Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 354

Chapter 354: The Cursed Seeds of the Fallen World Tree
In a beautiful room within the huge twisting tree in the centre of the Elven capital city of Ar’soleil. Asura, Celine, Al Menitos and Empress Ar Melania sat around an elegant table of pure white created with dragon bones.

The group sipped from delicate white cups, each adorned with sophisticated golden markings, a clear portrayal of the Empress’s skill and artistry.

The cups, like the room they were in, were not just beautiful but also carried the weight of the Elven history of conflict with the dragon race and each one a unique antique with distinct patterns and grooves.

“Please, Prince Asura, our guest from the other side of the great sea. Enjoy the tea brewed with the world tree’s sap. No other guest has enjoyed this honour in almost a millennia.” The Empress curled her lips and loosened her cheeks with a lovely smile.

“I still don’t accept this man and my sister…” Al Mentios’s voice, tinged with a protective edge, cut through the air. “However, I am grateful for your aid in curing her body, a concern that has long plagued us.”

I guess this guy is just a doting brother when it comes down to it.

“What’s the matter, Asura?” The lovely eyes of Celine appeared worried because he didn’t take the cup, tilting her head while looking adorable. “Is it too hot? Do you want me to blow it for you?”

“!!!”

Her brother’s face turned pale upon hearing her words. However, Asura found it quite charming and felt a sense of relief that her family wasn’t terrible.

I am just glad we determined the cult’s involvement. If I had never come, what would have happened!?

“No, it’s just a beautiful cup, however… I am part dragon, you know. I just felt a little apprehensive, drinking from the body of my kin. But since you look so adorable, I’ll take a sip.”

The Empress watched the interaction between her youngest daughter and this mysterious prince from the human lands from above the rim of her cup. Her eyes narrowed with a curious glint while Menitos looked shocked at his sister’s manner and their apparent intimacy.

Asura first lifted the cup.

He noticed how heavy and durable it felt before taking a smell. The sap gives off a sweet aroma like a warm, citrus fruit filled with caramel. This was Elven alcohol! Once it touched his tongue like a high-quality whiskey, the warm and enveloping flavour flooded his taste buds.

“Delicious…” Asura’s words only that, as he sipped the smallest amount, wanting to avoid finishing this wonderful ichor.

“Hehe… Asura, you look so funny—your nose is flared, and your eyes are bloodshot. Is it to your liking?” Celine whispered while looking at his lips as if locked in a trance.

She shifted her chair towards him while her curious eyes continued to watch him gulp down the sap.

Meanwhile, the Empress and her brother watched while interested. Because during the long time they knew this little girl, she never got close to anyone other than Spica. Though she would be kind and gentle to almost anyone, there was an obvious barrier, and she would act arrogant and a little annoying.

“Ah, it’s wonderful. Much like the lovely elves that helped create it.” Asura’s eyes moved back to Celine, whose face moved closer enough for their noses to touch.

“Really? I am glad you like it! I can make you more if you like…”

The faces of her mother and brother twisted and transformed, with one looking jealous while a tinge of happiness remained on his lips, and the other showed a rare genuine smile, her eyes loosening as she watched her daughter so blatantly offer herself to this strange man in front of them.

“Thank you. I would love to enjoy anything you make for me.” Asura gently placed the cup in front of him; as he looked at the empress and Al Menitos, he noticed a slight change in their atmosphere, while for Celine… Her cheeks reddened, and her eyes fluttered while stroking the rim of his cup with her fingertip.

Before he could ask what happened, Celine rushed off with two cups, almost skipping out of the private room.

“Uhm?”

“Prince Asura, maybe you don’t understand, but to an elven lady of marriageable age, to offer a cup of this kind of tea only has one meaning.” The Empress’s voice started stern and raspy before easing up to a gentle tone.

“Hmmm, what do you mean, Empress Melania?” Asura felt a sudden sense of déjà vu. He was sure this kind of thing happened in the past, but his mind failed him while waiting for the Empress to respond, yet she just stroked the rim of her glass while showing the most beautiful smile into her cup.

“You, Celine…” Al Menitos’s face transformed, becoming deathly pale while his forehead formed massive creases. “You just accepted her proposal from herself to you, to you, Prince Asura!” His words came out through clenched teeth as he emphasised the ‘to you’ while it felt like tears of blood might leak from his eyes; instead, he stopped acting strange and looked at Asura with a stern gaze, his lips closed tight. “I hope you are serious about Celinas and not playing with her.”

