Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 70: From The Capital (2)

With the other two standing there, Lareina did not move to sit. Rather, she paid attention to the conversation between them.

"Father wanted me to keep an eye on this mission closely and report to him consistently without delay,’’ He whistled and a crisp sound reverberated near the windowsill where a raven had appeared at some point, ’’And secondly, I am asked to visit and invite the eminent monk and his disciple to the capital. They happen to be residing here in an abandoned temple for now.’’

Azrael’s face had not fluctuated in the slightest when the first thing had been mentioned as if his father’s lack of trust in him was a common occurrence but when he heard the second part, his face visibly darkened.

’’Brother, I know you are quiet against those revered monks. In your eyes, they are just baldies who preach and pray endlessly without any good intent but still, this is father’s decision,’’ The third prince staggered on his feet as he looked at the both of them, ’’He even wants you to visit them along with sister-in-law so that your sins and...’’ he trailed off.

It seemed like he was reluctant to speak in front of her. Now that Lareina had gotten the gist of the matter, she saw no point in disturbing as well so she gave the man a slight bow before she turned to leave.

But she had barely taken a step when her hand was grabbed by Azrael. She looked up at the man but he was not looking at her.

’’Continue,’’ Azrael calmly looked at the third prince.

"He merely thinks that those monks could cleanse your souls and sins. This marriage, in his opinion, is still unconventional and if not for the situations then, he would never have permitted it. But now the rituals are done and things have come to this, he says that you both should be purified...’’ The third prince clutched his chest dramatically, ’’But looking at the both of you... it truly makes one envious seeing the bloom of love when one is walking on a lone path.’’

’’When we return, I can bring up the matter of your marriage if you wish.’’

’’Ah, no way,’’ The third prince trembled visibly, ’’What if I am not as lucky as you and ended up getting a vicious wife? Then with my puny strength, I would not even realize when I died.’’

Since he was here on official duty, the third prince was also settled in the same inn. When they had first arrived here, the innkeeper had refused more than two rooms but now, he was willing to rent half his inn, even by kicking out his guests just based on Lareina’s face value.

So, the third prince and demon guards who had accompanied him had their appearances briefly altered by Astra before they settled in the assigned rooms.

...

’’A monk?" Lareina could not help but question Azrael as soon as she stepped inside their room, ’’Does the demon lord have faith in them?"

Azrael sighed, ’’The eminent monk he talked about is an old monk who goes by the name Ren. He is revered in both human realm as well as demon realm.’’

Lareina had heard the mention of this eminent man a couple times when she was in the human realm. He mediated between both the realms in times of crisis and provided great assistance to both realms when troubles befell. An eminent monk who had roamed the world, had experienced all vicissitudes of life and remained unmoved by the divisions between the creatures.

In the human realm, there were dedicated monasteries for him but the man did not stay at the same place for a long time.

When Lareina mentioned it, Azrael added to it, ’’Back in the capital, the lord had erected a monastery for him but the bald donkey refused to stay there...’’ he trailed off as the sound of a pleasant laughter reverberated in the room.

He watched as Lareina plopped on the bed as she laughed. One of her palms covered her mouth as if she was trying to restrain her laughter but then she burst out laughing, a drop of tear sparkling in the corner of her eyes.

Azrael quirked a brow but he did not interrupt the woman nor did he have the slightest intention to do so.

Feeling a gaze boring into her skull, Lareina cleared her throat and sat up elegantly, ’’Your Highness, you don’t seem to be fond of the person.’’

She spoke those words in such poise as if the person rolling on the bed just then was not her.

Azrael could stand the sight of those geezers in the slightest. Since he was young, everytime they appeared, they would bring forward declarations of him being the imminent calamity and disaster of the realm, hence making the superstitious demon lord uneasy who would resort to violence and often torture to cleanse him of the evil luck he brought.

’’Those would cause some big chaos someday,’’ Azrael harrumphed.

Lareina refrained her laughter. She felt like she had seen a side of this man she had never seen before. As it turned out, there were times when this great general also wore his feelings on his face.

"These matters will wait for now,’’ Azrael spoke up, getting her attention again, ’’Sleep early tonight and no matter what, do not come out of the room."

Just as he turned to leave, Lareina stood up from the bed, ’’Your Highness, are you going out for the case? Where are you going?"

’’To the village where the first incident occurred,’’ Azrael looked at her from above his shoulder and when he spoke again, his voice was full of conviction, ’’And you are not going anywhere near that place.’’

’’What if I say I must go?" She walked towards him before standing in front of the man as she spoke, ’’Your Highness, after the incident yesterday, this inn is not that safe of a place and...’’

’’Rune will stay here and be at your disposal,’’ he stated and the look in his eyes matched her stubbornness as if he knew that he was not backing down certainly.

Lareina frowned a little.