Chapter 87: Unchained Fates

* * *

Lara woke up. Once again, the dark room—a place where even sunlight dared not enter—awaited her unceasingly. It was impossible to tell how many days had already passed.

“Mikhail… are you there?”

She called out in a hushed tone, but there was no answer. Lara struggled against her bound wrists, twisting them furiously, though to no avail.

“Please let me go… I’ve followed every instruction so far,” she pleaded.

Lara wept, her cries mingling with hunger.

Her hunger was unbearable. Once she got out of there, she’d devour hamburgers, pizzas, spaghetti, twice the serving of jjajangmyeon, sweet and sour pork, cake, pig’s trotters, tteokbokki, assorted fried snacks, grilled intestines, and chicken. Yes, first thing, she’d have chicken. She’d think it over after stuffing her face. As she comforted herself, the sound of a door creaking open could be heard from afar.

“Lara? Is that you? Lara, are you there?”

“…Rahi?”

Lara turned toward the sound. A sliver of light seeped through the always tightly shut door. Through that gap, a man with vibrant crimson hair practically sprinted toward her. His expression was unusually stern.

Understandably, Karlahee found himself at a loss for words. Seeing Lara tied to the bed was almost too reminiscent of an R-18 doujinshi cover. Uncertain where to focus his gaze, Karlahee briefly lowered his eyes.

“Sorry I’m late…”

“Hmph, how many days has it been now?”

“In just two more hours, it’ll have been two days since you disappeared.”

“…My parents would probably think I just went out for the night,”

muttered Lara sulkily, imagining how they’d assume she was crashing at a friend’s place. Then, a deep, low voice from above made her lift her head.

“Who’s responsible for this? You wouldn’t have to go through such hardships, would you?”

Karlahee bit his lower lip in a complex mixture of anger aimed at someone and worry for her. The turbulent emotions were etched into the furrows of his brow. As Lara gazed into his deep, swirling blue eyes, she silently let her tears fall onto the sheets instead of answering.

Karlahee, too, was at a loss for words. Soon, all his tangled emotions boiled down to one clear sentiment: contempt for himself.

How selfish he was! Clenching his fist until his knuckles whitened, he then relaxed. His pale hand gently brushed Lara’s cheek.

“I’m sorry… I let my own feelings get ahead of me and failed to care for you properly. If I’ve forced you to recall any bad memories, I truly apologize… But it’ll be alright now. Since I’m here, everything will be okay.”

Triggered by Karlahee’s words, Lara burst out her sorrow, clinging to him and everything without reservation.

“I said I didn’t want it done… but—sobs—I was forced into this diet…”

“…”

“They made me eat only high-fiber foods… three meals a day, and just a measly portion each time!!”

“Isn’t a small portion just fine?”

“What are you talking about? My liver can’t handle it!!”

Lara shouted so loudly that the room itself seemed to shake. To soothe the agitated Lara, Karlahee shushed her and gently stroked her hair. At that moment, the sound of someone approaching could be heard through the open door.

“You know nothing about Lara.”

Karlahee turned around. By a door far off stood a man leaning against the wall. Despite the darkness in the room, his short blond hair and sky-blue eyes shone calmly. The handsome man, bathed in a gentle glow, was none other than the Pope of Daeshin Shrine—and the one responsible for confining her.

Slowly, Karlahee rose and fixed Mikhail with a steely gaze. It went without saying that hostility simmered in that look.

“You were so much better in the old days—what’s with all this nonsense?”

“It’s not what it seems. Everyone has their ideal body weight. Lara… she has surpassed hers. Her weight is rather disproportionate to her height.”

“So you mean she’s got too much hidden fat…?”

“You could say that.”

No amount of words would suffice unless one saw it for themselves. Mikhail twisted his lips slightly.

“So, Your Highness, let go of her hand. I’ll handle Lara. She’s only shed 2kg so far. We need her to lose at least 3kg more.”

“I’ve said it before—I liked the old Lara. No, I love her no matter what she looks like.”

“With such hollow words… you’ll only draw more attention to her current state.”

Sure enough, Lara did seem a bit prettier than before. If she’d always been the pre-transformation Lilica, then now she resembled a transformed Lilica. Unconsciously, Karlahee was comparing her to his ideal, a fact he didn’t even realize.

