Leon and Enid stood in one corner of the room...
Leon held the same glass of wine, sipping it slowly, while Enid clutched a plate brimming with meat delicacies.
"Oh my... These taste divine. In our kingdom, they just devour raw meatâwhat a waste." Enid said, grabbing a whole chicken from the plate and tearing into it.
"Set it down and eat piece by piece... I thought you have attended many parties." Leon said sternly, eyeing Enid.
"I-Iâm sorry, darling. Iâve never been to human parties. I assumed it was normal for you folks to just like us demons andâ"
"Itâs not." Leon cut her off mid-sentence.
"Hello, Sir." A voice suddenly sounded from behind.
"Hmm...?" Leon turned slowly, spotting a man in his forties with two ladies beside him.
"Yes ?" Leon asked, brow furrowed in confusion behind the mask.
"I am Duke Marcus Vanguard; this is my wife, Linda, and my daughter, Kiren. We are from the Vanguard noble household." Marcus said with a smile, extending his hand for a shake.
Leon briefly shook it...
"Actually, Iâve visited your kingdom." Marcus added, still smiling.
A wide grin spread across Leonâs face beneath the mask.
"Oh, really ?" Leon asked, smiling back.
"Yes, yes... Itâs a truly stunning kingdom. I believe itâs been five years since I last saw one of the most beautiful kingdom in the south." Marcus replied, chuckling.
âThis motherfucker... Heâs lying so convincingly. For a second, I almost believed there really was such a kingdom and I was its king.
But why is he lying to me?â Leon thought, puzzled, glancing at his daughter and she looked really angry.
âThis girl... Iâve seen her before. Wait, wait... Sheâs the one from the training ground that day. Kiren Vanguard, with frozen nervesâshe canât channel mana properly.
I think sheâs the fourth or fifth daughter of the Vanguard house. Is he trying to set me up with her ?â Leon recalled everything as he looked at Kiren.
"If you donât mind my asking... How old are you, sir?" Marcus inquired with a smile.
"Iâll be nineteen next month. Why do you ask ?" Leon replied and even though he knew why he was asking for his age, he kept the hint of confusion in his voice.
"Oh my god, a young man like you shouldering the burdens of such a vast kingdom all alone. It must be really hard without a queen, right ?"
"Excuse me ? But what do you want ?" Leon asked flatly, setting his wine glass on a nearby table and crossing his hands.
As soon as Marcus noticed the change of tone in Leonâs voice, his attitude and voice changed completely.
"N-Nothing... I-I just wanted to introduce myself and my family. It was a pleasure speaking with you; thank you for your time.
We will take our leave now." Marcus stammered, turning abruptly to walk away with his wife and daughter.
"I told you... Heâs a king. Why would he be interested in me?" Kiren muttered angrily, glaring at Marcus.
"I just wanted to help you. If you became his concubine, all my children would gain real value." Marcus sneered in disgust, eyeing Kiren.
"So... Um, when are we leaving to have sex on the new bed thatâ" Before Enid could finish, an old man approached Leon with his wife.
"Hello, Sir Michael Jackson... I am Valkov Vance of the Vance household." He said smilingly, extending his hand for a shake.
"Yes?" Leon responded with a cold tone, ignoring the handshake.
"Oh, well, I was wondering if youâre open to taking concubines. I have five very beautiful, elegant, and intelligent daughters who would care for you day and night, they can even bear you beautiful childreâ"
"No, Iâm good." Leon interrupted sharply.
"I understand. It was a pleasure speaking with you." Valkov replied with a smile, turning quickly to leave with his wife.
âWhat kind of nobles are these? Are they truly worried about their daughterâs futures, or do they just want influence by selling them to me as concubines ?â Leon wondered, confused.
"Theyâre using their daughters to forge real ties with you, darling. I thought this only happened in our kingdoms." Enid said from behind, her expression neutral.
"Seems common in the demon kingdom, huh?" Leon asked with a smile.
"Obviously... How do you think I got married ? My father sold me off for control of ten bloodstone mines and a slice of land in the southern Tyun-Ja Valley.
I wasnât ready to marry him and wanted to protest, but in the demon kingdom, a dead daughter is preferable to one who talks back to her father." Enid replied neutrally.
"I see. Well, itâs much the same in human kingdoms but here they are either kicked out of the house or sold as slaves." Leon replied with a neutral look.
"Okay, everyone... May I have your attention?" Adwinâs voice rang from above.
All turned toward the stairs, seeing him standing there.
"Very good... I hope everyone has had their food because Iâm afraid we must end this party early tonight, and I request the main guests to remain for an important meeting.
The heads of the seven noble houses, Dukes, Archdukes, and Army Generals of rank four and above. Thank you." Adwin announced as he descended down the stairs.
Those not named began filing toward the gates, faces etched with confusion as they started to talk about the sudden meeting.
...
âWell... Guess the partyâs over. Hope Dusk and Fruela caught that guard by now.â Leon thought, turning to leave.
"Letâs go, darling, and have some really good sex." Leon said with a smile, looking at Enid.
A wide grin lit Enidâs face instantly.
"Yess... Finally." Enid said, linking her arm through Leonâs as they headed for the door.
"Mr. Michael Jackson..." Adwinâs voice called from behind.
"Hmm...?" Leon turned, his expression confused.
"Iâd like you to join this meeting with us. Itâs for our kingdomsâ mutual benefits. Think of it as an investment to our future."
âFucking hell.â Leon thought, face serious.