378. Toward the Throne (2)
378. Toward the Throne (2)
- 1 -
"Hoo..."
As I gazed upon the capital of the Demon Realm, Pandemonium, once more, I drew a deep breath.
Upon the endlessly stretching black mountain range stood gigantic spires and citadels stacked in geometrically impossible shapes.
Beautiful streets built within towering walls stretched out, teeming with countless demons of grotesque or beautiful appearance.
In the dark crimson night sky, the Milky Way stretched across where familiar constellations should have been, and air carriages pulled by massive demonic beasts flew about.
'No matter when I see it, it's vast and beautiful.'
A place too enormous to be called merely a single city.
A city whose area alone could be compared to a small duchy.
So vast and majestic that it could only be governed by placing four inner castle gates—north, south, east, and west—each under a lord granted authority equivalent to a feudal ruler. A living heart of power.
That place was Pandemonium.
- Hmm...?
These four 'Demon Capital Inner Castle Lords,' who had become masters of the great inner gates, were elite figures of the highest order, their absolute loyalty to the Demon King and their capabilities thoroughly proven.
Thus, even most of the high-ranking nobles of the Demon Realm could not dare to slight them.
Among them, the Inner Castle Lord of 'Forbidden'—the northern inner gate closest to the Demon King's castle, Corona Tenebris—was one of the Demon King's most trusted confidants.
- F-First time meeting you! Your Highness, the Archduke of Paradox!
And that very Inner Castle Lord stood before someone, visibly tense and rigid.
"I thank you for the welcome, Abnika. You needn't have come out personally."
Hearing my master's words, Sharken Abnika flinched, his body trembling.
No, to be precise, it was closer to a 'quaking.'
As his five-meter frame trembled, the very air around him shook as well.
For a being whose original size exceeded fifteen meters to be cowering before my master, who stood barely over one and a half meters, was a scene that would appear utterly comical to anyone unaware of the circumstances.
- How could I dare not do so! The daughter of the Gluttony Duke, and Her Majesty's own sister!
My master's lips briefly twisted.
It disappeared so quickly that no one else would have noticed, but I, who never removed my eyes and ears from my master's presence for even a moment, did not miss that expression.
Committing that look to memory, I watched the exchange between the two.
"Very well. Do as you feel comfortable."
- This way, please! I have prepared an air carriage for Your Highness.
Sharken Abnika personally guided my master to his own air carriage with gestures as careful as if handling a treasure that might shatter at any moment.
It was a magnificent air carriage, crafted from black obsidian, its form a fusion of dragon and demonic beast shapes.
- Well then, I wish you the best in your business!
"Thank you. I hope your day, too, passes without incident."
- It is an honor, Your Highness!
He did not remove the salute he had placed upon his head until the air carriage had fully ascended into the sky.
In a way, it was a natural response from one whose loyalty to the Demon King extended just as deeply to the Demon Queen, his wife.
For my master was the younger sister of the Demon Queen, and the blood of the Gluttony Duke.
Watching the retreating figure of Sharken as he ascended back atop the gate and returned to his original gigantic size, I quietly asked my master.
"You seem displeased, Master."
At my words, my master withdrew her gaze from the window and looked at me.
"Your eyes cannot be deceived, Eve."
My master, Libertas, who sat with her legs crossed, had her cheek gently cupped in her hand.
Looking closely, her lips were jutted out ever so slightly—truly, ever so slightly—more than usual.
An expression she often made when she was uncomfortable or her mood was soured.
A secret others did not know, perhaps one that even my master herself was unaware of.
It was one of the sweet privileges known only to us, who attended her most closely.
"Were you displeased that the lord came out personally?"
"I wished for a little more leisure, yet now we must head directly to the Demon King's castle, mustn't we."
Since a figure as prominent as an Inner Castle Lord had made such a fuss and come out to greet her, all the nobles of Pandemonium must have learned of my master's visit.
This meant that the possibility of briefly slipping away elsewhere had become impossible.
It seemed my master had intended to stroll the streets of Pandemonium with someone and enjoy a brief date before meeting the Demon King.
The companion in question would be my master's elder sister, Her Highness Bellastella, or else me.
That state of mind, different from 'before,' truly made me glad and happy.
Far more than the 'past and future' master who had driven herself relentlessly due to desperate surrounding circumstances, I vastly preferred seeing her as she was now, able to enjoy small moments of leisure.
'And she is so lovable.'
Smiling gently, I whispered, feigning ignorance to help soothe her mood.
"On our way back after your business is concluded, I shall reserve a performance of the Pandemonium National Theater troupe. How about attending once together with Her Highness, the First Demon Queen? I hear the most popular play of late has been revived."
"You know perfectly well and pretend not to, Eve."
Even the way my master shot me a sidelong glance was exquisitely beautiful.
My heart pounded madly.
An urge to rush over and embrace her right then surged up, but I somehow managed to suppress it.
For it was already a familiar occurrence.
"I don't have that much leisure. We are in the middle of a war, are we not?"
Before I knew it, my master had already recovered her usual composed expression and posture.
Her lips were drawn back in, her back and shoulders straightened, held upright.
While her disheveled appearance was also beautiful, indeed, it was her current appearance that was my master, more resplendent than any other existence.
The white neckline revealed above her black dress, and her violet eyes that captured the Demon Realm's scenery outside the window, were the most beautiful in the world.
I inclined my head slightly and answered.
"If the archbishops of the Holy Kingdom do not run more rampant, it should be fine for now."
"Indeed. I wish for that as well. But... it does not seem likely."
It was a dilemma.
For us, simply maintaining the alliance as it was now was acceptable.
