Fall 1636

"I noticed you've been studying more about magic recently." The king spoke to her daughter.

"Juvia has, it keeps her mind off certain things," Juvia spoke.

"Well, I'm glad you're keeping yourself busy."

"However, I must ask, dear." The King cleared his throat. "Are you ever going to be ready for marriage again?"

Juvia shook her head. "Juvia doesn't think so. I promised Gray that he is the only man I will ever love."

The King smiled at her daughter. "If that's the case then, I shall prepare you to be Queen."

Jose growled in frustration as he overheard the conversation between father and daughter.

"What are you looking at?!" He snarled at the raven who was subtly observing him.

"Stupid bird!!" Jose grumbled and stomped his way out of the room.

The raven tilted his head before flying to follow Jose.

------

Juvia softly hummed a tune as she read through the spell books that Xavier lent her. One of them includes various forms of dark magic.

"My, my. I don't think a lady such as yourself should be reading any of that."

Juvia looked up and saw her uncle.

"Juvia can handle it." The princess responded.

"Of course you do." Jose chuckled and took a seat in front of her. "By the way where's that raven of yours?".

"I set Glen free for a while."

"Aren't you afraid he won't return?"

Juvia shook her head. "There's no need, he always comes back."

Jose sighed and stood up from his seat. "Just be careful, don't dive too deep." He said before leaving the princess.

------

Weeks went by and the king hosted a party celebrating the royal couple's wedding anniversary. Juvia hated parties especially the people invited. All these years she kept her mouth shut, and did what she had to do for the image of the kingdom and the royal family, she has a certain distaste for other nobilities. Lies and deception filled their mouths and with their obsession with power, they would do anything to hold it for themselves.

A raven followed a green cat around the castle, their chase coming to a halt when the animals caught a sinister scene. In between the cracks of the open door stood Jose holding a bloody dagger and two corpses laid dead on the ground.

Jose cackled as he exited the room, his gaze falling upon the two animals.

"Shhh." He placed his index finger in between his lips and laughed before walking away.

Both animals rushed towards the banquet hall where the party was being held, trying to find the princess or the wizard.

The raven's gaze fell upon the wizard first and quickly swung in and called on his attention.

"Is he yours?" One of the guests asked.

"No, The Princess owns him." The wizard said. "I wonder what got him so agitated."

"Maybe he's looking for the princess but he can't find her."

"Maybe." The wizard hummed as the raven landed on his arm. "Please, excuse me for a moment." The wizard excused himself and found an isolated room at the castle.

He locked the room and started questioning the demon.

"What's the matter?" The wizard asked.

"It's Jose," Gray spoke. "I saw him kill the King and Queen."

"You're kidding." The wizard scoffed.

"Unfortunately, I'm not." Gray shook his head. "I have to find Juvia, where is she?"

"I saw her beside the bowl of chocolates earlier." The wizard replied.

"Let's go." Gray turned back into a raven and sat on the wizard's shoulder.

Xavier walked back into the banquet hall when all of a sudden a loud scream echoed through the halls.

"What was that??" The crowd panicked at what could be the source of the scream.

A sobbing servant ran through the halls and into the crowd.

"It's their majesties!!! They've been murdered."

The crowd gasped in horror. The wizard rushed to Juvia the moment he found the sight of her.

"Are you alright?" He consoled the princess.

"Is it true?" Her voice is soft and shaky.

"Who could've possibly done this!!" Jose shouted.

"It's raining heavily outside, the criminal must still be among us." One of the guests said, approaching Jose. "My name is Ulrich, I'm a detective of the 7th precinct."

"Oh, I see." Jose's voice is pretty shaken.

"Everyone must stay here while we investigate," Ulrich said.

"Prince Jose, who among your men can you trust with this investigation?" Ulrich asked.

"The castle guards are more than capable to assist you, detective," Jose said.

"Of course." Jose nodded. "I'll have the royal wizard accompany the princess."

"Right. It would be best if she wouldn't see any of this." Ulrich nodded. "I might need to ask the royal wizard a few questions just in case there's something supernatural at play here."

Everything seem to happen so fast, Juvia wasn't able to process anything. Her raven stayed by her side and Xavier and Rouge as Ulrich and the guards started their investigation.

"It can't be." Juvia sobbed.

"That's what he told me," Xavier said. "I'm sorry your highness."

