Straighten Your Shoulders, O Great Queen.
The Seven Deadly Sins that formed the backbone of the Demon Realm.
The grand banquet celebrating the inauguration of the new Sin was held more splendidly than ever before. The venue was the Bloodwater Ancient Castle that the Demon King had once used.
This enormous castle, which could not be fully toured in a day, was used entirely for the demon race's banquet.
“This is the Bloodwater Ancient Castle.”
Artel opened the carriage door. Although the demons could use their unique teleportation ‘Transfer’, she chose to use the carriage.
It was an overwhelmingly large and luxurious carriage. It was to show how majestic the Sin's gathering was through it.
Of course, Christine didn't like it, but anyway, the moment Christine stepped out, overwhelming gazes converged on her.
“The Sin of Pride has arrived.”
The demons lined up at the entrance of the castle shouted in unison. As Christine walked down the path created by those standing in rows, she walked the path of the sins.
Countless gazes poured from all sides, but despite that, she walked straight ahead.
Upon entering the interior, the atmosphere was already lively. Except for Christine, the others seemed to have gathered.
After all, she had arrived deliberately about thirty minutes late. Christine was not lazy; it was for a few political reasons.
“May the curse always accompany you.”
The customary greeting of the Demon Realm. Christine nodded and walked deeper inside.
The ancient castle that the Demon King had briefly used as a residence. Inside, it was more splendid than anything in the Demon Realm. The purple lights that the demons liked, and the skulls decorated everywhere.
The other Sins were already gathered, conversing among themselves.
Normally, one would have passed by, but now this was the place where Christine should mingle.
The Sin of Lust, the Sin of Wrath, and so on — these were the long-standing figures who had held the Sin's position since Jekiel was the Sin of Pride.
Seeing that even the Sin of Sloth had attended, it seemed like an important gathering. Then, by chance, her eyes met with one person.
The Sin of Envy. The Lamia race born from a snake. The White Snake of the Demon Realm. Vivian.
She extended the corners of her eyes and flicked her snake-like tongue, then abruptly turned her head without greeting Christine.
Christine also did not greet her. She knew best that she was not welcome.
“In the end~ Christine came alone.”
“Of course she came alone. Why would Jekiel come?”
“Good luck. The seat is empty, so the Sin's position is free for the taking.”
The woman who had taken the Sin of Pride's position by good fortune. That was Christine's current standing.
Just as she was about to ignore and pass by.
“Oh my, oh my! I have the honor of meeting the Sin of Pride!”
Someone attached himself to Christine's side with a fuss.
Small eyes, plump. He must have dressed up for the banquet, but the formal attire seemed ready to burst at any moment, unable to contain the flesh.
Christine knew who he was. One of the subordinates under Regita, a dragon race.
“Penrag.”
Yes, Penrag.
He was in charge of accounting under Regita's command, and recently, he had been eyeing Christine's assets as well.
“Yes, Your Highness the Sin of Pride. Penrag. Is the venue of today's banquet to your liking?”
“I have just arrived.”
“Ahaha. Is that so. How are you getting along with your fiancé lately? I heard you removed the ring entirely recently...”
He could say both "how are you getting along" and "you removed the ring" at the same time. In fact, this was blatantly ignoring Christine. She knew that too.
“If you ask if it has been resolved, it has been resolved.”
“Ah~ Is that so? But looking at it... you didn't even wear the ring at today's banquet. I'm worried that the tactless ones might suspect the Sin's position.”
He was fussing a lot.
He kept turning the words around. Did he know that made it more irritating? He was doing it on purpose.
To put it plainly, the Christine who no longer took Jekiel as her fiancé, what connections and abilities did she have to take the Sin's position?
But it wasn't entirely wrong.
With Christine who had handed over her heart, what great power could she have? Even the previous Sin who had to hand over the position had fled to the human realm without leaving any records.
Christine was not incompetent; she had been forced into incompetence.
“Haha~ But who am I. Penrag, who is loyal to the Sin of Pride. The Sin of Pride has brought the best move to suppress those foolish ones in one go.”
The queen still didn't look at Penrag's face.
If she looked, it would be too angry. That face full of grease was overflowing with greed.
