THIRD PERSON'S POV

[TWO WEEKS AGO]

"Where's Conan?" Zeus set down his cup of tea and looked at Hyra, who had just woken up and was still in her pajamas.

"He was there when I woke up, but then he stopped visiting me in the hospital. I miss him," Hyra said, her tone sullen as she settled into a chair opposite Zeus, reaching for his tea.

"He's at Caribbean Academy, practicing for the soccer match against the other school," Zeus replied.

"Is that really important?"

"It's a big deal. The winner might get scouted professionally. Conan loves soccer," Zeus explained gently.

Hyra rested her head on the table, her right arm still bandaged but no longer a hindrance.

"Aren't you going to school?" Zeus asked, putting away the tea.

"Why bother? I'll just get bullied. I'm no longer an Elite Student," Hyra sighed, feeling dejected.

"But didn't Salvador and Monteverde promise to look out for you?" Zeus asked, noticing her withering mood, knowing only Conan could truly cheer her up.

"Conan told me to keep a low profile and not make a fuss. If I get bullied, I should just accept it," Hyra said with resignation.

"Don't you want to see Maniego?" Zeus asked softly.

Hyra flinched, and Zeus smiled wistfully. "Should I call Conan? He's not answering my calls," Hyra abruptly changed the subject.

Without hesitation, Zeus took out his phone and dialed Conan. The phone rang less than three times before Conan picked up.

"Is something wrong with her?" Conan asked immediately.

"She wants to talk to you," Zeus replied.

"Oh—"

"Conaaaan! I miss you!" Hyra exclaimed, her voice filled with longing.

Conan smiled warmly, finding a bench to sit on and telling his coach he'd be right back.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" Conan asked sweetly.

"Zeus is making it for me right now," Hyra winked at Zeus, who rolled his eyes but smiled inwardly at her antics.

"Aren't you going to class?"

"I'm feeling lazy," Hyra admitted.

"Why don't you come over here? Or find those masks that know who you are. You could move around as Demon," Conan suggested unexpectedly, causing Zeus and Hyra to exchange surprised glances. Conan was usually adamant about keeping Demon's identity hidden, but now he seemed open to Hyra using it to her advantage.

"But don't cause any trouble. Five of the district leaders already know your identity. Why don't you seek them out?"

"So basically, you want her to be Demon to warn the masks?" Zeus clarified.

"Hey, Zeus, pass her the phone," Hyra interrupted, trying to snatch the phone from him.

"She needs some warm-up," Conan replied shortly before ending the call.

"He hung up on me!" Hyra pouted, feeling more frustrated.

Zeus quietly returned to the kitchen, understanding Conan's plan. He wanted Demon to clean up her own mess. She hadn't been careful about hiding her identity, and Conan wanted her to take responsibility and fix it herself.

But there was something Zeus didn't know about Conan's plan.

"What do you think? Is he avoiding me?" Demon chuckled with a hint of mischief.

Zeus startled at the transformation from sulking to a darker aura surrounding her.

She nonchalantly sipped from Zeus's tea, her eyes fixed on the chandelier.

"Do you think you're relying too much on him?" Zeus asked cautiously.

"What's wrong with that? He's all I have. He's the only one I can count on," Demon replied firmly.

Zeus grinned mischievously.

"I think I prefer talking to you when you're Demon."

"Enough talk. Let's go," Demon said abruptly.

"Where are we going?"

"Where else? School."

CARL'S POV

"Hey Carl, where are you going?"

I frowned. Why is Brizon asking where I'm going? He doesn't do that often.

"I need to check out the botanical gardens."

"Okay, be careful."

I frowned even more. I think Brizon is acting weird now.

Sigh.

It's been a long time since I last visited the botanical gardens. I go there just to release stress. I've been stressed all week.

After I faced the Outlaw, I realized how weak I am. If I am this weak, how can I protect Ice from the White Monarchy? How can I protect him from Conan?

"They say if you think deeply, you will go bald quickly."

My body moved on its own and jumped backward, away from her, to give me some distance in case she attacked me.

I was shocked by my actions and immediately looked at her. She was just dumbfounded and soon started laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

It was a terrible laugh, a laugh that echoed throughout the botanical garden, a laugh that seemed demonic.

"AHAH-cough! Cough! Cough! Excuse me," she choked on her own saliva in the middle of her laughter. "Geez, that was humiliating."

"What the fuck are you doing here? You are not allowed to come here."

