The Damned Demon
chapter-672

The luxurious bar exuded an air of understated elegance, its dark ambience punctuated by soft, ambient lighting that cast warm glows on the polished surfaces.

Velvet curtains draped the windows, muffling the sounds of the outside world and creating an intimate sanctuary within. In a secluded corner, away from prying eyes, sat a gorgeous woman with bobbed blue hair and striking blue eyes. Her gown, a sleeveless fabric of bright blue, clung to her like a lover's embrace, accentuating every curve and contour of her voluptuous form.

She had booked the entire place for the night, desiring solitude as her liquid confidant.

As she waited for her drink, her mind was a whirlwind, a tempest stirred by her husband's words. They echoed through her thoughts, each syllable a hammer blow, leaving her heart heavy and torn. Her fingers drummed an anxious rhythm on the cool marble of the bar, her eyes fixed on the amber liquid being poured into her glass, as if the answers she sought could be found in its depths.

Suddenly, the quiet was shattered by a voice, a deep baritone that cut through the silence like a knife, "Cecilia?"

She started, her thoughts reeling. Clearing her throat, she turned, her eyes focusing as they landed on the figure striding towards her. Ash, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his half-sleeved red shirt, his large biceps threatening to tear the seams. His rectangular spectacles made him look more mature than his age while adding a subtle charm.

His black pants clung to his powerful legs, his every step exuding confidence and strength that just seemed to encompass him despite being a cripple or manaless practically.

The dark ambiance of the bar seemed to amplify his subtle, radiant golden eyes, stirring a whirlwind of complicated feelings within her.

"Ash... I am so sorry. I shouldn't have called you. I don't know what I was thinking to make you come to a place like this at this time. We could have talked tomorrow in a proper setting," Cecilia said, her voice tinged with guilt as she offered an apologetic smile.

Ash chuckled softly, a comforting sound that eased some of her tension. He sat beside her gracefully, "Don't. I am the one who told you to let me know once you returned so we could discuss what to do next. But you look like you could use a drink."

Cecilia nodded, managing a weak smile, "I already ordered one. You should have one too." She glanced toward the bartender, "Please give this gentleman what he wants."

Ash leaned forward slightly, and gave a quick glance at the bartender, "I will have a Lady In The Blue. Thanks." He turned back to Cecilia, his eyes searching hers, "So... may I know what happened? I'm just a bit surprised to see you here... drinking this late. Did this have anything to do with the visit there?"

Cecilia's expression grew heavy, the burden of her secrets pressing down on her, "I... It does, but I can't tell you."

Ash furrowed his brows, sensing the gravity of her words, "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. I am just worried because you don't look okay. And what should we do about the Russians?"

Cecilia let out a soft, almost defeated sigh as she took a sip from her drink before placing it down gently, "I thought I could manage everything… but my husband… he…"

Her voice trailed off, and Asher could see her struggling. Whatever she was hiding, it had to be important. He definitely should pry that out of her mind one way or the other.

However, he said nothing, simply letting her gather her thoughts, but the silence between them was heavy, charged with unspoken tension.

She finally met his gaze, her blue eyes shimmering with grimness, "I'm afraid that we might not be able to convince the Russians. There might be bloodshed, and I don't think we can avoid it." Cecilia knew she couldn't reveal the details, but only give him a brief idea like this...a very brief one.

Asher's face remained calm since he already knew what decision she had made and so did he make one as well.

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as he said, "Cecilia, you've always done what you think is right. Everyone knows it and calls you as the Harbinger of Justice. That's why I trust you. If you feel like there's no peaceful way out of this… maybe it's time we find a different way."

Cecilia's breath hitched, her fingers trembling around the glass as she took another sip, "Ash… I don't want to betray him by accident… I can't…He is my husband, whom I have been married to and have loved for over the larger part of my life. He isn't doing everything for himself but for our world. Maybe this war can't be won without sacrifices. I must have been naive to think otherwise."

"What's wrong with how things are right now? Sure, our world isn't perfect, but we're making progress slowly. Is there a reason we must rush things at the cost of millions of lives?" Asher asked with furrowed brows, his voice low and serious.

Cecilia let out a heavy sigh, her cheeks now tinged with a deeper red from the alcohol, "We can't afford to wait any longer. My husband said the demons are planning something big, and if he's that worried, it must be very serious. He said if we hold back, humanity might suffer and never recover."

