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𝔄 𝔪𝔞𝔦𝔡'𝔰 𝔡𝔲𝔱𝔶 𝔦𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔢𝔯𝔳𝔢. 𝔄𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔯𝔳𝔢 ℑ 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩, 𝔲𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢.

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Reincarnation isn't so terrible, all things considered. Especially when it happens in a world that feels so familiar, almost like your favorite novel come to life.

But then----then, you realize you were born into a criminal family. A family that rules the underworld with an iron fist, where theft, fraud, drugs, and murder are as normal as breathing. And that's when you realize... you're utterly fucked.

That was the heavy truth Roxanna Agriche had come to face, and there was no denying it.

Born into a mafia-like family, it might sound thrilling, like something straight out of a dark fantasy, but not for Roxanna. Hell no. She was the daughter of Lant Agriche---the man whose very name was a curse. Lant Agriche, the Duke of Cold North, where the blizzards were so merciless that even the toughest souls faltered in their fury. He was the ruler of the Black Agriche family, one of the five dominant clans in the world of the novel Flower of Hell.

But more than that, he was the one who summoned Serena Michaelis-a demon, a being from the deepest depths of hell. And that, in itself, was enough to send chills crawling down Roxanna's spine.

The novel had been frustratingly vague about Lant's backstory, leaving her with only fragmented details. His past remained a shadow, something hinted at but never fully revealed. Sure, he was the one who kidnapped the female lead's older brother, Cassis Pedelian. But it was his bond with Serena that lingered in Roxanna's mind.

Serena Michaelis---a pseudonym, given by Lant himself, that seemed both distant and eerily familiar. A demon with ties to the Agriche family that stretched back through the generations, a being so powerful that anyone who managed to summon and bind her would rise as the unchallenged ruler of the Agriche clan.

But, as time went on, the ability to summon Serena faded from memory. Decades turned into centuries, and the demon's seal seemed to vanish with it. The Agriche family, once a symbol of power, began to unravel. They grew weaker, more desperate, until their once-proud tradition turned into something far darker: elimination.

At the age of fifteen, every member of the Agriche family faced a brutal test---a test that would either break them or make them. They were forced to kill the hallucinated version of someone they held most dear. And if they failed...

Death was the only certainty.

It was a twisted tradition, a bloodstained ritual that left scars deeper than any blade ever could. And yet, there was no escaping it. Those who didn't partake were hunted, and those who did... Well, they were hunted by their own blood.

It was during one of the Grand Banquets that Lant Agriche shocked everyone, returning covered in blood, his body battered and bruised. The family thought he had been attacked by one of his many treacherous siblings, assassins hired to tear him down. But when Lant revealed the seal on his right eye---the pentagon-shaped mark that burned with the power of a demon---no one could deny what had happened.

It was the contract seal of Serena Michaelis.

The demon's mark, proof of an unholy pact between master and servant.

The symbol of a bond that could never be undone.

And that very day, Lant commanded Serena to eliminate all those in the banquet hall. It was swift, brutal---no mercy. In a matter of minutes, or perhaps seconds, the entire Agriche clan was annihilated. Only Lant remained standing, the blood of his family staining the floor beneath him. He was now the undisputed leader of the Black Agriche family.

Roxanna felt a shudder creep up her spine as the memory played out in her mind. Her father---ruthless, calculating---had wiped out his own bloodline as if they were nothing more than pests to be exterminated. It was a cold, heartless display of power.

The seal of Solomon... Roxanna's thoughts drifted to a book she once read in her previous life. The seal was eerily similar to the one that marked Serena, though with a distinct difference: the pentagram was inverted, surrounded by chains.

She had always been fascinated by the seal's meaning, but never had the chance to study it. After all, she'd been too busy with her life, and, well, she hadn't exactly survived to continue her studies. But now, in this twisted new life... perhaps it was time to delve deeper into the mysteries of the Agriche family.

Serena Michaelis had always been one of Roxanna's favorite characters. She was beautiful, powerful, enigmatic---everything Roxanna admired in a person. But beyond that, she was also Roxanna's key to survival.

There was no denying the danger of binding herself to a demon. Roxanna had no idea what conditions her father had agreed to when he made his pact with Serena, but one thing was certain: making a deal with a demon was never a path to safety.

And yet, here she was, contemplating it. She had no choice.

Sighing deeply, Roxanna leaned back against her bed, gazing at the palm of her hand. A seal, huh. She smirked bitterly and covered her eyes with her arm.

She would have to make a deal with Serena. For survival.

For survival...

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"ACHOO--!" Serena rubbed her nose with a napkin, her face controting in mild distaste.

Am I... getting sick? The thought flitted across her mind, but she swiftly dismissed it. Beings like her----demons, creatures of the infernal---were beyonf the reach of such mundane afflictions.