“Forcing someone into a diet is nothing short of abuse,”

“Exactly! This is, by any standard, dating violence!”

“No, it’s fact violence.”

A heavy low kick struck Karlahee’s abdomen.

“I didn’t even tie your legs,” Mikhail remarked belatedly to the fallen Karlahee. Oblivious to Karlahee sprawled under the bed, Lara ground her teeth and shouted.

“Are you saying I’ve gotten fat now?!”

“No, you haven’t gained weight. I’m just trying to give you a healthier, better look.”

At that moment, Mikhail—who had been watching from a distance—moved to the edge of the bed. Glancing down at the Emperor slumped at his feet, he smiled in satisfaction and addressed Lara.

“Lara, trust me—just lose 3 more kilos. Stick to this diet for three more days.”

“But… I’m starving. If I eat only these things, I might as well die of hunger!”

“What are you saying? You eat three solid meals every day.”

Mikhail’s expression turned serious. Yet Lara persisted, clinging to him with desperate pleading.

“Please, Mikhail. I just want some chicken… something greasy that really hits the spot.”

“You know, that’s what we call false hunger,” he retorted.

He wouldn’t give in. Instead, he methodically laid bare the truths Lara had long refused to face. Unlike cruel, biting insults, his words were delivered with a surprisingly gentle cadence.

“You’re already getting enough nourishment for the day—both in calories and nutrition. The only reason you still crave more is because the eating habits you’ve clung to for so long are flawed. And you’re not burning off enough calories, lying around lazily every day.”

“…Th-that’s…”

“I won’t listen to any more excuses. Follow my instructions.”

He cut her off sharply as if even the slightest protest would not be forgiven, yet his tone remained soft despite the forcefulness.

“Just do as you’re told.”

* * *

Lady Elina V stood at the very top of the Demon King Castle’s spire, gazing out over the Demon Realm. She could see countless mansions inhabited by demonic soldiers, their lights forming endless streams. In this realm, there was little difference from the surface; after all, wherever you live, it all feels the same—save for who rules over it.

A determined light shone in her silver eyes. As if driven by resolve, she turned and descended the spire’s spiral staircase. Dressed in pristine white, Lady Elina V headed straight to the central hall on the castle’s first floor.

About a hundred demonic soldiers stationed on the first floor stared at her in bewilderment. Clearly, they thought she was a human who had come as the Demon King’s bride only to be discarded. They couldn’t fathom why she remained instead of heading to the surface, so they silently watched her every move.

Lady Elina V strode across the central hall connected to the massive front gate and ascended the grand staircase adorned with a red carpet. Pausing several steps from the top, she turned and spoke.

“Everyone, listen closely.”

Lady Elina V lowered her eyes.

“As you all know, I came here as the Demon King’s bride—for the sake of peace between the surface and the Demon Realm.”

When she opened her eyes again, the congenial tone had given way to a stern, unyielding gaze.

“A political marriage is nothing more than a name on paper—it is as binding as a global peace treaty. I have come here as the surface’s representative. But the Demon King, driven by mere caprice and amusement, has once again sabotaged this important matter.”

This wasn’t a situation that could simply be resolved with placation. Discarding a bride offered up as tribute to the Demon King? Even if she was a mere human, it was outrageous. They’d offered her an entire room in the castle and then just left her be—only to later become fascinated and, eventually, develop feelings for a human. But she had been rejected from the start. In the grand tradition of romantic fantasy, the Male Lead had violated an inviolable taboo. If he wouldn’t perform his responsibilities and duties as the Male Lead, then even if it meant sacrificing himself, he would still uphold his own responsibilities. This was the first and last act of retribution from a compassionate saint.

“Naturally, this act not only insults my empire but mocks all the surface’s continents. I could declare war on the Demon Realm with the authority of a saint. But if I did, countless innocent lives would be sacrificed—because the fate of the Demon Realm would be entrusted to an utterly foolish man.”

The demonic soldiers immediately understood who the foolish man was. Several of them blushed a deep red and blue.

“That is why I proclaim today: promises will be kept—even if by force. If I cannot be the master of the Demon Realm, I will become its owner by any means necessary.”

“What is this? Are you underestimating the Demon Realm?!”

“A human woman? How laughable… Cackle! Seize her!”