"I see," Asher replied, leaning back in his seat, "Then we should believe him. I'm just surprised… I never expected he would have the courage to take such tough decisions. No wonder he's the president," he said with a shake of his head before taking another sip of his drink.

Cecilia took another gulp from her glass, her movements looser now, and a small laugh escaped her, "I'm surprised too… It's as if the man I married wasn't the one I talked to today. The Derek I knew… he was sweet and kind. But now… I can't remember the last time he was like that. Of course, he's still a loving husband, but he seems so cold, so distant. It's like I'm looking at a stranger."

She glanced at Asher, who was silently listening, his golden eyes focused on her. Embarrassed by her own words, she chuckled awkwardly, "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm babbling all this to you. You can just ignore me."

Asher's lips curved into a soft smile, "No, it's fine. You don't have to hold everything in. I can be a good listener if you need to vent. I'm just a bit worried about your drinking. You've already emptied two glasses. The special drinks in a place like this here can make S Rankers very drunk, I guess."

Cecilia blinked, surprised, as she looked at the empty glasses in front of her, a third one already filled and waiting, "Oh my... I didn't even realize," she said with an awkward smile.

"Maybe you shouldn't keep drinking? You still need to get back home safely," Asher said, his tone laced with concern.

Cecilia's eyes softened, and she smiled at him warmly, "How sweet of you. You remind me of…" Cecilia's expression became complicated as Cedric's face flashed in her mind, making her fingers tremble and curl up briefly.

Asher clenched his jaw briefly, thinking how audacious this woman was to even mention his past self after what she did.

Cecilia quickly composed herself and smiled, "But you don't have to worry. My daughter will pick me up soon. Do I really look that vulnerable to you?" She chuckled softly before adding, "I suppose after spending so many years as a boring professor, people must have forgotten what I was like in my younger days. Or the things I did as an S Ranker."

Asher's interest piqued, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward slightly, "Since you mentioned your younger days… I'm curious. How different were you?"

Cecilia chuckled, waving her hand dismissively, "Ah, forget I mentioned that. It's embarrassing."

"No, come on," Asher urged with a playful grin, "I'm just really curious to know what one of the WHA professors I look up to was like in her younger days."

Cecilia hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before she laughed, "Well... I wasn't always this composed. Back in my prime, I was quite the reckless one. I used to lead my own squad and was known for charging straight into the most dangerous missions without a second thought. Let's just say… I had a bit of a rebellious streak. I was even famous for it."

Asher raised a brow, chuckling, "Rebellious? Now that I can't imagine."

"Oh, trust me," Cecilia said with a gleam in her eye, leaning slightly closer, "There was a time when even Derek had to keep me in check. But it was those days that made me who I am now… for better or worse," Her expression grew slightly wistful as she added, "I was just that desperate to prove myself to my own family. They always acted as if I was invisible just because my father was of an inferior bloodline. They never forgave my mother for having an affair in a marriage she was forced into and having me, a child out of wedlock."

Asher's eyes softened, a sympathetic look crossing his face as he spoke in a low, understanding tone, "I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like you've been through a lot. People from the outside look at Elite Families and see nothing but luxury and power, but I've always suspected it's much harder than it looks."

Cecilia nodded, her expression heavy, her cheeks flushed from both the alcohol and her emotions, "Yes, you're right. It wasn't easy... But still, Derek—he was a famous genius in the academy, and yet, he chose me. I can still remember how angry my family was because they all wanted their daughters to marry him. He could have chosen anyone. But when we married, they had no choice but to accept me. I owe everything I have now to Derek. Without him... I might have lived a meaningless, worthless life, amounting to nothing. It's why I have to stand by him, no matter what... no matter how different he becomes. That's the least I can do for him."

Asher's eyes flickered for a brief moment, catching the sincerity in her voice, the depth of her loyalty. In that moment, he understood why she was so unwavering in her support of Derek—it wasn't just love, but a deep-seated gratitude and obligation.

But inwardly, Asher felt a cold satisfaction creeping in. 'How perfect', he thought. A loyalty based on debt, not love. His motivation only strengthened.

Breaking her loyalty, he realized, would not just be satisfying but also a sharp blow to Derek.