V2 Chapter 80

“I’m glad you can make it,”

As Cian and Sibylla entered the celebration hall of the Avidhorn Mansion, they were immediately greeted personally by Marelys Avidhorn who immediately hugged Sibylla intimately upon arrival. Then, she turned towards Cian and her eyes sparkled, “Your Highness, it’s an honor,” She smiled sweetly as she did the same intimate hug before placing a faint kiss on his cheek.

“I’m really joyful of your participation in this small event, Your Highness. You’re as slippery as an eel; I couldn’t catch even a bit of your tracks. I was afraid to be disappointed that you would probably not come tonight. I'm pleasantly surprised. You lighten our humble home, your highness. Come.”

Cian’s smile stiffens. “Indeed, it’s an honor for me as well Lady Avidhorn. You look great as usual,”

Marelys Avidhorn from the Avidhorn Family, hailing from the infamous Succubus Race. Cian smiled amiably as he carefully looks at the well-known Marelys Avidhorn standing in front of him and couldn’t help but nod in praise. She was beautiful, though more than three hundred years of age, Marelys Avidhorn seemed to have stopped aging at the age of thirty and one can hardly spot any wrinkles on her beautiful, unblemished face.

She was a full woman, her curves undeniable in the overall softness of her form, the heaviness of her breasts and the thickness of her thighs displaying it beautifully.

She had hit that age when women moved from cute and perky to beautiful and sometimes even handsome. This woman had a narrow face and raven black hair, the kind that always attracted him. Complementing her beautiful raven black hair, was the clothes she was wearing that was obviously, one of the top beautifully designed dress from [Adam’s Company]—a beautiful, seemingly simple white dress that is easy to move in and it is very soft and is made from very strong fabric. And on some places of the dress, there are decorations that have the same pattern like the scales of a dragon’s tail.

She looked like the kind of woman who knew exactly what she wanted and exactly how to get it.

The kind of woman who ran organizations and households with equal ease.

As Cian was observing her, Marelys Avidhorn did as well to him. She stared with a faint smile at the Second Prince of the Demon Empire who was standing curtly in front of her, with the demeanor of a gentleman but an aura of a wolf in disguise.

Prior to their first meeting, she had heard many tall tales about him; the youth who can make even children stop from crying. However, according to her very close friend the Vampire Queen, he was a youth of many mysteries that is even capable of fooling an entire world for a long time. She had never believed it, skeptical about the wonders of the most atrocious fiend in the Empire. But when she finally had a chance to meet him, first time, she realized, the Vampire Queen said no wrongs, and instead even a bit understated.

He was an existence that cannot be measured by common logic.

That hiding behind that harmless and handsome appearance was a wolf eyeing to devour you when you least expected it.

Show your back and before you know it, his fangs are already deep in your bones.

... ...

Marelys Avidhorn smiled sweetly and amiably as she led the Royal Highnesses towards the center of Celebratory Hall, all while observing his over-all profile at the corner of her eyes.

It was classic, whether it was his clothes or his appearance. Unlike the normal demons or disfigured demi-humans with monstrous appearances, he was more of a son of man, with the elegance of an elf and the bewitching aura of a demon.

She looked at him and his eyes struck her as devoid of fear or cunning. He was like those tender animals she had seen before just before she slew them in a hunt: eyes wide, expressionless. Completely unlike any men she slew or killed with eyes full of fear, shrewdness and full of malice and impurity— not beautiful at all.

But him—

White pale skin almost rivaling that of the Vampire race, short but pointed ears of a Half-Elf, feminine features that can be mistaken as that of a girl, obviously inherited from the Demon Empress. And most of all, his strange yet captivating eye colors that were completely different from each other; Ocean blue and scarlet red, along with his stunning salt-and-pepper hair that was almost the same color with silvery ash.

He wore what was known as business casual created by the mysterious [Adam’s Company] and was now getting popular among the noble circle—a long-sleeved purple shirt and dark pants (no suit coat, no tie) but he still looked elegant. Some of that was the clothing itself; there was nothing casual about it. It was tailored to fit—and fit it did, over a well-muscled tone back, broad slender shoulders, and a nice tight—

She had heard rumors about him undergoing strict training by the First Princess and it seems it was right.

—And to her, no, probably not just her, but to all women here, the Second Demon Prince was exceptionally attractive.

... Or in the parlance of fairy tales: Just Right.

That can easily be proven by how much people are looking at them as they walked through the sea of guests, especially to the Second Demon Prince, that almost all the eyes of young women and married ones alike, were sparkling like star lights.

From time to time, guests and servants alike would cast glances his way, now, all the ears that were perked up, see this spectacle that knocked everyone’s glasses off.

It seemed that Second Demon Prince; His Highness Aanuel hadn’t attended these kinds of banquets in a long time!

He’d occasionally show up only for banquets held by the Imperial Family, especially those hosted by the First Princess. However, others he would not care, not even giving face. Though, this only occurred after the rumors of him attending combat training that he had not bothered coming into parties and balls held by high ranking nobles just like before.

--It was at this time that Cian decided to slowly alleviate his ill reputation bit by bit, using the combat training as a foothold of his transformation.

