THE DEMON KING'S EMPRESS
Deathly Forest

"Huh.huh..."

Sirzechs awoke from his sleep. Sweat on his forehead. He breathed heavily. He remembered his screaming dream as if he wanted to stop the fierce fight.

"It turns out to be just a dream." while massaging his temple

He got out of his bed and walked to open the golden curtain with both hands. From behind the glass window, he could see the bright sun shining behind the clouds and the sound of birds singing perched on the big lush tree next to his room. He saw a pair of canaries mingling with love while occasionally chirping. The chirping is very melodious adding to the warm atmosphere in the morning. Suddenly a silhouette of shadow appeared from behind the back of Sirzechs. The shadow was a black-robed man with a red sun-shining complexion on his back. Sirzechs, who knew of his arrival, only fell silent without saying a word. It was as if he was waiting for a word to come out from someone else. He knelt down and saluted his master.

"Your Majesty, are you awake?"

"How's the investigation?"

"Answering His Majesty. That girl..he..."

"He why?"

"Hmm. He is similar to Her Majesty the Queen."

"Didn't you see wrong?"

"No, Your Grace. The servant did not look wrong. She really looks like the Queen."

"Did you remember the Queen's face we were looking for?!"

"Yes! Servant remembered. According to the information I received, the girl will take the exam in the Deathly Forest one week ahead."

"Death forest?!"

"Yes Your Majesty. Not only that, the Demon King intervened secretly sending a secret bodyguard to protect him."

Hearing the name called, the blood within Sirzechs churned. His heart is beating fast. His heart was heating up, both of his eyebrows were frowning, his right hand was clenching firmly, as if some hatred had grown entrenched over the years. Slowly he loosened his fist.

"Wait for my next order. You can go now!"

"Thank you Your Majesty."

With a flash of lightning, the bodyguard disappeared like a flash of light. Feeling that his room had become quiet due to the departure of the mysterious bodyguard, Sirzechs turned his gaze to the bright blue sky.

"Demon King?! Tsk, did you hear it was the Queen? The man you love at once who hurt you changed his name and title just for your sake. It's ridiculous! Ahaha!"

Hearing their King laughing loudly from inside his room, all the bodyguards who were guarding around the palace area or outside of the palace, could hear the frightening laughing sound of their King. The laughter was not because of joy or sadness. More than deep hatred.

"You heard that, Your Majesty laughed so loudly. Is she okay?!" bodyguard 1

"Hustttt..keep your mouth! If you find out about this to His Majesty, you can imagine what will happen to you?!" bodyguard 2

"I didn't...!" bodyguard 1

"Enough! We better shut up." 2nd bodyguard

...***...

Morning At Zwart School

All the students gathered in front of the notice board. They are crammed into each other to see the latest news today.

"Why are there so many Chrysanthemums?!"

"There may be an important announcement. Let's go down there, Lili!"

"okay."

The two also pushed each other to be able to enter the crowd of students who were still crowded in front of the notice board. Chrysanthemums that managed to sneak into the ranks of students directly read the paper that was stuck on the notice board. He quickly read the contents of the announcement to the line of names of the students who took the exam. How shocked he saw the name of Lili with her sequence number printed thick on the row of the name of the lowest and last disciple.

"Ohhhh!" chrysanthemum shouted in pain as he was pushed by one of the disciples who was still crammed until he was thrown out of line.

"Slices!" lili shouted as she tried to push herself out of the crowd of disciples who were still crowded. Quickly, he lifted the chrysanthemum that fell on the floor.

"Yes. I'm fine."

"How's Chrysanthemum? What did you see there?"

"announcement. Announcement of the Gifted Witch Selection Examination in our school that will be held one week ahead."

"Huh? The Gifted Witch Selection Test?"

"Yes. Every year we hold the test to find students here who have talent and test their magic skills. It's just..."

"What only?"

"Only this test was performed in the Forest of Death."

"Death Forest?! What kind of place is that?!"

"For ordinary people it was just an ordinary wilderness like in general. But in this country, the forest was very mysterious and different from other forests. That said, the forest was once guarded by a very cruel, cold-blooded Queen. He didn't hesitate to kill anyone who passed through the forest."

"REally?!"

"Eitherway. I just heard it from the story of my late parents."

"Slices, you said... your late parents?!"

"Yes. They died protecting me."

"Did there ever be a war?"

"That's..."

A moment of her past memories when she was still a child flashed through her mind. A memory where he cried when he saw his parents die at the hands of a woman. The woman's face was faintly visible in her memory. However, there was something he could still see and remember clearly back then. That is the heart-shaped red diamond ring on the woman's ring finger. Soon her memories of her past are gone when she hears Lili's voice shouting at her name while shaking her body.

"You daydreaming?!"

"No. Just remembering the memories of the past. Oh yes Lili, next week you and I will also take part in this exam."

"What?!"

Teacher Room

"Brakkk!!!!"

"What do you mean, Mr. Leaf?!" ask Edward

All the teachers present in the teacher's room fell silent to see Mr. Edward being enraged.

"Please calm yourself, Mr. Edward." Master Rey

"How can I calm down Master Rey?! Mr. Leaf made arrangements like this without discussing with all of us."

"It's decided! I hope you all obey!"

"Mr Leaf, can't you do this?!"

"Why?! Is it because I put a new student on the list of examinees' names?!"

"Yes! It's not just a matter of you putting Lili on the exam list. But place?! Can't we change the exam place? Plus, Lili is the girl that His Majesty the King brought to study at our school. Not only that, he's only been here for three months. Will this not make His Majesty the King suspicious of us?!"

"He will not suspect! After all, he is the best talented student alumni of this school. It's only natural that he knows his school procedures."

"But... Mister...."

"Enough! Meeting's done. Prepare yourself to face it. Disperse all!"