Year 2: Prelude to War - Chapter 7

When Mimir presented the Scarlett Skulls to David, he had been quite optimistic about their potential.

A fleet of ships, manned by experienced sailors and raiders, providing the Demon Empire with two things that it sorely lacked. With the help of their new allies, the Free Cities had fallen and the entire east was united under the banner of the Satyr Skull. 

Just as he promised, David rewarded Charledd Kraken’s-bane lavishly. He gave him a city, a title, and a highly regarded position.

The two attacks in the north, by land and by sea, were designed to test Eris's new rules and it had, in a sense, proven successful.

However.

“They were destroyed?”

“Almost entirely.”

Jorōgumo’s news angered David.

Her broods had brought him live updates of Charledd’s failed assault on Oso-ko, his many failures of command and, worse, his weakness.

S-ranked adventurers? Monster slayer? David’s fingers dug tightly into his chair, before snapping the wood into tiny pieces.

The Demon Emperor’s oppressive aura did not visibly affect Jorōgumo, but the maids attending David that day were quivering with fear. Even the Hysminai on guard outside the room trembled - Hilda, stood at David’s side, remained indifferent.

“When Fenrir returns, bring them both to the throne room,” David ordered. “Call all of my council, too.” David angrily stood up. “It’s been quite a while since I last scolded someone.”

***

Failure meant death.

That was what Charledd and many of those under the Demon Emperor’s rule believed.

However.

“Charledd, are you unharmed?”

The Demon Emperor welcomed him home with a smile.

Even as Charledd, beaten and bruised, knelt before the emperor, he smiled.

But it was not a terrifying smile; instead, it was a gentle one.

Yet, some of those near Charledd seemed more scared than usual.

He’d only met them a few times, but he’d never seen them like this.

“Charledd.”

“Y-yes?!”

The Demon Emperor chuckled. “Relax, Admiral. I have not called you here to admonish you for your failure.”

“You…haven’t?”

“No. Instead, I merely wished to make sure that you were okay and that the loss at Oso-ko has not too deeply imprinted itself upon your heart.”

Charledd took the insincere kindness at face value and answered happily. “No, your majesty! This defeat has taught me much and, come the next time we sail west, I shall not fail you again! No, in fact!” The pirate leapt onto his feet, an act a few generals reacted very negatively to secretly. “I swear to you know, on my name and the lives of my remaining comrades, that I shall pillage and plunder every port and city along the Free People’s coasts, and bring back riches the likes of which you’ve never seen!”

“...I’m expecting great things from you.”

Once Charledd had been teleported back to his new home, David’s malicious aura returned, just as Mimir dropped to one knee.

“...You are quick to assume your rightful position, Spy Master.”

“...I have no excuses.”

“Oh?” David slowly rose from his throne, the room shook with his every step. No one dared to move or breathe. “You admit that this is your responsibility?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

David laughed. “Even before I have read the charges?”

“All matters concerning the Scarlett Skulls are my responsibility as I was the one who recommended them to your majesty.”

“Yes, yes you did.” David stood before Mimir, his right hand curled into a fist. “How many failures does this make now?”

“...Your generosity and forgiveness is wasted on me.”

“Is it? Then.” David knelt down. “If I were to cut off your head or put my fist through your chest, you wouldn’t feel that I was being unfair?”

“...That would be too kind of an end for one like I, your majesty.”

“It would, wouldn’t it?” David chuckled. “In fact.” He stood. “I think it’s far too lenient of me to punish you myself. Mania.”

“Y-yes?!”

“Come.” David beckoned her over. Gingerly, the succubus approached and smiled slightly, trying to hide the anxiety on her face. “You’re quite the skilled torturer, aren’t you?”

“Y-yes, Master.”

“You know.” David put his arm on her shoulders. “There was a time when you had all disappointed me, all in your own ways, but you, Mania, you have done brilliant work as of late. Your Awoken are marvellous, your training is perfect and your control over this castle is nearly as great as my own.”

“T-thank you for your kind words, Master,” Mania said.

“Mania. Would you do the honours for me?”

“Master?”

“Punish Mimir.”

All of the generals reacted to those words.

Never before had the Demon Emperor had the generals punish one another - it was a first, and it was the cruellest punishment they could face.

Humiliation.

Pain.

Agony.

Inferiority.

All of the generals would feel that at such a punishment.

Mania herself was panicked, for she was fearful of what the consequences for her could be if she went too far, or didn’t go far enough.

