Hell's Consort

Newest Chapter of Highest Tier (January 2022)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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If this nightmare had come true, where was the god of fire and Princess Ourania?

Her Archdemon Familiars, together with capable butlers and muscled footmen, were in charge of all the guests who entered the premises.

It would be a miracle if Hephaestus had slipped into doors and windows from the rooms and managed to get in after Apollyon and her familiars used good ol' magic to secure the place.

The balancer, who erected himself at the top of a long stick that had stretched upward to the ceiling, smiled cheekily at her, all the while holding a tray of teacups while his other hand was poised to pour tea from a spout.

A sunflower was tucked on his left pocket while a bouquet of red roses replaced what should have been a hat, the fresh blooms attached to his large head.

The crowd had snickered at the foolish sight.

Luna thought that the band hadn't performed yet as per Apollyon's orders but it certainly looked liked it. Apollyon mistook her fascination with the performers was the reason why she couldn't bring herself to walk. Apollyon released her so that he could slip behind her, cradled the back of her legs and back with his arms and carried her like his queen.

'Oh, my goddess! Not in front of these strangers!' Closing her eyes, Luna kept her head down as her laced fingers kneaded her husband's shoulders in embarrassment. 'Tonight wasn't the wedding night.'

Everyone had been looking at her stomach but for some reason, Apollyon's presence somehow failed to make her feel safe.

Goddess, she hadn't known.

She shouldn't have forced Apollyon to agree with her wish to join the Wine Tasting Party.

Slowly, she turned her head to glance at the guests who stared at her and she felt like a sissy general positioned in front of the enemy line.

It appeared like she wasn't brave enough as she thought.

Luna wiped the clammy sweat on her forehead as Apollyon made their way towards their designated chairs on the long tables in which their most efficient butler had arranged.

Apollyon lowered her buttocks to the cushions of the high-backed seats above the dais.

Some guests who just arrived Hazelnut Manor had begun to occupy the white chairs surrounding their rectangular table.

The arrangement were so close to each other and it encouraged them to have close interactions and rub elbows with the rest of the nobles.

The higher the chair was, the higher they were ranked according to their titles.

Winter-blooming trees were also brought inside the Great Hall as decorations.

A grand piano was also placed on the right side if someone from the guests wanted to play music.

Not only would it create a cheerful atmosphere, but the performance would give a good impression to that special someone they had dedicated it to.

The finest pieces of gold and silver were used during the buffet.

The food laid out on the long tables had bowls full of with pomegranate seeds and sugar plums with fresh drops of blood to make the taste more distinct to the Vampiric Fae's palette.

Smaller pies surrounded a huge pie at the center, forming into this fancy crown to celebrate Apollyon and Luna's proclamation as new Monarchs in the Autumn Courts.

After finishing the Wine Tasting Ceremony, jellies, creams covered with fennel seeds, cheese in slices, strawberries braised in rose water, butter, figs, and other fruits were served on the on the other long tables for their distinguished and honorable guests.

Vampiric Fae had a rather different diet than Vampires who strictly driank blood and indulge in the occasional blood wine.

The Manor's Cook had explained it was a staple during Fae Celebration during the winter.

Even if Luna wouldn't eat any of them anyway, she was curious about how it tasted and if Apollyon figured out that she was entertaining the idea niggling at the back of her mind, he might felt insulted.

He was already disconcerted from the fact that she was drinking Ravin's blood like it was the most natural thing when it shouldn't be.

In the gods and the goddesses' eyes, Apollyon was the only one, her one true mate.

Her husband had tried to see the good in the situation but it appeared like his patience was wearing thin.

Every time Ravin's name was brought up in the conversation, Apollyon had a murderous glint in his eye while cold, silent fury possessed him like some kind of demon.

The Autumn Season was an important time to preserve the harvest for the winter nights ahead and the Fair Folk had collectively agreed to celebrate Yule if the demonic Legion outside the Kingdom's protective barriers made no move to attack them in a short span of two weeks.

Now, it was in the middle of winter.

Time had flown quickly, indeed.

The inhabitants of the Autumn Courts had permitted themselves to let their guard down while the Autumn Militia bore the pressure to protect the Kingdom.

At the same time, Fae aristocrats will celebrate a cozy wine tasting party in Hazelnut Manor to welcome Apollyon and Luna as the official Monarchs-- princes and princess—-in the Autumn Courts.

It was a week of reprieve from the tension between Faeries and Demons.

That was how Luna imagined it to be, but she knew that some expectations didn't match reality, so she wouldn't be surprised if backstabbing, resentment and gossip would flare among groups of aristocrats here.

Luna had no friend here in the Autumn Courts, so she already braced herself from the awkwardness of small talk and discrimination after Apollyon told her that this celebration would last all night.

Never mind.

She would rather stick with her husband or anyone from their group.

She tried her best to talk to a man, who claimed to be a duke, on her left side.

He seemed to be older with his silver hair parted to the left side In a cowlick.

His silver beard was bushy, his suit was all black and his cravat was the same shade as the woman in the scarlet gown.