Since the issue regarding Ciela was resolved, Empress Sarina changed her attitude and beca more respectful. She no longer treated him like a son-in-law but rather as soone of equal stature.
"The Trial of Aristella? I've never heard of it..." Asmodeus lifted his brows while leaning forward to grasp his goblet of wine, curious about the topic.
'I assu it's sothing close to a dungeon or sothing I did in the past for Serena.'
Empress Sarina narrowed her eyes while rubbing the rim of her goblet before curling her lips with a sarcastic smile. "It's a special trial of the elves, in a location deep within the forest. A sacred place where the world tree sleeps."
"Sacred place?"
"The Trial of Aristella... a place only those blessed and accepted by the goddess can enter."
The Empress stopped for a mont.
Her lips curled into a mysterious smile, which caused Asmodeus to stop and narrow his gaze.
'I can feel it, this child... his aura is overflowing with the love of our goddess.'
From the mont she noticed his strange aura, the Empress watched as the leaves fluttered and blood in his presence, and the buds began to sprout.
'We cannot lose him... no matter what!'
"A trial... sothing that I assu only elves have taken part in in the past? Can those people on the council accept my presence inside that sacred place?"
'After all, he is wise and understands that this will be sothing hidden.'
The royal elves worked hard, ensuring that this trial was hidden from the annuls of history...
'Forgive for asking this of you, my dear son-in-law.'
Her eyes beca softer, lowering her brows as she bit her lower lips. It seed important enough for her to drop the face of an Empress completely and instead as a daughter of Aristella.
'But this is the only way... the last seer was chosen two hundred years ago!'
"Understood."
Asmodeus didn't complain.
Instead, each ti her mother spoke more, Ciela's soft hand gripped his tighter, the concern and worry in her eyes flickering as he peeked back at her face with a bitter smile.
'It can't be helped, my lovely elven fiancee looks so desperate to help...'
"Can you tell more about the trial? Mother."
His words beca warr, and his tone lost its edge. He wanted to consider Ciela's feelings, so Asmodeus decided to et the Empress halfway.
—Clank~
Sarina set down her goblet with a sigh before clearing her throat.
"Ahem, the trial's details are a mystery even to , Asmodeus." For a mont, her eyes narrowed, her lips shrinking as she seed bitter.
"What do you an?" A curious Asmodeus asked while taking note of the Empress's reaction.
'She seems genuinely frustrated... Why?'
The Empress adjusted her seating before lifting the second bottle of wine, offering a refill to everyone while pressing her lips together.
A forlorn expression reflected on the surface of the wine as she spoke once more.
"Only a special existence, one loved by the goddess Aristella can enter the grounds... and the royal family is banned from taking part, unless under special circumstances."
'Normally a Saintess or Seer would have appeared by now...'
Sarina's lips smacked together as if tasting the wine she swallowed, a sour aftertaste, causing her to twist her nose slightly. "This trial isn't for those of the highest power, but... for the one the goddess adored the most."
The usual process would proceed in a certain fashion.
Usually, the chosen person was summoned to the palace and granted the title of saint or seer. After attempting to clear the trials, they were given the tears of Aristella.
"Tears of Aristella?" Ciela gasped while covering her mouth.
Asmodeus flinched, his flesh pinched by Ciela's fingertips that grasped him tightly. "What's that?" He asked while turning back to the Empress.
"Hope."
Her first response seed abstract, but then she lifted her goblet, smiled for a mont, and gulped the liquid down her throat.
'If the elders discovered, I told an outsider and a demon at that... but to save my husband!'
"The Tears of Aristella, well they are..."
The Empress then began to describe the holy relic of the elves.
A magical item that could destroy all foul and evil in the forest, so used it to create beautiful silver trees that acted as a barrier from monsters and demons.
Others used it to heal and cure their loved ones—no usage was deed worthless as it was seen that the goddess gifted them this item for that reason alone.
"... A single usage could grant the owner several usages."
'Hmm... why didn't she get a saint or seer to help her sooner then?'
Asmodeus wondered about the Empress and her current state—it couldn't have been sothing that had started in the past few months.
