Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 74: That village (1)

"Ah...’’ Moira let out a shriek when she stepped onto a dried branch. The sound of the branch shattered pierced into the silent air, followed by her hesitant voice, ’’Why are we taking this route? If the coachman’s words are anything to go by... shouldn’t we take the other path that leads to the village?"

Lareina stepped over a branch, her eyes trailing the long river that seemed to have no end. Perhaps it was the cold night, but a layer of mist seemed to enshroud the entire place like clouds floating in the air.

What Moira meant by the coachman’s words was the warning that the man left before he hurried off to get out of this place.

’They say that this river’s water is no longer normal. It swallows everyone up. If you get too close, you will breathe in the poisonous air and if you step into the water, it will such you inside it. No boat floats there and no demons survive. You must not go there. You must not...’ Those were the words he uttered before fleeing and the sheer terror on his face revealed that he was not babbling mindlessly.

’’Lady Moira, you need to understand we are here for a case,’’ Astra beautifully repeated the words that Moira had said in regards to Lareina before, ’’Hence, we cannot avoid a troubling path wilfully. If there are chances we are going to encounter ghosts here, then this is the path we must take.’’

Even though Lareina, for once, shared similar sentiments with Moira but she agreed with what Astra was saying.

"To cross the river...’’ Lareina’s words came to an abrupt halt when an intense burn suddenly spread through her lungs.

An overwhelming heat spread throughout her entire body and suddenly she could not breathe. Just when she thought she was about to be consumed by the strange agony, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back.

And a refreshing scent filled her nose as her face hit a muscular chest. Lareina opened her mouth, breathing in mouthfuls of air.

"Be careful,’’ Azrael raised his hand and his palm hovered over back.

Lareina pressed her forehead against his chest as her legs turned weak. Too close. Too close.

Azrael sighed and placed his palm on her back and rubbed it, his movements gentle and careful.

’’My Lady, how are you feeling?" After examining the place where Lareina had stepped, Astra walked towards Lareina.

Lareina immediately broke free from Azrael’s hold.

Azrael’s face darkened.

Astra shivered but she realized it was too late to back out now so she could only brace herself.

"What is that?" Lareina stroked her chest, ’’I could not breath and it... restrained my movements.’’

’’It’s ghost air,’’ Moira’s face was not ostentatious for once as she spoke.

Astra’s voice was solemn, ’’The ghost air is thin here but as we proceed further, it keeps getting dense. My Lady...’’ she looked at Lareina in concern, ’’We were not affected here by the ghost air because we are demons. However, even we would be uncomfortable when we go further.’’

Lareina understood the implication in Astra’s words. The fact that her body responded so badly just in the beginning meant she won’t be able to survive the ghost air at all. If she pushed forward with the rest of them, then she would probably die in no time.

She looked at the river thoughtfully. In fact, at the end of the day, staying at the inn in utmost comfort and waiting for the rest of them to finish the mission would have been her ideal choice had the demon lord not specifically ordered for her to be a part of this mission.

Under such circumstances, she refused to give him any opportunity to exploit. But at the end of the day, no matter what choice she made, she would be hanging on a thin line between life and death.

’’Why can demons resist ghost air?" Lareina asked Astra.

"Ghost air is filled with death energy, but demons are already part of the underworld.

We are, in many ways, similar to ghosts. But what sets us apart that we have corporeal bodies.’’

In fact, Astra had already cast a spell on Lareina. To ordinary demons, she looked like a demon too. She had completely lost the aura of a human. However, what was effective on ordinary demons was nowhere useful against things that had no eyes or ears.

Lareina tilted her head and looked up at Azrael, ’’Is there some other way?"

"No."

"Yes.’’

Azrael and Astra muttered at the same time.

Azrael was the one to say ’yes’ so Lareina looked at him, utterly determined in her posture.

Meanwhile, Astra scratched her head in confusion. Hm? What was there? It’s not like they could fill Lareina with demonic air...

’’But... how...?" Moira mumbled under her breath, visibly trying to figure out. What was happening.

Astra’s eyes widened in realization. She quickly spoke up, ’’My Lady, this subordinate has been incompetent. Her lack of knowledge nearly misled you!" Astra slammed her fist on her chest resolutely, ’’I am willing to receive my punishment.’’

