The throne chamber was enormous.
Liora had seen large halls before royal courts in human kingdoms, ancient temples, even the massive ruins of the Spirit Realm.
But this place was different.
This hall was built to intimidate.
Tall black pillars stretched upward into darkness, each one carved with glowing demonic runes that pulsed faintly like distant heartbeats. Crimson banners bearing the royal crest of the Demon Kingdom hung between them.
At the far end of the chamber stood the throne.
A massive structure carved from obsidian and ancient bone, rising atop a long staircase.
The Demon King already sat there.
Silent.
Watching.
The chamber was filled with nobles.
Dozens of them.
Some looked almost human. Others were far more monstrous horned figures with burning eyes, towering demons with wings folded behind their backs, elegant women with skin like polished marble and claws instead of nails.
The air buzzed with quiet conversations.
All of them stopped when the doors opened.
Liora stepped inside beside Cairis.
The sound of her boots on the polished black floor echoed loudly through the hall.
Every eye turned toward her.
The whispers began instantly.
"That's the witch?"
"A human…"
"She awakened the Crimson Gate."
"She shouldn't be here."
Liora kept her head high.
Even though her stomach had started doing uncomfortable flips.
Okay, she thought.
This might actually be the worst room I've ever walked into.
Cairis walked slightly ahead of her.
His presence cut through the whispers like a blade.
The nobles bowed their heads.
"Your Highness."
But their eyes still flicked toward Liora constantly.
Like she was some kind of dangerous animal someone had dragged into the palace.
They reached the center of the chamber.
Cairis stopped.
Liora stood beside him.
The throne room fell quiet.
Then one of the nobles stepped forward.
Tall.
Thin.
His long dark hair fell over robes embroidered with gold threads.
His eyes were cold.
Sharp.
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly toward the Demon King.
"This situation cannot continue."
The Demon King rested his chin against one hand.
"Explain."
The noble turned slowly toward Liora.
His gaze lingered there with obvious distaste.
"A human witch has been brought into the royal palace."
Murmurs spread through the room again.
"The Crimson Gate awakened the moment she arrived."
Another noble spoke from the side.
"That cannot be coincidence."
Liora sighed quietly.
"Here we go."
The first noble continued.
"The safety of the Demon Kingdom must come first."
He looked directly at Cairis.
"Your Highness, we request that the human be removed from the capital immediately."
The room grew tense.
Everyone waited for Cairis to answer.
His voice came out calm.
"No."
The single word echoed across the chamber.
The noble's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You are placing the kingdom at risk."
"I disagree."
"The Crimson Gate is responding to her presence."
"Yes."
Cairis's crimson eyes flicked briefly toward Liora.
"And that is exactly why she stays."
The room erupted into louder whispers.
The nobles clearly didn't like that answer.
Another figure stepped forward.
A woman this time.
Her silver horns curved elegantly from her temples, and her dark red gown flowed across the floor like liquid blood.
Her voice was smooth.
"Then perhaps the prince would like to explain something to the court."
Cairis's gaze shifted toward her.
She smiled faintly.
"You claim the witch is important."
Her eyes drifted toward Liora again.
"But we all felt the gate's reaction."
Her voice softened.
"…It recognized her."
The words hung in the air.
The entire court seemed to hold its breath.
Liora frowned slightly.
Recognized me…
The woman continued.
"So I must ask the obvious question."
Her crimson eyes gleamed.
"Who exactly is she?"
Silence spread across the chamber.
Even the Demon King leaned forward slightly on his throne.
Liora felt every gaze in the room turn toward her again.
Expectant.
Suspicious.
Curious.
Cairis remained silent.
The noblewoman smiled slightly wider.
"Your Highness?"
Cairis finally spoke.
"…She is a witch."
Soft laughter rippled through the room.
"That much is obvious."
The noblewoman folded her arms.
"But not the whole truth."
Her gaze sharpened.
"The Crimson Gate does not react to ordinary witches."
A murmur of agreement spread through the court.
The woman took another step forward.
Her voice grew quieter.
More dangerous.
"Ancient records speak of only one witch capable of awakening that gate."
Liora felt a strange chill creep down her spine.
The noblewoman's eyes locked onto hers.
"…The Star Witch Queen."
The entire throne room exploded with noise.
Nobles began shouting over each other.
"That's impossible!"
"She died a thousand years ago!"
"She sealed the gate herself!"
The woman raised one hand, silencing them again.
Then she pointed directly at Liora.
"…And yet the gate awakened the moment she arrived."
The court slowly grew quiet again.
Everyone stared.
Waiting.
Liora felt suddenly very aware of how alone she was in the center of that enormous room.
But before she could say anything
A deep rumble shook the palace.
The ground trembled beneath their feet.
The Crimson Gate pulsed again.
Even from deep below the palace, its power reached the throne chamber.
A wave of crimson light flickered across the runes carved into the pillars.
The nobles went silent.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The Demon King rose from his throne.
The movement alone quieted the entire court.
His voice carried calmly through the hall.
"…Enough."
All eyes turned toward him.
He looked down the long chamber.
At the nobles.
Then at Liora.
His expression was unreadable.
But his next words froze the entire room.
"The gate has not reacted like this in one thousand years."
He paused.
Then continued quietly.
"…Which means there are only two possibilities."
Liora's heart started beating faster.
The Demon King's crimson eyes locked onto hers.
"Either this woman is connected to the Star Witch Queen…"
The chamber fell completely silent.
"…or she is the Star Witch Queen."
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The entire Demon Court stared at her like she had suddenly become the most dangerous person in the kingdom.
And somewhere beneath the palace
The Crimson Gate pulsed again.
Like it was agreeing.