Avira looked at Ophitia with a disgusted expression, afraid that the other woman would steal her egg. Although the egg hadn’t been born yet, she could still sense the other’s malicious intentions. If this continued, her dragon egg would surely be snatched away!
This was something that absolutely could not be allowed to happen.
Avira didn’t know how to explain this. She originally disliked the troublesome thing in her belly, but now she found that she cared about it a great deal—in fact, she cared immensely.
Later, she came up with a reasonable explanation—she had invested so much effort and time into it, so of course she wanted the egg under her own control!
It had to be that way.
“Rest assured, I’m no egg thief. But why won’t you let me see Avira’s egg? Isn’t this our child together?”
Ophitia also showed great concern.
But Avira always felt something was off. Why was Ophitia smiling so radiantly? It gave her a feeling of… unreliability.
As expected, giving birth was still something she had to handle herself.
“Of course not… unless you beg me, I absolutely won’t let you see it.”
“Please, Avira~ If you don’t let me see the dragon egg, wah…”
“Fine, fine, here, look.”
Avira felt that if this went on, she would go crazy sooner or later.
After Ophitia finished touching her belly and imagining many future scenarios, she went back to work. After all, being a king came with a lot of responsibilities.
Suddenly, before noon arrived, Ophitia said, “Avira, Oleniya just told me she wants to see you. It seems she has something to discuss. Do you need me to help you out?”
“Let’s go.”
Avira had no reason to refuse. Staying cooped up in bed wasn’t her style anyway.
She put on a loose silk dress and changed into warm stockings. Her belly was as large as if she were carrying a seven-month-old human infant, and she could feel its heavy weight with every step. Avira proceeded cautiously, afraid that something might go wrong with the thing inside. Fortunately, Ophitia supported her, preventing her from losing balance and falling.
Humans didn’t get this exhausted during pregnancy. Avira had checked the records—dragon clan’s births seemed similar to hers… Did that mean after giving birth, she would fully degenerate?
Oleniya waited for them in the living room.
Over the past few weeks, with Lace and some evil demons versed in “advanced knowledge” renovating the Royal Palace, it had transformed into the classic style of a demon city. The barriers were replaced with more convenient black bricks and tiles, the glass shapes light and flamboyant, resembling a black palace. Miasma and the black mist unique to the Demon Lair swirled as crows circled in the sky, creating an ominous atmosphere.
“Lady Avira.”
Oleniya bowed, then lifted her skirt in a curtsy.
“Did you sleep well today?”
“It was alright.” Avira sat on the sofa, with Ophitia supporting her belly.
It felt a bit embarrassing…
Fortunately, Oleniya was considerate and deliberately avoided looking at Avira’s belly, treating her like a normal person. This put Avira much more at ease.
“I’ve come to report on the Blood Clan. Ever since you asked me to keep an eye on them, I’ve been paying attention. Recently, Belis has become more active and even sent us a letter.”
Her voice and attitude were extremely respectful, especially compared to the past few weeks.
“I see. Thanks for your hard work, Oleniya.”
“It’s what I should do.” Oleniya tilted her head with a smile, giving Avira a gentle look.
It all started with the matter of Lilina.
After Avira defeated Lilina, Oleniya’s condition had stabilized.
Perhaps out of gratitude, Oleniya had sought out Avira alone back then to explain what had happened.
Roughly, it was about why she had acted so impulsively and why she hadn’t done her job properly.
Though it seemed like a typical subordinate’s summary of experience and failure to a superior, this time it held special significance.
It meant Oleniya acknowledged her and intended to reconcile with Avira. So, Avira granted her more authority. Though it wasn’t as free as her previous Moon Heaven Kings position, at least she had tasks to do and could hold her head high among the other demons.
It was quite poignant.
Avira had always been the type to calculate everything to the extreme, but now, due to her pregnancy, she simply didn’t have time to handle things and had to delegate everything to the Demon King. This lack of time for further communication had allowed past conflicts to fade.
Thus, things had become as they were now.
She hadn’t expected the rumors to remain unresolved while Oleniya took the first step toward reconciliation.
Even now, most demons believed she had been completely subdued and then impregnated by the Demon King. Whether among the human high-levels or the demons, the story was about the same.
“Um, is that letter with you now?”
“Yes.”
Oleniya placed the letter on the table, and Ophitia picked it up.
It was a dark red envelope—the specialized stationery and wax seal used by Blood Clan nobles.
—Why not hand it directly to the Demon King, but go through me instead? Does this mean she already views me as equal to the Demon King?
Mm, that was a good sign.
Opening the envelope, it was indeed a letter from Belis, entrusted to Oleniya for the Demon King.
“To the esteemed Demon King…”
It opened with respectful greetings. Seeing this, Avira could basically confirm what had happened.
In simple terms, she had slightly shifted the conflict.
Catherine’s movements were now fully under her control, and the reports to Freyna were all as she dictated.
Thus, she guided Belis, and in turn, guided Freyna.
Freyna was a Saint Knight of the Holy Church, essentially the War Emperor’s decision-maker there. Compared to the Pope, who was more of a figurehead without real power, those people held the Holy Church’s lifeline.
And Freyna was undoubtedly the War Emperor’s most trusted Saint Knight.
She had come to Tilves on the War Emperor’s behalf, and after this war, it was inevitable.
But due to Freyna’s personal reasons… perhaps ones even she herself hadn’t noticed… she hadn’t made a move against the demons nor obtained any useful intelligence.
She at least needed to give the Holy Church an explanation.
Thus, Avira directed the spearhead toward the Blood Clan.
Pomistan had long-standing ties with the Blood Clan—this was like “world background.”
Belis had originally believed the Blood Clan could crush Pomistan’s army, but now she discovered the Holy Church was targeting them too.
Anyone with eyes could see the problem—the Blood Clan was in trouble.
Just as Avira had predicted, Belis’s letter was a plea for mercy.
“The Blood Clan now faces a life-and-death crisis, with enemies at the gates and troubles both internal and external. We hope the Demon Race will set aside past grievances and aid the Blood Clan.”
