The warriors stormed into Reuvanne like a deadly hurricane, sweeping away the demon defenders, flooding the streets, burning houses and killing all those who had not had time to hide in the huge cellars of the royal palace. The demons fought desperately, but they could not resist the battle-hardened warriors of Kaldwind, and their light, beautiful armor offered little protection from the swords and axes of their enemies.

The city was drowning in blood and wailing, and Lamar, hidden in his chambers, could hear the demons who were loyal to him dying for him.

– Soon they will be here! – He whispered and leaned back heavily in the soft red chair. – My people are dying… And I'm sitting here like a cowardly dog, waiting for that son of a bitch Derek Merkswerd to cut off my head! And not just me, but Varma… And my Sylvia, my Scarlet Flower… What am I doing? Fool!" He jumped to his feet, ran out of the chambers and, without answering his wife and daughter's questions, rushed down the steps to the gates of the huge court square.

"It's not too late to save at least the remnants… At least these streets, these mothers and their children… I need to get to Derek!" – thought the doomed king feverishly.

But he didn't have to look for an enemy: Derek and his army were already standing in front of the gates, trying to knock them down with a huge wooden, iron-clad battering ram.

– Open the gate! – Lamar shouted to the soldiers gathered in the square, ready to give their lives for their king.

– But, Great One! They will kill you! – exclaimed the chief of the guard.

– Open the gates! That's an order! – The king bared his teeth, and this time no one dared to disobey him.

– My love! No!" cried Varma, who had followed her husband out of the palace.

– Father!" Sylvia, who had also run out of the palace, exclaimed in surprise.

– You were right, my daughter, but I was blind! – Lamar shouted to her. – I will ask Derek for peace! If only he would accept my plea!

At that moment the great carved gates swung open and people rushed into the square.

– We ask for peace! Peace! – King Lamar shouted to them.

– Go to the Devil, you monster! – Bergil mockingly shouted back at him: he was one of the first to arrive in the square, and with his sword he was slaughtering demon defenders left and right.

– All halt! King's orders! – King Kaldwind's own loud, menacing voice suddenly sounded, causing his soldiers and Bergil to lower their weapons in displeasure, and immediately the demons and the Rossi dynasty were confronted by their greatest enemy, Derek Merkswerd, who had almost destroyed their great kingdom.

"So this is what he is like, this mortal!" – Lamar thought with a frown, but slowly made his way towards his enemy.

– Lamar! Don't you dare humiliate yourself in front of him! – Varma shouted angrily.

– Mom!" Sylvia grabbed her mother's arm. – Father knows what he's doing!

– Varma, be quiet!" Lamar said harshly to his wife, causing her face to crinkle in distaste and Derek's warriors to laugh out loud.

– So now you want peace? – Derek asked the demon in charge coldly.

He was shrouded in heavy armor, which, however, did not hinder his movements and allowed him to take the lives of hundreds of enemies. The King of Kaldwind was covered in demon blood, but the armor of every human warrior was covered with it, and this gruesome sight made young Sylvia's eyes fill with tears, for she was unharmed while thousands of her subjects were slaughtered.

– Yes, of peace," Lamar replied quietly, dressed in red silk robes.

The two kings now stood face to face and slid inquisitive glances over each other's faces.

– What makes you think I want peace? – Derek said mockingly to Lamar. – I stand here, in front of your palace. Your kingdom has fallen, Lamar, and you wished it yourself when you declared war on me and ordered your messenger to kill me.

– I know… – Lamar couldn't find the right words, but trampling his pride, he continued: – You have triumphed, King Derek! I, Lamar Rossi, and my family beg… Beg you to accept peace and....

– I don't need peace with demons! – Derek grinned contemptuously.

– I realize that, but I'm appealing to your goodness," Lamar said softly. – And I am ready on my knees to beg you to let the remnants of my people and my family live....

– Cry out to my nobility," Derek repeated quietly, and then he laughed loudly. – I may be honorable, but I have no pity for demons! But you said you were ready to beg on your knees. Then kneel, proud Lamar!

The enemy warriors laughed, but it did not embarrass the demon king. He humbly knelt before the enemy.

– I beg you, Derek Merkswerd. Take whatever you want, just give us peace. Spare us," the demon king said quietly.

– Not just you, but all of you, Rossi," Derek threw him coldly.

– Let's go, mom! – Sylvia whispered to her mother, but Varma grinned scornfully.

– 'Nobody's going to make me kneel! Especially not some pathetic little man! – She squinted her eyes and shouted at Derek.

– Mom! He's gonna kill us all! – Sylvia exclaimed in despair.

– He wouldn't dare! – replied the queen.

– Varma! – shouted angrily at his wife Lamar: this stubborn woman could ruin everything! – Come here quickly! I order you not as a husband, but as a king!

Demoness clenched her fists, but dared not disobey the king's word.

– Let's go! – again whispered to her daughter, and, taking hands, the demonesses, dressed in lightweight luxurious dresses and with jewelry woven into their hair, came to the king of men and knelt before him.

– I may kneel before you, wretched man, but I swear you will pay for it! – Varma whispered hatefully, making Derek smile mockingly.

– Well, I'm satisfied. So be it, I will spare your lives, for I am so honorable," Derek said to the demons with contempt in his voice, and his men laughed again. He touched the tip of his sword blade to Sylvia Rossi's chin, making her raise her head and look at him. – And this must be your precious daughter, called Scarlet Flower," he added. – Truth be told, I don't see why she is given such honors: any girl in my kingdom is far more beautiful than your red-eyed daughter, Lamar. Do you agree with me, young maiden? – He asked Sylvia.

She dared not cross him. Her life, the lives of her parents and the entire nation hung in the balance. So she swallowed the insult silently and replied quietly:

– You are right, King. I am not worthy of the little finger of any girl of your great kingdom.

These words made Derek chuckle.

– I'm glad you agree with me," he said coldly and pulled his sword away from her throat. – Do you want peace, Lamar? Well, I'll give it to you! But you will pay a dear price for it.

– I'll give you anything you ask," the demon king told him quietly. – Just tell me what. Any jewelry, any land… Anything you want.

– Fine. – Derek grinned crookedly. – Then I'll take your main jewel from you. – He touched the sword to Sylvia's neck again. – Her.

– No, ask anything you want, but not my daughter! – Lamar exclaimed in horror.

– You don't seem to want peace as much as you claim," Derek grinned coldly.

The cold sword blade, covered with demon blood, was still touching the white neck of Princess Sylvia Rossi, but she was calm and only slightly frowned her beautiful forehead: why did this man want her? What does he desire of her?

The girl was lost in speculation, but carefully glanced at the face of the conqueror: he was handsome, nothing to say, but in his features felt the coldness that penetrated her to the bone. As far as Sylvia could tell, seeing this man, fully clad in heavy light armor, splattered with the scarlet blood of the enemies he had brutally killed, Derek Merkswerd had a tall, masculine figure, an aristocratic face, dark, slightly wavy hair down to his shoulders, and a small, well-groomed dark beard that distinguished humans from demons, who had not a hint of vegetation on their faces. But what struck the young princess were the man's eyes: gray, they glittered with steel and hatred. Hatred for her and her people. And she knew that he had a right to that hatred, and yet she despised him and hated him as much as he hated her.