He remembered every one of his sins with merciless clarity-colluding with Malevolent Path Hall, kidnapping Lorraine, forcing Aurelius’ hand, even plotting to break the seal that held the demonic souls. Now, the debt had come due, and it demanded interest in lives.

“I was wrong… I was so, so wrong,” leuan muttered, each syllable bleeding. Panic gnawed behind his eyes, threatening to splinter what was left of his reason.

Suddenly, a single name stabbed through the fog-Lorraine.

Jerking upright, he spun toward the Prime Minister’s Office, shoes skidding through ash as he sprinted.

Inside the once-serene estate, the princess sat lashed to a marble pillar. Outside, steel shrieked against steel; inside, her heart hammered with dread.

Just then, the doors burst open and leuan all but crashed across the threshold, lungs blazing.

“Princess Lorraine, come with me now!” he blurted, fingers trembling as they sliced through the ropes. Panic shortened every breath; outside, the massacre edged closer with each heartbeat.