I turned to the side, as a young girl with pale-white skin and black hair with crimson ends walked past. Two curved horns protruded from her scalp, wrapped in a gold-chain artifact that glistened with a neon glow. Her captivating eyes, adorned with upper lashes in black and lower ones in red, held a beauty that was both enchanting and mesmerizing. Encircling her black pupils were otherworldly symbols resembling constellations.

Unlike the rest of the nobility, her outfit was less formal or eye-catching. She wore a dark, rich wool coat-dress with an ornate silver embroidery down the sides and edges. The curved frilly collar with laced edges and three buttons down the middle gave it a cute doll-like aesthetic. A cape, complimenting the coat, draped over her shoulders with similar embroidery and color to the dress.

I nodded my head over to her. 『Who’s that?』

Demi leaned over and scrunched his eyes. 『It’s best if you stay away from her, Lady Yokalen.』

『I didn’t ask what was best for me, I asked for her name.』

『Her name… is Raga Vhi Lateell.』

A fire raged in my stomach as I gripped my hands close to my sides.

I knew that bitch looked familiar. Besides the eyes, horns, and that stupid dress, she’s the one who scarred my arm. That’s probably why I felt that sensation a few seconds ago.

As I took a step forward, Yakimen placed a hand on my shoulder.

『Lady Yokalen, I strongly recommend avoiding that person.』

『I’m confused. Don’t we already trade with them through the ‘realm’ or whatever?』 I asked.

『That information isn’t known to the world or even to the people of Inascovia. And besides, only Lord Ramazayunov does dealings with them. That child may not even know who you are,』 Petriov said.

『It’s surprising they let a child of Ingeshem in the capital. I wonder if she’s joined to discuss diplomacy as well.』 Demi pondered with crossed arms.

I stared at Yakimen’s hand, causing him to let go with a sigh.

『Fine. Do what you want. But I will inform your mother.』 He warned.

I rolled my eyes and began walking over to the girl. She was at the buffet table, sniffing at some cooked plump meat and threw it back on the table with disgust. I didn’t notice it before, but she held onto two long silver chains, connecting to the neck braces of two girls standing at her sides.

The girl on her left had two-toned black and white hair and wine-red eyes. She wore a similar outfit to Raga, however hers’ had no cape and was a brownish gray. Her counterpart also had two-toned hair but was red and white. Another contrast was her glittering rose-pink eyes. She also wore a similar dress, though hers was white without the cape.

As I approached them, I felt eyes staring from all angles of the room. Some began gossiping intending to want me to hear, others sniffed and grunted in disgust. I saw Agnelov’s sunny-blonde hair flash behind me in the corner of my eye and felt… reassured in my decision.

Thank you, Agnelov. I needed that.

「Hey you.」

Raga, picking out some black puffy iced cakes, twisted around with a glare. She then threw one in her mouth, looking me up and down with a gulp.

『Mren yu. Shortoka enbrek unia’q.』 She said.

She spoke in a language I couldn’t comprehend. But slowly, it became clearer with her next sentence.

『… Like this party’s food, you’re boring, human. Leave before I decide to eat you next.』

『Eat me? Please. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. First off, my arm. What exactly did you do? Second off, you apparently trade with Inascovia. What realm, and what exactly do you trade? I want answers, now.』

Raga’s eyes widened as a piece of chewed cake slipped from her tongue. 『What…? How are you… Speaking Ingeshian?』

『I just… Well, I don’t know exactly. I sort of just did the same thing when I needed to learn Inascovian. But don’t change the subject.』

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

『Unusual. But none of my concern. I’ll let father handle it.』 Raga said, then picked up another powdered cake.

I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the corner of the room with a bundle of floral arrangements obstructing us from view. She snatched her arm away and hissed while licking the powder off her hands.

『Why are you talking to me, let alone touching me? Don’t you know who I am? Child of Dretar? Demoness of Ingeshem? There’s a reason everyone’s avoiding me.』

『I don’t give a shit about everyone else, or your little made up names. Now, answer my questions, starting with my arm!』

Her sharp nails grazed my arm, causing the tattoo, once unseen, to reappear.

『Oh. You’re cursed. But it’s a good curse. The kind of curse that has no drawbacks, unless you use it correctly.』

After she lifted her hand, the tattoo was now fully visible. The grotesque, black scarred lines merged into each other as they swiveled around like writhing worms.

『Oh, my god. Turn it back off! I can’t go back out there seen like this!』

『S-sister… when do we leave? I’m so hungry…』 The girl on Raga’s left chain groaned.