For the lifespan of demons is long.
There would be plenty of opportunities later to display power and secure stability.
But the humans—especially those who had held the continent's sole religious authority—would never tolerate the emergence of a new power that threatened their own authority.
"A bloody wind will blow. Not an ordinary wind, but a great typhoon."
"Yes. That is likely so."
I, too, understood that well. Just as my master did.
- 2 -
The air carriage soon arrived at the entrance of the Demon King's palace.
Together with Evangeline, who was at my side, I began to ascend the massive staircase leading to the main castle of Corona Tenebris.
Tok-tok. Tok-tok.
Stomp. Stomp.
The path ascending to the Demon King's great hall.
At the top of the stairs, I spotted a woman gazing down at me with a smile.
A woman of graceful and refined impression, clad in an elegant white dress.
Behind her, nine golden tails faintly manifested and vanished like a mirage.
"It has been a long time, Hecate."
"Lady Asmodeus."
The Duke of Lust, Asmodeus.
She was one of the few Grand Dukes in the Demon Realm who were favorably disposed toward me. From the first time we met until now, consistently.
I also had no reason to antagonize her, so we naturally grew closer.
"I heard the news. About the title you have obtained this time."
"It seems you also take a deep interest, Lady Asmodeus."
"I cannot help it."
Asmodeus smiled softly and nodded.
Her demeanor was demure, ill-fitting for the position of the Duke of Lust.
Yet, in the way the corners of her eyes curved, in a single smile, a subtle sensuality seeped through.
I knew.
That she kept thirty-nine lovers without a husband.
Furthermore, those lovers included men and women, young and old alike.
But what did that matter?
That was solely her personal affair.
'Truthfully, I'm in no position to criticize, either.'
I glanced sideways at Evangeline, who walked upright beside me.
"The title of Archduke of the Demon Realm was codified after she was sealed, but its authority existed before that. Though it is the position of a Demon Realm Archduke... a title without a master. Any noble of the Demon Realm would be forced to take an interest."
Just as she said, as I climbed toward the great hall, I could hear the surrounding nobles murmuring as they looked at me.
"Then, does that mean she is on her way to have even that title recognized by His Majesty now?"
"Good heavens. Two ducal titles..."
"One of them is a Grand Dukedom. If one took her as a wife, fortune would truly smile upon them."
"Your dreams are grand, my friend."
Most of the voices were transparently obvious, filled with greed for the title, or desire for myself.
Though it might be surprising, these days it was noise I had grown accustomed to, to the point that it was no longer unpleasant.
'Since I am beautiful, I cannot blame others.'
In the past, I might have found such gazes themselves unpleasant and avoided them.
But I was different now. I had power, and those I loved were at my side.
I no longer needed to deny myself.
Above all, I had come to like that version of myself.
"Be careful. Satan and Lucifer's gazes toward you have also changed further lately."
I nodded at Asmodeus's whisper, when just then, the very subjects of her words came into view.
Beyond the entrance gate, on either side of the staircase leading to the teleportation magic circle placed in the lobby, stood two men.
A red giant who looked as though flames could burst from his entire body at any moment, and a coldly handsome man with long platinum-blond hair flowing down.
They were the Wrath Duke, Satan, and the Duke of Pride, Lucifer.
The two, who had been engaged in a war of nerves with their eyes locked and neither looking away, simultaneously turned their gazes upon me before I passed in front of them.
"Your face is not easily seen. Duchess Hecate."
Satan spoke, wearing an openly displeased expression.
"It has been a long time. Archduke of Paradox."
On the other hand, Lucifer deliberately, gently, raised the corners of his mouth.
"Both of you, I trust you have been well. It has been a long time since I have seen you."
I inclined my head with a smile.
Though the two wore different expressions, the emotions felt within them were the same.
Covert anger, greed, and even wariness.
It was because I had still not answered the recruitment offers they had sent after I ascended to the ducal seat.
And now that I had even achieved such merits afterward, their impatience must have grown.
"Hmm... Congratulations."
"Congratulations, Archduke of Paradox. On your new achievements."
But for now, neither could say anything to me. Because of each other's presence.
I lightly gave a silent bow as I passed between them.
"Thank you. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an audience."
"Next time, I shall send you an invitation."
"There will be a good opportunity, Archduke of Paradox."
An audience was an event that had become rare these days, and at the same time, something that could not be interrupted.
The two stepped aside without further words.
"Rita."
Right before the doors to the throne room, my elder sister Bellastella was waiting for me.
From Stella, who approached with quick steps and embraced me tightly, wafted a warm and cozy floral fragrance, as always.
"Come quickly. I've been waiting."
"It's been a while, Sister."
She gripped my hand tightly and whispered.
"Do not be too nervous. His Majesty seemed to be very fond of you."
"I'm fine. I haven't felt anything like nervousness."
When I smiled gently and replied, she wore a smile that seemed to say she couldn't help it.
"... Truly, you are bold. You were like that from the beginning."
She held me in her arms once more and then released me, taking my hand and guiding me toward the throne room.
Just as if we were truly ordinary sisters.
"Go well."
"Yes, Sister."
After letting go of my hand before the great doors of the throne room, I met her eyes.
The wife of the Demon King.
If the Demon King chose death, the woman who would be left alone.
But there would be no solitude in her future.
For I would not allow it.
To ensure that, right now... it was time to walk.
"I shall go and return."
Leaving the three women behind, I stepped forward alone.
Clank!
The massive doors opened.
What seeped through the gap was not light. Rather, it was a strange 'black light,' closer to darkness.
And beyond it, an overwhelming presence could be felt.
The Demon King.
At last, it was time to face him.