Nonetheless, Mania took up her whip, drew it back and unleashed it at Mimir’s spine.

The first crack boomed through the room; Rebecca and Eva flinched at the sound, but shortly composed themselves.

The second strike was harder and higher up Mimir’s back, grazing his neck.

The third struck towards the middle.

Again and again Mania’s whip fell upon Mimir, and no one made a sound.

All they heard was the crack and the impact of the strikes.

After thirty long, painful lashes, Mania stopped.

Silence.

Not even so much as a breath sounded.

The gruelling wait in silence ended when David applauded slowly.

“Excellent work, Mania.” Then, he punched Mimir in the back of the head with enough power to force the general flat onto his stomach. The ground cracked as blood poured into the carpet. “Eva, have some of your new staff fix this mess - make sure it’s clean by tomorrow morning.”

“A-a-at once, Lord Allaric!”

“Abaddon - make sure Mimir doesn’t die. Fenrir, you did excellent work bringing that failure of an admiral home. The rest of you are dismissed.”

The room emptied swiftly, all except for Hilda, David, Mania and Jorōgumo.

“Was there something else?”

“One of my broods just informed me that Princess Aeila and Dame Chelsea will be arriving at the castle soon,” the spider said. “I had hoped this news would improve your mood after everything that’s happened today.”

“...It does, a little.” David smiled warmly. “You may go, Jorōgumo. Mania, Hilda - come with me.”

***

The journey east had been uncomfortable.

The Emperor’s Voice said little but he would often laugh in a deranged way whilst staring at Princess Aeila.

The young princess and Dame Chelsea had remained stone-faced throughout the entire trip, not letting a hint of emotion wash over them as demons, skeletons and Dread Knights surrounded them, no doubt trying to intimidate them.

On one hand, Aeila was a little relieved to be back in her country.

However, the crushingly heavy air of the Demon Empire smothered her wherever they went.

No longer did she feel joy seeing the countryside or the villages.

She caught glimpses of life under the Demon Emperor’s rule as they went and things were mostly peaceful, but then a gruesome scene would pass by the window and disgust her.

They had seen hanging corpses, some mutilated, left near woodlands to be feasted upon by wolves. They had seen rebels try and fail to assault the convoy, and heard their dying screams.

Much had happened in their journey, but the two women remained strong for they had to.

In her mind, Aeila kept going through all of the information she’d learnt about the Demon Emperor, dedicating it to her memory palace so she knew how best to conduct herself before her captor, and so she didn’t fall into his traps or taunts.

Dame Chelsea, a famed and skilled knight, was allowed to keep her armour and weapons, though, for once, they made her feel helpless.

Even she with years of experience in battle and armed to the teeth wasn’t considered a threat.

“Ah, here we are, at last!” The Voice opened the door before the attending Dread Knight could. “How I’ve missed you, oh blessed keep!”

“Lord Voice.”

“Lady Rebe-His majesty himself!” The Voice let out a strange whimper and bowed. “To be greeted by one such as yourself is truly-!”

“Move.”

“At once, Lady Mania!”

The Voice scurried off into the castle as the five Dread Knights bowed before the Demon Emperor and the women beside him.

Lady Mania, the Satyr Knight and Lady Dread herself, Aeila noted.

“Welcome, Princess Aeila Gaius to the Dread Keep.” The Demon Emperor himself greeted her, opening his arms wide to her. “I was almost worried that you wouldn’t come.”

With a polite smile, Princess Aeila curtsied to the Demon Emperor. “A pleasure to meet you, your majesty the Demon Emperor Allaric. I have heard many things about you, and I don’t doubt that any of them are true.”

The emperor chuckled. “I trust that your journey wasn’t too taxing, was it?”

Aeila stood up straight in perfect form, placing a hand gently to her chest, still smiling. “Far from it. Your majesty prepared us a grand carriage and strong escorts; what more could one want?”

The Demon Emperor smiled. Then, he held up an arm to her. “Allow me to escort you to your quarters, Princess.”

It wasn’t a request like Aeila was used to receiving.

It was an order.

Still smiling, Aeila gently linked their arms. “Thank you, your majesty.”

The two walked through the long corridors with Dame Chelsea, Rebecca, Mania and the Satyr Knight following them from a respectable distance. Behind them, the Five-fingered Hand of the Demon Emperor escorted them, their weapons sheathed.

“Have you ever visit Castle Kelsey before?”