Raga’s eye twitched. She then pivoted around, jabbing her fist into the girl’s abdomen, and held her in the air. The girl sputtered and gasp as her eyes began losing light and body went limp. Raga then let the girl fall to the ground and pressed her foot onto her face with a scowl.

『We go when I say go, sister. Do not forget who is strongest.』

Raga then glanced over at me and chuckled. 『Usually when I discipline my underlings in Mortal realm, you half-lives twitch with unease. You’re different. Oh, very rude. I forgot to introduce.』

She then pointed to the young girl with red and white hair gasping on the floor. 『That is Merith. She is oldest. And my other sister is Lilith. She is middle born.』

『Do you not remember who I am?』 I asked.

Raga bent down and began rubbing Merith’s head. 『If I did, I would not ask who you are. It is better to question how you know me.』

Is she fucking with me right now? She has the same appearance as before, and she even made this stupid mark reappear on my arm. It has to be her!

Raga then helped Merith up, whimpering while holding her stomach with a cough.

『Even better question: How many Children of Dreta did you sacrifice for that Pact Scroll?』 Raga asked.

I scoffed. 『Sacrifice? Are you making things up to scare me?』

She then smiled, showing her sharp-pointed teeth, and shook her head. A white chilled breath oozed from her mouth as she let out a riveting laugh.

Agnelov walked over to my side. 「I don’t like this or her, Lady Yokalen.」

「I understand. I just need a couple more seconds, okay? Keep watch for me outside and make sure that Intelligence group doesn’t eavesdrop.」

Agnelov bowed her head and walked away.

『Why is it you came to this event, Raga Vhi Lateell?』 I asked.

With her hand on her chin, she tilted her head. 『Father asked. I don’t question. He promised there would be food. No other reason regarding me, I think.』

『Same for me as well. The youngest of royal families sent off as trophies when there’s a bigger game to be played. It’s kind of unfair, you know?』

I then uncovered a powder cake I’d been saving behind my back, offering it to her. Raga hesitated before snatching it from my hand and scarfing it down with one gulp.

『I want us to be friends. Would that be alright with you?』

Raga licked her hands, then came over to sniff me with an outreached nose like a curious animal. She then let her long-thick snake-like purple tongue roll out of her mouth.

『Friend.』 She said, then inched her face forward, licking my cheek.

The warmth and slickness of her tongue made me shiver as she stepped back. She poked out her cheek and looked at me with creased eyes.

What…? Does she expect me to do the same thing? That’s… fucking gross.

I walked over and opened my mouth, hesitating to extend my tongue. I scrunched my eyes and licked her cheek, still sweet with powder from the cake, and backed away.

『Friend.』 I said with a hesitant smile.

Her two sisters inched forward, their eyes widened with enchanted gazes.

『Can we… also be friends?』 Lilith and Merith asked at the same time.

I’m… not doing that again.

『Oh, wow. How about we, um, go back to the party…』

Raga’s eyelids lowered as she let out a groan. 『Friend of mine is friend of sisters, too.』

Her sisters then extended their cheeks with smiles, allowing their tongues to flop from their mouth dripping with drool.

After that weird ritual, we talked a bit more about her father and what types of trades he did. She knew very little except that some things in Ingeshem you couldn’t find in the Mortal Realm and vice versa. When I asked her to explain, she stated Ingeshem was on the outskirts of the Demonic Realm, the only edge where mortals wouldn’t go insane.

『Many factions do not permit us to visit. They say we bring chaos and disorder from our realm,』 Raga said.

『But that is not true. We just want to visit outside world. I find the mortal realm… interesting.』

If Lord Ramazayunov is trading with this faction, then I’d understand why he wouldn’t want to be seen with them, as they seem to be prejudiced from this ‘Mortal Realm’ society. I don’t care if it’s fair or unjustified or not. But I’ll definitely use it to my advantage.

『You’re my friend now. And as friends, I’ll ensure you enjoy all the food you desire.』

Her eyes widened, and the chains around her horns twinkled pink. 『R-really?』

『Yes. Just find out your father’s trade, how he does it, and where. Can you do that for me?』

She nodded several times and performed a little dance with her heels clacking on the ground.

I guess she’s sort of cute… in an unbridled, feral way.

Raga then stopped and pointed at her sisters. 『Food for them, too?』

『Of course. I wouldn’t want to leave them out.』

The sisters exchanged smiles and purred in approval. Raga then crowed her head on my shoulder and hummed. I assumed it was another type of ritual and did the same.

『Goodbye, for now, Demoness Raga.』 I said, then walked toward the exit.

『Your name..? I never got.』 Raga asked.

I turned around and curtsied. 『It’s Yokalena Ramazayunov. But since we’re now friends, you can call me Yoka.』