A lone black-haired bird demon walks up the trail of a rocky hill on her way to visit a friend. Her name is Ophelia, and she is an Ars Goetia Exile, or more specifically, the descendant of one. She never knew what her ancestor did, but it caused them and their entire bloodline to be banished from Ars Goetia royalty, losing their title, powers, and immortality. Ophelia and her family were seen the same way as imps and hellhounds.

At the top of the trail was a cliff that gave a good view of the area, which she stood over, taking in the sight. She lived in Envy, and if there was a ring that lived up to its sin, this was it. While Ophelia had never left this ring, she had heard about the lawlessness and brutality of Wrath and the calming yet deadly jungles of Sloth. As for Lust, Greed, and Gluttony, the only difference seemed to be what they sold. Pride was the only place sinners could inhabit, with powerful ones called Overlords taking control of areas and shaping it into whatever they desired, which in some ways represent the sin.

But to Ophelia, Envy was unique. Below her, she saw the homeless encampment she had lived in all her life. Tents and shacks were filled with the poorest of the poor, often having to barter to get what they needed. They would even throw themselves at any job opportunity presented to them, regardless of how low the pay was. This was common here since representatives from various companies would come to see who they could exploit.

Beyond the encampment was a vast rocky plain, and beyond that was Plousios, the crown jewel of the ring. She could see the bright lights and tall, fancy buildings all the way from where she stood. It was also walled in to make sure any non-desirables couldn't get in, for this was the city of the rich, the city of demon nobles and aristocrats.

The poor of the encampment would look upon Plousios and feel jealous of the lives the people there lived, wishing they could experience it. But little did they know that the feeling of jealousy was mutual among its denizens, even if they would never say it out loud. To the rich, the poor outside of the city lived a simple life of community, free from the responsibilities of a noble or the loneliness of a rich demon. This created a cycle of envy between the two classes that wanted something that the other had, but would never get. That is what made Envy special.

To make matters worse, the terrain of the ring was nothing but dark, rocky terrain dotted with hills and the occasional mountain. There was only one body of water, which was inhabited by Leviathan, The Sea Serpent and one of the Seven Deadly Sins representing Envy. It's only fitting that he would be the one to have it and nobody else.

Ophelia stopped her appreciation for the ring when she felt something sneak up beside her. She was very familiar with this creature that would soon lunge at her from her right, for it had been around her since childhood. She took a step back, dodging its attack and making it fall face-first onto the ground.

"Aw, come on!" The creature said as it rolled onto her back. "You used to love it when I did that!"

Ophelia rolled her eyes. This creature was none other than her best friend, Tilla. She was an imp with long black hair that matched the ragged dress she wore, the same that Ophelia and most girls in the encampment wore.

"Yes, when we were children." She said, giggling as she helped her friend up on her feet.

"Oh, I see." Tilla said, "Now that you're going to be part of high society, you don't care about us imps anymore."

"If that were true, I wouldn't have come all the way up here to meet you."

"I know, I'm just fucking with you." The two sat down on the cliff's edge, looking at Plousios. "Can you believe it? Soon you're gonna be serving the king of the Ars Goetia himself in that place."

"Nothing's certain yet. First, my parents have to present me, then it's up to Paimon to decide whether he'll take me."

"He'd be an idiot not to. You've been training for this moment for a while. Hell, even in those shitty rags I always feel like I have to bow down and call you 'Your Highness' or something."

"You're just saying that."

"I'm serious. Today you and I are leaving this dump behind."

"Wait, you and I?"

"Yeah, about that, I've got something to tell you. I'm going to be traveling with Cash! He's gonna come and take me away!"

Hearing that made Ophelia cringe. Cash Buckzo was a ringleader in a traveling circus that came to their encampment a couple of years ago. He a Tilla hit it off to where they started writing to each other as soon as he left. Every time she received a letter from him, she would stop everything she was doing to read it and write back. While Ophelia was happy that her best friend was happy, she wasn't the biggest fan of Cash.

