Chapter 8
The Devil rested in his chambers, exhaustion weighing heavy on his form. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he allowed himself to just be. No battles, no torment, no games. Just silence.
And Dice.
Dice, who never left his side. Dice, who moved through the room with ease, tending to every unspoken need. He brought books, a steaming cup of tea, even prepared a bath. His touch was careful, deliberate—massaging away the tension that had built up over time.
The Devil didn’t ask for any of it. He didn’t have to.
But despite the care, the warmth, the love Dice poured into every action, the weight on The Devil’s chest remained. And when it became too much to bear, he finally broke.
His claws curled into fists, his head hung low as he whispered, "I don't deserve you… I really don't deserve you."
It was barely above a breath, but Dice heard it.
The room stilled. Then, Dice moved. In an instant, he pulled The Devil into his arms, holding him close—tightly, as if daring him to try and pull away.
"If you say ‘I don't deserve you’ one more time, I will smack you!" Dice’s voice was sharp, edged with something raw. "I love you! No matter what you are—the king of the underworld, or someone who cares about the ocean so much that he turned into a fish-like creature just to look at the underwater world. No matter what, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, AND THAT WILL NEVER, EVER CHANGE! GOT IT?!"
The Devil's eyes widened. He blinked—once, twice—before something inside of him cracked. A sound escaped him, something between a laugh and a sob. He trembled, pressing his forehead against Dice’s shoulder as emotion threatened to consume him.
Dice held him tighter.
The Devil let go.
For the first time in a long, long time, he allowed himself to feel—to be vulnerable in front of the only person who truly, truly saw him. He laughed. He cried. And when the storm inside him finally settled, he whispered a quiet, “Thank you.”
Outside the chamber, the souls remained in silence, unaware of what had just unfolded.
And Cinder?
She waited.
She plotted.
She believed she could do what Johnny failed to do.