I stood completely stunned as the rapid shift in the situation left my mind spinning.

A moment ago, an execution order hung over my head. Now, the terrifying ’Executioner’ groveled on the cracked stone floor, and the majestic figures outside lay buried in deep craters.

So I decisively chose to keep my mouth shut.

Speaking right now felt incredibly dangerous. I chose absolute silence to avoid making any fatal mistakes in front of these apex entities. At the very least, my survival was guaranteed for the time being. But damn, just what have I gotten myself involved in?!

On my side, Caelia looked at the small boy. Her crimson eyes carried a heavy, complicated emotion.

"My return is impossible," she stated quietly.

The boy merely smiled. His posture remained completely relaxed and casual.

"You can and will return," he replied gently. He then swept his cold, pitch-black gaze across the trembling Matriarch figure on the floor. "Let us see exactly who dares to oppose it."

A profound, suffocating silence answered him. The Matriarch kept her head bowed to the broken stone. The figures in the distant craters remained completely still.

Observing this absolute submission, a clear realization surfaced in my mind.

This small boy possessed an authority that eclipsed every single entity present. He held an impossibly high status. He was very likely the supreme ruler of this entire Nightmare Realm, or someone close. But if he was, why was he protecting Cathiel and me? Wouldn’t she pose a threat to his rule since she seems to be the ’Nightmare Sovereign’?

I glanced to see Caelia shake her head slowly.

"You misunderstand," she spoke, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. "My condition physically binds me to this place."

The boy smiled again. His dark eyes shifted toward me for a fleeting second, gleaming with profound interest.

"I will take care of it," he promised smoothly. "Don’t worry about it."

My thoughts immediately connected the dots. This was definitely related to his previous observation. He had specifically pointed out my ability to stand close to her and survive. It seems like she had some kind of curse or something on her. If so, why was I unaffected? Was it because of Cathiel?

I couldn’t find the right answer without enough info, so I stayed silent.

Meanwhile, Caelia considered the boy’s words carefully.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she finally nodded.

"...Alright."

"Great, then let’s go," The boy casually waved his small hand.

The space in the middle of the bedroom twisted and tore apart, forming a stable, swirling portal of pure void energy. He stepped through it without looking back.

Caelia turned and gestured for me to follow. I tightened my protective grip on Cathiel, making sure she was comfortable and safe against my chest, and walked toward the rift.

Just as I stepped into the swirling portal, a strange, nagging feeling suddenly tugged at the back of my mind.

’Why do I feel like I am forgetting something...’

_____ ___ _

The spatial distortion faded in the blink of an eye.

We found ourselves standing in the center of a breathtakingly grand, gothic-style castle hall.

Massive pillars of dark, polished stone stretched upward, supporting a vaulted ceiling completely hidden in the shadows above. Faint purple bioluminescence illuminated the sprawling, majestic space.

The boy turned to face us with a relaxed expression. He clapped his small hands together.

"Servants," he called out, his voice echoing lightly across the vast hall.

Several tall, imposing figures immediately stepped out from the surrounding shadows. They wore immaculate dark uniforms and moved with a stiff, unnatural precision. They looked exactly like robot-like black servants, their faces completely blank and still.

"Show my esteemed guests to the private guest chamber," the boy instructed them smoothly. He then offered us a polite, apologetic smile. "I must excuse myself for now. I have been away for a very long time, and I have quite a few matters to take care of. Please, rest well."

Caelia nodded in understanding.

The boy then stepped backward and vanished seamlessly into the dark ambient energy of the hall.

The servants turned in unison and gestured for us to follow. We walked behind them in complete silence, navigating through a series of wide, intimidatingly quiet corridors. I kept Cathiel securely against my chest, making sure she felt safe in this entirely new environment.

Eventually, our silent escorts halted in front of a massive set of intricately carved double doors.

Just as the leader extended its hand toward the handle, an appalling scene unfolded right before my eyes.

The servant simply dissolved. Its body and clothes decayed into gray ash in the blink of an eye, spilling uselessly onto the stone floor. One by one, the remaining escorts standing in Caelia’s proximity crumbled into identical piles of dust. The entire process happened in complete, terrifying silence.

"!"

I reacted purely on instinct. I immediately raised my free hand and shielded Cathiel’s eyes, keeping her gaze away from the gruesome sight.

A heavy, suffocating tension filled the empty corridor. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Right then, I acutely sensed Caelia’s gaze fixed upon me. I slowly turned my head and met her vibrant crimson eyes. She was staring at me with immense intensity, clearly observing my reaction to the deadly curse she carried.

I took a slow breath, forcing my racing heart to calm down. I stepped forward and gently pushed the heavy wooden doors open myself.

"Let us talk about everything inside," I muttered quietly.

I pushed the heavy wooden doors open, revealing a breathtakingly vast and luxurious guest chamber. The interior featured rich crimson and dark silver tones, illuminated by the same soft purple glow from the hallways.

We stepped inside and walked directly toward the center of the room. A massive, incredibly soft-looking bed dominated the space. We both sat down side by side on the edge of the mattress.

We pushed the heavy conversation aside for the moment. Right now, our entire focus naturally shifted to the tiny existence in my arms.

Cathiel peeked out from my chest, her mesmerizing dual-colored eyes blinking curiously at the new surroundings. She let out a soft, melodic giggle and reached her small hands toward Caelia.

A genuinely warm smile completely erased the previous tension from Caelia’s flawless face. She gently took Cathiel’s tiny hands, playing with her playfully. The room filled with the sweet sounds of the little girl’s laughter, creating a pristine bubble of warmth in this terrifying world.

After a few minutes of wholesome interaction, Caelia gracefully waved her hand. A small spatial rift opened in the air beside her. She reached into the void and retrieved a few small, glowing fruits that resembled crystallized purple glass.

"These are perfectly safe and highly nutritious for her," Caelia explained softly, offering a piece to the baby.

Cathiel happily accepted the exotic delicacy. She nibbled on the glowing fruit, her eyes lighting up with obvious delight at the sweet taste. Caelia fed her a few more pieces until the little girl let out a cute, satisfied burp.

Having filled her tiny stomach, Cathiel quickly grew drowsy. Her eyelids drooped, and within moments, she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep right in my arms.

I carefully adjusted my hold and laid her down in the center of the massive bed. I pulled a velvet blanket over her small body, making sure she remained completely comfortable and warm.

I watched her sleep peacefully for a few seconds. Then, I slowly turned my head to look at the woman sitting beside me. The warm, domestic atmosphere gradually receded, making way for the heavy reality of our current situation.

"Shall we talk?" I asked quietly, keeping my voice low to keep the child undisturbed.

Caelia met my gaze. Her crimson eyes reflected a profound depth of ancient secrets and lingering sorrow.

"...Yes."