She froze in her spot but only for a few seconds. She let out a soft giggle while staring at me.

She's acting weird. Perhaps she already knows that I know something about her and she's here to kill me.

Isn't this a good thing? I just need proof that she's Demon, and Ice won't protect her anymore.

But how?

"BOO!"

"Shit!" I cursed when she suddenly appeared in front of me.

"Do you want to go bald?" she added. "Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you, but I will warn you." She beamed widely.

"Warn me? So, I was right in suspecting that you and Demon are one and the same?"

"Right! Right!" She didn't even deny it.

"No matter what you do, I will let Master know who you really are—

SWISSHHH!

"You can't."

"Hmmmph—"

She suddenly appeared in front of me and interrupted what I was saying by kissing me.

Even if I wanted to get rid of it, my body didn't follow what I wanted.

I was stunned as she kissed me.

"Am I your first kiss? No wonder, your lips don't move," she said between kisses.

"P-le-ase lea-ve." Fuck, I'm losing my breath.

"Why? Don't you like it?" she said in a seductive way. "Come on, just kiss me back and I'll think about whether to stop."

Before I could react, she kissed me again.

I will do this for Ice. I will prove who this girl really is.

I kissed her back and felt the corner of her lips rise.

Shit!

"It feels better when you rub it in."

My eyes widened when she raised my hand and pressed it to her chest.

"Click!"

"Click!"

"Click!"

What is that? A camera sound?

And that's when I realized.

"Damn, you're a bad kisser," she hissed, then took out the camera she was holding. "Wow, this angle is accurate. I can clearly see how you touched my breast. Pervert!"

"What are you going to do with that?"

"I know how much you cherish your friendship with Maniego, so it would be surprising if he found out that his friend was a traitor." Is she blackmailing me? "You know how much Maniego loves me, don't you? He will be upset when he finds out what you did to me."

"SHUT UP! YOU'RE THE FIRST TO KISS ME!"

"But that's not the story that will get to them. I will say that you harassed me," her voice sounded relaxed and not afraid of anything.

"I will kill you."

I immediately rushed at her and choked her with my bare hand, but what surprised me was that she didn't avoid it.

I was choking her, but she still managed to smile.

"Do you know that the exchange for my life is the thousands of people in this country? The moment you kill me, the White Monarchy will consume everything."

I let her go.

"Why are you doing this?"

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Demon stopped massaging her neck, then looked at Carl listlessly.

"Isn't it obvious? Of course, I need to get my masks back."

Hearing that, Carl was silent for a moment as he thought about what Demon said.

"But it's not yours either. You just stole it from the previous owner, Luci."

"Huh? Is that what the Elders told you? Next time I'll listen to what Zeus says so I'll be updated," Demon murmured at the end.

No one knows that Luci is the mother of Hyra and Nathan.

"If you want to get the masks, you have to kill us first."

"Sure!"

Carl froze. He didn't think Demon would answer directly and without a trace of fear.

"But before I kill you, I will use you first."

"You c—

"Let me ask you, why did you let Conan bring weapons into the Caribbean even though you know it's forbidden?"

"What are you—

"Are you helping Conan because you trust him?"

"Of course not, I'm doing that for Ice's sake—

"Gotcha! Finally, you admit you're helping Conan."

Carl clenched his fist and tried to grab the phone from Demon but he couldn't get it after several attempts.

Carl was even more pissed off when he realized that Demon's arm was still in a cast.

"How strong would she be without that cast if she's this strong now?" Carl thought, then backed away.

"I'm not going to kill you yet, so just calm down. All I want is for you to be quiet, because otherwise, Maniego will know that you're helping his rival."

"Are you blackmailing me?"

"Obviously!"

Demon gave Carl one last glance before leaving the botanical garden.

She left, leaving Carl stunned.

HYRA'S POV

Obviously, Carl doesn't want Maniego to be angry with him, so I'm sure he'll keep quiet.

Don't want to be angry, huh? What kind of bromance is this?

"Hyra!"

Huh?

I looked back and saw Maniego sweating and panting. Speaking of Maniego, I remember what Jared said—that Maniego has a fiancée and they are getting married.

"I'm glad you're okay."

I was surprised when he hugged me tightly, as if he didn't want to let me go.

"I really, really missed you."

Thinking about it again, since I woke up, I haven't seen Maniego visit me. They said that Maniego visits me when no one is around. Is he afraid his fiancée will catch him while visiting me?

