Chapter 2 - The Plan of Redemption

Charlie's POV:

Years later after I graduated, I still resided within the palace but after I gotten the idea of redemption stuck in my mind, I had to do something about it. I made plans for the time I had and for once I could be able to make a name for myself. If I couldn't use strength, then I could use persuasion through the skills I've learned.

When I told Maggie of the idea, she was definitely hesitant at first but eventually through persistence, she was convinced of it and strived to aid me as a manager.

My grand plan for redemption was to build and open a large hotel to help rehabilitate sinners. A sort of second chance for them to redeem themselves and be sent to a better place known as heaven.

Over the amount of time that has passed an influx of souls has risen making the population of hell rise. As much as death is common, it's not enough to lower the population to a livable degree. So to maintain population control, exterminations were held as areas were getting new leaders over them.

It was what was described as a bloodbath as my people were dying left and right. Even if there was a huge population there had to be another solution apart from a murder...

Then came a perfect opportunity to build a plan of redemption for sinners. Instead of death...they could be sent away to heaven. I couldn't stop the inevitable fate of death from happening but I could at least make a big enough difference for people to notice my efforts.

I saved up money from my daily allowance and with it, I began construction on the hotel. It was fairly nearby the palace so I wouldn't be far from it but it wouldn't be long until my parents got involved.

"What do you think you're doing? You already have a horrible reputation, this is only going to bring it down even more. You're going to be a laughing stock for us." I bit my lip trying to ignore him. What could he do to stop me? He couldn't take my money and even if he did he would be taking away his own money.

I walked over to the main entrance of the palace to depart to see the progress of the hotel but as I took steps towards the door, he followed close behind me. "Don't ignore me Charlie. If you don't listen to me, I'll have that building demolished instantly." I finally stopped in my tracks and sighed yelling to him,"And waste your money? I'm doing you guys a huge favor. This could be a way to avoid bloodshed and extermination! Redemption may seem impossible for our people but-" Surprisingly, instead of getting infuriated, I heard hearty chuckles and laughter come from him.

This went on for a good minute before he wiped away a fake tear. "Haha Charlie...you're not serious are you? A demon going through redemption and going to heaven haha...is impossible. If it is, I wouldn't allow it. Even if we have over population, I wouldn't let heaven have such an opportunity to gain more strength." He laughed at my attempts and to add insult to injury, he tried to trample all over the possibility of redemption for a demon. He wouldn't allow it?

It wouldn't matter if Heaven gained more strength anyways, their domain is far more powerful for obvious reasons. Even if we sent souls there after they redeemed themselves, it wouldn't help much to the fact that they were already more robust.

There's no war between the two. Both places are needed but even if there are those who committed vicious actions, they can still have an additional opportunity to try again. I believe that maybe there is some good in everyone and it's their choice to be redeemed.

"Heaven is powerful enough to destroy the earth and hell dad...we couldn't defeat them even if we wanted to. It doesn't make a difference. Just...give me a chance please. Give me some time and if I could get at least one demon to check into the hotel and go through redemption then you have to let me keep it. If I fail then...I promise to sin. I'll pass the test you gave me all those years ago and get greater in strength." Saying such things with a great deal of risk forced me to gulp going back on my words. Giving back the humanity I had to give others a second chance...? I wasn't sure if I was being selfless or delusional but either way, I couldn't go back.

His head tilted ever so slightly to the side as his smile broadened at the thought of such a bargain. He had doubt she would pass it but...he used some magic to have his cane disappear leaving only his hands. He held out his hand to me and stated sounding like an open contract. "Alright then. I'll give your hopeless dream a chance. Here are my terms and conditions, if you go against them then you will have to immediately sin. You have 6 months to find a demon and redeem them until able to enter heaven. You have to find a portal to enter into heaven. But...you cannot force them into heaven and they have to have a high sin count. If they do not wish to leave in the time I have set, then you have failed by forcing them through. If you fail...well then my part of the deal will be quite interesting."

I glanced down at his extended hand and grabbed it accepting the deal with courage behind my grip. Despite the time gap and everything that could go wrong, I would take this risk for my people. The only worry in my mind...was being able to find a high sin count demon and convincing them to the path of redemption but...it's not impossible.

"I accept! I won't lose! Now can I go?" He let go of my hand and nodded his head agreeing to my question. With that, I headed out the front entrance of the palace in anticipation as my dream was being built.

In Hell, things were built relatively efficiently due to magic and other means so by the time I got there, the entirety of the building was constructed.

I couldn't help myself from smiling as I gazed up to see the red neon sign that said " Happy Hotel" shined brightly over the building. Even though it was just built, it was like my own dream beaming down on me. It gave me hope for a better future with Hell. For my own people to have a chance to be happy again just like in their past lives...

Although...my hope to maintain this hotel in perfect shape is going to be a bit difficult with all the casual chaos. I'm not sure if I could protect it but I'll surely try.

