Chapter 5
The Ruby Palace, located closest to the Diamond Palace where the Emperor lived, belonged exclusively to Crown Prince Ivan.
So even if the daughter of an ordinary count insulted a member of the Imperial Family and was executed for it, no one would question it.
People called Ivan an angel because he helped the poor and used his abilities for the good of the Empire.
Not because he was naive or soft-hearted.
As the Empire’s only heir, Ivan strictly followed the law.
Although he had a gentle personality for a future emperor, no one dared oppose him.
Because everyone knew…
He wasn’t actually kind.
There was plenty of proof.
Many palace servants lost their jobs because of him.
And anyone who insulted the Imperial Family was executed without mercy.
“I didn’t know you thought that.”
“May I ask why?”
Fortunately, Ivan didn’t seem offended by Rine’s answer.
He simply asked calmly.
“Judging by his reaction… I’m probably not going to die today.”
His response was unexpectedly peaceful.
Rine blinked.
Even if he wasn’t going to kill her…
She had expected the atmosphere to become much colder.
But it hadn’t.
“It doesn’t seem like he’s acting because other people are watching…”
“So it really is because he wants something from me?”
“But what?”
Teleportation magic couldn’t be used inside the Imperial Palace because of the protective barrier.
So unlike last time…
She couldn’t simply run away.
I need to watch what I say.
Still…
“He asked for the reason himself!”
So naturally…
She answered.
She smiled brightly.
“I was actually going to tell you anyway.”
“I’m glad you asked.”
“…Hm?”
“You threatened to kill me the first time we met.”
“You forced a marriage proposal on me even though I never agreed.”
“You found my house even though I never told you where it was.”
“And then you threatened me again.”
“So there’s no way you’re an angel.”
“If that’s not a demon, then what is?”
Rine looked completely confident.
If you know what’s good for you, apologize.
Ivan looked genuinely caught off guard.
“Cough…”
Standing silently behind him, Vanel quickly turned his head away.
But he couldn’t hide his shaking shoulders.
He was obviously trying not to laugh.
“…She’s right.”
“…Those aren’t exactly things an angel would do.”
After hearing all his actions listed one by one…
Ivan unconsciously swallowed.
Even if only for a moment…
Rine became the first woman to make him nervous.
“It seems I’ve treated you terribly.”
“I apologize.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Rine smiled as if generously accepting his apology.
Ivan carefully asked,
“So…”
“Are you still afraid of me?”
“No.”
“Where would you find such a polite demon who apologizes so easily?”
Rine calmly took a sip of tea.
Ivan was the mastermind.
Not a demon.
According to the original novel…
Demons were restricted by certain rules.
They couldn’t kill humans whenever they wanted.
But Ivan had beheaded someone right in front of her.
Watching Rine remain so calm…
Ivan lowered his gaze.
“I see.”
“You still don’t believe I’m actually a demon.”
“Of course I do.”
“This world has monsters.”
Demons obviously existed.
After all…
The heroine was a saint who served the gods.
If there were gods…
There had to be evil too.
But what were the chances that an insignificant extra like her would accidentally meet a demon important enough to affect the story?
“Zero.”
“Demons aren’t next-door neighbors.”
“If they were that easy to meet, this would be the Demon Realm.”
Meeting Ivan, the second male lead, had already been like winning the lottery.
Meeting a demon on top of that?
Impossible.
While Rine dismissed his words as a joke…
Ivan’s eyes drifted toward one spot.
Then he quietly stood up.
“…Your Highness?”
“May I accept the gift you prepared for me?”
“…Gift?”
What gift?
I didn’t bring anything.
Confused, she simply watched him.
Ivan bent down until they were at eye level.
The moment his face came close…
Rine froze.
“Holy water.”
“What a thoughtful gift.”
Before she could blink…
The small bottle of holy water was already in Ivan’s hand.
The clear liquid sparkled inside the glass.
“W-Wait…”
“How did you…”
“How did you know I brought that?”
The bottle was tiny.
Small enough to disappear inside her sleeve.
It didn’t even have a smell.
The atmosphere had only just become peaceful again.
