Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 483

Chapter 483: Sudden Change

Meanwhile, in Silvara, Vela sat watching the messengers from the eastern base. The moment the demonic gate appeared, Lorem and Helliana began to move. First, requesting Silvara to despatch more knights and Valkyrie to the eastern border and the new city.

The members they sent as messengers were Rasha, Xavida, Helliana and Ignis, along with a small group of knights who couldn’t fight anymore.

“Your Highness! I have a report from the eastern reaches.” Ignis looked so different when the new and former queen gazed at her in surprise.

‘It seems that something happened because she no longer feels the same as the other Valkyrie. Ignis has become a real woman…’ Vela thought to herself while concealing her jealousy and irritation.

“Knight Ignis, state your report.”

Vela looked radiant, sitting on the throne with her growing stomach, different from the past. She could no longer train daily, and the palace maids and nanny insisted she take more rest. After Asura left, the queen stepped down.

Not only because Vela reached a satisfactory level, but her lifespan was reaching its limit.

‘Her face looks a little complicated…’

Ignis didn’t kneel due to her condition and instead gave her report with a slight bow. Though the ministers and nobles in the throne room looked and whispered their discontent. However, the queen already knew the reason.

“After the conflict at the eastern border. His Royal Highness Prince Asura managed to drive back the empire’s forces and reinforced the arachne people to maintain the peace. What followed was the construction of the rear city and outpost past the eastern border of Lyndwrym. Then…”

Her report contained detailed yet brief points that allowed the new queen to learn what happened in the lead-up to the current situation.

“When the green gateway appeared, Asura seemed to have fought to prevent the monsters from destroying the emerald dream. Yet, the damage exceeded the suitable threshold due to the Demon Empire’s main forces attacking from the northwest.”

‘What?! The Demon Empire was able to attack the empire. That doesn’t make sense!’

Vela felt a sense of dread because the Duchess of Drakkur had been fighting naval battles against the Demon Empire. Not only that, they drove them back with ease.

It suddenly felt like everything was their plot, and her silver eyes shifted to Xavida, who, like her, was reaching a stage where she could give birth at any moment.

“Then what happened? Since Asura didn’t take an army or backup units, where is he now?”

The queen couldn’t hide her concern, but she ensured to keep her face straight.

“It seems that his royal highness did not wish for the loss of life if he were to battle the demons head-on, so he led the vanguard charge. Alone.” Ignis spoke solemnly. “There were reports from survivors that he attacked the Demon Empire with the last of his strength. Then created a strange sigil that seemed to teleport the Prince and various members of his team to an unknown location.”

‘Hmmm… so he didn’t die? That’s a relief.’

“Is there anything else I need to know?” Vela spoke gently to avoid stressing her mind too much.

“That concludes my report. However, it seems both gateways have disappeared, and the demons are no longer visible within the Emerald Dream. Thus, the only danger now is the Demon Empire, who are trying to conquer the empire, thanks to our presence on the eastern border.” Ignis trailed off for a few seconds before she glanced at Rasha. “…As well as the invasion of monsters and arachne spreading to all nearby towns.”

Rasha stood at attention when Ignis said that.

The queen felt conflicted. On the one hand, the death rate decreased on the eastern border. On the other hand, the knights suffered injuries and trauma at the hands of the Empire and demons, leaving a large hole in their force.

And so Vela nodded solemnly and waved her hand. “If you have no other reports, you are dismissed for today.” She then smiled while looking at her mother, Helliana and Ignis, along with the delegate from the arachne, Princess Rasha.

‘It seems that peace won’t come easily. The only difference is that now our enemy is clear. Though I wish Asura could let me know he is alright!’

Slowly, the throne room emptied, while Vela used a silver cane to walk, with the support of her head maid and mother. She wished Asura could be here while stroking her stomach, feeling lonely.

“I’ll have to ask my dear sister about it, and perhaps she might know more…” She muttered bitterly and continued to walk towards a door leading to the garden.

