I Just Wanted A Soft Life, Not A Demon Husband

Chapter 84: Of Desire, Purple Mists, and the Demons Who Rule Temptation

Elyn’s POV

Morthen adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat, the faint sound cutting cleanly through the lingering tension in the office.

"Since you already possess a foundational understanding of succubi," he said, "it would be appropriate to begin there."

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms loosely. "Appropriate," I echoed. "It’s unfortunate that I possess a foundational understanding... not that I could help it."

Vaelory stiffened beside the shelf, the scroll still half-rolled in her hands. I knew even she was curious to know about the demons, even if she would act like she wasn’t.

Morthen continued.

"A succubus," he said calmly, "is a demon born from desire, temptation, and indulgence. You are already aware of this, my lady."

I nodded.

"What many fail to realize," he continued, "is that succubi are not a solitary classification."

He turned his gaze slightly toward me.

"They have counterparts."

I already knew where this was going.

"Incubi," I said.

He inclined his head. "Correct. Succubi are the female manifestation. Incubi are the male."

Vaelory gasped out loud in shock.

"Males?" she blurted, eyes wide. "There are male ones like that... that woman?" she asked, horrified.

That woman meaning Seraphielle.

Morthen nodded once. "Yes."

Vaelory stared at him like he had just confessed a crime.

"Oh no," she whispered. "That’s worse."

I rubbed my temple. "Why is that worse?"

She glanced at me, then away. "I don’t like thinking about it."

I didn’t question her because I could see she was already on the verge of a panic attack.

Morthen clasped his hands behind his back.

"It is very easy to identify succubi and incubi. They have distinct physical traits. They possess two horns, and their wings are always present, even if they are high-ranking demons," he told us.

I nodded because his explanation tracked. Seraphielle’s horns had been present, and she had also had purple-tinged wings at her back.

"But lower-ranking succubi and incubi have something else that makes them distinct," he continued. "It allows one to identify them immediately as lower-ranked. They have a tail."

"Oh?" I said, intrigued.

"The tail typically ends in a heart-shaped tip," Morthen added.

Vaelory recoiled. "Why?"

"Symbolic resonance," he replied. "It reinforces their nature."

"Their primary ability," Morthen went on, "is enthrallment. It is not always intentional. In many cases, it is passive."

"So they don’t even have to try?" I asked.

"Correct," he said. "Prolonged exposure results in heightened attraction, emotional fixation, obsession, and in extreme cases, devotion."

I glanced toward the spot where Seraphielle had stood earlier.

"But for Seraphielle, there was no prolonged exposure," I pointed out. "You both took one look at her and were ready to give her your head if she had asked for it."

Morthen nodded. "Lady Seraphielle is extremely strong. She doesn’t require prolonged exposure. Unlike most succubi, the moment she enters a room, everyone is enthralled unless she actively suppresses it."

I nodded.

"They are also instinct-driven," Morthen continued. "Succubi and incubi are governed heavily by desire. And sometimes, they lack discipline."

"And that leads to...?" I prompted.

"They may pursue targets obsessively," he said. "In some cases, they resort to abduction."

Vaelory shrieked loudly, making the scroll slip from her hands and hit the floor with a sharp thump.

She jumped like it had bitten her, then immediately crouched to pick it up, clutching it to her chest.

"Kidnapping?" she asked faintly.

"Yes."

"But why would they kidnap anyone?" she asked Morthen, who simply gave her a look that clearly said use your brain.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed, clutching a hand to her chest. "I can only imagine what they would do to their victims. I hope I never meet one that kidnaps me."

Morthen turned to her calmly. "You do not need to worry about that. You are not their type."

Vaelory froze. "I’m not?"

"No," he said. "You do not exhibit the traits that typically attract them."

She straightened slightly. "Oh."

She deflated a little at that, and I took pity on her. Imagine being dismissed by creatures ruled by lust for not being their type.

"It should also be noted that the succubi own all the pleasure houses in the demon realm," Morthen continued. "Every single one of them."

"Really?" I asked in shock. That was bound to bring in a lot of money.

"Yes," he replied. "Every pleasure establishment within the demon realm operates under succubus authority, including the illegal ones."

I whistled softly. "That must bring in a lot of money."

Morthen nodded. "It does, but they are still not as rich as the fox demons, which is why they constantly clash with one another. We will get to that."

My ears perked up. I hadn’t even known fox demons existed.

"The succubi territory is perpetually saturated with a substance known as Velaryx Miasma," he continued.

I repeated the name slowly.

"The gas enhances desire, weakens inhibition, and amplifies enthrallment effects," he explained. "Most beings cannot endure prolonged exposure. Humans would die from even a single breath of it."

"The only creatures that can withstand it are succubi, incubi, high-ranking demons, and the Demon King."

Vaelory hugged the scroll tighter. "If the gas is that dangerous, why would anyone even go there?"

"For indulgence," he said simply.

"What’s the territory called?" I asked.

Morthen paused briefly, then said, "Velistrae."

"Lady Seraphielle," he continued, "is the ruling Duchess of Velistrae."

I nodded.

"She is also one of the Seven Nobles who govern alongside the King," he added.

That explained why no one had stopped her behavior. I knew she was a duchess, but I hadn’t known she was one of the seven nobles who served the King directly.

I leaned forward slightly. "So... does she only rule over succubi and incubi?"

Morthen nodded. "Yes. They are the only ones she rules over, but they are numerous. Succubi are also unique in that they do not command other demon species beneath them. Their dominion consists solely of succubi and incubi."

I nodded. "Alright. I’ve gotten all the notable information regarding succubi. Tell me about the others."

"Similar to succubi and incubi," Morthen said, "we have the fox demons."