You know, some days everything in your life feels just perfect, and then there are days when it’s the complete opposite. Well, guess which kind I’m having? Yup, the lousy one.
I bolted into the house like I’d been scalded, racing straight for the heater at breakneck speed. The old thing was running like a brand-new model now, using barely any energy. I couldn’t help but pat myself on the back for that. With the empire in crisis and all, I figured I’d save a few bucks, even if it meant bending the rules a bit. But, damn, I’ve really gotten myself into a mess this time.
Without even kicking off my boots or peeling off my gloves, I frantically checked the spell matrix. I muttered a few curses under my breath and was just about to start unraveling it when someone knocked on the door. I flinched, my ears instinctively flattening against my head in alarm. It’d take me at least fifteen minutes to dismantle the spell.
The knock came again, more insistent this time. In a panic, I slammed the heater’s hatch shut, yanked a curtain over it, and shoved the scribbled-up instruction manual full of diagrams under the couch.
I dashed to the door, then realized it’d look suspicious if I answered fully dressed like I was ready to bolt. So, I quickly kicked off my boots, shrugged out of my jacket, tugged off my gloves, and pulled a small “press” badge on a thin chain from under my sweater before swinging the door open.
Standing on my doorstep were guards—five of them, all draped in black robes with hoods pulled low over their faces. The whole crew was sizing me up, their stares drilling into my unassuming little self.
“Clear skies,” one of the guards greeted politely. He sounded like an elf, and I guess he took me for one too.
“Shadows,” I replied gruffly, which made the elf-guard twitch while the others let out low chuckles.
“A dark one…” came a melodic voice from my left.
I turned toward the sound and watched as one of the guards slowly pushed back his hood, revealing a pair of elegant, curling horns and sharp fangs glinting under his upper lip. I couldn’t help but grimace. The demon noticed my expression and tilted his head with a curious smirk.
“Not a fan?” he asked, clearly teasing.
I shrugged and answered honestly, “Let’s just say I’m not crazy about your kind, even if I mention you guys a lot.”
The demon chuckled, and in a flash, his form shimmered. Suddenly, standing before me was a young, blue-eyed guy with long hair tied back in a tight braid.
“Why do you run from the guard?” he asked, tilting his head again, his tone probing.
“Didn’t recognize you,” I lied through my teeth. “It’s dark out. How am I supposed to know who’s skulking around in black robes?”
“Is that so?” The demon smirked, casting a sly glance at his comrades before turning back to me. Okay, that last bit was probably a mistake. Why did I even say that?
“Well, then… I think we’ll come in,” he said with a cunning grin, his smile turning predatory.
I felt the tips of my ears twitch nervously as I blinked a few times.
“And why exactly would I let you?” I asked, my voice braver than I felt, like a sparrow puffing out its chest.
My reaction didn’t go unnoticed, and the demon’s smirk grew even more sly.
“Under Article 43 of the Imperial Guard Charter, guards are permitted to enter private property of imperial subjects if it pertains to the investigation of a crime or the direct pursuit of a criminal,” he recited smoothly.
“Fine, what do you want?” I sighed, giving in, and the demon’s expression turned serious.
“How did you end up at the crime scene?” he asked sternly.
One of his colleagues immediately pulled out a notebook, ready to jot down my every word. I bet that ink and paper weren’t ordinary either. I grimaced involuntarily and decided to keep my answers short and snappy. Less chance of getting tripped up that way, and maybe I’d get rid of them faster.
“Just passing by…”
“Dan?” the demon called to one of the guards.
“She’s lying…”
I muttered a string of curses under my breath, mentally cussing out every soul-reader in existence. Where do they even come from? And why did one of these jerks have to be in this particular patrol?
“Should I repeat the question?” the demon asked with a wide, menacing grin as he loomed over me.
“I was investigating…” I mumbled, hoping they’d buy it and not question me further once they saw the badge.
The demon shot a quick glance at one of the hooded figures, got a nod in response to his unspoken question, and turned back to me. I threw a glare at the soul-reader before looking at the demon again.
“And who’s the victim?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“An official,” I answered grimly but truthfully.
“The one who got strangled, or the one who got stabbed?” His snark was practically oozing now.
“The second one,” I replied reluctantly.
“And what’s the focus of your investigation?” he pressed.
Why was he so hung up on this?
“Not telling,” I muttered under my breath.
The demon’s grin widened as he brazenly pushed past me and stepped inside. Without hesitation, his colleagues followed suit, clearly taking their cue from their leader. He cast a thoughtful look around the entryway, then strolled into the living room, his eyes glinting with mischief as they landed on the curtain hiding the heater.
I felt the blood drain from my face, then rush back as I blushed, only to pale again when I caught the demon’s predatory stare. Meanwhile, the other guards spread out through the room, making the space feel suddenly smaller. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hide my nerves anymore. My gaze darted from one guard to another until it settled on the demon’s sly smirk.
