When A Ghoul Falls In Love

Somewhere far away

“Is this a good idea?” Lennix quivers uneasily, sitting on a tree branch outside the prime minister’s mansion. The location allows him to have a good view of the mansion. Carmine is strolling the garden. To his surprise, Siouxsie is also here. Did she come here right after seeing their father?

“Of course, it’s a bad idea.” Drace lets out a heavy laugh, feeling his heart thumping loudly due to the chaos that is about to happen. What are the repercussions if the prime minister’s mansion is attacked? “We got tricked.”

“Shouldn’t we leave already?” Lennix narrows his eyes on Siouxsie. His sister must have sensed him. Carmine Highmore doesn’t have that ability, but Siouxsie has been to war once. Her vigilance is stronger than Carmine.

“I want to see how this is going to end.” Drace plucks the red fruit and takes a bite. He spits out the content in the next instant. “How could humans eat this?”

“Well, only ghouls can’t survive without meat.” Lennix points out, “Most demons can eat anything.”

“That’s not true.” Drace peers at him, c.o.c.king his head. His pink eyes darken as he continues, “There are a few ghouls who can eat anything. The devourers. They can also eat ghouls.”

Lennix doesn’t question him. There are a few things that are prohibited to talk about. He’s going to witness what that cat spirit plans to do.

***

Walking beside Carmine, Siouxsie remains quiet. What can she say to her? Her father told her that homo sapiens means human. She feels betrayed both by her fourth brother and that human. But she has to admit that the human female is rather smart. That human’s fragrance is mouthwatering. However, she can only watch and not eat. Eli will pull out her teeth one by one if she makes an attempt. His warning isn’t forgotten.

He’s not at the mansion right now. But his shadow is guarding the room. Only she knows what that shadow is capable of. That’s why she didn’t push further. All those years ago, only she and Eli returned from the war. She survived because she was his sister.

Her brother isn’t the type of person who would go that far for something like this. If he’s doing all this, it means that he truly loves that human. And her brother deserves some happiness. But that human looks so delicious. Siouxsie licks her lips. It’s going to be a difficult journey as that human’s sister-in-law.

Maybe she will get to hug that human once. Then, she can have a lick or bite. A tiny bite can’t harm that human. They are quite tenacious when it comes to survival.

Just a tiny bite when her brother and that shadow aren’t there.

“Why do you look so smug?” Carmine gives her a look. “You are supposed to apologize to me on your knees.”

Siouxsie bursts into laughter. Though Carmine and Siouxsie have been friends since they learned to walk, their relationship is a little unusual. They both know that they can’t stand each other. Carmine still wants to be close to her because she likes Eli. Belinda is too young to be Carmine’s friend and Julianne isn’t close to Eli.

In any case, Siouxsie doesn’t have ill feelings toward Carmine. The woman is rather strong. She is managing Eli’s harem of admirers like an empress. Of course, nobody predicted that Eli would bring a weak concubine. It’s an insult to Carmine Highmore — the epitome of beauty, power, and talent — who has been waiting for Eli like a good bride.

“Aren’t you too much?” Siouxsie grins at her. “Why should I kneel before you? Even if you like Fourth Brother, nothing is confirmed until the moment he accepts you as his wife.”

“You knew.” Carmine remains calm despite Siouxsie’s bluntness. “You should have killed that woman.”

And she’s fine if Eli takes other women as his mistresses. But how could he think of marrying someone else in another world? As usual, she won’t utter those words.

Eli Sanguine.

He’s a beast who would only rebel stubbornly if someone tries to tame him. So, she has been waiting patiently. He would come back after his restless soul is tired. That’s what she has been thinking. But

“What would Fourth Brother do if he finds out that you blocked the Council’s request for a priest?” Siouxsie smirks at Carmine slyly. “Because of you, he had to bring his beloved woman to this world.”

Carmine doesn’t show any reaction. However, her heart is writhing in pain. Why is it hard to be noticed by that man? She has been in love with him for so long. But he doesn’t even give her a glance. “No matter how I look at it, it’s an insane idea to marry a human for a temporary physical need. That human is going to be his food soon.”

“Whether she became his food after their marriage or before their marriage, it shouldn’t make you uneasy then.” Siouxsie winks at her. “But you are afraid, aren’t you? Fourth Brother has never shown any attention to any girl. Even if it’s food, you are worried. Why wouldn’t you be? Do you want to hear about that human?”

She nods reluctantly. What kind of human is it? All Carmine knows is that she can snap a human’s neck easily. That human is not a part of the competition. It’s Eli’s stupidity. Just how could he still think about marrying a human in this world? There’s no way that she would become his second wife. That human has to die.

“She’s pretty smart.” Siouxsie squats down and brushes her hand against the flower bed. Carmine’s garden is beautiful indeed, just like her. “Actually, I think that her intelligence is high. She doesn’t get fl.u.s.tered by situations. Even when I was there, she didn’t show any uneasiness. If a human can accept a ghoul husband, there’s no way that the human is ordinary. Even regular demons can’t accept a ghoul wife or husband.”

Carmine shrugs. Eli is different.

“And I think that she has magic.” Siouxsie plucks a small cardinal flower. “But I haven’t experienced it directly. Either she’s not awakened or something is wrong with her magic. She smells really good and comfortable. The way she talks is unique. My brother loves her so much. Only fools won’t notice it.”

Petals of the cardinal flower are torn one by one. “Carmine, I think that you will lose.”

“I don’t think so.” Carmine fists her hands, staring at Siouxsie’s back. “Your father told me to challenge her today.”

“I know.” Siouxsie looks over her shoulder. “Would you feel accomplished if you win against a weak human who can’t even use her magic?”

Even if she’s a demon, Carmine has pride. But love can’t survive when there’s pride. She needs to sacrifice a few things. “If there’s a fly, it’s only natural that I should crush it.”

Siouxsie chuckles. Who is the fly here? Anyway, she can only support Carmine for now. Her father wants Carmine to challenge that human. What would Fourth Brother do? She’s going to wait and see.

“By the way,” Siouxsie points at the mansion and says, “Your place is withering away like dust.”

“What?” Carmine spins around and looks at the mansion. Her face turns pale when she sees the giant wall disintegrating into white dust slowly. The flowers in the garden wither instantly. The entire place is gone in a few seconds. She’s not the only one in shock. When the mansion is gone, other members of her family and her servants find themselves lying n.a.k.e.d and unconscious on the ground where the mansion once stood. “Just what”

“Is this a curse of a godly demonic beast?” Siouxsie taps her chin. “I have never seen anything like that.”

Carmine rushes to her mother and checks her vitals first. Her mother is fine. It seems like her mother is asleep. As for her siblings, they seem unharmed. Everything is gone as if it was never there.

And the magic Carmine sniffs the air. It has a strong aftertaste. Though she can tell that it’s not demonic magic, it’s hard to figure out which magic it is.

“This scent…,” Siouxsie mumbles. It smells like that human. If Carmine meets that human, she would recognize it for sure. But that human isn’t here. How could this happen then?

Anyway, nothing good is waiting for that human today.