In the holy shrine of the Inukami, Princess Yuina and her guardian Aki were praying to the goddess Selene together, the area filled with a gentle hymn dedicated to her.

The walls depicted a beautiful maiden with lovely black tails and glossy hair. She walked amongst the sick and homeless while giving them hope. The paintings showed how the people held her in high regard, not only as their patron deity but also as members of the same race.

As the moonlight shined through the stained windows, casting a beautiful light on both Yuina and Aki, the prayer was nearing completion.

"Princess Yuina, it is almost time for the delegation from the capital to arrive. They will likely request us to all attend the ball once they know everything. Do you plan to let your sister attend?" Aki''s voice was lowered to a whisper, with a softer tone than usual, as she gazed at Princess Yuina, who wore a thin white silk prayer garb in the warm pool of prayer.

"My dear sister, she is truly amazing and surpassed my imagination. Yet, I cannot feel that something may go amiss if she were to attend." She said with her eyes closed before looking up toward the statue of Selene.

"So, I ask that you help guide my heart to the right path so she may live a peaceful life without suffering, Goddess Serena," she prayed one last time before leaving the pool, water dripping down her body. Her soft, wet footsteps echoed behind her as she gracefully exited the chamber, heading off towards her private office.

She knew exactly why this ball was taking place, but somehow, the appearance of her brother-in-law gave her confidence. He told her that she didn''t have to get married and the Inukami tribe wouldn''t be affected.

Those words alone brought relief and ease to her burdened heart. She no longer had to worry about marrying a prince from another tribe by force. Yet the thought of her sister''s husband to be, made her heart and body tingle... A strange feeling that she hadn''t felt for a male before.

''This is worrying, what are these symptoms...?''

On her desk were countless papers and documents to stamp, check and sign, but there were also many medical books related to tingling pains and an aching chest. Every time her hand touched her chest, the tingling sensation became even more apparent.

''Does the Goddess Selene see fit to punish me so? It seems I must work harder than usual today to repent,'' Princess Yuina mused as she quietly sulked to herself over the lack of understanding of what was happening to her.

"Over the past week... brother-in-law has helped our village so much..."

She began to think of the first day he came back with the peach flowers from the sacred cave. Although they worshipped the monster, it was only to avoid its destruction.

''Yet Asmodeus and those ladies saved us from that monster...'' After that, as if on a mission, he and the other women he brought would alternate in groups and explore the forest.

''His face was so nonchalant when he offered such rare and wondrous elixirs and herbs for nothing in return. The amount he brought back in a week could keep our village healthy and strong for at least ten years.'' Yet despite everything they offered him. Asmodeus only asked for delicious food and wine, nothing else.

''It can''t be that I, a holy shrine maiden, have fallen in love with someone who is to marry my sister? Then I must forget these feelings, though they might be a seedling, then I shall become a cruel mistress and cull this seed. Our engagement is only temporary; I mustn''t fall in love.''

Aki stood at the door and watched the princess, able to understand her current dilemma.

The man named Asmodeus at first made her irritated and doubtful because his company was only for women. However, over the past week, she observed and spied on him and learned that he could keep them all satisfied and happy... He wasn''t a bastard like she thought.

Yet, she also noticed the princess''s changes and feelings. But it wasn''t just her. She felt this same change.

At first, it was a feeling of irritation when he wasn''t around or she couldn''t find him. Then his jokes and stupid flirting made her chest beat faster, and finally, she started to get wet when she spied on his acts of coitus with his harem of women.

''I can not allow this—I cannot fall victim to these temptations of flesh! My duty and fate is to protect the holy shrine maiden!''

The two women faced a sense of dilemma, unaware of what the future might hold, a cruel fate, maybe a bitter but happy one. They couldn''t know anything they would face in the next year.

***

"Hmm... okay, that''s right, I let the blood rush to my head. First, we enter the village and see what these foxes are plotting!"

***

Meanwhile, during the time it took for them to travel through the forest, Asmodeus came to find Yuina. He looked at Aki, who glared at him with her sharp eyes, her lips lowered into a frown.

"Can you give us both some privacy, Aki?" Yuina was the first to ask, causing Aki''s face to show surprise before reluctantly bowing toward her princess and walking away.

"Hey, don''t be too mad at me," Asmodeus spoke up, grabbed her hand and pinched her cheek. "Don''t look so upset. I won''t eat your princess."

However, unlike the usual punch, because of her earlier thoughts, Aki''s cheeks turned red before she rushed outside and slammed the door. "I''m right outside. Don''t try anything strange!" Her voice echoed through the door.

"So..." Yuina started to say after Aki left, her hand trembling slightly. Asmodeus simply smiled gently at her and sat down on the couch.

"Come here." He beckoned, tapping the soft seat beside him with a warm smile.

"What do you want, Asmodeus?"

"Well, why don''t you sit down before we talk," Asmodeus said as he patted the sofa with his hand.

Princess Yuina slowly got up, walked over to him and sat down. He felt she was cuter than Yumiko, with a unique style and atmosphere. If Yumiko were the Sun, she would be the moon.

"So, what''s on your mind?" Asmodeus asked, placing his arms around the back of the sofa behind Princess Yuina.

"What do you mean?"

"Don''t hide it. I know you have been avoiding me for the past few days." His face came close, causing Yuina''s face to turn red and almost appear to be puffing smoke as she felt herself getting hot.

"N-Nonsense..."

"I''ve also heard about this problem you''re having. You see, your sister has told me all about your feelings..." He paused for effect while looking deeply into Princess Yuina''s azure eyes that seemed to hold an endless cosmos of stars within them.

''He knows?! How? Why would my sister tell him...''

"Your chest tingles when that person is close, you find yourself lonely when they are not around, and unconsciously search for them in, and it gets hotter, especially when they get close to you. Does it feel painful?" He whispered, knowing precisely what the symptoms were.

However, his eyes became much colder, turning darker, looking like those of a true devil or demon.

"Y-You..."

"Yes?"

"Don''t think I will fall into your hands..." Princess Yuina began to panic. ''It must be because my brother-in-law isn''t normal... this beating heart is not because I love him... right it must be! He is just a fine male, and any woman would be like this.''

"Oh? Do you think you can stop me?" Asmodeus curled his lips into a smirk as his hands touched the shoulders of the small golden fox. "Then watch me take you into my hands."