Chapter 317: Lord.....
"Why are you guys here, Marie?" Scarlett asked, her gaze fixed on two trembling rabbits that seemed to cower in fear.
"H-Huh? W-Well--"
"~AHHHH~~~"
"...." Before Marie could respond, a loud moan interrupted her words.
Marie bit her lip, regaining her composure, and continued, "Well, L-Luna wanted to speak with the Vampire Queen."
Scarlett's eyes then shifted to Luna, whose face was beet red as she covered her ears.
"Your Highnes--"
"~EEEELLLLIIII~~~~"
"....ahem, Your Highness, The Vampire Queen is cur--"
"~FUUCCCKK!!!~~~I~It's~CCCUMM~~~MMFFFFFF~~~"
"...." Scarlett raised an eyebrow, her own face slightly reddening. 'Come on, Ashy... You are making her moan too much!!'
"You heard it, she is busy coming..." Scylla chimed in with an annoyed tone, adding, "Verrryyy Busy!"
Luna's body trembled, but she remained resolute. "I-I am sorry, but I need to know why my name is being pulled into their mess!!"
"Well..." Scylla glanced at Lilith and Scarlett, then said, "Suit yourself, then," shrugging her shoulders.
After what felt like an eternity of torture, the moans from upstairs finally subsided.
Everyone sighed in relief, thinking the situation had settled down. However,
"~~~~YYYEEESSSSS~~~~"
Everyone's lips twitched in annoyance. After yet another prolonged torture, the moans eventually ceased, and...
"Hey...?" An energetic voice echoed from the stairs, drawing the attention of everyone present. Their gazes shifted, revealing Eli descending with an unclad upper body, showcasing his sculpted abs and well-defined muscles.
A collective blush painted the faces of onlookers, with Luna and Marie particularly averting their eyes, unable to withstand the magnetic allure of Eli's physique.
"So?" Seating himself beside Lilith, Eli inquired, his eyes lingering on Luna and Marie.
"W-Well..."
"I-Its..."
Evasive glances darted in all directions, avoiding direct eye contact with the shirtless Eli.
"I-I wanted to talk with the V-ampire Queen," Luna eventually managed, regaining composure.
"Hmm..." Eli nodded thoughtfully, responding, "But she is currently enjoying a peaceful slumber she never had before..."
"I-I really need to meet her," Luna persisted with a plea in her voice.
"Hmm..." Eli immersed himself in contemplation, scanning the surroundings for Adriana's headmaid, only to find her conspicuously absent.
While Eli pondered, Scarlett swiftly tossed a vibrant red T-shirt toward Lilith. In a seamless motion, she caught it and efficiently draped it over Eli's upper body, transforming his appearance in the blink of an eye.
This happened so swiftly that it went unnoticed until Eli sported the red T-shirt, concealing the previously exposed allure of his chiselled form.
"Good Evening, Princess Luna Dawn!"
As he was deep in contemplation, an authoritative voice echoed, drawing everyone's attention. Adriana, adorned in loungewear, descended from the steps with an air of authority.
Observing her, a collective recollection of those echoing moans flashed across their minds. 'So, they indeed share a relationship... ah?' Luna and Marie couldn't help but express their surprise and blush.
Eli glanced at Adriana and gently asked, "Everything alright?"
"Hmm.." Adriana responded with a subtle blush, nodding as she gracefully took a seat beside Eli. Her hand casually found its place on his thighs, a gesture that didn't escape the keen eyes of the onlookers, including Luna.
Ignoring Adriana's seemingly nonchalant act, Luna took a deep breath before addressing her concerns, "What do you mean I would be handed over to Asher Eli?" There was a discernible hint of anger in her tone.
However, Adriana, maintaining an indifferent attitude, replied, "That is precisely what it means!"
"..Wha--" Before Luna could retort, Adriana interjected,
"Just the mention of Asher Eli's name has ignited a frenzy. People act as if he forcefully violated their saintess, escaping punishment and shamelessly indulging in debauchery while their saintess lost her purity.... to a mere psychopath.
That's the current narrative circulating in the Dawn Kingdom, isn't it, Princess Luna?"
