Chapter 25 - Demon King

Astoria's POV

The demon king has arrived. The knights are terrified but they refuse to show their fear. I have been watching Adelaide and she doesn't seems to be worried or nervous. But-

"Why would the empress invited the demon king to the palace?! Has she gone mad?"

The knights and servants didn't even try to keep their voice down. When the demon king walks out from his carriage, he smiled as his eyes met with Adelaide.

"To think I get to have the pleasure to meet the ruler of humans. My predecessor would be jealous of my achievement. My name is Moloch and I am the current king of the demon realm."

Adelaide offered her hand for the demon king to take.

"My name is Adelaide Tempest, the empress of Tempest Empire." Moloch took Adelaide's hand before giving it a peck.

"I advice that your servants to keep on their best behaviour. I'm sure you've heard of what happened to your commander when he tried to invade my land." The demon king turned his attention to me with a smile.

"The devil of the North- yes I am well aware of your lover's presence in battle. The king of monsters told me how this knight annihilate almost half of his kind in the recent subjugation. And I still can't believe that she is still alive after dealing with the demonic miasma." I smiled.

"Your demons are weak." Adelaide raised her hand after I said that.

"Moloch is our guest. Please behave. It's best if we take this conversation inside. I've prepare a suitable banquet for welcoming your first visit to the human realm." Adelaide turned her back to the demon king before exude such regal energy as she leads the demon king through the desert palace.

"I was told that you are in charge of this kingdom temporarily. Is that true, madam?" Madam? Is it because the empress called out to his name?

"It's true. My sister will soon take over as the regent until her son is old enough to take over the throne." The demon king suddenly laughed.

"So instead of giving the throne to the king's brother, you let your sister be the regent? How smart to put your own blood to gain control." Adelaide chuckled.

"Would you want to work with an incompetent fool, my lord?" Moloch laughed. As we entered the lounging area, the demon king raised his eyebrows when the former desert king concubines were the one who acts as the servants.

"I didn't expect for the concubines to be the one to serve us, madam." Adelaide smiled as she offered the demon king a seat.

"My sister was benevolent. She let her husband concubines stay in the palace. So instead of letting them do whatever they want, I thought it would be better for them to served important guests. After all, they are no longer relevant without the king." The king's concubines said to be of rarest beauty but this demon didn't even spare a gaze to any of them.

"So, madam- now that we are both here, to what I owe this pleasure to finally meet you?" Adelaide leaned back to her seat and said,

"I heard that the alchemists from the demon realm has found a way to turned minerals into natural energy. But isn't it a waste since the demon realm has limited resources when it comes to minerals? Isn't that why you decided to invade the desert land?" The demon king smiled.

"It seems you're well aware of my kingdom's dilemma. Are you thinking of trading with my kingdom? Aren't you afraid of what the human nobles would think? And aren't you scared of my people, madam?" The concubines are scared when the demon king suddenly exude such a dense demonic energy.

Even I was a bit affected by his energy but the empress doesn't seems to care. Adelaide simply waved her hand.

"It's best to keep your energy hidden, my lord. It will affect everyone but not me. Did you really think a weak woman will be able to be the empress that oversees the emperor's reign?" Moloch laughed before he hides his energy.

"I like how bold you are, madam. I'm looking forward to hear more about your visions and plans for both kingdoms."

Later that day,

I can't believe we were able to survive meeting the demon king. I couldn't help but to stare at Adelaide as she acts like her normal self after meeting Moloch.

"Are you that eager to suck my tits?" Adelaide question taken me back.

"You've been staring at me since we got inside the room. I need to look through these documents. So please wait until I'm done then we can cuddle." Adelaide smiled. That's not the reason why I've been staring though.

"Are you really going to sign an alliance agreement with the demon king? What would the holy kingdom think once they are aware of this transaction? Aren't you afarid you gather unnecessary enemies in the process?" Adelaide chuckled.

"Since I became empress, I've always been the target of many enemies. For example, my mother in law— yet here I am, living and breathing." Yes but if she continues to do such a dangerous act, she will eventually succumb to her death.

"I'm worried about you, Adelaide. Signing an alliance agreement is one thing but also trading with the demon realm?" Adelaide smiled yet again.

