Souta touched the gate and felt the invisible barrier.

  — “The ‘Demon King’s castle’ isn’t exactly here,” he explained with irony. “This is just a tunnel linking this world to the demonic dimension. The true Demon King is inside. These ones we fought here… they’re just gatekeepers, forbidden to enter.”

  He laughed at himself, as if deliberately walking into trouble.

  Stingara blushed intensely, then exploded in fury. She rushed at him, punching with hatred.

  — “You idiot! How can you joke with me like this? You know what I’ve been through!”

  Each punch splattered blood on the floor. Souta, however, only stared at her.

  After several blows, Stingara stopped, panting. A strange, almost insane smile spread across her face.

  — “This… this is what I want!” Her face radiated bizarrely.

  She hesitated, but Souta continued firmly:

  — “That fire, that aura… that’s the Stingara I want to destroy. Not that broken, frozen piece of sadness from before.”

  Her brow furrowed. Souta spun her and pinned her to the ground, hovering above. Their faces were so close they could feel each other’s breath.

  — “Don’t forget who you are. When I return, I expect you haven’t lost that fire.”

  The air grew heavy. Stingara was nervous, tense. Souta stood and began walking into the void.

  — “You worm!” she shouted, trembling. “I’ll kill you! Where’s Meliora?!”

  In an instant, Souta appeared before her.

  — “You don’t need to know.”

  The punch was swift and direct. The impact struck the princess’s stomach, dropping her immediately, groaning in pain.

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  — “Aaahhh… you bast—”

  Souta looked down at her, smiling.

  — “What’s wrong? Already? I only punched you.”

  She tried to rise, but he stepped back, letting her fall again.

  — “Easy, darling, what’s the rush?” he teased. “Don’t worry, I made sure to hurt without killing. The pain will torment you for a while, but it won’t be fatal.”

  Stingara glared at him with hatred, tears almost falling.

  — “Remember this pain, this humiliation. Remember what it feels like to be useless and weak.” Souta’s voice echoed as the shadows swallowed her.

  Zooshhh.

  The Shadow Step carried her back to the castle.

  Creamy questioned:

  — “Master… that was cruel this time. Don’t you fear she’ll take terrible revenge?”

  Souta smirked arrogantly.

  — “Creamy, do you think I care about that?”

  At the castle, the shadows spat Stingara into her room. She collapsed on the floor, still feeling the throbbing pain in her stomach.

  — “That idiot…” she thought furiously. “How dare he lay a hand on me? What humiliation! That worm will pay.”

  She stood, clothes torn, dust and blood on her face. She called her sister:

  — “Melisara, come.”

  — “Stingara? You got out of bed? Why are you so dirty?”

  — “I’ll explain later. Let’s go.”

  The little princess followed without question.

  Stingara fixed herself up. She returned radiant, authoritative, her gaze firm.

  — “Mother!” she shouted.

  Queen Beatrix raised her eyes from the book, calm.

  — “What is it, Stingara? It’s late, don’t you want—”

  Stingara snatched the book from her hands.

  — “I want his head!” she exploded. “I’ll do whatever you want, I won’t complain about anything, but give me authority to order the execution of Kihara Souta!”

  The queen sighed deeply. “She’s truly furious… What did that man do to my daughter? But perhaps this is good. She needs to mature. If she can’t handle a man, how will she govern a kingdom?”

  — “Very well. Do whatever you want in my name. The books say a queen cannot harm a Drone… but they say nothing about a princess. Do as you please.”

  Stingara smiled, maliciously.

  Present.

  In her room, she held the wanted paper: Kihara Souta – alive or dead. She crumpled the sheet with hatred.

  “Days have passed, but I can’t stop thinking about that idiot. I want to kill him. The hatred corrodes me, blinds me. But when he approaches… when he looks at me… when he touches me… something boils inside. My heart tightens. I can’t control it. He irritates me. He excites me. It’s a mix of hatred and desire.”

  Roger, the captain of the guard, entered.

  — “Excuse me, Lady Stingara. You summoned me.”

  — “Roger, good to see you recovered. I need you to call Tears. I need her… to rid me of some trash.”