Meanwhile, on the Tophet Kingdom of Demon Realm in Another World:

The new ascended Queen seeks the elder council of the palace.

It’s the first time of the new Queen Astarte, the youngest Queen ascended after her rites of adulthood to the throne, to see the elder councils.

On a sphere shaped table they circled around. “We welcome you, once more, Queen Astarte, as the new Queen of this Kingdom.”

One from the elder council speaks with smile on his face.

Wearing slovenly, brown robe and grayish-white mustache and beard shown on his face, the Lich Botis look at the queen.

“Thank you, Magistrate Botis. I am happy you are here...” on her lips shows a sweet smile, Astarte greeted the Lich.

“And as you ascend to the throne, the Kingdom needs a King. We need someone to take the position in the throne to remain the serene of this world.”

One of the council and the trust confidant of the previous Queen, Ifrit speak. “Have you yet found a good man to be your King?”

Astarte’s face turns grim as she heard the question. It’s been a week since the coronation, and the issue of finding someone to betrothed as the king asked.

“We can find nobles around the Kingdom. There are Marquises, Dukes and Barons who are in good status to choose by you.”

Alastor, who is a new member of the council, suggested. His hand placed on the table with fingers linked together.

Mashtema is there, sitting beside Botis as her eyes squinted to the thoughts of Alastor.

“The Queen could rule the Kingdom by herself; we all know that for sure because the previous Queens before did same thing.”

Adding the thoughts, Alastor continues. “However, human race are cunning and schematic living forms. They are now preparing for another war for us...”

The entire council members went grim from what his thoughts. Astarte heaves a sigh after. “... I appreciate your concern towards this Kingdom and the serenity of this world, Marquis Alastor.”

Her voice speaks clearly and firm on it. “Then—-“ Alastor got the high pitch on his voice, before Astarte halted his thoughts entirely.

“Though, I know heroes will arise from the humans to conquer this realm... that much won’t be a hinder for my reign.”

The Queen rises on her chair. With prim stance, she shows intimidation towards everyone inside the room.

“The previous King did eradicate the entire battalion of humans before. While the queen is responsible on the management of the Kingdom’s needs, he sacrifices everything to maintain the harmony of this realm.”

The entire council room becomes eerie quiet from the suggestion of the Queen. Alastor didn’t rebut anything, and avert his eyes off.

“So, what plan would you suggest, Your Highness?” in the silence, Mashtema looked directly to the Queen’s eyes. Astarte did same and a smirk show on her face.

“I’ve known much how it is painful for us to lose someone we dear.” She stated. Everyone nods from her words, as Mashtema remained quiet.

“I know, we, the Demon race have been abhorred by humans because of our looks. Because we possesses much power that can destroy an entire nation in one swoop, but we never had chance to talk to them.”

“And what would you imply?” Ifrit chided in. His face goes serious and remains grim while looking on Astarte’s face.

“That is a big question for now. The Tophet Kingdom reigned since the beginning of the time. Our forefathers lived and cohabitated with other races. We found serenity by knowing the limits of each side.”

Botis caresses his beard, while listening to the Queen’s monologue.

“And as your new Queen, I promptly suggest to make a treaty with Human race. I want us, the Demon race and Humans to live in peace and harmony, like any other race.”

Those words come out from her mouth. In the glass window where the sunbeam penetrates through, her smile shows brim. The vigor expression of the young Queen shows up.

A sudden declaration made everyone from the council members shunned out of surprise.

Silence reign; an eerie silence that make someone breaks it due to irritability.

“What?” the Queen asked as her eyes lures around. “Ah, Your Highness... if I may speak...?” Alastor asked, with reluctance on his voice.

“Go ahead,” Astarte answered.

“Umm... you said, making treaty with the Human race. You see that since the time the Kingdom was established with our forefathers as founders...”

Alastor speaks, but can’t find any other words to continue. Astarte nods to him in agreement, but her face remains serene and firm from it.

“We can’t just do it. Pleasing the human race to offer treaty to us Demons is a disgrace in our race! That’s totally absurd!”

Ifrit grunted. His eyes directly look at the eyes of the Queen.

“I understand what you mean, Lord Ifrit... but, I think it’s the time to build a nation where peace reigns between our feud races.”

With solemn on her voice, Astarte answered. Ifrit scowl from the suggestion of the queen and leaned his back to the chair. Mashtema remains quiet.

“I think it’s a good idea. Our forefathers have been kind to other races. We did not harm to anyone at all. All we wanted is a peace and harmony of our lives until the end of time...”

Implying out, Botis smiles at the whole council members. “I’ve been living for thousands of years since the found of this Kingdom. Each royalty families lay the same fate...”

“Magistrate Botis...” Astarte uttered softly.

Mashtema sighs, as she seemed cannot bear the flow of conversation.

“I did take a fealty to be loyal for the Queen and never give doubt about her plans for the Kingdom.”

Her eyes narrow and smolder on everyone as she turns to face the Queen. Astarte shunned from the confidant’s glare.

