Queen Of Adis

"I'm glad to see her transformed into a confident lady," Haru said while looking up to the moonless sky.

Haru and Adis wanted some peace and quiet after the commotion earlier so they ended up hiding in one of the huge balconies in the palace. To protect her from the cold wind, Adis wrapped his own cape around her small body, then he finished it by embracing her from behind.

"Aren't you going to tell that lamia the truth? That you remember her." Adis whispered against the back of her head.

"What's the rush? We'll have more time to reminisce about the past," she shrugged.

"Is that girl the reason why you save that family from being punished?" Adis knew that she always wanted to make friends. As long as it's not with men, and her priority was still him, then he would fully support her.

"No," Haru shook her head. "I did it for us. The House of Mifsud, although just a Count in the ranking, was one of the ric.h.e.s.t nobles in the three realms. Fufu, this silly wife needs to make sure that we have a lot of money in the treasury," she jested.

"As if!" Adis snorted. "You never use a single penny in the treasury. You only spend the money from your monthly stipend as the holy maiden of spring. What's the use of having endless treasures if my wife is refusing to spend it?" He sighed in distress as thought her thriftiness was a huge atrocity.

"That's absurd!" She denied vehemently. "I'm s-spending your money, y-you just don't feel it because... because it's unbelievably plenty. Haha, that's right." She winced and immediately regretted bringing up the subject about the treasury. She was not a good liar and Adis knew it very well.

To dodge the unwanted subject, Haru revealed her true reason. "We need to have another source of funds outside of the Royal Family's name to be inconspicuous when it comes to under-the-table dealings. The funds will also be used to take care of the Great Elders and to persuade other nobles. I just need to make sure that the people behind the money would also be loyal to us. We need a lot of supporters in case those geezers would use different methods to break us apart. The Mifsud just happened to be one of the many households I already thought of even back in Umbra. Your additional connections to powerful families will solidify your influence on the entire Trium Regum."

"You think I'm still not strong enough?" He creased his brows, totally perplexed to find out that he's still not powerful enough in her eyes.

Then, he remembered that he didn't inform her of the extent of his power and connections as he was careful to not reveal too much of his scary side. He took a mental note to tell her everything, including his affiliation to Mifsud family, some other time.

"Of course your power is peerless, that's if we'll go on a killing spree. But my goal is for us to live peacefully, so you need to be more influential, in a good way, so no one would dare challenge us."

"Very well then. As long as you are not pushing yourself too hard, whatever you d.e.s.i.r.e, I shall make it happen."

Haru grinned and tilted her head upward to kiss his chin. Then she comfortably settled her head on his c.h.e.s.t.

A long comfortable silence enveloped the two souls. They just both enjoyed each other's embrace.

Haru was the first one to break the silence. "Adis?"

"Hm?"

"I think they... were right. The Queen's duty... is to give birth to an heir." She whispered softly, careful not to anger him.

"Your DUTY is to be with me and love me for eternity," he refuted with finality.

The childbearing issue was a s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e subject to the couple. Not because she couldn't get pregnant, but because the risk to her life was too high.

If she got pregnant, the eros that was meant for her body would be absorbed by the fetus. That means the immortality blessing that came with the eros nutrient would also temporarily stopped. She would return to being an ordinary mortal with a demon in her w.o.m.b. A human body giving birth to a demon, and without eros in her system, would be too dangerous and may result in death.

If it means losing her, Adis would rather not have any child at all. Haru was the only reason that's keeping his sanity and the deranged demon inside him in control. If she's gone...

Adis shook his head to chase the negative thoughts away. "Stop stressing yourself. We already talked about it multiple times and my take on it will not change." He kissed her head before turning her around to face him. "Why don't we talk about something else? What about... our deal? I didn't snap and maintained my cool, so it's my win." He declared and gave her a lopsided grin.

"Pervy husband!" Haru quipped while puffing her cheeks cutely.

Adis poked her puffy smooth cheeks adorably, "And who was the one who challenged this great King first?"

"Grrr!" She playfully growled and bit his finger.

Adis narrowed his eyes and tickled her side as punishment. She screamed, laughed and ran away, but he immediately caught her again and showered her face with small kisses as he continued with his punishment.

The two souls goofed around for a while and their waves of laughter echoed throughout the spacious balcony. They suddenly stopped when they heard numerous footsteps approaching their location. They both turned around at the same time and saw Zen and Aquarius marching their way towards them with a huge entourage right behind them.

"Damn! Pests are everywhere," Adis cursed in annoyance. 'Why couldn't they just leave them alone?' "What now?" He snapped at the crowd.