"Are you okay, Miss Serena?" Finny's voice cut through her thought, his concern genuine as he watched her carefully. Serena nodded, a smile crossing her lips dispite the discomfort.

"Yes, my nose waas just itching."

"Hmm, maybe somebody was talking about you," Finny said, his voice bright with a touch of mischief, causing Serna to raise an eyebrow in curiousity.

"Why so?" she asked, intrigued.

With a dramatic display, Finny set down the large table with ease, a grin spreading across his face as he faced her. "In my hometown, whenever someone sneezes out of nowhere, it means there's someone talking behind your back---or thinking about you!" he explained with a cheerful wink, continuing to arrange the garden chairs and tables as Serena guided him.

Serena hummed thoughtfully, her eyes drifting upward to the clear sky above. A soft breeze whispered through her raven hair, and for a fleeting moment, she let her thoughts wander. "Maybe someone is..." she exhaled softly, placing the red mantel carefully atop the table.

"...and I wonder who it is," she murmured.

"SERENAAAAA!!!!"

The call was loud and gleeful, a voice brimming with energy that made Serena's lips twitch in amusement. Mey-rin appeared at the end of the garden path, eyes sparkling with delight upon spotting Serena's figure. Plates stacked high in her hands, she hastened---no, practically ran---towards them.

"Ah, Mey-rin! Please watch your step!" Serena called out with mild concern for the plates that was on her hands. "Be careful!"

"Yes, yes, of course I'll be care---" Mey-rin's words faltered as something snagged at her feet and before she could finish, gravity took its hold.

Her heart skipped a beat.

With a slow, almost agonizing inevitability, Mey-rin found herself fallinf, the expensive porcelain plates she held rising into the air as though mocking her impending doom.

I'm finished. She braced herself for impact, her eyes closing in resignation.

But then---whoosh---a gust of wind rushed past her, ruffling her hair, and Mey-rin's world tilted. Just as her face neared the ground, she felt an unexpected warmth encircle her waist, halting her descent.

W-what...?

Her wide eyes snapped open in confusion, and she saw the stone just inches beneath her, mocking her misfortune. Yet, what truly startled her was the presence that had stopped her fall. She glanced down at her waist and felt her pulse spike.

A smooth, almost chilling breath brushed her ear, sending a shock of warmth through her entire being. The voice that followed was one she knew all too well, its smooth, commanding tone making her heart stutter.

"Tsk, I just told you to be careful yet here you are, already falling. Furtunately, I was just on time to catch you."

Serena effortlessly balanced the precariously stacked plates in her hand, her other arm still wrapped protectively around Mey-rin's waist. The demoness's grip was firm, secure, yet oddly tender.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Mey-rin's heart raced uncontrollably, her thoughts spiraling even after Serena had released her and she was standing on her own again.

Ahhh... I've really fallen for you, haven't I, Serena?

Before she could collect herself, a clap echoed across the garden, drawing all attention. Three sets of eyes turned toward the sound, two of them tensing instinctively at the sight of the person who had spoken.

"What a splendid move you did there, Serena!!"

There, standing under the shade of her purple parasol, was a woman dressed in a light purple gown with puffed sleeves, her short brown hair styled elegantly. Her violet eyes sparkled with a peculiar gleam, and her heart-shaped face---sweet, innocent, doll-like---could hardly conceal the malice that simmered just beneath the surface.

Serena and the others bowed in respect. "A pleasant day, Lady Maria," Serena spoke for them all, offering a polite smile as the woman approached, followed by a procession of nervous maids, their eyes flickering with suppressed dread.

But Serena remained unaffected.

Before them stood Maria Agriche---the third wife of Lant Agriche. To others, she might seem harmless, even childlike in her eccentric obsession with beauty. But Serena knew better. The mask of innocence barely veiled the twisted soul beneath. Maria's sadistic nature rivaled that of her husband, Lant. Her lack of regard for human life, her intolerance for imperfection, was well-known---though she did hold a soft spot for those she deemed beautiful.

A perfect match, as some might say.

"Serena! My dear, I'm so glad to see you!" Maria chirped, her voice sugary sweet as she caught sight of the garden setting. Her eyes widened in exaggerated delight. "Is this for the banquet? I can't believe this was just plain terrain a moment ago! Who would have thought this place could look so... spectacularly aesthetic!!"

Serena smiled politely, turning to the two workers still behind her. They flinched as Maria's gaze landed on them, their anxiety palpable.

"As much as I'm delighted to hear that the lady loves the decorations," Serena began, her voice smooth and unbothered, "the credit belongs to them." She gestured to the two workers, who gave awkward smiles in return.

Maria hummed, her smile widening as she nodded approvingly. "Is that so? Well then, great job you two! Keep up the good work!"

"Thank you, my lady!" they said in unison, their voices shaky.