“So, what’s this investigation about? I didn’t quite catch that,” he said, plopping down onto the couch and, as if by accident, nudging the cursed instruction manual with his heel.
I went even paler, crossing my arms over my chest to hide my trembling fingers, and took a deep breath.
“I was watching him at his wife’s request,” I admitted quietly, forcing myself to sound calm.
“Hmm… And do you have a license for detective work?”
I flushed, thought about the heater, and paled again.
“Does that question have anything to do with your investigation?”
The demon’s grin stretched even wider, but for some reason, he didn’t answer. I should’ve been relieved—after all, I didn’t have spare cash to pay any fines—but something about his behavior set me on edge. Deep down, a bad feeling started to creep in.
“Can you describe what you saw?” he asked, his eyes lingering on the enchanted fireplace I’d rigged up.
I’d already given up hope that he wouldn’t notice the flaws. Private portals were banned across the empire.
“The official was talking to a lord when someone walked by. Right after that, his eyes glazed over. The lord noticed it first, started coughing out of nowhere, and faceplanted into his salad. I didn’t see anything else. I took off and ran home.”
“So, you didn’t get a good look at the killer…” the guard summarized, extending a claw from his index finger.
My skin prickled with tension, and a few drops of thick, dark red blood dripped onto my favorite couch.
“He was tall and wearing a black robe,” I blurted out quickly.
“Interesting…” the demon drawled with a smile. “And yet you ran from us…”
I shrugged.
“Hoped to avoid an unpleasant encounter,” I answered honestly.
The demon let out a low chuckle, pulled his hood back over his head, and silently walked out. The other guards followed him, leaving my little house behind, but I didn’t feel any relief. The door clicked shut, and I sank onto the warm floor, hardly believing my luck.
I gave myself five minutes to breathe, then rushed to clean up my spells. Unfortunately, there were quite a few of them, and considering I didn’t have a diploma and using spells outside the Academy was strictly forbidden, I was looking at expulsion and a hefty fine at the very least.
I was crawling on the floor, untangling a complex heating weave I’d designed myself, when an odd noise echoed from the living room. It sounded like the crackling of fire, but way more intense. I hurriedly wiped away the last lines of the spell and stumbled into the living room.
There he was, standing in the middle of the room, studying that same cursed diagram with keen interest. I went pale and flicked my terrified gaze from the demon to his companion. Unlike the guard, this guy was dressed more casually. A black doublet with the top buttons undone revealed a suit of thin armor underneath. A leather belt with a small pouch hung at his waist, and a holster for knives was strapped to his thigh with thin bands.
His legs were clad in practical black boots with straps up to his knees. The investigator surveyed my living room with curiosity before suddenly locking eyes with me and flashing a satisfied smile.
The Investigative Department worked closely with the Imperial Guard, so seeing this pair didn’t shock me too much. Though, usually, during an official visit, they came through the door. And, as far as I knew, they came in groups.
Paling under the piercing stare of the dark-haired investigator, I instinctively pressed my back against the doorframe. I had to brace myself for the worst, and I was ready.
“There she is!” the demon exclaimed with unexpected cheer, swooping over to wrap an arm around my shoulders. “Admit it, isn’t she cute?” His voice dropped lower, clearly directed at the investigator, but I was too dazed to fully process what he meant right away.
The investigator’s sharp, appraising look snapped me out of it. He scanned me from my bare feet to my messy hair and gave a satisfied nod. That’s when real fear kicked in. Guards don’t just show up in pairs, especially not with investigators. My thoughts scattered in panic, my eyes darting around the room, but nothing useful came to mind.
“Listen, lady, this isn’t very polite. We’ve come to visit, and here you are, standing there silent, looking like you’re about to faint just to get away from us. How about showing a little hospitality?” I turned my stunned gaze to the demon and met his eyes, burning with blue fire. “How about offering us some tea?” he pressed, and I nodded on autopilot. “Perfect,” he said with a friendly smile. “We can discuss everything over tea.”
They sat me down at the table. The demon took the seat beside me, while the investigator sat across, his gaze leaving an uneasy feeling in its wake.
“So…” the blue-eyed demon began, rubbing his hands together as the kettle obediently settled onto the lit stove. “First, let’s make introductions: Lord Raze Rivendale, Lady Mirnella Lightinsky,” he said, gesturing to each of us in turn. “Lady Lightinsky is a second-year student at the Academy of Applied Magic, if I’m not mistaken. Quite the talented spellcaster, according to her profile: modest, sweet, gets along well with others… agreeable nature… Did I miss anything?” He glanced at a short scroll as he spoke. I paled further and started mentally reciting a simple calming spell. “Oh, right,” he added with a faint smile, “quick to adapt to stressful situations and possesses strong willpower. So, here’s the question: what’s a second-year spellcasting student doing alone in the city during break? And where did this student get a ‘press’ badge?”