Rine swallowed nervously.
“Lady Astell.”
“What do you think is the most important thing in a partnership?”
“…Trust.”
“Exactly.”
Why is he suddenly asking that?
She couldn’t understand what he was thinking.
As she reached out to take back the bottle—
Crash!
The bottle shattered.
The sharp sound of breaking glass echoed through the garden.
Then…
She saw something unbelievable.
“Your Highness!”
The back of Ivan’s hand began burning bright red where the holy water touched it.
Soon…
Black ash scattered from his skin as if it were burning away.
“This guy is completely insane!”
Panicking, Rine grabbed his hand.
Without thinking, she immediately cast healing magic.
Blue light surrounded their joined hands.
“…Hmm.”
Ivan quietly let out a sound of interest.
He watched the unfamiliar mana flowing into him.
His green eyes sparkled with curiosity.
The burned flesh slowly regenerated.
Even the deep wound disappeared completely.
It looked as though nothing had happened.
Looking at his perfectly healed hand…
Ivan smiled.
“As I thought.”
“You really are a Filtre.”
“A… what?”
Rine was still in shock.
Ivan had almost permanently damaged his own body.
Right in front of her.
Yet…
“Why is he so calm?”
The person responsible for all this acted as though nothing unusual had happened.
“Filtre.”
“Someone capable of sensing demonic energy…”
“And completely erasing its traces.”
“They can also remove holy power.”
“Something ordinary mages cannot do.”
He lightly tapped the back of his healed hand.
“In other words…”
“You are neutral.”
“You can handle both holy power and magical power.”
Seeing Rine’s confused expression…
Ivan explained more simply.
“So…”
“You burned your own hand…”
“Just to confirm that?”
“What if I hadn’t been this Filtre?”
“Why are you angry?”
“You’re the one who wasn’t hurt.”
Ivan tilted his head.
He genuinely didn’t understand why she was upset.
“He’s definitely a demon.”
“There’s absolutely no way an angel would say something like that!”
Rine didn’t even know where to begin explaining.
She glanced behind him.
The maids, who had been ordered to stay far away, were watching curiously.
“He blocked both the sound and their vision with magic.”
She had been too distracted to notice.
No wonder nobody screamed or rushed over when the Crown Prince’s hand caught fire.
Even Vanel hadn’t reacted.
…Because he’s a demon too?
“Sir Feist.”
“Do you also think this is fine?”
“It was His Highness’s decision.”
Vanel answered calmly.
Nothing about these people was normal.
Rine rubbed her aching forehead.
They looked perfectly sane…
But both of them seemed to be missing a screw.
“There were better ways to earn my trust.”
“This was the fastest.”
“And the most reliable.”
“I needed to confirm something as well.”
“Whether I was a Filtre?”
Ivan nodded.
Originally, he had planned to wound himself another way.
But because suspicious Rine had conveniently brought holy water…
Things became much easier.
“I’d better not thank her.”
For some reason…
The look in Rine’s eyes had become frightening.
So Ivan wisely stayed silent.
“Then…”
“The unpleasant energy I felt at Count Anasia’s estate…”
“That was demonic energy.”
“It’s one of a Filtre’s abilities.”
“That’s probably how you found me.”
But…
Rine couldn’t sense that same demonic energy from Ivan now.
“Which means…”
“The demonic energy I sensed belonged to someone else.”
After thinking for a moment…
She looked at him.
“There’s something I need to ask.”
“The person you killed that day…”
“Who was he?”
“A human.”
“But one who had completely lost himself after being consumed by demonic energy.”
…That’s basically just a monster.
“Then why did you say you were going to kill me?”
“You could’ve simply explained that you were eliminating a human-shaped monster.”
Very rarely…
Monsters that looked exactly like humans appeared.
If he’d just said that…
She would’ve understood.
So why…
“Oh.”
“You ran away.”
“…What?”
“Chasing people who run away…”
“Is a demon’s instinct.”
After hearing that quiet answer…
Rine’s mind finally stopped working.
“So you really are a demon.”
“You’re seriously the worst.”
“Thank you.”
…That wasn’t a compliment.