“It’s quite naïve; I doubt the plan of the queen will fall...” with harsh and coldness on her voice, Mashtema blurted to oppose the suggestion.

“How, how could you say such thing? I mean...” Astarte snarls. “You have never been encountered with a human before.”

“That’s...” the queen trailed the words.

“A naïve girl still you are...” Mashtema uttered. Ifrit and the others grimaced from what she said.

Silence reigns up in the surroundings once more. No one dares to speak; thumps of heartbeat clearly heard of. Astarte’s hands clenched tightly as her head bow down.

“A disgrace for a demon to say such things for we have been in feud with humans since ages...”

Mashtema’s harsh words give further. “Hey, you should never speak that to the Queen—-“

“—-She’s right...” as Botis chided in to stop Mashtema, Astarte speaks as her voice fret out.

“Your Highness...”

Botis uttered softly. His eyes look at the Queen who seemed lost from the words Mashtema said.

But then, the Queen lifts her head and faces the confidant once more.

“Yet, even so... even if my plan fails, I want to do it. I want to make truce and know the human race!”

Her eyes show determination. “No matter how much time passed, I will make it happen. Even if I lost everything, I want to make this happen!”

Ifrit and Alastor locked their eyes on the Queen. Mashtema remained gazing at the Queen without blinking, so as Astarte to the whole council members.

“I know this is hard; this is something I can’t just do with my own power. But with you here, the people who symbolizes of this Kingdom; for the sake of our peaceful life, we must make this...”

Conviction is the key to see the bright future of the Kingdom. This is the words left from the previous Queen to Astarte when she was a child.

“The future of the Kingdom lies on the action of the Queen. Great actions will take great responsibility.”

It carved to her mind. Astarte knows the risk and might face the annihilation of the entire Demon race in a wrong move.

But at the time she experienced loosing someone dear to her life, which would never be happen ever again.

“We have been enough fighting against the Heroes of Human race. The feud between us races should face an end.”

Once again, she showed complete resolution to her words. Botis nods as he smiles. Ifrit and Alastor still show reluctance and doubt to the plan of the queen.

“Please, let us achieve this goal for our Kingdom and the people... and for the bright future of our next generation.”

Soft, yet firm and motivated words left on Astarte’s mouth.

“... I seek no harm from the suggestion of our Queen.” Botis stated as he stands on the chair. “Our Queen, like our previous rulers, has been wishing for our serene living...”

Mashtema shakes her head sideways, and lures a painstaking smile on her lips. Alastor and Ifrit jolted from what they saw on her.

“As the Magistrate and one of the forefathers of this Kingdom, I vote to agree on Your Highness’s plan. Let us live with harmony together with humans and seek bright future for our world!”

A loud declaration heard in the room. Mashtema looked at the two and focuses her eyes again on Astarte.

“.... It seems your naïve thinking won’t be gone soon.” She answered. “But as I gave fealty to you as my Queen, we will face the uprising or downfall of this Kingdom.”

“Lord Mashtema...” Astarte’s lips quiver as she heard those words. “If Lord Mashtema gave her agreement to the plan of the Queen, I should do the same...”

Rising up on the chair, Alastor speaks with a smile on his lips. Ifrit remained grimaced, as the three council members looked at him.

He then heaves a sigh of exasperation and rises up on the chair as well. “I still have doubt on your plan, Your Highness. It’s kind of bleak for us Demon race to find common grounds on our enemies.”

He sighs again and looks directly to her. “... I did swear a fealty to you as well, my Queen. Whenever you lead this Kingdom to prosperity or chaos is something you decide.”

“I am aware of that, Lord Ifrit.”

On her voice, the lenience and humbleness lurks over. “This plan won’t be successful if you won’t help me. Give me guidance; lend me your knowledge throughout the years you’ve been living...” Astarte continues.

“I am the new ruler, and taking great responsibility of this Kingdom relies on my hands. I symbolize the compassion and justice to everyone here.”

She continues. Everyone keep their ears open to listen.

“... However, without you all here, I will become nothing. I will not be the Queen this Kingdom needs. Right now, as your Queen, no... As a fellow Demon who shares same blood to your veins, I want you here to help me lead a new era of this realm.”

Ifrit remembered the previous Queen Juno, as she took the coronation after the death of her mother. On the same day, she stands in the council to proclaim the peace of this realm.

And by his guidance together with the council members, they succeeded. Like that time, but right now... the new Queen who has same looks as Juno stands before him.

“All right; I seek this plan you made through the end. As Lord Mashtema said, we will guide and lend our knowledge; but the overall outcome of this still in your hands. Don’t disappoint us, Your Highness...”

Ifrit suggested. From what she heard, Astarte shows up a wide grin on her lips.

“Thank you, Lord Ifrit... and everyone. I may be a bit new to this, and I’m looking forward to work with you all!”

And so, the new life of the Queen Astarte leads up to her dream: to unite and make links together with the human race for the sake of the future.