Chapter 734: Troubled Tidings
Back in the Luria Empire, Serena leaned back in the grand throne ant for her husband to sit with a flat expression, narrowed eyes, closed lips, and a faint furrow in her brow, glancing down at the “ambassadors” from the Mainland Empire.
‘These foolish humans can’t even recognise the goddess they once worshipped for a thousand years.’
She glanced at Lumina, who stood obediently by her side, wrapped in an ice-blue dress, with glistening silver trim. The goddess who once served light now appeared more like the mother of snow, with pure white hair, lashes and eyebrows, which granted her an ethereal beauty that few could match even in Asmodeus’s harem.
[Well, I suppose they cannot help it, Sister.]
[These filthy empire dogs don’t favour a single god.]
Despite Lumina’s icy calm expression, Serena found the angry tinge in her tone endearing. And she spoke the truth, unlike the continent, which believed in specific gods, which held links to races or a single elent or role.
The gods on the Mainland, unsatisfied with their current power, however, sought more.
Many of the countless wars and battles over the past millennia were re attempts to snatch a title or lesser role from a weaker god.
‘Well, they still believe in the one creator, as we do.’
This creator, however, carried different anings for both continents. To the Mainland, the creator was a gentle, affectionate father of humanity who granted them the ability to assimilate and take all racial powers into one vessel.
[Tsk! Hypocrites. That old crone is an evil, selfish and power-hungry witch!]
However, to the continent and those old enough to rember, the creator was a terrifyingly mighty and dreadful existence that cared not for any race. She desired nought but power and complete domination over the entire world.
“Speak, human.”
Tired of the constant greetings and delay, the empress spoke. Serena couldn’t help but think of how Asmodeus, who finally spent the night with his new muse, didn’t return ho for several days.
Knowing about it just infuriated her.
Sadly, these diplomats carried a higher ranking than the n she’d killed previously, nor did they claim glory of a fake god or insult them.
She glanced down at the pair, one handso male with golden blond hair, a little duller than Nikolai’s and ocean blue eyes. Beside him, another noble from the Mainland glanced up at her with aggressive eyes as if filled with molten flas.
The male’s face twisted in disgust the mont Lumina’s extra arms shifted, grasping at the swords placed along her back. Thin, elegant rapiers, all of them forged with the special magical ore from Luria.
[Can’t we just kill them, Sister?]
Lumina’s sensual voice, like a kitten seeking milk, repeated in Serena’s mind as she watched the male glance at her with a disgusting gaze.
The mont she knew the visitors included a young male.
She had chosen her attire with deliberate restraint.
A thin white inner robe hugged her form, simple but elegant, its silk smooth and clean, embroidered lightly with crimson patterns along the cuffs and hem. Over it, she wore a blood-red imperial mantle, heavy and flowing, draped from her shoulders like liquid velvet. The fabric was deep and dark, closer to dried blood than bright scarlet, catching the light only when she moved.
The outer robe flared wide at the sleeves and trailed behind the throne in long folds, layered and imposing. Gold-thread embroidery traced sharp, thorn-like patterns along the edges, while a black waist sash cinched everything neatly at Serena’s midsection, holding a single ruby clasp shaped like a drop of blood.
It symbolised the colours and the of their royal emblem.
The dress itself revealed nothing improper, no skin, no weakness, no flattery.
But to send a ssage to whoever might deem to look down upon their empire, or her as an empress.
She sat back against the throne, the blood-red mantle settling around her like a living thing, folds heavy and unmoving. From where the two ambassadors stood, the colour dominated their vision. Deep crimson trimd with black and gold, regal and oppressive, a reminder that this hall was not neutral ground.
Serena rested her chin lightly against her knuckles.
“Speak,” she repeated, voice calm, unhurried. “You crossed continents to kneel in my hall. I will not wait a third ti.”
Albrecht Valerius inclined his head, just enough to be polite, not enough to show submission. “Your Majesty of Luria,” he began smoothly, “we are here to prevent further… misunderstandings. The Holy Mainland Empire values stability. The previous delegation failed to uphold proper decorum.”
Caelith Ignivar, beside him, clenched her fist, flicking her gaze to Lumina with an aggressive hatred that she didn’t bother to hide. “Call it what it is,” Caelith said, voice ringing across the chamber. “They died because they mistook monsters for rulers.”
‘Racism now?’
[Hehe, if only they knew.]
‘Mm.’
The temperature instantly dropped.
Lumina’s extra arms shifted behind her, gently grasping the eight hilts with a whisper of tal as she adjusted each rapier. The sound alone caused the knights standing behind the two ambassadors to swallow nervously.