Today, he actually showed up here?

One after another, people’s heads turned aside to look at the sky. It didn’t seem that the sun had risen from the west today, nor did red rain fall from the sky.

The three of them stepped into the hall. The lights were brighter here, the air cooler (and the floor softly carpeted. The color scheme left a lot to be desired—whoever thought rose red and sky blue made for a good combination?)—

“Paying one’s respect to His Highness Prince Aanuel.”

When the person stood firmly in the middle of the celebration hall, everyone returned to their senses one after another and immediately kneeled down to make one’s salutations. The ‘plop’ sounds that came in succession were so loud that Cian’s heart trembled in surprise. Was there a need to kneel so devoutly?

So exaggerated.

He was never getting used to this kind of exaggerated scene. Not before, not now, not in the future.

As for Sibylla, she walked with utmost elegance and grace beside her beloved fiancée. She looks like a celestial goddess that had walked into the mortal world, with an unsurpassable captivating and clear aura.

However, seeing the upper-class ladies that were joking together from before, now kneeling with pale complexions and lips trembling, Sibylla suddenly remembered something that she had tossed to the back of her mind. Her fiancé was known infamously outside as a lustful demon!

A terrible demon that can kill people without batting an eye as long he was displeased and even snatch women without a care. I thought that rumors had been somewhat dispersed. It seems like, there were still fear and anxiety within the hearts of some people. Sibylla mused inwardly.

Well, I guess that’s natural.

Not all would be able to believe the Second Prince transformation in just a short time.

She covertly lifted her head and glance at the side face of Cian and smiled proudly. The man beside her, the man that can stop children from crying just by hearing his name, it was quite difficult to admit but, he was exceptionally attractive.

He had a beautiful pair of eyes that seemed to gleam with different lights and glossy stunning salt-and-pepper hair that fell like a mane around his face. And this extremely handsome man was hers…!

She was quite proud of that.

“There’s no need for everyone to be so polite.”

A cold and cheerless tone that was like the ice at the edge of a pond in winter. Everyone gave a shiver, slowly returning to their senses after half a beat, before hurriedly getting up.

The Prince had already given his words. If they don’t obey, it would be quite a disrespect.

Although the tone was flat to the point where it seemed grim, however, for Sibylla who likes listening on his natural voice, she felt refreshed and invigorated; from the bottom of her heart, she thought it was similar to the sounds of nature.

The sound she loved to listen all the time.

“I’m not here to cause any commotion or issue. So I don’t want you to make a big deal out of my appearance here tonight. We only came here to honor the people who had fought the war and give them the right amount of respect they truly deserved. I’m not here as a prince either but as a nobleman who had loved his country…this is not my night but for those who had fought with their lives on the line in the war. So just ignore me, and place all your attention to them,”

The clear, cold voice once again rang out.

Once he finished speaking, Cian slightly bowed towards the gathered people who were wearing military attires in the near back of the hall, startling and shocking them.

Sibylla smiled sweetly and followed Cian’s action.

The military clothed people hurriedly bowed in response, saying with excited voice; “We are fully honored by His Highness praise and acknowledgment. Fighting for our country is our duty and obligation!”

"Thanks for your hard work!"

After a moment of consideration, Cian muttered with a faint smile.

Hua! Hua... The soldiers and generals stood up as one.

Compared with the soldiers he had seen before, these soldiers and generals that had just come from the war looked sharper. This greatly impressed Cian. Although most were nobles, these nobles are completely different from the normal haughty nobles. One can easily see it in their demeanor and aura. They are greatly disciplined well.

As expected of my Elder Sister's soldiers...

Cian mused.

Looking at the back of Cian, Marelys Avidhorn would have never dreamed that there would come a day when a prince would come to praise and acknowledge the soldiers in a celebratory banquet, much less in front of many people, even bowing to them.

Obviously, the shocking thing was that this comes from the infamous Second Prince himself, which was known as the scourge of the Demon Empire.

Being so overwhelmed by the favor, she quickly turned towards Cian and Sibylla with a radiant smile, “Your Highness, coming tonight is already a blessing to us, and to especially say those words, in behalf of the Northern Border Demon Army, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Although she didn't participate in the last battle, she was actually one of the high ranking Military leaders, in charge of tactics and strategies. And so, with her soldiers being appreciated, Marelys Avidhorn also felt proud.

“…I should be the one thanking you. But I fear you all will not accept it, so I can only put all the gratitude’s deep in my heart. All of you are the Elites of the Empire. Tonight is your night… I hope you will enjoy it,”

After saying that, Cian grabbed Sibylla’s hand and started walking towards an isolated corner, just beside the food table.

“Thank You, Your Highness…!”

““““Thank You, Your Highness…!””””

With Marelys Avidhorn’s words, it was then followed by all the soldiers, causing a thunderous voice to echo within the hall. Then, the surrounding people's applause.

Marelys Avidhorn hurriedly chased after Cian and Sibylla while the other people couldn’t help but look at each other in shock and surprised.

Whispers and discussion immediately appeared in every corner of the hall, talking about the sudden explosive event that had happened without any warning.

… …