It has been a long journey. Mary, the highest religious priestess of the Azazel Empire, along with her army, is finally ready to enter the Octopus Empire. Before proceeding, Mary steps forward to address her soldiers with a brief speech.

"Hear me, brave soldiers! This is not a conquest but a sacred mission of religious conversion. Do your best to carry out the will of our faith!"

As her words echoed, the soldiers roared in agreement, chanting the name of their empire. Satisfied, Mary entered her grand carriage, her thoughts consumed with the mission ahead.

"This is it. Finally, we shall cleanse this unholy land and bring it into the light of the divine."

While Mary remained in her carriage, her army stormed through the Octopus Empire's defenses, swiftly defeating their soldiers. By the time they reached the royal castle, resistance had crumbled. Stepping out of the carriage with poise, Mary entered the castle and found the defeated king and queen awaiting their fate, helpless and fearful.

Drawing her sword, Mary approached them with a cold smile. Instead of striking them down, she made two precise slashes across their cheeks, leaving marks to remind them of their subjugation.

"Your empire is steeped in unholiness, but I am not here to shed blood unnecessarily. I come to guide your land to salvation. In exchange for sparing your lives, I demand signed agreements of loyalty... and a piece of your empire's most prized property."

With little choice, the king and queen hesitated briefly before agreeing to her terms. What they did not realize, however, was that they had just handed over their most precious treasure—their only son, the renowned and strikingly handsome prince.

"Fools," Mary thought with a wicked smirk. "They've offered up their prince, the very heart of their empire. I've heard tales of his beauty, and whether true or not, it will be exhilarating to break him. He will be mine."

As if summoned by her thoughts, a young man entered the hall. The prince. The moment he appeared, the air shifted. His presence was magnetic, his beauty beyond compare. Even Mary, who prided herself on her composure, could not help but fixate on him. Her smirk widened as she thought: "This will be far more enjoyable than I expected."