to sea with some of the fishermen, he stumbled upon an oyster. The oyster was creamy brown outside, but when he opened it, he discovered that the inside was the colour of water. However, within it lay a solitary, precious pearl, which served as the inspiration for your gown."

'You look like you were pulled from the depths of the sea. Someone who might be easy to lose.'

The gown was indeed a shimmering silver-blue with a beige inner skirt to complement it, Emily mused. It made her happy to know that there was a meaningful story behind its creation. 

Pressing her lips together for a moment, Emily said, "You could have just told me directly instead of shrouding it in mystery." The man had a penchant for the unconventional, she thought in her mind. 

"I assumed you were an intelligent woman. I guess I overestimated you; my mistake," Raylen remarked with a grin that crept onto his lips when he received a glare from her, and she uncurled her hand from around his arm. He continued, "Also, it would be quite troublesome if you were to fall for me after my compliments, especially considering that your brother warned me to keep my hands off his sisters." 

Emily shook her head and softly remarked, "I think the more appropriate statement is that if you complimented me, I would assume you were lying." This was because his words always seemed coated with flattery, whether directed at men or women. 

Raylen's grin broadened on his lips as he said, "That too." And for those brief moments, Emily's mind was occupied by his words and actions as they continued towards the room where most of the guests were gathered.

As Emily and Raylen entered the room, they strolled with leisurely footsteps, moving through the crowd, when Nathaniel's eyes fell on them. On her. With each step they took closer to where the former soulmate stood, Emily's heart clenched a little more.  2

Nathaniel's eyes carried a mix of confusion and irritation, although he kept it subdued enough that the people around him remained unaware. 

"I am so glad to see you here! You look beautiful in the Western-style gown," Layla exclaimed upon spotting the Princess of Versailles. She put her arms around her and hugged her warmly, asking, "How is your health now?" 

Layla appeared concerned, recalling that Emily had declined her wedding invitation, citing feeling unwell and being unable to travel. Emily offered the woman a small smile and replied, "Yes, I am feeling better now."

"That is a relief, Prin—"

"Lady Layla, you may address me as Lady Emily instead of princess," Emily said to the woman, who looked slightly taken aback. "I am here to find a man who will appreciate me for who I am, not for the title I carry."

"Oh, of course! I understand," Layla nodded, swiftly fixing her surprised expression and offering a smile. She then turned to her husband, urging him to join her, saying, "Look, Nate. It's Lady Emily." 

Raylen, who stood beside the princess, flashed a charming smile at the woman. "Congratulations on your wedding," he offered. His gaze then shifted away from the woman to settle on his fellow archdemon, the grin on his lips widening as if he had just discovered someone's weak spot. 

"Thank you," Layla replied with a smile before saying, "I am sorry, but I don't know you." 

"He is the King of Storm. Raylen Storm," Nathaniel introduced, coming to stand beside his wife. His black eyes bore into Raylen's blue ones, who looked back at him with a sly smile. 

Layla quickly bowed to Raylen and said, "Greetings to you, King Raylen. I apologise for not recognising you earlier! I am Layla Lynx."

Emily sensed Nathaniel's eyes on her once again, but she avoided looking at him. The last time they had spoken was on the dance floor, where he had accused her of making things hard for them. She heard Raylen ask, 

"So Lady Layla, what brings you to the Storm Kingdom? Considering everyone here came with the intention of finding a partner." 

"One of my cousins is attending the gathering, looking for a potential husband. After our own wedding, I wanted to travel to another kingdom, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to come here to attend her wedding if she were to find a match," Layla explained. 

"Perfect indeed," Raylen responded, while Nathaniel and Emily remained silent. 

"Though I am surprised to see Lady Emily here," Layla stated, looking at Emily and saying, "What I mean is, you have been waiting for your soulmate, haven't you?" 

Emily couldn't help but wonder why Layla was asking such difficult and uncomfortable questions. She replied, "I believed it was wiser not to wait for something that might ultimately prove to be unworthy." 

"That is indeed true. Most of us never cross paths with our soulmates in our lifetimes," Layla agreed. "Take me, for example. I met Nate, and we bonded seamlessly. He's the best husband I could have asked for," she added with a smile. 

Emily felt more than a pinch upon hearing Layla's words. 

"I must respectfully disagree," Raylen countered, capturing the full attention of the three people around him. Nathaniel's eyes narrowed into a glare. 

Emily turned to look at the blue-eyed archdemon, not wanting him to reveal the truth to Layla. After all, what would be the point? Her heart was shattered, and Nathaniel had already formed a bond with Layla. 

Raylen stated, "Often, when people marry someone other than their soulmate, it creates a void in their destined partner that they attempt to fill with someone else. And that someone else creates another void, which in turn results in a cycle that leaves too many unmet and unknown soulmates. A regrettable outcome for the ones meant to be together, who were left behind due to selfishness." A moment of awkward silence hung in the air before a smile broke through his lips, and he added, "I was only joking. Many people indeed do not meet their soulmates for various reasons." 

"King Raylen likes to jest," Emily said to Layla, who nodded with a smile, though the thought lingered in her mind. 

As if to dispel that thought, Nathaniel put his arm around his wife's shoulders and captured her attention. He asked her, "How are your feet doing? We can find a place to sit and rest them."

"You are very thoughtful, Nate, but I am fine," Layla answered. 

"I should go look for Janelle," Emily attempted to excuse herself. After all, she did leave her friend without providing an explanation before. 

"Janelle is here?" Layla inquired, and then she offered, "Let me accompany you."

Before Emily could depart, Raylen remarked, "I will be waiting for you later at the carriage."

Emily nodded in acknowledgment, and she left the room with Layla accompanying her. 

Nathaniel's gaze shifted to Raylen when the two women departed, and he warned, "Be careful about what you say in front of Layla, Raylen."

"Hm? What exactly am I supposed to be careful about?" Raylen inquired, feigning innocence, though the other archdemon didn't buy his act. "I thought marriage was built on honesty. Besides, haven't you formed a bond with her? It should be strong enough to withstand the truth."

Nathaniel shot a sharp glare at Raylen, not knowing how he had discovered the information and whether it was through the princess. He warned, "Stay away from her. Don't assume I will leave this place in peace if you don't. Don't think I am unaware of your weak spot." 

Raylen smiled and responded, "If you are referring to what I think you are, then your threat is a little feeble, Nate. You will need to try harder than threaten me with the mention of the Devil if you want to intimidate me." The look in his eyes turned serious. 

Nathaniel smirked and inquired, "Does Dante know you are with his sister?" 

"Why, planning to tattletale like a child?" Raylen asked, amused, as he picked up a glass of wine delivered by a maid. "Or are you worried about her?" His blue eyes peered into Nathaniel's black ones. 

A chuckle escaped from Nathaniel, and he replied, "I think you might have some dust in your ears, because as I said, I already have Layla. I couldn't care less about which man she goes with or what she does." 

Raylen raised his glass to his lips and took a sip. Given that demons liked to defy destiny and fate, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something more for someone like Nathaniel to choose Layla over the princess. 

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Thank you everyone for helping Anastasia move to the finals <3 There will be 2 chapters tomorrow!

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