"Hmm? Is that true?" Eli raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise, while Luna, unable to meet his gaze, averted her eyes.
"What do you mean?" Eli questioned with a discernible frown, despite their existing deal, and the fact that Eli hadn't even kissed Luna yet.... much less assulating her.
'Wait.... I think I did someth--' His thoughts were interrupted.
"Someone is spreading rumours, claiming their daughter was coerced by some unsightly pervert. This alleged perpetrator supposedly utilized Nex's duel system to commit a heinous act and hide behind the skirts of the Queen of the Fallen Continent..... Of course, hearing that, consequently, people are furious about it" Scarlett offered as she answered Eli's inquiry as she also saw those people.
"Lucian?" Eli's frown deepened.
"No one is sure, since it's a rumour.... but I do believe it's that ugly bastard," Scarlett said with disdain, recalling Lucian's futile attempts to flirt with her, despite her outright rejection and calling him a filthy bitch... A shameless guy she had ever seen except her brother who was now her husband.
"Now, Princess Luna, enlighten us.... Who was the one who forced Asher Eli?" Adriana fixed Luna with an indifferent expression.
"...even so..." Luna mumbled in a nearly inaudible voice, as the weight of the situation pressed upon her.
Adriana fixed a scrutinizing gaze on Luna and then shifted her attention to Eli, who wore a frowning expression while looking at Marie.
Detecting the tension, Adriana's eyes traveled to a light-purple-haired girl in the room, her eyes welling up with tears as she cast glances at Eli and... Lilith?
Even Lilith, typically composed, found herself taken aback by the intensity of Marie's gaze.
'Hmm? What's this? Do you think I stole your lover?' Lilith mused with amusement, well aware that Marie was Eli's first love, but she had betrayed him, following Alexander, the Hero of the Dawn Kingdom.
'Are you now regretting leaving an extraordinary husband for a pathetic hero?' Lilith pondered, a sly smile playing on her lips... but she never said anything.
"What's wrong...?" Eli's soft voice cut through the tension, directed at Marie.
"H-Huh?... Noth-- Huh? Why am I crying?" Marie snapped out of her inner turmoil, bewildered by the warm sensation on her cheeks.
Attempting to wipe away the tears proved futile as they continued to flow uncontrollably..... Her gaze remained fixated on Lilith, whose hand was now intertwined with Eli's.
"L-Lun-a, I-I am leaving!!" Marie announced abruptly, her hastened departure leaving everyone in the house bewildered.
"H-Hey, M-Marie?" Luna shouted, but it was too late; Marie had already left, leaving behind a perplexed atmosphere in the wake of her sudden exit.
Left alone, Luna gulped nervously, silently cursing, 'That idiot!!' before addressing the stunned onlookers, "N-Not matter who wins.... I will never marry a commoner!!" Luna declared firmly. She stood up, determined to follow Marie when,
"Who said you are going to marry him?" Adriana questioned with a frown.
"Huh?" Luna was taken aback, her thoughts racing. 'Not marriage?' she wondered.
"I asked your father to just hand you over to him; that's all.
It has nothing to do with marriage.
You are still Lucian's daughter; it's just that you are given to Eli. That's all!
With your father's acceptance of the conditions, from now on, no one questions or harbours hatred towards Eli. They know your father is a wise person, dedicated to the well-being of his people... right?" Adriana explained with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
Luna's face turned bright red, and catching Eli's wink, she felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, 'I-I was thinking all wrong!!! I-it must be because of him!!!' She screamed inwardly.
She hurriedly left, shouting, "No matter what, I would never fall for this commoner!!!"
"Does she even understand what I said now? Does she have a brain or not?" Adriana clicked her tongue in mild annoyance.
"Hehehe.." Eli chuckled, finding amusement in the unfolding drama.
"chu" Eli planted a gentle kiss on Adriana's forehead, a silent acknowledgement of her plan finally.
He grasped Adriana's strategy - by positioning Luna Dawn, the potential hatred would shift away from Asher Eli and towards Adriana who forced their saintess again.
However, it was their King's actions... not an inexperienced child.
Both of them were Emperors...
After all, how could anyone oppose an Emperor without consequence?
