This was not just any dragon—it was a giant one, with gleaming obsidian-black scales, enormous wings that cast a shadow over the earth, and piercing golden eyes that locked onto her with sharp intensity. Eve had been younger back then, perhaps only fifteen. At the time, she had instinctively dropped into a battle stance, summoning dark energy into her palms. Her mother’s words had always been clear—demons had no allies, only enemies waiting to strike. "A dragon… if I kill it, I wonder how many experience points I’ll get," she had thought naively, with a smile. She was about to launch an attack when she heard a voice. "Whoa, whoa! Don’t attack him!" A boy had stepped forward from behind the dragon. He was tall—probably a little older than her—with tousled dark hair that shimmered under the sun. His eyes were a sharp, dangerous shade of black, like a dark hole that sucked all things around it, yet they held no malice. He wore simple yet elegant black clothing with silver embroidery, and despite the imposing presence of the dragon behind him, he looked utterly relaxed. Eve had hesitated for the first time, and her nose twitched. This boy! He was a human. What is he doing in the Demon Empire? Her magic crackled in her hands, but she didn’t release it. Humans were the sworn enemies of demons. She was supposed to attack him, but her curiosity made her hold back. "He’s mine," the boy had said with a smirk, patting the dragon’s side. The beast let out a deep rumbling noise, almost like a growl, but there was no hostility in its gaze anymore. "You’d lose if you fought him, you know." He’s not attacking despite knowing I’m a demon. Why is he not attacking? Mother said they’d attack on sight. Little Eve’s mind was in turmoil. "Hey, I’m very handsome, but don’t get too entranced." The boy smirked. Eve had scoffed. "Tch. You must think highly of yourself. This is just the first time I’m meeting you, but your face is already punchable." The boy only grinned. "You’re not the first one to say that." Something about his confidence irritated her. And yet… it intrigued her too. Over the next few days, they kept running into each other, something that confused her greatly. He was a human in the Demon Empire, and no one had tried apprehending him? Was he hiding from the adult demons? Over the past days, Eve learned about the handsome, confident boy. He wasn’t afraid of her being a demon, nor did he treat her differently. Unlike the rumors about humans, he spoke to her directly, without hesitation. And somehow, without realizing it, she had enjoyed his company. They sparred together, raced across the fields, and even played by the lake. His dragon—whom she had eventually grown to trust—had carried her on its back, letting her soar through the sky. It had been the first time she had ever flown. Somewhere along the way, she started to look forward to meeting him every day. She had laughed—truly laughed—for the first time in years. And then, before she even knew it—she had fallen in love. Not just with the boy, but with the world he showed her. A world that wasn’t just cruelty and survival. But those days were gone now. --- The memory shattered, and Eve’s consciousness snapped back to reality. She was once again atop her horse. They had arrived at their destination. Her fingers curled slightly around the reins. Her heart, which she had long thought to be cold and unfeeling, ached. "Arthur..." She hadn’t spoken his name in so long. And yet, it still felt like yesterday. Are you still alive!? "Miss, we’re here." One of the cloaked figures spoke, jolting Eve out of her thoughts. Her eyes darted ahead toward the group of similar robed men standing in the distance. Continue your journey on freewebnovel "Miss Eve, you finally decided to honor the Emperor’s call," one of the figures spoke. Eve didn’t respond, as if the people weren’t worth her time. She gracefully unmounted her horse and started to walk toward them. The figure that had spoken stiffened when he noticed that Eve was approaching him. A bead of sweat slid down from his temple. The others behind him stiffened as well, and when she grew closer, they became even more restless. The tension in the air thickened as Eve approached. The robed figures, though emissaries of the Demon Emperor himself, couldn’t hide their unease. Even among demons, Eve’s presence demanded respect—no, fear. Eve’s ruby eyes gleamed under the moonlight, unreadable as she gazed at the emissaries. They were high-ranking officials, envoys of the most powerful entity in the empire, yet here they were—visibly stiff and restless before a single woman. Eve knew why. She was no ordinary demon. And though they wouldn’t dare speak it aloud, they all knew the stories. The rumors of what she was capable of. Her lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Honor?" she repeated in a soft voice. "Don’t misunderstand. I don’t want to be here, so don’t get too comfortable." The lead emissary, a tall demon with sharp horns curling backward, flinched but quickly masked his reaction. "O-Of course, Lady Eve," he recovered swiftly, bowing slightly. "The Emperor awaits. He has been expecting you for some time now." Eve said nothing, merely stepping forward, forcing the man to shift aside. The others did the same. As soon as she stepped onto the elevated platform just behind the group of men, an intricate magic circle lit up beneath her. Eve’s world was briefly blinded by a brilliant white light. When she opened her eyes once again, she was no longer in the human domain. Gone was the pleasant and warm air. Now, the atmosphere was harsh and hot. Even the sky here was gray, as if something terrible was about to happen. "Home." Eve’s face twisted into a frown, her eyes filled with disgust. "I hate being here." *** 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮 Thanks to all those who support this novel I really appreciate!