Newest Chapter of Highest tier (August 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"Don't bother with what we had witnessed earlier, wife." He regarded her with a smooth and expressionless as his hands were clasped loosely behind his back. "I don't want you to be distracted. Focus on your duel with Princess Ourania and Sir Tristan. Don't think about anything else."

Luna's brows furrowed at her husband's suggestion. He was right but it was easier said than done, though.

She gazed down to the floor. "Yes, husband."

"Don't be careless and get stabbed by the sword." Apollyon's tone was now similar to how a commander ordered his subordinate but she wasn't in the least insulted about it since he was just worried about her and the baby's well-being."No blood on your skin like you promised, do you understand?"

'Or else the Vampire King might punish her?'

The corner of her lips lifted with a hint of a smile."Yes, husband."

Apollyon raised an eyebrow before he scowled. "You rarely say yes to whatever I say except today. Come here." Her husband beckoned a finger at her and Luna immediately obeyed without question as she stepped closer towards him. "Now where is my good luck kiss?"

They already did at the underground chamber.

Yet, Luna didn't protest.

She removed the helm on her head and allowed her insatiable husband to haul her for a kiss.

The Vampire King's scent still lingered when they broke apart.

He smirked and said, "Good."

Her lips quirked in amusement.

Maybe, Apollyon was referring to the kiss.

His face appeared relaxed and Luna noticed his mood improved a little bit so she asked him a favor, "Husband, I have a request for you."

"What is it?" Her husband's expression remained amicable and she took advantage of it.

Placing a palm on his chest, she stood on her tiptoes and murmured, "Go and leave Ravin to protect me in case your mother cheats in the duel. I will now bind him to a verbal contract."

Apollyon took a minute to let his wife's suggestion sink in before he demanded, "Do you think I am stupid? Why would I leave you with two Archdemons while I'm gone?" Snatching her wrist and pulling her away from the small gathering of champions and wellwishers, he whisper-shouted in her ear, "You have to kill me before I step my foot outside this colosseum."

It made Luna wince.

"I want you to take all the angel wings from the boxes on the small chamber and move them somewhere safe." She reasoned out with gritted teeth, "I want to know where the Summer Courts got them from without the angels attached to it."

"We can do that after you win."

"Do it, husband. We might never have the chance to access the Hypogeum after this." Luna insisted as her gauntlet clenched into fists. " Just be quick."

"Alright." She sighed with relief when Apollyon finally gave in. It made her think that the Vampire King was actually curious about them too! "I will be quick. The Duel Ceremony will start at any minute so you have to give commands to the Archdemon of Gluttony while I'm still here." That was his condition and she was glad it wasn't impossible to do. "I want to hear your orders in person so that I can correct you if I found a potential loophole."

As if Ravin had heard her call his name, her Familiar had left Sloth--who was busy waving his hand at the spectators--and appeared behind Luna, caressing her forearm with the back of his hand to get her attention.

It was a mere light contact but Apollyon ground his teeth as he glowered back at the Archdemon.

Did Ravin think her husband would be intimidated with a mere staring contest when Apollyon had seen the same gold flecks of those pupils every time he looked in the mirror when he used to possess his physical vessel?

"Before my husband, Apollyon, comes back from his task, the Archdemon of Gluttony, Ravin, Prince of the Second Circle of Hell, will be in charge of my safety just in case Princess Ourania breaks the rules and cheats in order to defeat me while he was gone." She told Ravin and shifted her attention to her husband.

In this Realm, only the Vampire King, the Empress' only mate, had the power over her and she would bestow it to him without exchange, no one else.

Luna gave him a half shrug and asked, "Satisfied?"

"That will do." That was the last word Apollyon said before he walked away without looking back, leaving her to stare at Ravin who was still silent even if his ten minutes was finished.

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The four champions—two main duelists (she and Princess Ourania) and two seconds (Sloth and Sir Tristan)--wore their black and gold armor plates while armed with similar swords the men-at-arms at the Hypogeum had given them to settle their quarrel.

Duels and jousts were the only alternatives so she could achieve justice.

It wasn't called the trial by the battle for a reason.

If Princess Ourania allowed King Oberon and Queen Titania to interfere with their quarrel as to the judges for a royal court trial, Luna doubted that they had the capacity to stay neutral when the family was involved.

She mused as she bent her head from side to side and stretched her limbs.

Both of them will have the dilemma to either choose their own daughter who became mentally unstable because of the responsibilities they imposed on her to step up and honor the long-standing agreement of marriage between the Vampire Realm and the Summer Realm or… they could choose to support their estranged grandson since he did the right thing.

Apollyon's mother would swear an oath that she didn't literally stab her in the back and pushed her down the stairs.

Heat flushed through her body which made her pulse sped up from anger.

Luna already figured out that Princess Ourania had the ability to lie.

Since she had the pure blood of the Summer Monarchs running through her bloodstreams, Apollyon's mother was strong enough to deceive them with her words.