He wanted to ask how long the Emperor had been in such a state but couldn't help but swallow his words and instead sip on the wine while watching her animated eyes.
"Do you find foolish?"
She had a low and weak voice, raspy from the alcohol, but she narrowed her eyes while showing a wide grin despite her expression looking hopeless.
"Mother?! What do you an?" Ciela's voice suddenly rang as she interrupted her mother's words.
"Ciela... don't worry, why are you upset?"
"Everyone knows that mother does her best; how could a mother be foolish! Right, Asmodeus?!"
'My dear daughter... you are too precious to .'
Ciela's love and respect for her parents weren't sothing that could be disturbed by the past few years—in fact, she also desired to help her father. That's why hearing her mother speak in such a manner caused the thoughts she bottled inside her chest to burst out.
Asmodeus grasped her shoulders and pulled her into his arms. Erika looked over with a concerned expression. Levia placed a hand on Ciela's shoulder to show her support, and the Empress glanced over the three won and Asmodeus.
'I am happy you found such wonderful people, Ciela.'
"Thank you, Ciela... but it's true that I have failed your Father, and the forest." Despite speaking in a defeated tone, her eyes shimred brighter than before as she placed her goblet on the table and leaned back with both arms across the backrest.
"The goddess has vanished, she no longer answers our prayers... for over two hundred years she has not once responded... despite this..."
Her green eyes glead, and she gazed up at Asmodeus with their powerful and determined light, which caused him to swallow his saliva. "You..."
"Aristella has chosen an outsider like you, maybe because we have failed her! That is why I sought your aid and asked for this eting—oh, king of demons. I know this is arrogant and a hard request, but I beseech you."
"Mother?! What are you doing?"
"Empress?"
She stood from the sofa, placed her right hand across her chest, and lowered her body, showing a respectful and sincere sign of request.
"Asmodeus, King of Demons. I, Empress Ar'Sarina, follower of Aristella, ask of you, please complete the trial and save our empire from ruin!"
Whereas before, it felt more like an informal request, the mont he saw her so earnestly asking for his aid, it felt strange to Asmodeus.
'It reminds of Alan's first request to ...'
Asmodeus waited for a mont, able to feel Ciela's panic. Her hand grasped him tighter, and her heart pounded louder in his ears. He peeked at Erika, who looked amazed, with shining eyes at the bowing Empress. Levia's warm breath made it obvious she was behind him.
"The Tears of Aristella... can they help Ciela's father, the Emperor?"
To his words, the entire body of the Empress shuddered as he noticed her teeth bite together.
'That tremble gave the answer...'
His mind filled with mories of when he couldn't do anything other than fight and kill things before Alan showed him the light and a path.
The tis Alan asked for help, tried to help him and struggled to break through his stubborn ways caused Asmodeus to chuckle before placing a hand on the Empress's shoulder.
"Do not bow to , not yet at least... when I surpass you, feel free to worship , Mother-in-law. I will take the trial, but Ciela will co with ."
'After all, I cannot deny I am weak to mothers... though at first I mistook that feeling for love, and desire, when it was really just a longing for soone to show affection. Like Mother did.'
"..."
Sarina looked up at Asmodeus, his face calm yet glowing with confidence and excitent. She couldn't express her feelings.
His smile reminded her of a young child getting a gift for the first ti.
"Before you ask why, it's because I know she would want to be part of this, to see it through and help her family. I am not asking for your permission—my wives aren't weak dolls—they are powerful demons, and I will nurture them to surpass all others."
"You want to help your mother, Right Ciela?" He asked, while cheekily grinding, helping the Empress to her feet.
"Ah... Asmodeus... are you sure?" Ciela's voice turned weak as her hand was taken by the Empress and pulled into a hug.
"Ciela, are you willing to help your Father with ?"
Asmodeus wanted her to feel no guilt, both the Empress and her daughter.
He noticed that Ciela and many of the other won didn't show him when they struggled with things, hiding their feelings behind a veil.
"Is... is it really okay?"
Ciela turned to face him with a look of uncertainty.
The mont he nodded, her face glowed bright with a beautiful smile, like a flower just blooming, radiant and filled with life.
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