~Shiver~

It sounds like an affair, but why? Why am I excited? I can't stop smiling.

"You're smiling wide. Do you miss me too?"

"O-f co-urse!" Gosh, I had to stop smiling.

"Come with me where no one can see us."

What? This is bad, I didn't bring any kind of protection, but maybe he did, so maybe it's okay, right?

"Are we going to have sex?"

He stopped pulling me and looked at me with a soft smile.

"Silly girl."

*Poke*

"Ouch!"

He tapped me on the forehead gently, then took my hand with care, leading me forward.

ICE'S POV

Sex? Where did she get that idea? Is she getting close to Jarvis?

"We're here! Ta-da!"

"Blankets and food?"

"I'm sorry I can't take you to an expensive restaurant; my actions are restricted. Right now, I want to celebrate your release from the hospital. Welcome back."

I looked at her face, but she had no reaction. Didn't she like it? I started to worry.

"I'm sorry if you don't—

"No, I like it." I was surprised when she hugged me first. "This is my first time experiencing it."

"Me too, but next time I'll take you to the most expensive restaurant in the world. You're that special," I whispered to her, then gently kissed her forehead. "I love you, Hyra. I love you so much."

"L-love?"

I smiled softly, then asked her to sit on the blanket. In fact, I was looking for her to tell her what happened, but now that I am in front of her, there are many questions in my mind. What if she doesn't accept what's happening? What if she avoids me when she finds out? What if she doesn't accept me?

My brain can't accept those things.

Maybe I'll tell her next time, when everything is peaceful.

After I kill Demon, everything will be peaceful.

"Hyra, what kind of man do you want?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

I felt a bit embarrassed for asking suddenly.

"Why did you ask that suddenly?"

"I don't know either."

She continued eating. I thought she wouldn't answer my question, but I was surprised when she responded.

"I want a man who is powerful, who can take over the country and change it, who can separate the bad from the good, who can stay by my side until the end, and most of all, rich."

*BEEP*

Doesn't it sound like she's describing me?

"What kind of girl do you like?" she asked without looking at me.

"You!" I answered without hesitation.

"That's cringe."

*BEEP*

She stopped eating, then took the phone from my pocket and answered the call. It's been ringing for a while, but I just ignored it, but it seems she can't stand it.

"Ice, there is news from the vixen. The Elder is awake and we need to go to him," said Nathan.

"I'll go with you."

"WHAT?"

Even though I can't see it, I know that Nathan is frowning now.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

"Have you lost your mind? You're not part of the vixen, so you can't go."

"Come on, my dear brother, don't tell me that I'm not part of the organization you and Dad built. It hurts."

From the other line, you could see the annoyance on Nathan's face as he squeezed the cellphone he was holding.

"Give the phone to Ice," Nathan stopped himself from yelling at Hyra.

"Hey!" Even though they were far from each other, Nathan felt a chill run down his spine at the tone of Hyra's voice. "Maniego agreed, so there is nothing you can do."

"What the heck, Hy— Toot! Toot!"

"He said I can come," Hyra smiled widely in front of Ice, who in turn scratched his head, knowing that what Hyra said was the opposite of what Nathan had said.

"Why do you want to come? There's no reason," Ice approached Hyra and gently removed the crumbs from her mouth.

"I just want to be with you for a long time. Is there something wrong with that?" Hyra pouted, causing Ice to break into a cold sweat.

If only he were asked, he would want to take Hyra with him wherever he went, but he knew that Claire already existed in his life. Claire couldn't see that he and Hyra were together.

"I'll go first. Thanks for the food. See you later." Hyra didn't wait for Ice's response and immediately left.

Hyra left the place wearing a silly smile on her lips. She was excited to see the condition of the Elder who had wronged her.

---

"Why is Master taking so long?" Jared complained while waiting in front of the hospital with the other masks.

"Where's Shawn? I've been calling him for a while and he's not answering," Claire asked flatly.

"I think your boyfriend is flirting with someone else, hehe," Jarvis giggled silly.

Claire glared at Jarvis, who just shrugged and grinned even more.

A little later, a Porsche stopped in front of them and Ice got out, followed by Hyra who ran towards Sky.

Everyone was surprised when Hyra got out of Ice's car except for Nathan, who could see a vein bulging on his forehead.

"Who are you and why are you riding in Shawn's car?" Claire asked Hyra with a raised eyebrow.