“Students at the Academy of Applied Magic aren’t forbidden from working during their free time, including in the media,” the dark-haired man, who’d been silent until now, chimed in, thoughtfully tracing the pattern on the table.
“And are they also allowed to use spells outside the Academy?” the demon asked, playfully tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
I flinched at his predatory grin.
“Feel free to take a look around. This place reeks of spells from a mile away…”
The investigator smirked and fixed his dark green eyes on me.
“So, what are we going to do about this?” he mused, tapping his chin as if deep in thought.
“Just tell me what you’re after,” I said irritably, biting my lip and hoping to survive this ordeal.
The two men exchanged a look, and the demon grinned widely.
“I told you she’s sharp,” he said unexpectedly, while his colleague rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath. “Here’s the deal: my colleague, who’s also my friend, is in a bit of a bind. Every year, his family castle hosts grand balls. As you can imagine, tons of nobility show up. And lately, our lord’s mother has been obsessed with marrying off her precious son.” The lord grimaced and muttered something quietly, while the blue-eyed demon continued. “My friend, as you might’ve guessed, isn’t exactly eager to tie the knot. If he asks one of his acquaintances to accompany him to these balls, she might get the wrong idea… and all his female friends are already spoken for…”
“Hold up,” I interrupted. “So, you want me to play the role of his… what, exactly?”
“Just showing up with you will be enough. Everyone will back off,” the blue-eyed demon assured me, like I was some naive country girl.
But I wasn’t born yesterday, and I’d been to demon balls before. These weren’t like the light-side balls, where every other lady is a debutante, all shy and innocent due to their youth and naivety. Dark-side balls are full of mature, often bold and overconfident women who’d tear each other’s throats out to snag the man they want. More than once, careless rivals ended up with snapped necks in some thicket after these events. This time, I gave the investigator an appraising look of my own, even peeking under the table to confirm my suspicions. I snorted. Sitting before me was six feet ten inches of pure sex appeal and masculinity.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?” I couldn’t help but ask. “They’ll kill me out there for even looking at him… and with extra cruelty, no less. I wouldn’t stand a chance against them.”
The men exchanged another glance, and this time, the green-eyed one spoke up.
“Mirnella, understand me clearly: I have no intention of putting you in harm’s way. In fact, I’ll be by your side the entire time. Trust me, nothing will threaten you.”
I huffed, feeling a bit bolder, and crossed my arms defiantly. His eyes followed the motion, lingering for a few seconds on my chest. Even though there wasn’t much to see, I still felt flustered.
“Why on earth would I agree to this crazy plan?” I asked, my voice braver than I felt, like a fearless little sparrow.
The green-eyed man shifted his gaze to my face and flashed a dazzling smile.
“Besides the obvious, I can offer you an official permit to use spells outside the Academy and a consultant position with the Investigative Department. It won’t be on the same scale as having a full license for detective work, but still…”
“And why should I trust you?” I asked skeptically, eyeing the young lord.
He straightened up, his green eyes flashing.
“The Rivendales always keep their word. Suggestions to the contrary are quite insulting.”
I frowned. There was something in his words, something that made me wary, but I didn’t have time to figure out what it was.
“Just agree…” the blue-eyed demon whispered in my ear, making me shiver. “Otherwise, we’ll have to report to the proper authorities and request a thorough check of your place for, say, unauthorized spells.”
I grimaced and shot the demon a withering glare. This is what it means to deal with a dark one, especially a demon. I stared at him for a few long seconds until a polite cough snapped me out of it.
“So, what’ll it be?” the lord asked, and I caved.
“I have a few conditions…” The man raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “First, we keep our distance. That includes separate bedrooms, or at least separate beds, no kissing, and nothing like that. Second, you introduce me as an acquaintance, a friend at most, no family heirlooms or anything. Third, I can walk away and break this agreement at any time if I feel my life is in danger.”
“Well… your conditions are reasonable,” the lord agreed, smiling again.
I exhaled slowly and bit my lip, glancing at the old clock behind the lord. Then I remembered the kettle and noticed, to my surprise, that the flame beneath it had gone out. The teacups were hovering above the stove, swaying like boats on invisible waves of someone else’s magic.
As if reading my thoughts, the cups drifted down, settling gently in front of each of us.
“Let’s seal our agreement with a cup of fragrant tea and…”
I silently extended my hand across the table, and the lord gently clasped my cold fingers in his warm palm.
“Perfect!” the blue-eyed demon exclaimed with genuine delight, downing his entire cup in one gulp. “It’s time for us to go, Raze.”
The lord quickly finished his tea and stood up from the table.
“I’ll send tailors over tomorrow. They’ll help you pick out something for the ball.”
With that, he walked over to the guard, and the two of them vanished in a burst of blue flames. It would’ve been a breathtaking sight if it weren’t so downright creepy.