“What is that? There is a very prominent one among the dragon races recently. Alex, a young and handsome one who received recognition for swordsmanship under Regita this time. His talent is outstanding.”
By then, Christine had turned her head to look at Penrag's face.
She was starting to guess what he was going to say, and if she heard it to the end, she wouldn't be able to hold back her anger.
So, she hoped he would stop talking.
“It is certain that you will rise to a high position. However...”
Penrag smiled viciously.
“If the Sin of Pride wishes, I will arrange a good position for you. If it goes well, the relationship between vampires and dragon races will deepen, how wonderful. No one will doubt the Sin of Pride, that high throne.”
It was that kind of talk after all. Christine's expression wavered.
She had lived through Jekiel's screen once, so live through the screen again. But this time, live through the dragon race's screen.
Vampires are enough with the dragon race's screen. This guy is saying such things.
Christine bit her lip.
This Sin's position, she really wanted to quit right now. She wanted to quit, but...
Because I have to live.
It wasn't that she had to live, but the vampire clan including Christine's close subordinates had to survive.
If Christine gave up the throne, everyone would die. So she couldn't quit.
“I will take it with the ones that don't cut. Do it once.”
“Why? It's a very good condition. I know that the Sin of Pride's current body condition is not very good. How wonderful that just getting along with others can maintain the throne.”
“Not needed.”
After saying that, Christine turned her head and started looking for the Sin of Greed, Regita.
Rather, find Regita and talk to her... If she's talking to her superior, this rude guy would leave.
“Ha... Christine-nim, I didn't mean to say such things.”
She was ignoring him. Thoroughly ignoring him.
She kept searching for Regita.
“Being the wife of a noble dragon race is much easier than serving Jekiel at night, isn't it?”
Clang—!
Her hand was faster than expected. She had been about to pour the drink on his face, but her hand unconsciously threw the glass.
Instantly, heat surged through her whole body. The anger she could not calm.
“I have never served Jekiel at night. Not even once.”
The surroundings began to buzz loudly.
But no one intervened. They couldn't. Christine's close subordinates had received orders not to intervene in any matter today.
“Sigh.”
Without wiping the glass fragments and liquid stuck to his body, he continued speaking.
“In the end, you are making enemies with the dragon race. We have no choice now. Even if I offer a good suggestion, with this attitude...”
Christine covered half her face with one hand. If she didn't calm her anger, she might kill the opponent right there.
“If you are in crisis, I will definitely be by your side.”
Why suddenly.
Why did that promise pop up at this moment...
It was the sweetest promise among the many promises shared. And the one that was most not kept.
He would not come to the banquet today. He would watch Christine being mocked or imagine it and give a vicious smile.
Meanwhile, Penrag continued talking. Vampires were being ignored so much in the Demon Realm right now.
“Soon, Regita-nim's reputation will rise. The Sin of Pride's throne will also belong to Regita-nim. The great Regita-nim is different from anyone. Unlike those who only lived a servant-like life, you are the one who has done everything directly.”
Christine finally reached out her hand.
She could no longer endure it. She could no longer take it anymore.
The buzzing around was too loud. If she didn't prove her dignity here, it would be a big problem.
“Then I will go now~ Do as you please... U, ugh?!”
Penrag's body floated, then suddenly shot like an arrow towards the ceiling.
Boom—!
With a loud noise, his greedy head crashed into the ceiling. It was like hanging clothes on a hanger.
His head crashed, and he finally became quiet. His body swayed weakly.
Dangling. Like a bell.
But Christine's face turned pale. This was not something Christine had done.
“I have the honor of meeting the Sin of Pride.”
No matter how polite the words, the voice was full of arrogance. Also, a cool tone.
“Although I am a lowly body without any position,”
Christine slowly turned her head. Towards the back.
“May I offer my congratulations on your ascension to the Sin's throne?”
It was that man. She had just realized that the reason for the buzzing was him.
“As your fiancé.”
Jekiel de Navarus.
He was the first to keep his promise. The promise to be by Christine's side in a crisis moment.
“If you are in crisis, I will definitely be by your side.”
In the man's red eyes, her own wide-eyed appearance was there.
On the man's left ring finger, was the engagement ring she had discarded.