No one, indeed... People began to accept it as the King's decision, choosing not to interfere in politics.
"Anyhow, what did you see?" Adriana inquired, directing her gaze at Lilith.
"An artifact!" Lilith responded, casually leaning on Eli's lap.
"Artifact?"
"Yes, a golden boot and a weird crystal." Lilith mumbled, displaying images of two golden boots and a large diamond-like yellowish crystal from the suitcase.
"What are those?" Eli frowned as he examined the images.
"Boots from the Fallen God and the Crystal of Redemption and Liberation" Lilith explained.
All eyes turned to Mariel, who had finally snapped back into reality. Though a hint of fear lingered in her eyes, Eli's comforting smile managed to stir a strange feeling in her stomach and confidence..., 'He really tamed a god?' as her eyes shot a worried glance at Lilith.
"Those are our kingdom's treasures, right?" Scarlett questioned with a furrowed brow.
"Yes... It seems like Lucian is really acting behind the scenes quietly," Mariel's expression darkened as she spoke before she snapped back to reality again.
Adriana contemplated the significance of the artifacts, piecing together the puzzle of Lucian's 'Race.'
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"What are those for?" Mia inquired with curiosity.
'Clap, Clap'
Adriana clapped as the red-blue-haired woman appeared behind her, fixing her gaze on the images.
She explained, "Those boots can travel at the speed of light, and the crystal is a recording device. It helps understand the enemy's skills, enabling us to counter any attack effectively."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room frowned.
Scarlett frowned deeply because how in the world a Fallen know details about treasures of Dawn Kingdom... even if the other party was Vampire Queen's subordinate?
"....What kind of attack?" Eli interjected suddenly with a carefree attitude.
"Hmm... Mana-induced attacks, i.e., magic and spells.... Lord," Adriana's HeadMaid responded, addressing Eli with a newfound formality.
Eli felt a bit awkward with the sudden title, but since no one else seemed to react.... he shrugged it off.
Little did he know, everyone present smirked inwardly..... as they suddenly had weird happiness inside their heart.
'Should I give a him title?' Both Mariel and Adriana pondered at the same time.
Giving a title means they could give some position like Baron, Viscount... but that's not important right now.
'Artifacts...'
While Adriana and the others continued their contemplation of how to deal with Artifacts, Eli glanced at the time and exclaimed, "Shit, I have to head to work!"
"Hehehe..." A collective giggle echoed as everyone understood the nature of Eli's work.
'Tsk' Eli clicked his tongue before turning to Lilith, "See you later!"
"Hmm," Lilith nodded in acknowledgement.
"Eli, on your way, why don't you take a look at the fire-type dungeon you inquired about earlier?" Adriana suggested, handing him a legal document granting access to the dungeon within Nex Academia.
"Okay," Eli agreed, holding back his urge to question how she knew about his request to Aadya.... Well, It seemed futile at this point.
After Eli left, Adriana expressed her surprise, "I thought he would be more interested in how to deal with the artifacts?"
"I had the same expectation, but he just ignored it," Lilith confirmed, sharing her bewilderment at her husband's lack of concern for the artifacts.
"Heheh..." Scarlett giggled, earning frowns from everyone present.
"What is it?" Lilith's tone dripped with disdain as she noticed Scarlett looking at them with pity as if she knew something about her husband that they didn't.
While the others engaged in a heated conversation about the new artifacts, Eli strolled coolly towards the orphanage.
'wwhooosss...shsooos.' Whistling casually, he noticed the nearly empty road, devoid of any people or even soldiers stationed for public safety.
"I guess they are all busy protecting the Nobles staying in Nex," he muttered to himself when suddenly,
'Thud'
The same brown-haired boy collided with Eli once again.
"Hmm? Not again boy. I gave you a gold coin!! You know it's a gold coin worth o....." Eli's words trailed off as he caught sight of the boy's hands covered in bruises.
"Hey? Are you okay.... boy?" Eli inquired,
The boy, with a trembling face, turned to reveal a half-disfigured visage as if the muscles and flesh on one side had been plucked out and muttered,
"I-I a-am 'sob, sob' Sorry, Big Br--"
"BBOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!"
"ELI!!!"
"MOVE!!!"