The Demon Queen's Contract

"Are you going to the dining room in your pajamas?" Lily asked, her purple eyes twinkling with amusemt.

I glanced down, horrified to realize I was indeed still in my pajamas. The soft, blue fabric seemed wildly out of place in the luxurious castle. My cheeks flushed with embarrassmt.

"Oh no," I muttered. "I need to change."

Lily giggled and pointed down the hall. "Your room is that way. You better hurry before the maids see you."

With a nod of gratitude, I darted down the corridor, trying to ignore the opulce suring me. The castle\'s grandeur was overwhelming, with its high ceilings, intricate tapestries, and gleaming marble floors.

I ed a corner and nearly collided with a maid carrying a stack of fresh lins. She looked up, startled, her eyes widing at the sight of me.

"LAdy Elara!" she exclaimed. "Where have you be? And in your nightclothes, no less!"

"I, um, got a bit lost," I stammered. "Could you help me get ready quickly? I don\'t want to be late for breakfast."

The maid recovered from her surprise and nodded briskly. "Of course, miss. Follow me."

She led me into my room. As I stepped inside, she bustled about, drawing a bath and laying out fresh clothes. Her efficicy was impressive, and within minutes, I was soaking in warm, scted water, the tsion of the morning starting to melt away.

The maid, whose name I learned was Marissa, chatted as she helped me bathe and dress. "You had quite the advture this morning, didn\'t you? Running about in your pajamas! I can\'t imagine what the other staff would have thought."

I laughed nervously. "Yes, it was quite the start to the day. Thank you for helping me."

Once I was clean and dressed in a simple yet elegant dress of deep blue, Marissa brushed my hair and helped me put on a pair of comfortable shoes. As I stepped outside, feeling much more prestable, Lily was waiting for me, her face lighting up with a bright smile.

"Finally! You look pretty," she said, grabbing my hand. "Can we hold hands all the way to the dining room?"

"Of course," I replied, squeezing her small hand gtly.

Together, we walked through the castle\'s grand halls. Lily chattered away about her favorite spots in the castle and the fun games she liked to play. Her ergy was infectious, and I found myself relaxing despite the daunting day ahead.

Wh we reached the dining room, my sses were immediately overwhelmed by the array of food laid out. The table was lad with delicacies: fresh fruits, gold pastries, a variety of cheeses, and steaming platters of eggs, bacon, and sausages. Jugs of fresh juice and pots of fragrant tea completed the lavish spread.

As we approached the table, the demon que, Seraphina, was already seated at the head. She glanced up, her eyes cold as they met mine before shifting to her sister.

"Go back to Mom\'s castle," she commanded in a harsh voice, her tone brooking no argumt.

Lily, however, seemed unfazed by her sister\'s sternness. "I\'m staying here," she declared stubbornly, her small hand tighting a mine.

Ignoring the tsion, I found a seat and sat down, my heart pounding. To my surprise, Lily climbed onto my lap, making herself comfortable. The situation was incredibly awkward, especially under Seraphina\'s macing glare.

"Lily, get off her," Seraphina snapped, her eyes flashing with anger.

"No," Lily said firmly, snuggling closer to me. "I want to stay with Elara."

Seraphina\'s eyes bore into me, her anger palpable. "You\'re couraging this behavior."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her gaze. "I didn\'t—"

"Enough," Seraphina cut me off. "Lily, get down now."

Lily shook her head, her expression defiant. "No, I like sitting here."

The demon que\'s jaw tighted, and for a momt, I feared she might forcefully remove Lily. But th, she sighed, rubbing her temples as if warding off a headache.

"Fine. Stay there if you must," she said through gritted teeth. "But don\'t cause any trouble."

Breakfast continued, albeit with a palpable tsion in the air. I did my best to focus on the food, which was delicious despite the circumstances. Freshly baked croissants, juicy berries, and savory omelets filled my plate, but it was hard to joy with Seraphina\'s icy presce looming over us.

Lily, oblivious to the strained atmosphere, chatted happily, her small hands occasionally reaching out to grab a piece of fruit or a pastry. Her cheerful demeanor was a stark contrast to the demon que\'s cold silce.

Finally, as breakfast drew to a close, Lily turned to me with a hopeful look. "Can we play more after breakfast, Elara?"

Before I could respond, Seraphina stood up, her eyes harding as she looked at her sister. "Lily, you\'re coming with me. I\'m teleporting you back to Mom\'s castle."

Lily\'s face fell, but she didn\'t argue. Instead, she looked at me with a determined glint in her eyes. Just as Seraphina reached for her, Lily moved swiftly, teleporting herself into my arms. I barely had time to react before the familiar ssation of teleportation veloped us, and the world a us shifted once again.

We landed in a differt place, the surings unfamiliar. I held Lily close, my heart racing from the unexpected journey.

"Lily, where are we?" I asked, my voice shaky.

Lily grinned up at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "A secret place. We\'ll be safe here."

As I looked a, trying to get my bearings, I couldn\'t help but feel a mix of awe and apprehsion. Wherever we were, it was clear that my journey with Lily was far from over.