Hyra simply grinned, then hid behind Sky and acted a little scared of Claire, causing some of the district leaders to roll their eyes. They knew it was just Hyra's show.

"I'm sorry, I forced Manieg—este Master to take me here. I'm Hyra, and I'm close to Sky. I'm glad to meet you. Are you...?"

"I'm Claire, the daughter of one of Caribbean's shareholders. I'm also the head of Hayena," Claire said proudly. "I am also the girlfriend, slash fiancée, slash future wife of Shawn," she added and hooked her arm onto Ice's.

Everyone stiffened and waited for Hyra's answer. They were waiting for trouble to happen, but minutes passed and the surroundings were still quiet. They looked at Hyra and were surprised to see her just smiling from ear to ear.

"Can we go inside?" Ice suggested, using his coldest tone. He felt annoyed and jealous, but he couldn't show it. He couldn't touch Hyra while Claire was around.

---

"I'm sorry I used you," Hyra whispered to Sky as they entered the hospital. She suddenly felt sorry.

"No, it's okay. You can use me as much as you want," Sky whispered back, and Hyra responded with a sweet smile.

---

After several minutes, they reached the room where the Elder was staying. Before they entered, the doctor reminded them that the Elder's condition was serious and that he could not be stressed.

"Let's go," Kevin opened the door for everyone.

"He is in a bad condition. Both his arms and legs are broken, as well as his tongue," the doctor explained to them.

"Oh my God! Who did this to you, Mr. Principal?"

Everyone was surprised when Hyra approached Mr. Morgan.

Mr. Morgan's eyes widened and he began to scream.

Doctors panicked and administered a sedative to calm him.

The corners of Hyra's lips lifted, knowing that Mr. Morgan had seen her face without a mask.

"What the hell is that? Why did he suddenly scream?" Jared asked after a minute of silence.

They wondered what had happened, why Mr. Morgan looked so scared when he saw Hyra.

"I think he needs more rest," Brizon suggested.

"I think he's right," Zeke agreed and left the room first.

The others soon followed. Carl was at the end, watching Hyra's every move, looking for something she could do wrong to report to Ice. He kept a close eye on her, but all he saw was Hyra and Sky flirting.

"It's a surprise to see you here. Did Nathan agree with you coming here?" Sky asked Hyra.

They walked together, far from the other District leaders.

"Of course, he didn't agree, but since I'm already here, there's nothing he can do."

They both giggled, causing Ice to peek at them.

"Annoying," he murmured under his breath.

"I'm glad to see you all here."

Everyone froze. That voice was familiar to them—it was the voice of the person at the top of the food chain. "And I didn't expect you to have visitors." Vladimir's face was filled with murderous intent, and in an instant, his palm struck Hyra's face. The slap was so strong that Hyra flew three meters away from where she was standing.

"Hy—" Ice was about to approach Hyra, but Claire stopped him. Claire squeezed Ice's arm that she was holding. She acted like this because she knew the relationship that Ice and Hyra had. The Elders had told her about Hyra, so she knew her well.

"One wrong move from you, and she will be hurt more," Claire said casually with a straight face.

Ice couldn't do anything but close his eyes tightly and swear in his mind when Sky came to Hyra's side to help her.

"Hyra, are you okay?" Sky asked worriedly when he noticed that Hyra wasn't saying anything and was just bowing.

"Hyra, please say something," Jared begged, who like Sky also had a worried look on his face.

"Dad, you don't have to do th—HA! HA!" Nathan interrupted what he was saying when Hyra started laughing. She was bowing because she was holding back her laughter, but now she couldn't hold it in anymore.

"HAHAHA, It's amazing. You're still fast for your age. Don't you have rheumatism yet?"

"You have no respect, you woman."

Suddenly, a fast arrow flew towards Hyra, but she caught it between her fingers and threw it back.

"Acccckkk!"

Nathan did not expect Hyra to catch the arrow instead of avoiding it, nor did he expect her to throw it back at the owner.

"Oop's, sorry, but that was just self-defense. He was the first to attack me, wasn't he?" Hyra's face seemed to be pleading.

Nathan carefully observed his sister. He thought that if he hadn't left his sister, would they be close to each other now?

"You have a thick face to show me your face, you murderer," veins began to appear on Mr. Vladimir's face and arms.

"I inherited it from you," Hyra smirked.

The District leaders didn't know how to stop the growing tension between Hyra and Vladimir. This was the first time they had seen Vladimir get angry like this, so they didn't know how to handle it.

