Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 37: A Mission (2)

Cries and pleadings of the officials filled the hall. The princes were all seated silently, all their thoughts unknown. Even the usually frivolous fourth prince whose birthday had been ruined sat in his spot quietly. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

’’Everyone...’’ The demon lord’s voice caused the court to quieten as they waited like a pack of wolves, awaiting their alpha’s decision, ’’Our towns, our realm, and our subjects must not fall in the clutches of any humans or ghosts.’’

His words seemed to have filled the demons with hope as they waited for the man to continue.

’’However, despite being capability, these treacherous dead humans managed to bring harm to the crown prince.’’

Some collective concerned gazes shot towards the crown prince Lucian and on the same hand, a trail of hateful looks landed on Lareina.

Not ghosts, but ’treacherous dead humans’. If the demon lord was not intentionally digging her grave by phrasing it like that then she did not know what else it was.

’’The crown prince is passionate and has the heart of a saviour but he is not familiar with the ways of those treacherous beings. But if we are to send someone else to quell this trouble, it would be appropriate to pick the one who has known these creatures closely,’’ The demon lord paused and turned towards Azrael.

The court quietened and after a second, voices of assents rose in the place.

Every official who opened his mouth sang praises of Azrael. The great general. The victorious one. Their noble and invincible protector.

And Lareina who had been seated a little lower than Azrael, easily drowned in his huge shadow, watched as each word of praise caused a chilling smile to quirk on the demon lord’s face.

A bad feeling rose in her chest and even before she could think, her palm flew to settle atop Azrael’s resting hand.

When Azrael looked at her, he found her looking at him with wide, almost concerned eyes. He could not understand why he had the urge to cup her palm and pull her close and assure her. As far as he remembered, he had always had it. This undeniable feeling towards this woman.

However, a feeling more overpowering, one of hatred seemed to consume him. Every moment she had disdained and denied him in the past seemed to flash by his mind, intensifying and clouding his sense of sanity.

A feeling so complicated that he looked away from her immediately.

"What do you think of taking this mission, son?"

Lareina’s face fell at the demon lord’s words. She leaned forward to speak but realized that the demons had a sharp hearing. Without Azrael casting a spell around them, everyone would hear every word she uttered.

And with the demon lord’s question directed at Azrael, everyone was already looking at him.

She could only hope that Azrael would refuse politely.

But despite hoping that, she knew what answer was coming.

’’I accept, My Lord,’’ Azrael’s voice was neither soft nor loud, neither overbearing nor humble.

The crowd burst into cheers and Lareina’s heart dropped to the stomach.

She might not have been familiar with their ways or their affairs but any living creature existed with a heart that was full of emotions. Emotions which were often complicated.

And what Lareina could understand by the situation in front of her was that this was a deadly fire pit Azrael was being pushed into.

Many questions and complicated feelings arose in her mind but Lareina did not want to dwell on them. Since Azrael had relented to this demand of the demon lord, he must have thought of everything.

In any case, it had nothing to do with her.

"You have been awfully quiet, princess...’’

Lareina had barely relaxed in her seat when the demon lord’s gaze landed on her.

An ominous feeling rose in her chest.

"Why don’t you accompany the second prince on this mission?" The man’s voice was slow as he drawled each word, rendering silence in the court, ’’In any way, you are a human. You must know some way to deal with dead humans which might assist your husband to solve this case, don’t you think?"

Everyone looked at her judgmentally and she could hear inaudible voices scorning her.

Lareina realized that the reach of this fire pit of no returns extended from Azrael to her as well.

Knowing some way to deal with ghosts? Anyone who could think would understand that a human princess was not equivalent to an exorcist. How has someone who had been raised in royal palace be aware of how to deal with ghosts?’’

She was lost in her thoughts until she suddenly felt a tug on her wrist. Her gaze snapped to Azrael who had gripped her hand from under her voluminous sleeve, his eyes thick with warning.

The look and intention in those eyes was obvious to her because she had just tried to do the same thing.

He wanted her to refuse.

"Or is it that you are unwilling to free the realm of this headache?" The demon lord’s voice deepened.

"I am willing, My Lord.’’

Without even looking, Lareina felt the weight of Azrael’s crushing gaze on her.

’’Hahaha! That’s good. That’s good,’’ The demon lord propped his chin on his palm, seemingly pleased with how everything turned out, ’’You are allowed to excuse yourself,’’ he dismissed her.

Once Lareina left the court, Azrael rose to his feet.

The demon lord looked at his son, ’’Is there anything that you want to say?"

’’I am willing to accomplish this mission by myself. I do not desire any aid, My Lord.’’

’’Oh? Are you going against my arrangements?"

Azrael lowered his head, cupping his fist in a posture of obedience, ’’I dare not but she would only be an obstacle if brought along. A drag of a princess who would need to be saved at every juncture hence I am pleading for the lord to reconsider this decision.’’

In the silence of the courtroom, Azrael’s voice and his words echoed through the tall walls.