Ethan’s hands hovered above the woman’s form, the golden threads of healing now a tense, shimmering web in the charged air. The room felt suffocating, every demon and alchemist’s gaze piercing him with accusation. The female alchemist who had first spoken now stepped forward, her robes rustling sharply. “Boy,” she said, her tone slicing through the chamber like a dagger, “you have committed grave misconduct. You have intruded upon one of our own under false pretenses, and your presence here is intolerable. I command you—leave, immediately—or face the consequences of your transgression!” Karpeta’s aunt rose, her dark eyes blazing, voice echoing with authority. “I told you! I have no illness! I do not need your hands, your gold threads, or your meddling! Step back, charlatan, or you will regret it!” The tension escalated as Ethan’s brow furrowed, his jaw tightening against the roar of anger around him. He leaned slightly closer to her, lowering his voice to a calm, deliberate whisper

“You think you’re clever, boy?” he growled. “Whispering secrets and hiding behind parlor tricks. Whatever game you’re playing—”Ethan didn’t even look at him.His attention remained on Karpeta’s aunt, calm, unwavering.That only made Malikar angrier.“Look at me when I speak to you!” Malikar barked.Still, Ethan remained silent.The golden threads shimmered quietly, steady as a heartbeat.Across the room, Karpeta’s confusion had grown into alarm.“Aunty… please,” she said, stepping forward again despite the earlier rebuke. “You’re scaring everyone. What is going on? Why do you want to stay alone with him?"Her aunt’s jaw tightened.“Karpeta,” she said slowly, dangerously, “I told you to be quiet.”“But—”“Enough.”The single word crushed the rest of Karpeta’s sentence.For a second, the young woman looked genuinely hurt.The murmuring grew louder again.Malikar laughed harshly.“You see?” he said bitterly. “This is madness. She’s not herself. This charlatan has clearly—”“Malikar.”Th

“You misunderstand something.”Norka frowned slightly.“I did not expose you,” Ethan said, “not because I intend to protect you unconditionally.”A flicker of tension returned to her eyes.“I refrained,” he continued calmly, “because of Karpeta.”That surprised her.“Karpeta?”“Yes.”Ethan crossed his arms slightly.“She is a great friend of mine. I did not want to drag her into a scandal that would destroy her family.”Norka stared at him carefully, measuring every word.“So you’re saying…” she said slowly, “…your silence was not for me.”“Correct.”The bluntness made her lips tighten.Ethan stepped closer.But now his curiosity was sharper than before.His mind refused to let the question go.Did she leave demon territory? Did the human sneak in? Was it planned? An accident?The sheer improbability of it kept echoing in h

Ethan forced a faint, controlled breath and shook his head.“It’s nothing, really.”Her gaze hardened.“That was not the reaction of someone hearing a random name.”“I said it’s nothing.”For a long second, the tension stretched between them.Norka clearly did not believe him.“…You’re hiding something,” she said quietly.Ethan met her eyes calmly.“And so are you.”That made her pause.The silence lingered for a few moments more.Finally, Norka exhaled slowly and looked away.“…Fine,” she said. “I won’t press you. For now.”Ethan nodded slightly, grateful for the shift.Then his expression turned serious again.“After he told you his name,” Ethan asked, “what happened?”Norka’s face darkened.For a moment, memories stirred whether she wanted them to or not.That night…The sound of his voice.The fain

The silence between them stretched again.Ethan watched her quietly.Inside, however, his thoughts were anything but calm.Norka Verash Parveja.Sharp. Perceptive. Dangerous.He had to admit it—he admired her intelligence.Very few people could observe so much from so little. She had nearly guessed the truth simply from his demeanor.She’s not foolish…If I try to manipulate her blindly, she’ll notice.Ethan lowered his gaze slightly, thinking.But perhaps… manipulation is not necessary.A new idea slowly formed in his mind.In the human world, there were many humans who willingly served demons. Traitors who sold their loyalty for power, protection, or survival.If humans can become the lackeys of demons…His eyes darkened slightly.Why can’t a demon family become loyal to humanity?The thought lingered.The Parveja family.A noble house.Influential.Powerful.If he could control such a force within the demon realm…That would be far more valuable than simply saving one secret.His g