Serene glanced at her sister, with a faint, hidden smirk, closing her eyes slowly, overwhelming them with an imnse charm that spread like a tidal wave.
“Wow!”
“Beautiful!”
The mont her eyes flicked open, her long lashes and piercing eyes glanced at the guests, ten pure white tails dancing behind her.
“…be careful, cousin.” Albrecht’s pupils shrank into dots the mont Serena’s lips curled upwards. An icy chill spread up his spine, then he felt a sharp sting as if a beast bared down on his throat with its maw.
Serena’s eyes slid to the female knight at last.
Her eyes were like a predator’s; they moved with a slow, yet asured grace. “Your faith precedes you, human.” Her eyes narrowed at the sacred cross embedded in her plate armour. “But such faith tends to break easily.”
Caelith ignored the cold greeting laced with a warning and glared back at the empress. “A re tyrant dares speak of faith. Nonsense!”
‘Oh? I like her!’
Serene’s face brightened, her lips slowly curling into a genuine smile.
However, Lumina’s body shivered; this wasn’t a friendly smile, but a smile filled with controlled danger and aggression.
[Sister?]
“Interesting,” she murmured.
“You sent one tongue wrapped in silk, and the other’s sharpened into a blade.” Her eyes returned to Albrecht. “Which one speaks for your empire?”
Albrecht exhaled through his nose; the mont he tried to move his body, he froze. He glanced up at the snow-white beauty while gritting his teeth. It was as if countless hands gripped his limbs, forcing them to remain in place.
Nevertheless, these were the cream of the empire and didn’t collapse like inferior dogs; his eyes sharpened as he spat. “Both! The Mainland needs not bow to a re empire of monsters.”
Serena leaned forward slightly.
The ruby clasp at her waist caught the light like a drop of blood.
Lumina’s voice slid into Serena’s mind.
It was rather cute how, despite her mature and sensual changes, when together with her, she remained the lovely and adorable girl.
[These foolish humans, who do they think they are speaking to!?]
‘Calm down, Sister. They are but children, how could they know better?’
Because Lumina already sought to kill them, Serena’s mood beca complicated. She observed them for several minutes while engaging in the tedious greetings process, but in the end, she knew these humans were here to demand things.
‘How dare they demand anything from my husband’s empire!’
Serena might not care if they insulted her or called her all the nas under the sun. That was only true if they didn’t profane the things she held sacred in her heart.
Her husband.
Her children.
Her sisters.
Unlike Asmodeus, who loved the people, Serena wasn’t so young god; she’d seen the dark and brutish things all races could do when forced. To her, this was just a phase, waiting until it passed; she supported him.
That’s why these foolish humans stepped on sothing they shouldn’t have.
Her husband’s pride.
Serena’s smile deepened.
‘Not yet,’ she replied aloud. ‘Let them finish.’
Her gaze hardened.
“Tell why I should let either of you leave my empire alive.”
.
.
.
Albrecht’s body trembled; he felt sothing, a weight, a chilling cold. The air itself seed to bend toward the throne, as if the hall acknowledged only one authority.
He swallowed. “Because war between us would not end with victory,” he said carefully. “It would end with only your futile defeat! For our God Emperor, cannot be felled by any mortal hand!”
Caelith scoffed, hand tightening around her hilt. “—!”
“Silence,” Serena said.
‘After all, he wouldn’t wish for us to engage in a needless war.’
[Our husband is too kind…]
Serena rose from the throne at last, crimson mantle flowing behind her.
“Leave,” She glanced at Albrecht, then back at the knight, who stirred her desire to kill more violently than a love rival. “I applaud your faith, but do not mistake faith for power. Girl.”
Caelith’s teeth ground together, fury flashing across her eyes. But her body still refused to obey. The aura surrounding the empress pressed down on her like an unseen hand, every instinct screaming danger.
Albrecht placed a hand across his chest and bowed faintly this ti, not showing an aggressive or arrogant smirk.
The Holy Empire thanks Luria for its… clarity. We will take our leave, Your Majesty.”
Serena did not look at him; instead, quietly, she observed the knights behind them.
Caelith turned as well, pausing just long enough to look over her shoulder. Her eyes flicked to Lumina’s extra arms, then back to Serena.
“Enjoy your throne while it lasts,” she said coolly, then whispered, “Monsters…”
Their footsteps echoed as they left the hall, the doors closing behind them with a final, heavy thud.
Serena remained standing, crimson mantle settling slowly around her legs.
“How noisy,” she murmured.
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