“So, you violated Lady Vera’s orders?”
Lace’s furious reprimand echoed through the hall. The pitiful Moon Heaven King knelt on one knee, while Berika’s legs trembled so much she couldn’t even lift her head.
At that moment, they looked as pathetic as students being scolded.
The hall was surrounded by Demon Race guards, with two sphinx statues standing on either side, their eyes burning with eerie purple-red flames, like judges from hell.
“If there’s a next time, I’ll snap off your horns, grind them into powder, mix it into mud, and make sculptures out of it!” Lace paced back and forth in front of the two, her beautiful crystal scales refracting the sunlight and casting rainbows across the ornate floor.
Field spotted Avira standing behind Lace, and his hands shook with rage.
Eighty percent of his Demon Vanguard and Berika’s Evil Demon Army had already fallen into Avira’s hands.
He had basically become a commander without troops.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Field had been handling Demonkin affairs, planning to drink with a few brothers, eagerly awaiting Andre’s triumphant return to prepare a feast. But then he was suddenly summoned by Lace and had to rush back in a disheveled state, without even fixing his hair!
Now, his unsightly state had been witnessed by many Demon Race members, and his dignity was irreparably lost.
He could only swallow his broken molars.
Even an outsider could tell that this Vera had some special relationship with Lace and the Demon King!
If magical beasts were ranked by letters, Crystal Dragon Lace was B-Rank or above.
That meant Lace alone had the power to destroy a city.
He and Berika were both C-Rank or above, capable of facing an army single-handedly.
Berika had it even worse.
She had already been scolded by Lace once before, and now she was called back to be punished alongside him.
She hadn’t harbored much ambition to begin with. She had only teamed up with Field to investigate Avira’s identity… But after learning she was the Demon King’s wife, she didn’t even dare to defy her, let alone lift her head.
Berika kowtowed to Avira:
“It was my fault… I am willing to accept Lady Vera’s punishment.”
“Mm, good~” Lace was very satisfied.
Suddenly, in the unnoticed shadows, Field’s face turned pale.
Because, as a fellow Moon Heaven King, he too had to kowtow to Avira!
He hesitated, but the next second, Lace’s dangerous gaze fell upon him. Under the pressure, he could only kowtow as well.
In an instant, the dignity of these majestic Demon Race members vanished!
Avira then stepped forward with a calm smile:
“Get up.”
Only then did the two raise their heads.
“I don’t have any special demands for you. Just obey orders and have a sense of teamwork. I want you to understand that the current Demon Race is weak and frail.”
“Do you have any grievances against me?”
They had thought Lace was terrifying enough, but Avira’s voice was even more chilling!
She was clearly a beautiful Demonkin, yet every word seemed to exhale a cold dragon’s breath, as if it could freeze the air.
Avira was well aware of the Demon Race’s situation, just as she had anticipated.
The benefits of building a good relationship with Lace were manifesting now, weren’t they?
“I have no objections,” Berika said, trembling.
“Very good.”
Avira turned to look at Field.
“And you?”
“I will obey your orders.”
“Mm, good. Field, you may go.”
“Understood.”
Field stood up and walked toward the door without looking back.
He felt relieved inwardly that he hadn’t been kept behind—at least he still had room to maneuver.
But Berika was doomed.
Just as Berika looked expectant, thinking she might escape this hell, Avira called out to her:
“Berika, you can’t leave.”
“Al… alright…”
Berika thought she was about to be punished, her voice trembling.
But soon, she realized something was off…
The Demon King suddenly entered the hall, appearing before the gathered Demon Race members. She greeted Avira, hugged Lace, and then sat on the throne in the hall.
Avira was pulled to her side, her waist embraced, as if declaring their relationship and status to everyone. Lace’s previously terrifying expression melted away like ice and snow, turning into a soft, fluffy smile—like a cute little dragon pet.
What were they going to do?!
Avira herself felt a bit embarrassed.
The Demon King wasn’t part of the plan!
She was supposed to be working, not showing up in the hall to flirt with her!
“Vera~”
Her voice was very gentle, but upon hearing it, Avira grew tense instead.
In the past, Avira would have scolded the Demon King for slacking off.
However,
Since her goal was to control the Demon King, she naturally had to indulge her.
“Demon King.”
Avira sat on one side of the throne, finding a comfortable position to lean against the Demon King. In this pose, Ophitia’s hand could reach around Avira and do anything to her. Though she knew the Demon King wouldn’t do anything untoward in public.
“Wu!”
The next second, she regretted it!
Because the Demon King actually touched her belly. Like caressing a treasured possession, it was greedy and indulgent, yet gentle enough not to damage her.
“Demon King, not yet…!”
For a moment, Avira regretted it.
She shouldn’t have trusted the Demon King so much! This woman always pushed her luck!
Fortunately, at Avira’s reminder, the Demon King quickly stopped.
Their interaction was all witnessed by Berika.
She stared blankly at the sovereign who had shifted from cold ruthlessness to tenderness…
In her impression, the Demon King had always worn a stern face for revenge, even snapping at Lace and Lena at times.
But now, it was clearly the look of someone in love.
Could it be… Lady Vera…?
This Demonkin with a faint human scent had made the Demon King fall in love—and she was even Lace’s mother.
This led Berika to start imagining that the Demon King’s purpose in leaving the Demon Lair to conquer Tilves wasn’t revenge at all, but to die.
And now, having obtained what she wanted, she had become gentle.
Berika’s eyes flickered.
If she could build a good relationship with Lady Vera, wouldn’t her future path be bright?
“Lady Vera, are you Lace’s mother? I failed to recognize your greatness before… Please punish me. From now on, I will serve you faithfully!”
She deliberately waited until the conversation ended before speaking, to avoid interrupting the Demon King’s mood.
Upon hearing the word “child,” Ophitia’s smile became even more pronounced.
“Yes, Vera is my wife, and Lace is our child.”
“No wonder Lace is so talented, powerful, and decisive—it’s all because of this!” Berika lavished praise on the family.
Avira saw through her little scheme from the start.
But she was still grateful, as it swiftly shifted the topic elsewhere…
Without Berika’s intervention, the Demon King might have continued pushing her boundaries and taken something from her again in front of everyone.
“Don’t worry, Berika. I kept you here not to punish you, but because I need your help.” Avira extricated herself from the Demon King’s embrace and stepped forward.
“Mm, I will do my utmost to fulfill Lady Vera’s request!”
Berika was secretly delighted.
She lifted her head and met Lace’s gaze, a familiar feeling surging within her.
Wait…
Lace looked just like the princess of Tilves.
Was it an illusion?