Tilla noticed her look, "Alright, let's hear it."

Ophelia sighed, "Are you sure about this? Cash, of all people? He's a prick."

"He might not look like it, but he's a nice guy."

"I don't know, it sounds like he's no better than those recruiters that come by trying to take advantage of the desperate here."

"I get what you mean, but at this point, I've made up my mind. I'm leaving this shithole for good."

"You'd really leave your life here just like that?"

"Without even looking back. Come on, don't act like you want to stay here forever."

"I… I don't know what I want. This place has been my home for as long as I can remember. I can't imagine living anywhere else. Not that I wouldn't like to live a more luxurious lifestyle, but… like I said, I don't know."

"Well, I know what I want, to get away from my mom. She still thinks my dad's gonna come back after all these years, no matter how many times I tell her he probably left her for some succubus or something." Just thinking about her mother made Tilla wince.

"I'm… I'm gonna miss you."

"Hey, it's not like we'll never see each other again! We're still gonna meet up when I get the chance!"

Ophelia smiled, "You promise?"

"Promise!" Tilla and Ophelia embraced in a hug. Just then, a car horn was heard nearby. Looking down from where they were sitting, on the dirt road leading into the camp, stood Cash himself waving at them in front of his car, the front door being open. "Oh, there he is! I gotta go. Good luck, I know you're gonna kill it!"

Tilla ran down the hill all the way to Cash and jumped into his arms. After their kiss, they got into the car and drove off.

Ophelia waved goodbye to them before sighing and headed back to camp, hoping she would keep her promise.

The moment Ophelia and her parents drove into Plousios she was blown away by what she saw. Everyone was dressed as if going to some fancy mask party and the architecture of the buildings just shouted "I'm rich!" to her. Of course, they weren't here for sightseeing, as her mother would soon remind her.

"Now remember dear!" Her mother said in the passenger's seat, "Let us do most of the talking and you try to look as elegant as possible!"

"Yes, Mother," Ophelia said in the back seat before looking down at her dress. Her parents saved a lot of money to buy this purple dress along with a (fake) diamond necklace. It was simple compared to what these demons were wearing, but it was serviceable for what they needed.

Her father drove up to a massive castle, the biggest structure Ophelia had ever seen, with flags dawning Paimon's mark hanging over its edges. As they exited the car, imp servants led them inside a hall almost as big as the castle itself. Ophelia was lost in awe at the statues dedicated to the Ars Goetia king up against the walls.

"Stay close to us, Ophelia." Her mother said, snapping her back to the task at hand. No one wanted this to succeed more than Ophelia's mother. Despite Ophelia stating that she didn't mind living with them, her mother insisted that living as a servant for the king was much better than living with a bunch of exiles, one of them (Ophelia's father) being a gambling addict. Ophelia was mainly going through this for the sake of her mother.

At the end of the hallway was a large door that opened for them, its creaks being heard by everyone. Past it was a room with a short stairway that led to a throne, and on this throne sat the King of the Ars Goetia himself.

"Oh, great Paimon!" Ophelia's father said as he bowed. "We are honored to be allowed in your grand halls!" Paimon didn't reply, he just stared at them for a short while, and during that time Ophelia swore she could feel a chill down the back of her spine.

"You have some nerve coming here." Paimon finally said as he rose from his throne. "Especially after what your family has done."

"We deeply apologize for what our ancestor did." Ophelia's mother said.

"And I'm sure you've brought more than just apologies."

Ophelia's parents rose up and presented her to the king. "We offer you our lovely daughter, Ophelia, as a humble servant!" The father said.

"A servant?" Paimon said as he walked down the steps.

"Yes! She's skilled in cleaning, cooking, laundry while being delicate with the royal garments, and is familiar with our ancient language! We have trained her to be incredibly useful to whatever it is you desire!"