Some of the people behind the two Kings quivered in fear.

Haru cleared her throat and poke his side with her elbow to remind him of his manners.

"Big brother and sister-in-law, are you two enjoying the banquet so far? Ah, sister-in-law, I personally ask them to prepare delicious food for you. Have you already tried it?" Aquarius smiled at her gently.

"Sister-in-law, would you please play with me later? I bought a new board game from the market yesterday. They said it's a fun game." Zen excitedly told her about his new collection.

The two kings looked really attractive in their royal ensemble. However, her biased heart thought that no one could compare to her devil.

"Ahem!"

The loud cough caught the Royal family's attention and Zen finally remembered the reason why they came.

"Oh, that's right, big brother and sister-in-law, do you still remember the chief priest, Damien Arkos? He would like to request for your audience."

The chief priest, who looked no more than 60 years old, bowed down in front of Adis and Haru. The rest of the people followed and kneeled on the floor to show their respect.

"Long live the King and Queen of Umbra!"

"Stand up and state your business, then leave at once." Adis looked irked and he did nothing to hide it.

The chief priest stood up straight and did as he was told. "King Adis, Queen Haru, this humble priest would like to introduce someone to Your Majesties." He glanced at the person behind him and nodded.

The person stepped forward and she gently pulled down the hood of her white furry cloak on her head. A beautiful face with innocent hazel eyes and golden hair emerged from it. The maiden was breathtaking.

"Your Majesties, this maiden's name is Helèna," Damien started. "Despite her humble background, we discovered that she possessed the holy power of seer. Due to her rare and powerful ability, the church of Lumine decided to give her the title of the oracle. The ceremony was supposed to be done tonight, but since we have yet to complete the preparation, it shall be announced to the public during the Spring Festival in two days."

Helèna greeted them with a meek voice. "Greetings to the formidable and venerated King and Queen of Umbra--"

"It seems that the church became bold enough to make political decisions behind the Royal family." Adis interrupted Helèna's fake words and disdainfully remarked.

Damien hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, it was not the church's intention to offend--"

"And since you already made your move, why are you introducing this insignificant person to this great King?" Adis totally ignored the voice of the priest.

"As per our tradition, the three Kings must grant the oracle with her wish as a reward for accepting such a heavy task. This humble priest requests for His Majesty to attend the Spring Festival and acknowledge the wish," Damien answered.

"As the spring goddess, my beloved was part of the ceremony. Naturally, I'll be where my Queen is. However, regarding the reward for the oracle, the King of Lumine and Atlantis will take care of it. If that is all, then be gone. This King doesn't wish to be involved with your affairs." Adis bluntly said. The sooner these pests would be out of his sight, the better.

The church ministers looked at each other and were lost for words. They were instructed that King Adis must agree to the terms no matter what.

Damien answered calmly, "King Adis, by now you must have heard of this holy maiden's wish. I'm afraid that you must comply--"

"Who are you to command this great King?" Adis snarled while his eyes narrowed dangerously.

The crowd trembled and panicked when strong lightning crackled in the sky.

Suddenly, a soft voice dared to speak. "Please forgive this lowly maiden for speaking out of turn, Your Majesty. I wish for nothing but to serve you." Helèna kneeled on the floor and looked up at the King. "Please take me as your wife, my King."

Her eyes were a bit red on each side due to unshed tears, her smooth cheeks were blushing while biting her lips. Anyone who could see her would be tempted to do her bidding as she looked delicate and irresistible.

The ground shook and a huge lightning bolt hit the angel statue at the well-cultured garden, causing a loud explosion and fire. If not for Haru holding Adis' left hand tightly, the thunderbolt would have landed on the annoying pests in front of them.

"Imbecile!" Fang suddenly appeared from the shadow and snapped at Helèna. "Lowly human, how dare you to speak to the King directly. Know your place!" He would not allow a commoner, specifically a woman with tarnished background, to disrespect his master.

The chief priest rebutted, "She is the holy maiden. A demon like you must show your respect to her!"

Fang stood straight and replied with indifference. "With all due respect, Your Excellency, but she is yet to be ordained. At present, she is just a nobody. She doesn't have the right to be in the presence of the three great Kings and the spring goddess. What you all doing right now is already against the common courtesy."

Fang was fuming, yet his face and action were cold. "It appears that humans don't know how to learn from someone else's mistake. Allow me to remind you then -- offending the Royal Family is a capital offense and punishable by death. No one is exempted, even the self-proclaimed influential people of the church."