The Demon king's Last oath

The spring breeze carried the scent of wisteria across the sprawling gardens of the Thorne estate. Birds chirped from the trees, oblivious to the formality unfolding on the marble terrace.

At this time he was 14 years old.Caius shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. His dark coat, tailored perfectly to fit his slim frame, felt stiff, as if it were trying to suffocate him.

"Sit straight, Caius," his father said sharply from beside him, his piercing gaze sweeping over his youngest son. "We are not hosting a common merchant. The House of Belmont is a proud family, and they deserve our respect."

Caius straightened his back but didn't respond. He knew better than to argue with the Marquess.

His brothers, Lucian and Julian, sat to his right, whispering to each other. Julian's warm demeanor contrasted sharply with Lucian's sharp, teasing smirk.

"You look like you're going to faint," Lucian muttered to Caius, his voice low enough not to reach their father's ears.

"Leave him alone," Julian said with a soft chuckle.

Before Caius could respond, the sound of footsteps on the stone path drew everyone's attention.

The Belmont family had arrived.

The First Meeting

Caius watched as the Belmonts stepped onto the terrace. Lord Belmont was a tall, imposing man with silver hair tied neatly at the nape of his neck, his emerald eyes sharp and calculating. His wife walked beside him, her features delicate but her posture strong.

And then there was her.

Elara walked a step behind her parents, her silver hair catching the sunlight like strands of moonlight. She wore a pale green dress that complemented her vivid emerald eyes, which swept over the scene with keen curiosity.

She wasn't what Caius had expected.

Elara didn't carry herself with the reserved politeness of noble girls he had met before. Her gaze was direct, her expression calm but thoughtful, as if she were already assessing everyone around her.

Her eyes landed on Caius, and for a moment, she hesitated. Then, with a faint smile, she offered a polite curtsy.

"Lord Caius," she said, her voice steady.

Caius stood, bowing stiffly. "Lady Elara."

"Charmed," Lucian muttered under his breath, earning a soft laugh from Julian.

Caius shot them a glare but quickly returned his attention to Elara.

The Garden Conversation

Later that afternoon, Caius and Elara were sent to walk the gardens together—a deliberate arrangement by their families.

Caius had never been fond of these types of introductions. They always felt rehearsed, unnatural. He could still feel his father's sharp gaze even though they were out of sight.

Elara, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease. She walked a few steps ahead of him, her hands brushing against the flowers as she spoke.

"Your estate is beautiful," she said, glancing back at him.

"Thank you," Caius replied, his tone polite but distant.

"You don't talk much, do you?" Elara said, raising an eyebrow.

"I talk when I have something to say," Caius replied.

Elara smiled faintly. "And what do you think of me?"

Caius blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I—uh—"

"I'll take that as a compliment," Elara said, laughing softly at his awkwardness.

Caius frowned, his cheeks flushing slightly. "That's not what I—"

"You're easy to tease," Elara said, turning to face him fully. "But I appreciate honesty, Caius. It's refreshing."

Caius studied her for a moment, unsure of what to make of her. "I'm not good at this."

Elara tilted her head. "Good at what?"

"Talking. Meeting people," Caius admitted, his voice quiet.

Elara's smile softened. "Well, we'll have plenty of time to figure it out, won't we?"

Caius hesitated, then nodded. "I suppose so."

Letters Between Them

After their meeting, Caius and Elara began exchanging letters. It was more a requirement than a choice, but the correspondence gradually took on a life of its own.

Elara's First Letter

"Lord Caius,

I must admit, you're not what I expected. You're quiet, reserved, and far too serious for someone your age. But there's something about you that I find… intriguing. I hope you won't mind if I write to you now and then. After all, we'll need to understand each other eventually, won't we?

Lady Elara Belmont"

Caius's Response

"Lady Elara,

I appreciate your letter, though I confess I'm not sure how to respond. I'm not accustomed to conversations like these, even in writing. But I agree—we should try to understand one another. If nothing else, it will make our families happy.

Caius Thorne"

A Growing Connection

Over the months, their letters became more personal, though Caius's replies often remained shorter and less expressive than Elara's.

Elara's Letter

"Caius,

I imagine you're still reading in your library, avoiding everyone. Do you ever stop to think about what you want? Or are you always following someone else's path? You said you weren't sure who you're supposed to be. Maybe you should stop worrying about what's expected of you and start figuring it out for yourself. I hope that's not too forward of me.

Elara"

Caius's Reply

"Elara,

You always seem to ask difficult questions. I'm not sure I have answers yet, but I'll think about it. Thank you for being honest.

Caius"