"How?" Juvia's voice trembled. "How could he do something like this?"

The raven lowered his head in sympathy, knowing he was utterly powerless about the situation.

A few minutes later, Ulrich walked back in with Jose by his side.

"The guards are investigating the guest rooms for possible clues and I'll be checking everyone's alibis," Ulrich spoke.

------

Earlier that night

"Hey, where are you off to, Demon." A voice spoke.

The raven shifted his gaze to his side only to see a man dressed in pure black clothing and a black feathered hat.

"What are you?"

"The name is Rufus Lore. I'm a Grim Reaper." The man chuckled.

"You must be here for-"

"The King and Queen, yes." Rufus nodded.

"My question for you is why are you in a rush? What got you so worked up about?" Rufus asked.

"You're a Grim Reaper, I think you would know," Gray replied.

"I do and listen, I assume that human means a lot to you, but whatever happens to her from this point on is sealed in her fate," Rufus explained. "You can try to change it but it won't work, it will never work."

------

Back to the Present

Jose chuckled as his plan went exactly as he hoped it would. It's simply too easy.

"Well, that's everyone." Ulrich sighed.

"Great." Jose snickered. "Now, all we have to do is wait for the guards to find that dagger."

Just as Jose planned it didn't take long for the guards to find a bloody dagger hidden in one of Juvia's desk drawers but unbeknownst to Jose they also found something far more sinister.

"Sire, we found the murder weapon." One of the guards spoke.

"Where did you find it?" Ulrich asked.

"It's in one of the Princess' drawers." The guard spoke.

Gasps filled the air and all eyes were now on Juvia.

"I don't think her majesty would kill her own parents." Xavier is quick to defend her.

"We also found this." The guards held onto a necklace in which the pendant was a red eye.

Juvia's eyes widen in a panic the moment she saw the necklace.

"Fascinating." Ulrich gently grabbed the necklace.

"It's a Demon's eye." Jose gasped. He didn't expect this outcome but it definitely turned in his favor.

"This is the first time I saw such a thing," Ulrich said, tracing his fingers at the red gem. "This artifact can only be obtained by means of contacting a demon. Am I right, Wizard?"

Xavier stood still and looked at Juvia who gave him a guilty expression, he turned back to Ulrich and nodded.

"She must have used her parents as a demonic sacrifice," Ulrich said.

"I can't believe this." Jose acted out. "Juvia, how could you!! Isn't it enough that your father is willing to make you Queen, what is the reason for this? What did they do to deserve this??"

Juvia lowered her head, the scene spiraled out of control, and she had no idea how to save it. She held onto her raven tighter and closer. She can hear the guards footsteps coming closer and roughly yanking her arms for them to cuff her.

"Get rid of that pesky bird as well." Jose snarled.

"Leave," Juvia whispered. "Please, I don't want you to get hurt."

The raven stubbornly stayed but after one of the guards tried to capture him he flew away as fast as he could.

"Bring her to the dungeon," Jose commanded.

------

Gray paced back and forth at the roof of the castle, the rain had ceased but the dark clouds were still present in the night sky.

He's frustrated that he wasn't able to help her. He can't break the rules even if he wants to and he desperately wants to.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He sobbed.

------

Jose snickered, holding the necklace in his hand. Who would've thought that Juvia owned such a thing?

Demons Eye. It's a very popular artifact. Everyone knows about it. Everyone wants to have it and now Jose holds it for himself. The necklace gives the owner protection against Supernatural forces and grants them immortality.

"You knew you had it you to summon a demon." Jose chuckled, looking toward the princess locked up in prison.

"Juvia didn't summon a demon."

"Then, explain this." Jose showed her the necklace in his hand.

"Gray gave it to me as a gift."

Jose laughed. "Now, I find that more believable."

"Why? Why would you do this?" Juvia asked.

"I had no choice," Jose replied. "It wouldn't have come to this if that prince didn't die."

"What are you talking about?"

"You see, with your marriage to Prince Gray, you get to be his Queen and I'll be next in line and my brother is already thinking of early retirement and I'll be king. That simple. We're all happy." Jose explained. "But that didn't happen."

"So you decided to take everyone out of the picture so you get to have what you want."

"Smart girl." Jose snickered.

"Also, thanks for the gift." Jose laughed as he dangled the necklace between his fingers.

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*inserts random emoji*

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