Newest Chapter For Highest Tier (August 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"Husband." Luna's legs stopped her legs from waddling the clear blue-green of the pool that she could see the sparkling rocks underwater. "Didn't I tell you that I want to be alone?"

The tall trees surrounding the waterfalls were still.

Bright green leaves fell from the branches, which made the forest's atmosphere tranquil.

She thought that the roars of the water would calm her soul.

It turned out that the sound of her husband's voice would do.

"You are too silent than normal. I will become more worried if you keep this up." Apollyon's deep baritone startled her when she finally heard him speak. She knew that the water splashed on her legs was lukewarm, but why did it feel like her blood was frozen in her veins when Apollyon found out about her desolation? "Talk to me, wife."

"If you keep the distance between us for far too long, it may be difficult to return." He spoke softly despite the roars of the waterfalls. "Why are you crying? I didn't understand. Did Sir Tristan hurt you in some way?"

"No." Luna sniffled for the last time as she swung her legs solidly to splash her face on purpose. There!

That would hide the fact from Apollyon that she had wept.

When droplets of water trickled from her cheek, she looked over her shoulder, praying to the goddess that his beloved could ignore her bloodshot eyes and slightly red nose.

This endless weeping will cease, and stability will be hers once again.

"The Knight from the Fall Courts was an excellent swordsman, and I was careful that he wouldn't inflict damage on me so that you wouldn't punish me with whatever you had in mind."

Apollyon's large body towered over her, sheltering her from the sunlight, "I am glad that the panoply was able to protect you from serious injuries. If what you told me was true, I would have believed that Hephaestus forged all of the royal armors himself without the Summer Monarchs knowing."

"The metal was thick that it could have prevented Sir Tristan's beheading, but Sloth was able to slash through his neck. It was as swift as a strike of a cobra." Luna returned her gaze to the pool to avoid her husband's piercing blue eyes, "The Archdemon Familiar was powerful enough to shatter Princess Ourania's helm into pieces when he pierced the back of her head."

"You fulfilled your promise to me." Luna's shoulders hunched over when Apollyon clasped the back of her neck,"—but there are still smears of blood on your face."

"Not mine."

Her husband released her hold on her nape when he sat down beside her, "I didn't state whose blood it shall be." Then, his hand settled under her chin to turn her head towards him, "Therefore, I win in this bet, and you owe me."

"What do you want?"

Apollyon's thumb caressed the softness of her lower lip, "I want you to submit to me whenever I want to."

Her skin turned rough as goosebumps prickles her skin.

Luna scowled.

"Better." Apollyon's frown turned into a smirk. "I would rather you be mad at me than cry in my face. I don't want to see you hurt—especially if I am the cause of those precious tears."

"It isn't you."

Frozen, Apollyon's smile dropped, and his eyes narrowed at her. "Then, who is it? Your Familiars?"

Luna snorted.

She was used to Apollyon's unreasonable jealousy that she couldn't figure out if he were sarcastic or not.

Luna had ordered Ravin and Sloth to keep an eye out around the forest just in case the Summer Monarchs ordered Faerie Sentinels to spy on them.

She glanced around the area.

So far, it was only her husband who didn't adhere to her request for long.

"Princess Ourania."

"Don't waste your tears on my mother, beloved." His tone was a razor-sharp sword. "She isn't worth your compassion."

Luna nodded her head in agreement. "I couldn't believe that she said sorry to me. That haughty princess actually lowered her pride to say sorry to me at the arena in front of everyone."

"I agree it was a strange occurrence. That admission humiliated her." Apollyon's hand slid to the side of her neck to pull her face closer to his, "Royals never admit they were wrong unless—"

"There must be something behind it. I'm not sure if her apology was real. Did she do this to gain sympathy from the spectators to make us appear as the villains, or was she regretting her actions after Sloth had paralyzed her?" Luna murmured as she searched her husband's countenance.

"The woman does not deserve my pity." He growled, "Though, one thing I was sure of is that her jealous antics ended here."

"Husband. They say forgiveness was the key to freedom. But I don't think forgiving Princess Ourania for what she had done to us would set me free? Should I set myself free from this resentment choking the life out of me? "The events of the duel sucked my energy. My knees are weak."

The truth was, Luna didn't even feel good about her revenge.

She couldn't even stand to see Sir Tristan's headless body.

Nobody wins after so much pain was unleashed in the world.

"Do you regret what happened?"

"No. Yes. "Luna exhaled before she turned around to face him. "I don't know."

She acknowledged the pain.

Luna just wanted to cry her heartbreak out to release all of them.

There was no point in denying that she actually did.

"Don't take everything personally, and you will feel less melancholic. Let go and move on." Her husband told her. "You don't have to struggle or make it tougher than it needs to be."

As Apollyon said, was she closely involved in this duel even if it was over and done with?

Should she take a step back?

Their forms were mirrored in the silent waters below, and they were the finest of mirrors.

Yet, both of their reflections were beautifully smudged and broken.

Apollyon and Luna weren't perfect.

Neither was Princess Ourania.

It was time to strap an armor for the next stage of the journey to protect her heart.

It wouldn't be good for her to stay for too long in the Summer Courts.

"Let's bring Princess Sapphire and Xerxes. Tomorrow, we must go search for the Tree of the Four Seasons."