The Devil Lord's Bride

A ten-year-old girl, her long black tresses covered by a white scarf, carried a bamboo basket hooked onto her forearm. Her attire comprised a pristine, elbow-length blouse paired with a knee-length skirt, while her white socks neatly reached her knees. With azure eyes, she glanced up at the blossoms adorning a massive tree.

"Lilith!" Her father's voice reached her ears, prompting her to pivot.

"Yes, Father," she responded, hastening towards him.

"Darling, I must proceed to the palace for an audience with the King. Shall we make our way back?" Her father, Oliver, gently grasped his daughter's little finger as they started heading home.

"Father, do you know the name of that flower?" Lilith's head tilted once more as she observed the peculiar blossom. Its black petals were adorned with a glistening golden hue. Amidst the entire tree, this solitary flower stood out, piquing the young girl's curiosity.

Oliver followed his daughter's gaze to the flower she mentioned. His eyes widened upon seeing it and he swiftly averted his gaze, shifting his attention back to his daughter.

Perplexed, Lilith reached for her father's hand and gently urged it downward. In the blink of an eye, Oliver swept his daughter into his arms, striding in the opposite direction. "Don't gaze at that flower, Lilith. It harbors malevolence," he whispered to his daughter, who was briefly gripped by fear. Yet, her unyielding curiosity led her to lift her head slightly, stealing another glance at the enigmatic black blossom.

After putting some distance between them and the ominous flower, Oliver carefully set Lilith back on her feet. Within her young mind, a flurry of questions swirled.

However, before she could voice them, a group of soldiers approached them. With a solemn expression, Lilith studied their faces, then turned her gaze towards her father.

"We've been dispatched by the King to escort you," one of them conveyed. Oliver acknowledged their message with a thoughtful nod, mentioning that he intended to accompany Lilith home before heading to the palace.

"His Majesty tends to grow impatient when kept waiting by the Physician," another soldier added.

Lilith interjected gently, addressing her father, "Father, I can make my way home from here. We're already on the main route to town." As Oliver met his daughter's gaze, he found solace in those tranquil blue eyes as that ocean sight managed to quell his restless heart.

Oliver knelt down, tenderly running his fingers through Lilith's hair. "Head straight home, my dear. After I'm back, we'll enjoy a roasted chicken for lunch," he assured Lilith, who responded with a nod of understanding.

Drawing his daughter close, Oliver embraced her warmly, pressing a gentle kiss onto the crown of her head. "I'll be back before you know it," he promised, his smile conveying reassurance. Lilith's own smile blossomed, and with a wave to her father, she set off along the path he had pointed out.

After a while, Lilith came to a stop and cast a glance backward. Her father had departed, accompanied by the soldiers. Lilith's gaze then drifted towards the ascending path, and once again, her curiosity was stirred, beckoning her to inspect the mysterious flower.

"No flower could truly be evil," she whispered to herself, her determination prevailing as she retraced her steps toward the forest situated uphill.

Upon reaching the summit of the hill, Lilith found herself gasping for breath. The ground spread out before her, a vast expanse encircled by numerous trees. Clutching the bamboo basket firmly, she continued her journey, venturing forth across the open expanse.

Lilith had possessed an insatiable curiosity from a young age. Her father's vocation as a medical doctor only served to amplify her fascination with plants. Whenever she encountered a new botanical specimen, her inquisitiveness led her to meticulously examine it, often transporting it back home for further study.