"What are you so afraid of? The nobles? The people of Tempest? The emperor? Or perhaps the former rulers of Tempest? They will soon see the revolutionary vision I have for the empire. If we continue to do things like we are doing now, sooner or later the empire will fall and the people will have to leave for other countries. Besides, human has been interacted with the demons for so long through trade. I'm sure we can—-" Adelaide was interrupted when Seraphina barged into our room with her son.

I immediately pulled out my sword and stood by the door.

"What happened?" Adelaide asked as she got up and went to her sister side.

"Khalid! Somehow he manage to escaped the dungeon. He went to see me with a sword at hand. I have no where else to go. Please help me! He killed my servants!"

I heard noises from the outside before a scream of agony filled the hallways outside. Did the former king killed the servants and guard? I clenched tightly at the handle of my sword as someone is trying to open the door.

"What is this commotion? I can't even sleep properly." Moloch said as the door was open. My eyes widen when I saw the demon king holds the former desert king's head in one of his hands.

"I'm sorry. This man had gone into madness. When I open my door, I saw him charging towards me. I have no choice but to kill him." I sighed in relief before turning to Adelaide and her sister. The baby continues to cry because of the commotion.

"Am I in trouble? Will this affect our alliance?" Adelaide shake her head.

"If anyway, it strengthen the bond of our both kingdoms. I'm sorry for the commotion." Moloch smiled.

"Is it alright for me to eat this head?" Moloch asked. Seraphina shake her head no.

"I want his head to be displayed in front of the palace gate." I watched as Seraphina smiled at her crying child while calming him down.

"He wanted to kill me and my son. It's what he deserved. I'm tired of being weak and demure." Seraphina face Adelaide.

"You're right- it's time for me to step up to protect what matters to me. My son needs protection. I will raise him to be strong and wise." Adelaide hug her sister while face the demon king.

"How did you behead that bastard?" I asked. It was a clean cut- I want to see what sort of blade made that.

"I used my hand." Moloch showed me his hand.

"Your hand?" My eyes widen when the demon king morphed his hand into a sharp blade.

"My body could morphed into many weapons I imagine. My bloodline are specialised in war tactics and weapon creation. Many of my kin died being used for nobles ambitious vision to rule the realm. Yes, even our kind has their own nobility. The longer your bloodline reign, the more those small demons worships you and the more power you gained. Amazing, isn't it?" I hummed.

"I thought demons only worried about filling their stomach. I was shallow." Moloch laughed before he gave the decapitated head of Khalid to one of the knights.

"Don't worry about it. Human tend to assume the worse when heard about demons. It happens all the time. Like your story- the monsters king always told me about what you did to his kin. That words he used to describe you- I began to think it's all true. Your battle scars tells me a lot of your journey as the devil of the North."

The devil of the North- the enemies gave me that nickname after I slaughtered a horde of dragons all by myself. That nickname-

"To be honest I don't like that nickname. It made me feel like a terrible person." Moloch laughed.

"Are you a good person?" Moloch question made me think.

"I don't think I'm a bad person." Moloch chuckled.

"For some, you're an enemy that needs to be dealt with immediately. Since you came to the battle field, how many monster have you slaughtered? How many families have you destroyed? Only certain people prayed for your safe return but the remaining ones prayed that you find our death as you go through the bloody field of war." That is true.

I was all alone when my mother gone into madness. The servants only stayed because they have no where else to go. The knights loyal to me because they are safe within my protection. Truly, is there anyone who would want me to live except for my mother.

"Astoria-" oh wait-

It's Adelaide.

Even though Adelaide and I only met recently, she has shown how much she value my life where I think it's better to die in the middle of protecting the North. I thought even if I died, there would be no one who care.

But it's different now. Adelaide and my mother does care. They are worried sick for me and I should appreciate all the chances I get. Yes-

"You called, Adel?" The empress was shocked when I called her that.

"Adel? Is that my new nickname?" I nodded.

"Sound nice. Anyway, why don't you show Moloch the way to the dungeon. Seraphina said there's a few criminal in the dungeon that would be perfect for him to munch on." Ah- she is using Moloch to get rid of the unnecessary nobles who threatened Seraphina's power.

"Follow me, milord."