"She must have slept her way in with some lowborn demon guard. That would explain the pregnancy."
"Mortals really are pathetic. She thinks that just because she bears a passing resemblance to our Lady Seraphina, she can hide here and seduce the Demon Sovereign?"
It wasn't until I heard their venom that I realized who had barged in and struck me. The woman standing before me was none other than Seraphina Crystalis, the one the Celestial Emperor had offered to end the war between the immortals and the demons all those years ago.
For hundreds of thousands of years, the Demon Sovereign could have had his pick of countless beauties. Instead, he spent every day at my side.
He had never spared a second glance at any woman other than me.
That was why, when he agreed to halt the great war on account of Seraphina, a thread of doubt had wound through my heart.
Now, seeing her in person for the first time, I understood. She bore a resemblance to me.
That was what had stirred his mercy.
At this moment, Seraphina's face was twisted with fury, her blazing gaze threatening to consume me whole.
"You wretched mortal. You knew the Demon Sovereign was hopelessly in love with me, so you thought you could use that face of yours to lure him in? A face that only barely resembles mine?"
Her arrogance was suffocating, but since she clearly had no idea who I was, I chose not to hold the slap against her.
Instead, I offered a warning out of kindness.
"The Abyssal Palace is not a place any of you should be. The Demon Sovereign is away. Leave now, while you still can. If you stay, no one will be able to help you."
But Seraphina showed no gratitude. She seized my throat and snarled through clenched teeth:
"The Demon Sovereign adores me beyond measure. There is nowhere in the entire Demon Realm I cannot set foot. You, on the other hand, you wretched mortal, putting on airs and trying to shoo me away. You're just afraid I'll expose your little scheme and ruin your chances of seducing him, aren't you?"
"Today I'll show you exactly what happens to vermin who try to steal the Demon Sovereign's affections."
With a flick of her pale wrist, a wave of spiritual energy swept toward me like a gale.
The force was immense, howling through the chamber.
My body was hurled into the air and slammed back down against the stone floor.