Hell's Consort

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"Someone had cursed  you into a frog, right?"

The frog shifted into a more comfortable position as it stretched its back legs, its sticky toes resting them on the striped pillow.

Why did her husband assume that the innkeeper was cursed and he wasn't a shape-shifter? Anyway, what shape-shifter in their right mind desired to be in his frog form while he watched over his infamous inn unless he wanted to be laughing stock?

She might be shocked that Apollyon offered her magic to the innkeeper to break his curse.

But she couldn't deny that this frog had secret powers of his own too.

The paper planes, which were made of the contracts between the innkeeper and the travelers, floated around the chandeliers.

The paper planes can either be floating in the air through telekinetic control or physically isolated to freeze.

He might have Fae Magic in his blood, but that didn't mean he was impervious to curses.

The innkeeper returned the paper plane between his webbed fingers on his desk.

He still refused to look her in the eye, pretending she wasn't there, and only regarded Apollyon.

Luna squinted at the innkeeper.

This blatant disrespect against her must be on purpose.

Now, she was having second thoughts about helping this frog if he kept this up. "It's true that I was cursed once upon a time." A short pause. "It all started when I turned down a traveler when she entered Vinca Inn seeking accommodations. It was raining hard, and she came to the premises almost midnight. When she took the hood of her cloak, I was terrified of her wrinkled face that it seemed like it was another layer of skin folding altogether. She had a long nose with warts and skin lesions all over her, and her thinning grey hair made her appear almost bald. I was afraid that if I let her stay in Vinca Inn, she would leave some contagious disease on the beds and the blankets. She had a lot of money in her pockets and even offered to pay thrice, but I called for the armed guards to throw her out the door in the rainstorm. I couldn't risk my business shutting down if my clientele catching infections. I have broken one of the rules of hospitality as an innkeeper upheld by the Summer Monarchs. We aren't allowed to discriminate against travelers who have money—who can pay for the lodgings and amenities of the inn. The next day, I was turned into a frog, and I was like this ever since. "

"Are you sure that it was the old woman's true form, or was it a glamour?"

"I came from one of the elite family in the Summer Courts, and the magic running through our bloodline was old—an aristocrat but a far relative from the royal family." The frog croaked low, but his anger rolled over her skin like waves. "I would have known if she was a faerie from another Court shrouding herself in glamour. If I can't see her true form, it meant she must be powerful."

"Well, my wife is more powerful than that."

Her mouth fell open in shock before she aimed a kick at Apollyon's shin for sounding so arrogant. "Apollyon!"

What is her husband doing?!

She didn't want to disappoint the innkeeper if she failed to break the innkeeper's curse.

"We can't pay for the room we required from the Vinca Inn since we only have money from the Spring Courts." Apollyon returned his gaze from the frog to her. "If you are fine with our proposal, we can begin."

Luna knew that Apollyon desired to test her abilities.

That was alright with her because she also needed to figure out the limits of her Archdemon Magic before she burned out from creating portals.

The Vinca Inn had multiple rooms for its guests from the second floor to the third floor.

The ground floor was busy and loud that the noise could be heard in inaudible murmurs through the soundproofed glass in the innkeeper's receiving area.

Drunk people were now dancing on top of the tables when the slow rhythm of the music changed into an upbeat one.

Men were gambling on the tables, while many intoxicated adults cried when they lost a bet or a woman.

It was still early in the morning, but Luna could see that one or two couples were already fornicating in broad daylight.

Several Summer Faeries were calmly eating the breakfast the waitresses had served them as they watched the spectacle with mild interest.

Luna understood why the innkeeper's office was encased in glass-—so that he could witness this daily entertainment in the main hall from a detached perspective.

Her lips curved upward.

It was amusing to see the Summer Faeries acting like many delinquents when they get drunk…while her husband became a murderer.

Luna frowned at the realization.

"Spring Courts, huh?" The frog's webbed hands rubbed his vocal sac in contemplation. "You told me that you are the Vampire King and the Vampire Empress, am I right? I have heard some rumors…"

Luna cut him off. "Whatever you heard, those rumors aren't true."

He shrugged. "You know what they say. Rumors are exaggerated versions of the truth."

"Still, that isn't the truth."

"Anyhow, if you only carried money from the Spring Courts with you, I will introduce you to a friend of mine, a banker, who can change your coins into the local currency. But if you can break my curse, I would be eternally grateful to you and your wife. I will make sure to pay that debt in any way I can." Beady eyes, which made him a little less froggy, slammed into hers. "I have gone to a lot of witch doctors and told me it was hopeless. Even my family have kicked me out for being such a disgrace and tainting their image to the ruling nobility."

Luna crossed her arms over her chest, and she tilted her head at him because the way this frog behaved around her made her second guess if he deserved her help. "Why couldn't you look at me, innkeeper? It made me think that you were kicked out because of how rude you are to women like me."

"I couldn't stand the look of disgust from the women when they see me, so I would rather not look at  them, either."