“Once, when I was a babe. My father had some urgent business that required Lord Kelsey’s talents to solve.” She laughed. “He never did tell me what.”

“Nothing too good, I’d imagine.”

“Oh, of course not. Even when I was a child, I heard stories of what the Kelseys could and would do to their enemies. I hear that they were once one of the biggest backers of the Sons of Tartarus, until quite recently.”

“That is ancient history now, Princess Aeila.”

“Perhaps for you, but not for some, I’m sure.”

“For those who knew the Sons of Tartarus, they know of their defeat and their suffering, and they were most grateful for such news.”

“Yet, as I understand it, your majesty, many of those victims remain here, under the thumb of a Kelsey, no?”

“Rebecca is nothing like her family, Aeila.”

The princess’s smile dropped for a brief second, before she recovered it. “My apologies, your majesty. I meant no offense.”

“I am sure none was taken, was there, Rebecca?”

“No, Lord Allaric. Princess Aeila is right to have made those assumptions, but I believe that seeing is believing.”

“As do I,” the Demon Emperor said. “Princess Aeila, you might not know this but a large number of my most loyal followers were once victims of the Sons of Tartarus. Many, like Hilda here.” He gestured behind them to the Satyr Knight. “Suffered greatly at the hands of the Sons and of the Kelseys; to them, I am their saviour.”

“I admire your kind heart, your majesty.”

The Demon Emperor nearly roared with laughter, but he calmed himself down. “I was worried that you might be like your brother Julius, but it’s pleasant to see that you’re not as boring as he.”

“…My apologies for my brother’s behaviour.”

“Oh, there’s no need for that.” The Demon Emperor stopped for a moment and looked into her eyes. “His ramblings about his family and the future of the Holy Empire were quite entertaining, until he finally gave up and shut up.” The emperor tilted his head slightly. “I imagine he wasn’t quite how you remembered him, was he?”

“…I have seen him had worse days.”

“Is that right?” The Demon Emperor flashed her a smile before continuing their walk. “What do you think of the Dread Keep?”

“It is most imposing and impressive, your majesty. Truly, there is no place on this earth that better represents you than here.”

“For a time, I did consider moving to the Azurite Palace should it prove more magnificent than this place, but your comments helped prove to me what I already knew. There is no finer place in my empire than here, is there?”

“It is as you say.”

“Hmm, yes, but then, you see, the problem I faced was what to do with the palace at the old capital. It would be a waste to tear it down and build a new one in its place, and it wasn’t as comfortable or grand as my home, so I pondered long and hard about what to do. Eventually, I decided to give it to the Satyr Knight as a reward for all of her work.”

“A fine reward for one of your majesty’s most loyal companions.”

“I thought so too, yet Hilda did not want it. I never asked why, but I imagine it’s because she’d be reminded of the bodies of the old emperor and empress,” the Demon Emperor whispered.

Aeila almost lost her composure again, but she held firm, calming her anger by digging her toes into her shoes.

“I only saw them from a distance, but Abaddon told me that they were so badly damaged from the fall he didn’t recognise them at first. He said that if they hadn’t been wearing their regal gowns and crowns, he would’ve thought of them as giant pieces of discarded meat.” The Demon Emperor smiled. “I did consider giving them a fitting burial, but then Julius insisted on seeing them so I let him.

“One piece at a time.

“Each day, a new part of his parents was presented to him before lunch.”

Aeila couldn’t hold up her smile any longer.

Thankfully, the Demon Emperor had stopped outside of what was to be her room. The doors were guarded by two Dread Knights and there were maids already waiting inside, bowing respectfully to her.

A few had bruises and cuts on their faces, but only one or two of them appeared to be nervous.

“Princess Aeila, I would like to invite you and Dame Chelsea to dine with my wife and I tonight,” the Demon Emperor said. “We’ve prepared dresses for you, made by the finest tailors in the Demon Empire, and we would love for you to join us. I know it has been a long and hard journey, but I would deeply appreciate it if you could attend.”

With a half smile, Aeila met his gaze and said, “…We’d love to.”

“Splendid. Then, until tonight, please, relax and settle in. This will be both of your homes.”

“Dame Chelsea, there’s a small bedroom near the front doors for you to use,” Rebecca explained. “With Lord Allaric’s permission, I would like to join him and Lady Lilith in welcoming our new guests.”

“But of course. I trust neither of our newest guests would mind, would you?”

“…Not at all.”

“It’d be an honour to have Lady Rebecca present,” Chelsea replied.

“Until tonight then.”