The only thing clear was how much the women who came truly missed Asura and desired to help the queen save him. Thus, Vela could at least feel relieved by their presence. It appeared Lorem sent the ones most heavily pregnant and Helliana, who was like an older sister to Asura’s various women.

***

Far away from Silvara, within the palace and stronghold of the capital of the Duchy of Drakkur, Duchess Verena and Verana sat beside each other. They both sat reading the report from the capital and their agents who helped Asura in the east.

“It appears as if our darling is once again wrapped up in something dangerous. Now, I will miss him even more!” Verana sighed, clearly worried about Asura, who vanished from their sight in the empire. However, Verena also looked distraught because she believed her actions at sea were helping him.

‘They were able to send a fleet of battleships and destroyers to the east. How did I fail to stop them?!’ Verena’s aura and attitude changed drastically over the past four months. From the moment Asura punished her, she vowed to become a woman worthy of his respect and love.

The dainty princess long vanished, replaced with a slightly vulgar woman. Her time on board ships made her feel more like a pirate than the daughter of a duchess.

“How is Mother, Verana? She seemed devastated that our prince vanished.” Verena whispered while covering her mouth after chugging some strong whiskey.

‘Should I make our people help find him?’

Verena’s dark red eyes slowly wandered to a sword leaning against the wall, a sign their mother gave up fighting. It was the first time they ever knew her to abandon battle. Yet when they heard she was once again pregnant with twins, the dryads became her primary attendants, and she passed on the title.

‘Mother seems to have a past with him, though she told us the small parts… I cannot believe that Asura’s former reincarnation was our father. That makes him our father spiritually… and physically our lover. How messed up!’

Verana chuckled for a moment; they were family yet rivals.

“Hmph! Verena, please let mother rest. She has handed us both titles to defend the territory; for now, we cannot touch the empire. However, by supporting Asura’s territory from the ocean, we can still protect his name! He will return to us. I am sure he will. Like he always does!” Verana suddenly blurted out while glaring at her younger sister.

These simple words were enough for Verena’s doubt and slight apathy to vanish. The gleam of light returned to her eyes when she looked at her sister, the new Duchess.

“You’re right… even if he was killed. That handsome bastard would find a way to scam death into letting him live two more lives.”

‘Really? I do not get this girl. One second, she is the best woman, but if you say anything negative toward the prince, she becomes a changed woman. No… I am the same. It’s just the effect he has on us. Maybe the maidens of Drakkur are just destined to become crazy about the boy named Asura Phoenix.’

It seemed Verana and Verena shared thoughts in their heads because they were twins who had known each other since birth.

“Sister, what should I do now, depart or savour my strength and prepare?” Verena finally listened to her sister, despite trying to kill her a few months earlier, wanting to steal her title. All so she could have more of a chance with Asura and prove her worth to her mother.

‘When she almost lost her life to him… Verena transformed overnight. Now, both our hearts have changed. We all saw his determination and fell for him. Now it’s our turn to show determination, loyalty and our use!’

“You will remain in the navy. Our mother built us that armada of battleships, cruisers, frigates and fighters. You will take our fleets and guard the sea route to our lands and Asura’s ports. I can only trust you, Verena, my dear sister; you have earned my trust now. I will protect the land, so when he returns, he feels compelled to come here and meet us both!”

‘Thank goodness this girl became my ally… if she wasn’t…’

In front of these two duchess sisters stood the many retainers who realised and hoped after thousands of years.

A time when sisters would kill each other, poison each other and plot. Finally, Drakkur’s duchy was united as one! Not even the new queen, Vela, could manage such a feat, which meant Drakkur’s influence became far stronger.

“We need to see Grandmother…” Verana’s tone changed. “And seek guidance from the elders. Though they are arrogant and annoying, maybe seeing your changes, they will stop being stubborn, frigid old women!”

“Sister?! You… when did you become so likeable?” Verena felt shocked and somewhat happy. When she used to call them old, her sister would scold her. Now, it felt delightful that they were so alive.

‘It is time I make myself worthy of Asura! If I wish to stand above those elves, dragons and smelly birds… I have to change and grow.’