“I understand my words or actions may have offended you.” Asura lightly bowed his head in respect while keeping his eyes on the now unmoving empress. “However, I want you to know that from the moment I saw your sister. I presume her true name might be Ar Celinas, yes, from the moment I saw her. I decided she would be mine, no matter what.”

“Ah!?” A lovely red face stood in the doorway. The deep and commanding tone of Asura made her look even more adorable while her mother and brother both looked at Asura with a nod of acceptance and approval. “I-I just wanted to bring you a cup of water to wash your mouth after the sap…”

“I am grateful, Celinas…”

Asura gently took the cup and drank all of it while smiling at her. “Nn!” Her hands almost dropped her cup as they trembled; it seemed the arrogant little princess had slowly transformed over the days, but she still couldn’t defeat Asura even now.

The Empress continued to keep her head down and observed her youngest daughter being teased and guided by the young male Prince, wondering if there might be any sort of trick, but she only felt lust, affection and sincerity from his eyes and actions.

The more time they spent together, the more Celina’s heart and body melted. At first, she tried to use a soothing technique to stop her heart from pounding out of her chest and failing with every word he spoke.

Celine was an arrogant little princess with a pure and elegant appearance who had grown up under the protective eyes of her family, but all that changed the moment she met Asura—he didn’t care about her status, crushed her arrogant persona and then made her strong, stronger than even her older sisters.

“Shall we discuss the important topic at hand before you end up kissing each other?” The Empress cleared her throat while giving a charming smile, tapping the desk as Asura and Celine parted suddenly, the pair of them quite embarrassed at how close they became.

“Ahem… Yeah, that might be good.” Asura continued while Celine rushed to her seat and covered her face with both hands, making some adorable sounds.

The atmosphere of the room transformed in the next moment as the Empress narrowed her eyes and looked at Asura and her son. “Somebody managed to get hold of the former world tree’s corpse; this seed is a corrupted seed from a dying or dead world tree.”

Al Menitos joined his hands, trying to think of how such a thing could happen while looking at Asura to see if he could get any clues from him, yet the prince looked as perplexed as him.

“Someone managed to corrupt a world tree… I don’t understand how that could happen; our ancestors were born from such a tree.”

Asura’s mouth opened, but he hesitated to speak. His mind returned to the stench of the void oozing from the corrupted seed, and only one thought came to mind… The former queen and Azoth.

In that memory, he regained after connecting with Mu Xue and remembering Muru and many other memories. The feeling that Menitos gave off reminded him of the princess in those visions.

I guess the corruption started a long time ago before Celine and Menitos were even born…

Asura knew it might lead to a hard conversation or even invite anger in Melania because her mother was involved, and she might not know the truth. “May I ask if you remember the name Azoth and the former Empress Ar Philis?”

The Empress’s eyes narrowed upon hearing his words. “You speak of my aunt and… her father.”

“I believe your aunt is related to the corruption; I’m sorry if it makes you angry.” Asura knew that even though Melania’s face transformed, her face went through several shades of emotions: sadness, anger and acceptance. He couldn’t avoid this conversation, though in the visions, it was the daughter of Philis who would take the throne, Melania’s cousin.

Melania sighed. “There is no need to apologise, Prince Asura. My aunt was never quite right in the head, that is not after that event… When she killed her beloved and exiled her daughter before handing the crown to me.” She tilted her head and looked at her son, her eyes sad and angry. “I have never told you this, but my cousin was supposed to take the throne before me.”

Asura nodded while Al Menitos just looked on, confused, while Celine showed an innocent look, probably because she never heard of this before.

“That woman murdered her husband, a man she loved more than anything in this world. However, I always felt it was impossible; Aunt Philis loved the devil Azoth enough to discard her heritage to fall into becoming a dark elf… Still, after breaking the rules of our people, her charisma couldn’t be matched. Until the day those strange knights appeared, and she attacked the void beneath us.”

Asura continued to listen as he only knew one side of the events. To hear this side helped him complete the picture. Also, he realised that something important didn’t get answered. “Who replaced Azoth and became the guardian to the lowest seat for the Abyss Monarchs.”

The Empress’s fingers tapped on the table as she remembered the nightmare she endured that day and the tragedy that led to her becoming the Empress, watching her beloved aunt and cousin at odds before they both left her almost alone to guide the empire that struggled with war against the dragons in those days.

“That final day…”