I ran up to the main entrance of the building and eagerly opened up the doors with anticipation to see what the inside looked like. As I imagined, it was quite bare as I only paid for the outside furnishes and for the building to be assembled. I had only a slight amount left to furnish the main hall of the hotel.

It wasn't anything extraordinary but soon enough I could raise more money as today I was also planning to go on air. More viewers would be interested to see what the princess has to say after all these years of silence...hopefully.

In school, I was one of the most known in the school due to my status. I wasn't quiet much with a bright happy aura around me and a loud personality to follow. I had passion in my step and a smile that never left my face...those were the days I missed.

Then I was mainly happy, but after people took note of my behavior, they got disgusted of it. They hated how happy I was so they put me down because of it.

They beat me down over and over in an endless cycle. I would come to cuts and bruises and once my parents saw, they dismissed it to the young being the young.

It continued for a great while and I wanted to give up on the idea of smiling again but someone didn't allow me to.

"Smile dear! The more you smile on, the less you give to those who wish to take from you. A smile is what suits you best!"

Their voice was similar to a radio, crackling every so often but monotone and soothing to hear. After being belittled so much without any assistance, his little message telling me to smile made something in me flutter.

At the time, my head was down as my body was on cold ground so I didn't see who the voice belonged to. They extended a hand for me to take presumably to get off from the ground, so I took it.

I wanted to look up to see them but once I did, they disappeared. I didn't have a chance to thank them for their gesture of kindness.

They were the first person out of all this hell to offer me a piece of heaven. It was a small slice but to me it was a whole cake of prosperity.

After that, I smiled again.

I became just a little bit better hearing his voice in my head repeating the advice he told me.

Things began to look up for me.

I practiced my voice to become a better singer so that I could one day convince people through it. Vaggie came to my rescue one day after class when I was getting home creating an amazing bond. I met Seviathan von Eldritch or Sev one of the most pompous and arrogant demons to exist but with his persistence to start a relationship, I accepted. He always thought of himself first while I couldn't mutter a single word but in the end, it taught me how a relationship would work out for me.

My voice was most important to me and if I was suffocated then everything else would drown out.

After the disagreement I had with my father though, I felt back stabbed and hurt to the point I couldn't smile for a long time. Happiness was hard to come by even if Vaggie was there by my side.

The only time I could genuinely smile, even if it was for a moment, was when that one guy's voice played over in my head.

I missed hearing it...I wished I could've saw who gave me kindness that day. It made my heart rush and I despised it. It was a pain in my chest...

"Hey Charlie, are you okay? You seem to be holding on pretty tight to your shirt. Are you nervous?" My eyes widened hearing Vaggies voice wake me up from my trance. I guess I was gripping hard onto my shirt thinking about all the past events. I sighed to myself letting go of the clothing seeing some wrinkles form.

"Oh silly me haha...I guess I am a bit nervous. No one has seen much of me since high school. But that's not going to stop me! I'm going all in Vaggie!" A large grin grew on her expression seeing my enthusiasm. Sadly, it faded into a frown of concern and doubt as she let a small sigh.

Something that reminded me of my parent's expression as they worried about me and the route I was going to take for my future.

"Okay...I'm going to help you out as much as I can but please do not sing or do anything extra...just follow by your talking points. Please Charlie..." She gripped both her hands onto my shoulders desperate to have me not mess up.

In the past when I couldn't speak up, I sang instead to get peoples attention. Through my lyrics, my messages were told of redemption and hope for a peaceful future for those who wished for another opportunity at life. When I saw others suffer, I wanted to do something to change that.

One of the most fulfilling feelings in the world is aiding someone even if there's nothing to get in return. Even if someone isn't redeemed...I just want to help someone become better and get out of a hard place.

I laid a hand over hers and spoke with reassurance in my tone," Don't worry. I'll try my best not to, I promise! Trust me!" She gazed down at my hand and smiled again as the reassurance soothed her nerves. She gripped her hand around mine and stated with contentment," Alright...I trust you." With one more squeeze, she let go of my hand and fixed the position of my tie.

"Good luck Charlie!" She waved me off as I stepped towards the room where the news anchor and green screen was displayed.

"On today's news we have the Princess of Hell coming on to tell us about this new project of hers. Known as the weak princess or forsaken princess of hell with no sin count, her appearance is quite a shocker! You do not want to miss her upcoming speech as she's about to come on now!"

I walked into the room steadily but cautiously out of the anxiety of being on camera. My mind raced with what the thoughts of my people would be. It was hard to put on a smile and get into the room with my shaking state but yet again, that one person's voice echoed in the back of my head.

Smile my dear!

So I smiled wide. Although my heart rushing a mile a second, my body was a lot more calm. I wasn't alone, at least I had Vaggie by my side supporting me.

I gripped the papers in my hand that were meant for my speech and greeted myself as I got in the room.

Although...

Without my knowledge until later, it wouldn't be just Vaggie to come and support me. The person who told me to smile all those years ago was also watching my show.

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