New Chapter for the Highest Tier (June 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"What is there to continue, Empress?" Princess Ourania's posture went stiff as she regarded her with cold eyes full of contempt. "My engagement with my beloved is ruined because of you!"

"You did this on purpose because you didn't like how I acted during the Tea Party this morning!" Her eyes were bloodshot as she shrieked. "Just tell the truth and admit that this is your revenge!"

Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline as her lips parted in shock.

The accusation had rendered her speechless for a few silent seconds.

"What?" It almost confused her.

Where did Apollyon's mother found the audacity even to say outrageous things? "Are you out of your mind, Princess Ourania?" This was the only explanation! "Why would I even do that?"

She took a step backwards from the blow, and Luna thought she would stumble if Sir Tristan weren't there to assist her.

"How dare you call me crazy?" Princess Ourania raised her voice.

She was literally taken aback, scandalized at Luna's bold statement.

That alone gave her courage to fight back—fighting fire with fire—fighting word with words.

If Apollyon's mother had the strange desire for public humiliation, her wish was her command. "Trust me. I can call you 'crazy' in one thousand words without calling you crazy." Then, tilting her head, she gave her a condescending smile. "I am really creative when it comes to people like you."

"Well, 'people like me' are the Princesses of the Summer Courts!"

Luna crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes. "Well, I pray to the all the gods and goddesses that you don't multiply and you go extinct. I will make sure you are the last one of your kind."

The Great Hall was as silent as a burial site.

It was close to the truth because chunks of burned faerie aristocrats were taken from here an hour ago.

Frown lines marred her forehead, "What?"

Princess Ourania's stupefied expression made Luna almost laugh, but she tried her best to keep a straight face.

Maybe, Apollyon's mother couldn't believe what she just said, not expecting her to dish out what bullshit she had served her.

She stated the obvious in a whisper. "You don't respect your mother-in-law."

"Well, you don't respect me, either." Luna shrugged as she checked her cuticles, feigning boredom as an insult to her 'mother-in-law'. "You were the one who began acting rude to me first. I just matched the energy you have been putting out into the world."

"And how dark is that energy I put out which gave you the signal to treat me like this?"

"Why? You are criticizing your daughter-in-law for even the littlest mistakes, throwing passive-aggressive comment s here and there. Don't you think I have a brain to notice what you are doing, making a fool out of me and making me look bad in front of the Summer King and Queen? The say those who are critical don't like to be criticized. You disgust me." Luna had to pause to scan Apollyon's from head to toe.

She even added a snicker. "I did not exist to please you."

Apollyon cleared his throat before he spoke. "My wife existed to please me, Princess Ourania.The declaration might seem out of place after what happened in this room but I just want to make it clear."

"You might think you are perfect and you have no flaw. You can't tell me and my wife what to do."He said flatly. "Criticism is not an opening move to interact with your son's wife, mother. It's either that or you have stayed away from the Summer Courts' eyes for too long."

"You can't expect kindness from people who you are rude with. If I'm not an Empress of the Vampire Realm, I would spit on you and pull your hair out of your—"

'Wife. I thought you said not to react violently or they might think we are too defensive.' Luna cut herself off when she heard Apollyon's amused voice invaded her mind. 'You are as explosive as the wildfire from the red stone you are talking about. We must endure this until they allowed us to go. You can't let her get to you or she might consider it as your weakness if you are too caught up in this.'

Luna nodded in approval and added in a gentle voice, "Please understand the most basic rule when interacting with me and my husband. We have zero tolerance for bullshit. You make it seem like I haven't done anything right." She had to tell this arrogant hag what was on her mind. "You can't put me down and belittle me or make me feel small without consequences, Princess. I should be thankful that I'm not like you. I don't need to hurt others in order to feel better about myself.. You are just a Princess who can't even find a Prince of her own and settled for a lowly Knight."

"Empress." She thought it was a statue who called her, but it was actually Sir Tristan.

He was so still and silent beside his fiance in his panoply that Luna almost forgot his existence.

"You don't know what my fiance had gone through. Don't criticize when you never walked a mile in her shoes." Sir Tristan's voice was cool. "Having a sharp tongue will cut your throat."

Apollyon burst out into laughter, and Luna stiffened at the abrupt sound.

When he was through, Apollyon raised an open palm towards the knight. "Whoever you are Sir Tristan, you have no right to talk to the Empress of the Vampire Realm like that. Especially with that golden helm on covering your head. You look like a coward."

When he crumpled that same hand into a fist, Sir Tristan's golden panoply shrank with terrible clanging noises that Luna had to cover her ears in fear.

His screams were so loud and shrill that they could probably be heard in the next village.

The metal constricted his form while he was inside them, and he fell to the floor.

"Stop!" Apollyon halted it, and Sir Tristan stopped howling.

Princess Ourania jumped to his side and knelt beside him, sobbing. "You aren't contented with what you have done to the Summer Aristocrats that you have to hurt my fiance, Apollyon?"

Apollyon's arm fell, giving his mother a disdainful smile. "You are blaming my wife and now you are blaming me when you are the only one who started all this?"

"You are so just like your father." Princess Ourania spat, pouring all her hatred in those six words.

Apollyon stiffened as he glowered at them.

His jaw was set.

"You should remember who raised me before you open your mouth."

His handsome face was cold that Luna almost couldn't recognize this stranger who had the face of her husband.

Princess Ourania held Sir Tristan's elbow, and the cubitiere and the brassard broke into pieces.

Other than that, Princess Ourania's fiance was unharmed and in one piece. Luna sighed with relief that her husband didn't kill another person in the Great Hall.

"That's enough, Princess Ourania." King Oberon said. "We will start with the investigation so that we can set everyone free before the night ends."