’’Huh? No...’’ Lareina’s lips twitched. Why were Azrael’s subordinates always ready to throw their life away and receive punishment for everything?

Before she could speak, Astra spoke up sincerely, ’’Since His Highness is already helping you with this matter, I will go and look for any abandoned boats nearby and search through the place for anything suspicious. We cannot afford to waste time...’’

Suddenly, Moira screamed, ’’No, Your Highness, you can’t...’’

Like a gust of air, Astra disappeared and along with her, she dragged Moira away. Moira seemed to struggle with all her might as she looked at Azrael longingly, mouthing something but since the distance had already become huge, Lareina could not catch a single word that she uttered.

What can’t Azrael do? What did the woman want to say?

’’What did she say? Did you hear anything?" Lareina turned to Azrael.

The demon prince who was blessed with sharp senses replied with a straight face, ’’No.’’

Lareina quickly got over it. In any case, this was not the most important thing right now, ’’Your HIghness, I am willing to do whatever it takes. Just lead the way.’’

’’You might not like it,’’ A glint flickered across the pair of purple eyes that seemed to idly examine Lareina’s face.

"I don’t like many other things but I still have to keep up appearances,’’ Lareina forced a smile on her face as she looked at the man who seemed to be in a leisurely mood, ’’They have gone to look for boats and we have no time to waste... mmph...’’

One moment Lareina was still speaking and the next moment, her lips were captured by a pair of cool lips. They nibbled on her bottom lips and when she gasped, the tip of a tongue seemed to explore her mouth.

Lareina remained in a daze only for a small fraction of minute before she narrowed her eyes and—

’Chomp chomp chomp’

Azrael’s lips were treated like a rare delicacy as Lareina bit down on it with utmost force.

The taste of blood filled both their mouths and Azrael broke the kiss, stepping away from her like a gentleman.

The man walked as he stepped past her, ’’You said you were willing....’’

Lareina gasped for air as she turned around and followed him, "You pervert! How could you...’’ she trailed off when she realized that she had stepped right onto the spot where the ghost air had struck her earlier. The marshy land still contained her footprint from earlier.

Yet even as she stood there now, she did not feel anything amiss in the slightest.

And suddenly, she realized the meaning behind Azrael’s words when he said that he had a way but she would not like it.

’’Hmm?" Azrael quirked a brow, ’’I let myself be devoured by you, I suffer the revenge of such sharp teeth...’’ he raised a finger and wiped the drop of blood from his lips, ’’and then you go ahead, calling me a pervert. Are you being fair now?"

Lareina stood there quietly, feeling bitter in her heart. Who was taking advantage of who? She did not have an answer to that but as things stood, she knew that if she said anything, Azrael would provide the simplest solution.

’Go back to the inn and stay there quietly.’

And if she followed his instructions, then his father would make arrangements to welcome her back in the capital.

Alas, the life of a hairless chicken was just that. No matter where it went, it would be roasted.

’’Your Highness,’’ Lareina smiled, ’’We can make it work.’’

’’Hmm? Can we?" Azrael blinked, looking curious.

Lareina’s smile faltered.

The sound of urgent footsteps sounded. Astra and Moira had returned empty handed and Moira even seemed a little shaken from whatever she experienced.

’’There is not single boat in sight,’’ Astra shook her head, ’’And true to the coachman’s words, the water is not ordinary.’’

’’When I said so, you did not listen to me and just now, you almost pushed me into the river to test if it affects living beings or not!" Moira snapped. The more she looked at Astra, the more she hated her and for a fact, she knew that the woman was venting on her for all the times Moira had mocked her in the past. Yet, back then, due to her special status in Azrael’s life, Astra could not retort to that.

Astra coughed, ’’Lady Moira, must we discuss your grievances now? Didn’t I catch you in time? Had I not pushed you suddenly, we could not have discovered the abnormalities with the water, could we?" She coughed some more and continued before Moira could blast again, "How are we going to investigate if we don’t enter the village? If we take the other path also, I doubt that these guarded villagers would let strangers in at this hour. What are we going to do now?"