Maria smiled, her expression still too sweet to be trusted. "Now off you go, the party is about to begin, and those decorations won't move themselves! Serena, please stay. I wish to have a lovely chat with my favorite maid!"

With that, Finny and Mey-rin took their cue to leave, bowing deeply and fleeing as quickly as they could.

Serena sighed softly, shaking her head as she watched the pair scurry away. Maria, on the other hand, chuckled lightly, her eyes now fixed on Serena with a gleam of something darker.

"Now, let us go and have some tea," Maria said, her tone teasing, as though she already knew what Serena's answer would be.

"Yes, my lady," Serena replied.

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"To the capital, you say, Master?"

Serena's voice, light and teasing, broke the quiet hum of the study. Lant Agriche barely spared her a glance. His crimson eyes remained fixed on the paper in his hand, the other swirling the wine in his glass with deliberate disinterest.

"Yes," he said at last, his tone cold and clipped. "The emperor has sent me a letter regarding the disappearances of young women. Most are commoners, but recently, the vanishing of high-ranking ladies has begun to stir unrest among the nobles."

He sighed, setting the pen down with a muted clink and leaning back in his chair. The sharp lines of his face darkened as his gaze drifted into the flickering shadows of the room. "Another case stacked on the others," he muttered, his voice tinged with a rare note of irritation. Then, his gaze snapped back to Serena.

The maid chuckled, utterly unfazed by his penetrating glare. "It's as expected, Master. You are the Duke of the North, after all. With great power comes an even greater burden. Still," she tilted her head, a playful smirk curling her lips, "this case hardly seems as daunting as those you solved in your youth."

Lant's expression hardened, the faintest twitch of annoyance crossing his features. "Tsk," he hissed, dismissively waving the thought away. "This is precisely why I'm sending you to the capital. Investigate these disappearances. Research the victims. Report back to me when you're done."

He flicked his wrist, gesturing for her to leave, already returning his attention to the documents on his desk. Serena, however, wasn't so easily dismissed.

"My, how heartless of you, Master," she drawled, stepping closer. Her shadow spilled over his desk as she leaned forward, her smirk deepening. "Not even a proper farewell? You do wound me so."

Lant glanced up, his crimson eyes locking onto hers with cool indifference. "I doubt you have any use for such frivolities," he replied flatly.

"Ah, so cold-hearted," Serena teased, straightening up with a dramatic sigh. "Very well. As you wish, Master."

"Just shut up and go," he snapped, though there was no real venom in his words.

With a graceful pivot, Serena turned toward the grand, open window at the far end of the room. The night air swirled in, carrying with it the faint scent of frost and iron. She placed one foot on the windowsill, pausing to glance back over her shoulder. Her golden eyes gleamed in the dim light, a mischievous smile softening her otherwise sharp features.

"Then, please excuse me. I'll be off now," she said, bowing lightly.

And with that, she leapt into the night, disappearing into the darkness below. The curtains fluttered in her wake, and Lant released a low sigh, his hand tightening around the stem of his glass.

"That woman," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "Always so insufferable."

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Fixing the ends of her skirt, Serena let out a quiet sigh, her crimson gaze sweeping over the dilapidated, grime-coated building standing before her. The structure appeared as though time had long since forgotten it---walls blackened by dirt, windows clouded with dust, and creeping ivy snaking through the cracks like veins in a corpse.

"This place hasn't changed a bit since the last time I came here," she murmured, her tone laced with disdain as she approached the door. A thick layer of cobwebs blanketed its surface, as if daring her to touch it. Without waiting for an answer, she knocked once, then pushed the door open. It groaned loudly on its hinges, the sound echoing in the eerie silence.

She stepped inside, the air immediately thick with the scent of decay and dust. Her heels clicked against the uneven floorboards, the sound slicing through the oppressive quiet. The dim interior was an organized chaos of shadows and disrepair---every corner tangled with cobwebs, every surface cloaked in filth.

Serena's eye twitched involuntarily, her well-kept nature bristling at the thought of the mess. The urge to incinerate the entire building tickled at the edges of her mind.

"Are you here, Undertaker?" she called out, her voice carrying an edge of irritation.

"...Hi Hi Hi Hi..."

Fortunately, he's here. That unsettling laughter was unmistakable.

"I knew... that you would come..." a voice rasped, followed by the slow, ominous creak of movement.

Serena's sharp eyes darted to a standing coffin at her side, and she waited, patient but unimpressed. The silence stretched until a figure emerged, his silver hair cascading like molten moonlight, obscuring most of his face save for a wide, manic grin.

"Wel~come, Demon..." he crooned, his voice dripping with mockery. "Do you want to experience how it feels to sleep in my custom-made coffin...?"

Serena deadpanned, staring at him with the unflinching composure of someone well-accustomed to