Paimon finally reached the bottom of the stairs and approached Ophelia. Up close she could see how much taller he was compared to her and even her parents. At this point, she could feel her feathers stand up as the king looked over her as if he was making sure a product was in fine condition. "And what is it you wish to receive in exchange for her?"

"Nothing, my liege." Mother said, "All we ask is that you give her a better life here than in the camps."

"Is that so?" Paimon's face was close to Ophelia's still inspecting her. It took everything she had not to move her head as the king examined her. To think a poor exile like her would get this close to one of the kings of the Ars Goetia. Eventually, he pulled back. "Very well, I accept."

The parents gleamed with joy, "Oh thank you!" Mother said, "Thank you so much!"

"But she will not be my servant… she will be my bride."

All the exiles gasped in pure shock, even Ophelia lost her composure over what he said. "M-my liege," the startled mother said, "I don't know what to say."

"Does that mean we're-" The father said before being cut off by Paimon.

"No longer exiles? Yes, I suppose so."

The parents looked at each other before bowing down to him on their knees. "We cannot thank you enough, my liege!" Paimon didn't react, his eyes focused on Ophelia who was trying to understand what was happening.

He soon ordered one of his servants to escort her parents to one of the royal guest rooms, leading them out and leaving the king alone with Ophelia. "No doubt you have quite a few questions," Paimon said, which Ophelia responded to with a nod. "And I'm assuming one of them is why I suddenly chose you as my future wife?" Once again, a nod from her. It was the only thing she could do since she was shocked into silence.

"It's simple, I want a son, a future prince of the Ars Goetia. Now I will admit I was planning on looking among the royal Goetia to see who was available, but after what I've seen today, I figured you could serve my purpose just as well as they would. Besides, it's better than doing mindless chores isn't it?"

"Y-yes, my liege!" Ophelia said, her voice finally coming back to her.

"There's no need to call me that, we are getting married after all. Call me by my name."

"Forgive me, my- Paimon, but this is so sudden! Just today I was living at the encampment!"

"Well, you no longer live there. You will live in my castle in Pride where you will eventually raise our son."

"And my parents?"

"You all will have your royal powers restored along with your immortality." Paimon put a hand on her shoulder. "I know a lot has happened, but you will soon rejoice, for you are about to become a queen."

A queen… it finally sunk in. How odd that an exile living with imps and other commoners would eventually become a queen of the Ars Goetia.

A week later she was already being fitted by her servants with various wedding dresses in her room, trying to see which one was the best. Eventually, she went with a black frilly dress that came with gloves of the same color. Her servants soon left, leaving Ophelia alone in her and Paimon's room as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"You look ravishing, darling!" A familiar voice from behind her said. From the reflection in the mirror, she could tell who it was.

"Tilla!" She said with joy as she turned to face her friend. "How did you get in here!?"

"I snuck in through the balcony." She pointed to the opening to said balcony behind her. "I swear these guards are just for show.

Ophelia gave Tilla a hug, "I'm so happy you're here!"

"My best friend becoming queen of the Ars fucking Goetia? Of course, I'd come to see you! The moment I saw the headline in the newspaper I practically forced Cash to bring me here!"

"Cash is here?"

"He's in the car, but forget about him. You're a queen!'

"Not yet, I still have to marry Paimon and perform the ritualistic blood sacrifice on the full moon."

"Blood sacrifice? Who's the poor demon that's getting sacrificed?"

Ophelia laughed, "Oh no, it's nothing like that! I just have to cut myself, have my blood drip into the symbol of the Ars Goetia, and when it aligns with the moon, I become immortal."

Tilla was torn, on one hand, it was nice that imps like her wouldn't be sacrificed for immortality. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel disappointed since the idea of seeing a sacrifice sounded cool to her. "Well anyway, I'm proud of you. I told you you could do it!"

"And I appreciate that a lot, thank you."

"We're still gonna visit right?"

"Are you kidding? Even if I become a deadly sin, I'll still make time to visit you."

"Promise?"

"Promise," Ophelia said before embracing her in another hug.

And thus the new lives of these two would begin.