"Answer me, Mom!"

This is how you lie.

The names of children were completely made up. You can probably tell from the lazy resemblance. I just mashed Arza's name a bit and boom, instant emotional anchor.

As for the Book of Primordial Kings… yeah, that was kind of truth.

Morvana's family really did inherit that ancient thing and she had been obsessed with cracking it open ever since she became matriarch because of her curiosity and ego, the two most reliable poisons in existence.

But here's the fun part, the book's existence was known only to the matriarchs. Not even the Demon King knew about it. Which means… by mentioning it, I basically just dropped a nuke in her trust radar.

In the novel, she never managed to open it until she handed it down to Arza.

And then Arza… vanished.

So, yeah, I had no clue what the book actually held.

But if I could weaponize her guilt, make her mourn imaginary grandchildren and fear her own curiosity, then why the hell not?

As for the overacting I just pulled… yeah, that was exactly how an actor in some tragic romance movie reacted when his lover died.

I didn't even like romance movies, too much crying and too little logic, but that one had stupidly high reviews and I needed a break at the time.

So yeah, the whole chair-throwing, table-slamming bit was stolen from there.

And judging by how Morvana was staring at me now, completely stunned with eyes wide and mouth slightly open like she had just seen her life flash before her eyes, I would say… It was definitely worth it.

I didn't let her speak because I already knew what she would say. That same predictable, "What are you talking about?" Yeah, no thanks. I had heard it three times already.

So, I jumped in before she could open her mouth with my breathing hard and voice still angry but calmer now which comes when you realize yelling won't change a damn thing.

"I deliberately kissed the Duchess of Astravore family, the family chosen to enroll in Noxvalen this year."

"I deliberately negotiated with the Duke himself to take the place of his heir… just so I could see my love a bit earlier this time and for a little longer."

Yeah. All of that really happened, just not for the reason I was claiming.

Fate hated me and that's all there was to it.

But from the outside, it sounded like the most convincing kind of madness born out of love.

I mean, seriously, who the hell kisses a Duchess unless they have a death wish? And if that wasn't enough, who volunteers to come to Noxvalen, of all places, after their family swore to keep them safe?

It sounded exactly like what I wanted it to sound like, desperation with purpose.

"I even bought an entire chocolate factory, the one that will be her favorite brand in the future. I knew she couldn't feel emotions anymore but… I just wanted her by my side."

That one was half true, technically.

I did buy the factory… just not for love. I bought it to use Arza but hey, she didn't need to know that part.

"You know how much it hurts?"

My voice cracked steadily. "It hurts too damn much… every time she looks at me with those goddamn emotionless eyes like I'm some stranger she can't remember."

And then the tears came. Not the ugly, pathetic kind that begged for pity.

No.

These were the tired kind that came from someone who had seen too much, lived too long and still couldn't give up because he wasn't done yet.

I sneakily raised my eyes to see Morvana's reaction.

Her eyes were widened now with genuine shock and disbelief.

Ohhh, you didn't expect this, did you?

Bet you thought I would cry, beg or maybe wet myself when you threw me into that damn toad's mouth, huh?

Ahahahaha… oh, how I wanted to laugh just by seeing that perfect composure of hers crack a little more.

But I swallowed it down, forcing my face to stay broken and tragic because sometimes… Silence cuts deeper than mockery.

"Why… didn't you tell me the first time we met?" Her voice was calm but I could feel the tension now.

"Hahahahahahahaha…"

I let out a laugh while my lips stretched into a grin that didn't belong to a sane man.

"How could you even ask that, huh, Mom?" I yelled the word. "You… you knew what would happen! You knew what that book would do and you still—"

My hand slammed the table again.

"Tell me, how could I trust you after you destroyed my everything!?"

My voice cracked at the end, the perfect balance of grief and madness.

On the inside, I was grinning because she wasn't just shocked anymore… She was scared.

"Then, why now? Why are you telling me all this now?"

She was right where I wanted her.

Her aura had dimmed slightly as if she was second-guessing herself.

Perfect.

Now, her mind wasn't thinking "is he lying?" anymore, it was thinking "why didn't he tell me sooner?"

That's the shift I needed.

Once someone starts rationalizing your lie for you, the battle is already won.

I could practically see it in her eyes, the mix of regret and self-blame.

I just had to give her one last push.

So, I lowered my voice.

"Because of the Demon King… he noticed something in me. He doesn't know that I have seen the future but he found me amusing enough to name me his successor and that turned the entire Demon Realm against me."

I took a deep breath.

"That's why I need you… for Arza's sake. For my children… your grandchildren."

The moment I said "your grandchildren," I could feel her aura waver because that's not just some vague future-talk anymore… that's personal.

It hits her where even the strongest demons are weakest: the family they don't yet have but already imagine.

Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to say something but couldn't decide if it should be a denial or an apology.

Perfect.

I let the silence stretch because at moments like these it was the best weapon.

Then I continued.

"I'm not asking for power or protection. I'm not even asking you to believe me. I just…" I took a deep breath. "…I just want to make sure she never dies again because of what you did."

I looked up genuinely because the next line was the real truth behind all this bullshit.

"And for that, Mom… I need you to help me live."

I held the expression with a trembling voice.

But damn, this whole "Mom" act was starting to bore me. I should probably wrap this up soon before I accidentally start believing my own bullshit.

Still, I have to give myself some credit… that was some Oscar-worthy manipulation.

I had just turned a woman who came here out of mere curiosity into someone who cared about me and who would probably protect me.

And more importantly, she would think it was all for them.

Yeah… I couldn't even pretend to be cruel anymore because clearly my benevolence knew no bounds.

Truly, I was a saint, a gloriously handsome and dramatically misunderstood saint who just happened to weaponize love, guilt and a few nonexistent kids to secure his survival.

"Just announce me as Arza's fiancé," I continued, my voice steady but just emotional enough to sound sincere. "That way those useless vultures circling around my Arza will back off… and it'll let me stay close to her without raising any suspicion."

I leaned back slightly, letting the words sink in before twisting the knife a little deeper.

"It would also strengthen her position, she would have the public support of me, the newly appointed successor of the Demon King."

Now that part was actually true and the best lies are always the ones wrapped in a little truth.

Morvana seemed to trust me a little now as her eyes were in focus.

But all of a sudden she looked up and said. "Why did you say that at the beginning? Why did you say you were negotiating your death?"

Her sudden question caught me off guard for half a second.

Damn it. I had almost forgotten that part myself.

I had said that because it sounded cool when I said it the first time with Astravore… and have to say it was still cool.

I got up from my chair… towards Morvana and stopped right before her.

She looked at me…

Without any hesitation, I took her hands and placed them on my neck.

Her hands were soft but I knew the mana pulsing under her skin was enough to melt through stone if she willed it.

"What are you do—"

I held her gaze and before she could complete her sentence,

"If you can't accept my demands…" I whispered, making her fingers slightly tighter against my neck, "…then go ahead and kill me right now."

My voice didn't shake.

"This is why I said I was negotiating my death because for me," I continued with a bitter smile on my lips, "this isn't just a deal, this is my life and if it's going to end the same way… if I'm going to keep suffering helplessly…"

I leaned in.

"…then I would rather die on my own terms this time."

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