New Chapter for the Highest Tier (June 2021)

**************************

Archdemon Empress Luna

**************************

Everyone in the royal infirmary gasped when the bright orange spear came out of nowhere and halted just a couple of inches over Xerxes' forehead.

Tilting her head slowly at Princess Princess Sapphire, Apollyon's mother crossed her arms over her chest and changed her tone.

"Of course, I am concerned about you." She drawled in a pout as her light blue eyes fixed on the young lady. Not on Xerxes. "You are my only daughter. You are precious to me."

Now, all of them were holding their breath, waiting for the moment Princess Ourania would get distracted by just a slight offence and kill her daughter's best friend.

For the life of her, Luna couldn't understand Apollyon's mother even if she knew that she was mentally unstable.

How can Apollyon's mother ask about Xerxes if he was alright and end up threatening the unconscious man the next minute just because she was pissed off about her rebellious daughter's disrespect?

Princess Ourania became angrier when Apollyon jump to his half-sister's defence.

He couldn't bear to witness this blatant abuse while the rest of the Summer Faeries in the room watched in silence.

Where they already used seeing this scenario?

Did the Summer Monarch consider this normal that they didn't dare step in and stop this?

Princess Ourania argued with Luna and Apollyon like this at the Great Hall as if she didn't care about her reputation as a Summer Monarch. King Oberon and Queen Titania let her be because she was already old to know better.

Princess Ourania had no idea about the concept of shame.

Luna saw Princess Sapphire swallow hard before speaking warily, "You only asked about Xerxes, mother. From the moment you have seen me outside at the arbour until we reached the royal infirmary." Her face showed no emotion, yet her trembling voice hinted fear. "Let's just forget the fact that you didn't bother asking your child."

Still, as a statue, Princess Sapphire never kept her wide brown eyes off the jagged tip carved on the crystal spear. "Don't pretend to even care about my well-being because you really don't have to."

"Sapphire." Nostrils flaring, Princess Sapphire yelled at her in accusation and jabbed a finger at her face. "How can you be so condescending of me! I am your mother!"

It was getting loud in the royal infirmary, and she doubted it was good for the patients settled in there.

"Yes, you are my mother, and I acknowledge that." Her reply was a whisper.

She glowered at her. "You are just stirring up trouble, you evil child!"

Luna flinched, taken aback when Princess Ourania called her daughter--evil.

It was time to put Apollyon's mother in her place.

The Summer Monarchs would let this crazy old lady roam around the Summer Castle with this audacity!

Luna shifted her attention from Xerxes to Apollyon's mother while her husband had one arm wrapped around her waist while he stood close behind her. "You didn't get the reaction you wanted, and now you are calling your child evil?"

"Don't interfere, Empress!"

'Leave it be.' Apollyon thought. 'Let King Oberon and Queen Titania handle the monster they gave birth to.'

'Alright.' Luna pressed her lips together in a grim line. "— but, I am really close to doing something I might not regret.'

Princess Sapphire's nostrils flared when she declared, "I was supposed to ask how you are faring after your loyal protector got sick from something you never explained to us. You were silent the whole time."

"As I said, I don't know." Sapphire took two steps backwards, and Luna immediately settled her hands over the fourteen-year-old girl's hunched shoulders when she felt her motherly instincts began to kick in.

Princess Ourania gritted her teeth when her squinting eyes followed her daughter's movements.

She didn't like that she was seeking protection from her and went straight to Luna.

Princess Sapphire appeared so ashamed and vulnerable when she looked around the royal infirmary and found the aristocrats chattering in the background with their eyes on her.

"How can you not know, Sapphire?!" Princess Ourania's pale face was flushed as she yelled at her, "You and the werewolf boy were inseparable. You may know what happened to him when you were just there holding Xerxes in human form with you cry there in silence!"

Luna didn't notice the Knight beside Princess Ourania until he stepped forward and spoke up. "The Faerie Sentinels alerted the Summer Monarchs of the strange collective sound of moaning from pain and anguish. Faeries staying in the Summer Castle have reported hearing about low and sinister whispers in their ears. The rest of them found themselves woken up from their sleep by the sound of screaming and driving them mad."

"I can clearly hear them, especially during the early dawn. It was close to ghosts crying and wailing in the dead of the night like they were tortured to their deaths. It became louder as it echoed throughout the walls of the Summer Castle." Queen Titania said in agitation, yet her beautiful elven features remained composed. "Can you tell me what happened at the Hedge Maze Garden, granddaughter? When we arrived there, the surrounding thick groves before the entrance were destroyed as if a behemoth of a monster have stomped on them. Other than that, there was no trace of debris or traces of what actually appeared except the tree trunks snapped into two. You refuse to tell us anything. Was there a need to keep this a secret?"

Princess Ourania averted her gaze from the Summer Queen and whispered, "I don't know what happened."

"You know, Father, I can tell it when my Sapphire is lying! My child was just avoiding queries anymore because she is too lazy to deal with it."

"Don't pretend as you know me from the inside and out, mother. I may be your child." Princess Sapphire glowered at her mother, "—But I'm not your property."

"Princess Ourania." Apollyon thundered because he could understand his half-sister's sentiments, "If your child didn't want to talk, just leave her be."

"We will not force you anymore, granddaughter." King Oberon said softly, "You can stay with Xerxes and get some rest. Princess Ourania, dissolve your crystal spear right now—"

"I want to talk to you, Princess Ourania." Luna said, "Alone."