Hell's Consort

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<strong>Newest Chapter for the Highest Tier (March 2022)</strong>

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<strong>Archdemon of Gluttony</strong>

<strong>Prince Ravin from the First Circle of Hell</strong>

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The entertainers arriving early during the Wine Tasting Party, who allowed entering the premises, were impostors!

Queen Morgan stepped aside and showed Ravin the circus group she had brought.

These diverse performers, including clowns, acrobats, woodland sprites, musicians, aerial dancers in long flowing costumes, and jugglers in unicycles, scrutinized him with a mix of terror and curiosity.

Indeed, this group was different from the ones that had arrived earlier.

Ravin clenched his fists as he stared back at them with gritted teeth.

How could the guards allow the previous and in based on Queen Morgan's flippant invitation?

During Apollyon's conversation with the Queen, her circus group was merely mentioned thrice at the most with no elaboration.

No names.

They could have easily prevented such life-threatening blunders if they had been extra careful.

Ravin was certain that necessary precautions were taken to keep Amare safe, but he failed.

It frustrated me even more.

How did these fraudsters figure out that Queen Morgan offered to bring entertainment with her and decided to replace them?

Ravin wouldn't let it go.

'Princess Ourania and Hephaestus had something to do with it.' Ravin speculated.

An unknown woman had tried to kidnap Princess Sapphire yesterday—Princess Ourania, specifically.

Apollyon's little sister swore the sweet scent of perfume belonged to a woman.

"—a familiar one." Princess Sapphire emphasized, glancing to her right as she tried to recall the memory before it faded. "The first whiff reminded me of gold yet calm summer day. As if she was inviting the people around her to stroll in an enchanted forest full of wildflowers and sweet-smelling citrus fruits in her presence. The longer I was around the woman, the more I feel like her deceitful scent had a drug-like quality to it."

She wrinkled her nose as the Fairfolk gathered closer around them and paid rapt attention. "

I could tell that she was a powerful Fae from the intensity of her charm. I almost lost consciousness if Sloth and Xerxes didn't notice something was amiss with me. I just knew that the woman was here to seduce, but I don't think it was a scent that belonged to Mother!" She said briefly, and Xerxes settled a hand on her trembling shoulder to calm her down.

Princess Sapphire took a deep breath and explained, "She usually opts for something subtle,  delicate, and feminine like jasmine and rose. I noticed it was her signature perfume whenever  I had the misfortune to be around her at the Summer Castle."

"You should have ripped the hood of her cloak and committed her face to memory," Ravin growled as he gave Princess Sapphire and Xerxes an accusing glance.

"She wouldn't let me! The lady was too quick and strong." Now, her hand gestures became frantic, and the pitch of her voice rose with paranoia. "In addition to that, she had allies everywhere."

"I know we had no evidence to point fingers at Princess Ourania and Hephaestus, but they were the persons-of interest so far," Xerxes spoke solemnly, and Ravin nodded in agreement.

Because who else would attempt this insidious thing aside from these two—like stealing a teenage girl that didn't want anything to do with them anymore?

What were the bargaining chips they had offered to each other?

What could Princess Ourania possibly get from tearing a page from a goddess' grimoire aside from the magic that it contained and the fact that Caelano, her dark and loyal harpy, got trapped in there?

"I also suspected that the opera singer was Princess Ourania in disguise. Yes, she was supposed to be paralyzed from the waist down because of what the Archdemon Sloth had done. But I noticed that the female assailant's lower half had smelled like rust. Iron. Metal."

"Xerxes. Are you implying that—"

Raising her head at the Archdemon, Princess Sapphire replied with conviction. "We think that Hephaestus was capable of making our mother walk again if he wished to. You and Sloth weren't there, Ravin, but we did witness  the god's automatons in full motion beforehand."

Ravin rubbed at his throbbing temples when he realized that this possibility wasn't far from the truth.

Still, he refused to believe it.

"That didn't make sense." He replied. "I saw that she was in a wheelchair when she visited the Autumn Palace with Hephaestus last time."

Arms folding over her chest, Queen Morgan's brow had lifted when she asked, "Did you see  her legs, Archdemon?"

"No. The skirts of her gown were too long," Ravin replied gruffly and shrugged, "It wasn't like I can barge in your meeting and lift her skirts to make sure she was still crippled—"

"That would be rubbing salt to her wound. An Archdemon shouldn't risk the ire of a little god, especially if he had an inkling that you were here." Queen Morgan admonished as she smoothed her skirts awkwardly.

It made Ravin scan Queen Morgan from head to toe before his brows furrowed in confusion.

She had no business being self-conscious when she hadn't exposed her true identity to the Fair folk.

She was determined to keep up with her self-image of a heroine rather than the traitor who fell in love with a Fallen Angel.

Ravin thought he would let her resume living that dream.

The face she used was still false, but Ravin could see right through her with ease.

He glanced down at her and gave her a boyish smirk. "I doubt that this ugly little god even cares. Hephaestus was just here in the Autumn Palace because he was Princess Ourania's lapdog."

According to what Ravin had heard from Amare and the Vampire King, Princess Ourania and Hephaestus were mortal enemies before he and Sloth had arrived in this Realm.

He tilted his head and placed a hand on his hip. "I know her history with Hecate's protege. My mate had kept him informed. He was nothing but a whipping boy." Queen Morgan gasped at his rude words. "—and Hephaestus is too much of a coward to fight me and defend his non-existent honor."