"Leave this place if you don't want me to drag you out, and don't ever show your face to me again. I don't have any other children except Nathan."

"Dad, don't say that. Please take it back," Nathan chased after Vladimir and begged him to take back what he said to Hyra. Nathan was trying to win his sister's heart again. He wanted to be close to Hyra again, but because of what happened now, it looked like it would be difficult.

"Let's go!" Claire said firmly, then pulled Ice, who was unable to look back at Hyra. He couldn't turn around because if he did, he might forget his duty and choose Hyra instead.

"The meeting is about to start. Let's go," Carl said. Before he finally left, he turned to Hyra one last time and regretted it. He expected Hyra to be depressed or sad because of what had happened, but no, she was still smiling while raising her middle finger at him. "How the hell did she become Demon?" Carl muttered under his breath.

A minute later, Hyra and Sky were the only ones left in the hallway. Sky wiped the blood from the side of Hyra's lips.

"I'm fine, follow them," Hyra said. She wasn't in the mood and didn't want anyone around her, so she sent Sky away.

"No, I'll take you to your house," Sky insisted.

Hyra rolled her eyes and suddenly beamed wide when she saw a shadow. She wanted to clap her hands out of joy but held back because Sky might think she was going crazy.

"You don't need to take me home. I can take care of myself, so don't bother," Hyra said cheerfully.

Sky sighed at the sudden change in Hyra's mood. For him, Hyra was pretending to be cheerful to cover up the pain, but what he didn't know was that Hyra was actually very happy.

"I think I need to give her some time alone," Sky thought.

"Call me as soon as you get home."

Hyra nodded, and the smile never left her face. Sky sighed again before completely leaving Hyra.

After making sure that no one else was there, Hyra immediately left the hospital and smiled when she saw a hooded man waiting for her outside. His arm was spread as if he wanted to give her a hug.

"Waaahhhh! Conaaannn!" Hyra ran towards Conan and hugged him tightly. "Don't leave me hanging again," Hyra said and lightly punched Conan in the chest.

"Yes, not anymore," Conan whispered while staring at a woman at the entrance of the hospital. "Get her," he mumbled, and later five men suddenly appeared in front of the woman and disappeared into the darkness at the same time. "Are you hungry? I'll prepare what you want."

"How about se—"

"NO!"

"Okay, okay! Let's have steak."

---

As Conan and Hyra walked away from the hospital, they made their way to a cozy, upscale restaurant nearby. The warm ambiance and soft lighting created an intimate setting, perfect for the two to catch up and enjoy a meal together.

Once seated, a waiter approached with menus and a friendly smile. "Good evening, what can I get you started with?"

"We'll have two steaks, medium-rare, and a bottle of your best red wine," Conan said, handing the menus back to the waiter. "And some garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables on the side."

The waiter nodded and left to place their order.

Hyra leaned back in her chair, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I missed you, Conan. You have no idea how dull it gets without you around."

Conan chuckled, reaching across the table to hold her hand. "I'm sorry for leaving you hanging, but things have been... complicated."

"Complicated, huh? You always have a way of getting into complicated situations," Hyra teased, squeezing his hand gently.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, a blend of light-hearted banter and deeper, more meaningful exchanges. They reminisced about old times and discussed the current chaos surrounding them.

"So, what's the plan now?" Hyra asked, taking a sip of her wine. "Should I confront Vladimir head-on?"

Conan's expression turned serious. "We need to be careful. Vladimir is dangerous, and we can't underestimate him. But we can't let him continue to hurt you either."

Hyra's eyes softened. "I know. I just hate seeing you so stressed."

Conan smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll be fine as long as you're by my side."

Their food arrived, and they ate with gusto. The steaks were cooked to perfection, juicy and flavorful, and the sides complemented the meal beautifully. As they ate, they continued to talk, their connection strengthening with every word.

After finishing their meal, Conan leaned back, satisfied. "This was exactly what I needed. Good food, good company, and a chance to relax."

Hyra grinned. "I'm glad. You deserve a break."

They lingered at the table, enjoying the lingering warmth of the evening. Eventually, they decided to take a walk along the nearby river, the gentle sound of water providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation.

As they strolled, Hyra looked up at Conan. "You know, no matter what happens, I'm with you. We can face anything together."

Conan stopped and turned to her, his expression filled with gratitude and affection. "I know,"

Hyra stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Let's go home."