Hell's Consort

New Chapter of Highest Tier (May 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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The Queen's attendants carried a huge pretty vase filled with sunflowers and placed it on the table while some of them tied the rest of the flower garlands to the things their eyes have set on.

She smiled as they waited for them to finish their job.

Luna bet the attendants have trained for this aesthetic standard—a bright summer palette—only the Summer Faeries knew.

They loved flowers so much that their presence was always there in every celebration—dancing and playing musical instruments as well.

Sprites scattered fragrant petals of sweat pea, gardenia, iris, jasmine and honeysuckle on the floor.

Apollyon, Luna and the few of the Summer Monarchs were now seated on their wing chairs made of carved wood, designed by the most talented artisans from the Summer Faeries.

It wasn't just a hand-carved luxurious armchair with upholstered frames of dark green, backs and armrest.

It was also highly detailed with ornaments with rosettes, acanthus and shells on the top rails with lovely scrolled legs.

This flamboyance of the gilded furniture turned into a magnificent work of art after the faerie attendants they brought from the Summer Castle polished the chairs so well as if their life depended on it.

Before they allowed Luna and the rest to sit down, they ensured that everything was perfect and in good condition.

They made it their mission to make the antique chairs painted with gold shimmer under the sunlight from the wax they used to clean them.

Noting the small cracks on the circular tabletop made of marble at the gazebo inflicted by her husband's outburst, they spread the silk tablecloth to cover the vein-like fissures on the surface before they laid out the tableware and the food for the Summer Tea Party.

Four musicians sat on their own stools in a small circle facing each other, and Luna realized it was a string quartet with violin.

She didn't know about Apollyon's reaction, but she was looking forward to their performance.

When all of them sat down, King Oberon had taken off his golden masked helmet as he allowed his groom to hold it for him and left his plate body armour on.

Luna wondered if King Oberon felt cool underneath all those iron plates attached to his leather undergarment aside from his tunic, or was he just used to this because he lived here for thousands of years in this hot summer weather?

She finally knew how King Oberon looked like.

His thick beard neatly trimmed wrapped around the underside of his jaw in a clean line.

Midnight black hair crowned his head, and eyes of faded blue-grey stared back at Luna and Apollyon.

His aura was so forceful, with too much power only an ancient immortal could have.

Like all Fae, King Oberon had this masculine beauty in him, which was almost violent, stunning other people in the same room as he wasn't used to this kind of spirit.

His stony countenance were harsh lines, and high cheekbones and a battle scar slashed across his eyebrow.

His face was stripped of any emotions, clearing his throat and grunting to acknowledge their presence, letting Queen Titania doing all the work to make their guests feel comfortable at the table.

More cheerful and warmer than Queen Gloriana, Queen Titania was up to the task, though, so King Oberon was forgiven.

It was always the women in the family who had the unspoken responsibility to make the visitors feel welcome to satisfy their instinct to nurture and care for others.

Apollyon and Luna were positioned just across the string quartet behind Queen Titania and King Oberon while Princess Ourania was seated right next to Apollyon.

His husband was serious when he told her he wanted to keep Luna away from her.

Princess Sapphire was on Luna's left.

Princess Sapphire whispered in her ear that Xerxes wasn't here to join because it was strictly a gathering for the Summer Monarchs to meet Apollyon.

Luna raised an eyebrow at that.

She guessed that the royal family of the Summer Monarchs was large enough to occupy an entire Summer Castle from generation to generation.

Perhaps, some of them had perished or left the Summer Courts to explore other Realms and start a family to a Kingdom they chose, leaving the nest to speak?

Or was it the same-old, same-old tradition of arranged marriage in the Faerie Courts?

Queen Titania's cat had snuggled on her lap without a fuss.

The furry animal was as still as a rock as the Summer Queen brushed the beautiful bright, orange coat, untangling its fur with a small cat brush.

There was no time for small talks because the two violinists began to play the first note.

After that, the cello and the viola followed.

The atmosphere at the hedge maze garden was calm and serene as the sound of the violin travelled pleasantly in their ears, alleviating Luna's stress in an instant.

This was one of the few times when she felt that music had set her free, singing to her that she could get whatever her heart desired.

It evoked the deepest oceans of her emotions, compelling her to swim in them.

Bittersweet memories resurfaced when the dark melodies played by the cello flowed in harmony with the rest of the instruments.

The tiny hairs on her skin stood on its end when she felt the vibrations of the magnificent music.

Luna closed her eyes as she allowed it to lull her into sleep.

"Don't sleep, wife." Luna heard a husky murmur. She was only half aware that her head was leaning on her husband's arm as they sat next to each other. "You must have been tired because of me last night."

Luna loved the music from the string quartet, but she was forced to stir when Apollyon said that naughty statement she was sure his grandparents heard.

Her eyes abruptly opened.

"Shh." She wanted to silence him, but it wouldn't be effective if he saw her smile. She couldn't help it. "Not here, husband."