Chapter 86: It Makes Sense That The Succubi and the Fox Demons Would Be Mortal Enemies
Chapter 86: It Makes Sense That the Succubi and the Fox Demons Would Be Mortal Enemies
Elyn’s POV
Mortal enemies.
That meant until death did them part—assuming they could even die.
I leaned back slightly, studying Morthen as if the answer might be written somewhere between the lines of his calm expression and the precise way he folded his hands. Fox demons and succubi being at odds made sense in the abstract—powerful factions always found reasons to despise one another—but mortal enemies implied something far deeper than petty squabbles.
I tapped my finger once against the arm of the chair.
"Is it because the fox demons are richer?" I asked bluntly. "Richer than the succubi and incubi, I mean."
Morthen didn’t even hesitate.
He nodded.
"Yes."
"But," Morthen continued, lifting one finger, "it is not only that."
Why was I not surprised?
He adjusted his glasses in that precise, deliberate way of his, as though bracing himself—not because the information was dangerous, but because he personally disliked it.
"The fox demons," he said carefully, "believe themselves to be superior in more ways than one."
"How?" I asked.
"For one," he replied, "they believe they are more beautiful than the succubi—and also more classy."
"Fox demons place extreme importance on aesthetics," he explained. "Refinement. Presentation. Subtlety. They pride themselves on elegance—in speech, in movement, in dress. Even their architecture follows strict aesthetic principles."
"So they think the succubi are... tacky?" I offered.
His mouth twitched.
"That would be the polite interpretation."
I crossed my arms. "What’s the impolite one?"
He inhaled slowly through his nose.
"They refer to succubi and incubi as low class," he said. "They call them vulgar and overexposed..."
"Overexposed what?" I asked.
Morthen adjusted his glasses, then cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Sluts," he said in a low voice.
I heard it.
"You look like you almost threw up in your mouth," Vaelory observed.
"I very nearly did, my lady," he replied dryly.
Oh. Now I understood why they were mortal enemies. No one wanted to be called a slut to their face—even if they were, in fact, sluts.
"Oh my! But from what I’ve seen... the fox demons don’t seem to be wrong," Vaelory said.
The moment the words left her mouth, Morthen turned sharply, his compound eyes searching the room—likely for Seraphielle.
Then he fixed Vaelory with a harsh look. Well, as harsh as his eyes could manage.
"Be careful with your words, human," he warned. "The succubi and incubi could dismiss you with a snap of their fingers. Never call them sluts. Never."
His antennae twitched violently.
Vaelory swallowed and nodded, clearly shaken by how genuinely alarmed he looked.
"The only beings with the gall to refer to the succubi and incubi as... that are the fox demons," Morthen continued. "And they make sure to express their opinions vocally—calling them—" He shrugged. We already knew the word.
"The succubi hate being referred to as that, don’t they?" I asked.
Morthen nodded. "Yes. That is... the point."
I leaned forward again, elbows resting on the desk.
"The succubi don’t see themselves that way," he continued. "They don’t think they’re immoral or cheap. They’re simply... open. Honest about desire. Attraction. Pleasure."
I nodded.
"The succubi view desire as a natural force," he said. "Something to be expressed, not hidden. Fox demons, however, believe restraint is the highest form of sophistication."
"So," I said slowly, "we’ve got one group that wears silk and whispers manipulation into your ear, and another that owns their allure outright and doesn’t apologize for it."
"That is... a simplified comparison," Morthen said.
"But not an inaccurate one," I countered.
He inclined his head.
"Still," Vaelory said, frowning, "that doesn’t sound like enough to justify mortal enemies."
I snapped my fingers. "Exactly. There’s still something missing."
Morthen’s gaze sharpened slightly.
"Power," he said. "And humiliation."
I stilled. "Humiliation?"
"Yes."
He folded his hands behind his back and began pacing slowly, the soft tap of his shoes against the stone floor oddly measured.
"The fox demons do not simply possess wealth," he said. "They ensure everyone knows it."
I sighed. "Of course they do."
"They openly flaunt their success," he continued, "particularly in front of the succubi and incubi."
"How?" Vaelory asked.
"By expanding where others fear to tread."
I frowned. "Meaning?"
Morthen stopped pacing and turned to face us.
"The Duchess of the Kitsunegawa Territory—Duchess Aurelixa Vulpyr—has no fear of risk," he said. "Where other rulers hesitate, she advances."
"She has opened fox demon businesses in territories most demons refuse to touch," he continued. "Including the Hellfire Territory."
"The Hellfire Territory?" I asked, frowning. "Isn’t that Ignivar’s territory?"
"Yes, my lady," he replied, adjusting his glasses. "The Hellfire Territory is one of the most dangerous territories in the demon realm. It is plagued with meteors on a regular basis, it is always hot, and there is always something on fire. Even Lord Ignivar grows weary of how much he must tend to within the realm."
I let out a low breath. "Wow. She’s bold."
"And daring," Morthen agreed. "The rest of us thought she was insane for opening a gambling den there, but it turned out to be one of the most successful dens the fox demons possess."
"So," I said slowly, "while the succubi dominate desire, influence, and social leverage... the fox demons dominate money, probability, and risk."
"Yes," Morthen said. "And they make certain the succubi are aware of it."
"Verbally?" I asked.
He nodded. "They go as far as to remind the succubi that they dared to do what other demons feared. That they have a gambling den in the Hellfire Territory—and that no matter how much noise the succubi and incubi make, they will never be at their level."
"And most times this leads to a fight—or even a war," Morthen continued. "But the Demon King has made it known that if the two factions begin another war, they will face consequences and lose the freedom to operate their businesses."
"And both factions love their businesses too much to start a war," I said.
"Yes."
For a moment, none of us spoke.
Then Vaelory frowned deeply, her expression thoughtful in a way I hadn’t seen before.
"...Can I ask something?" she said.
Morthen turned toward her. "Of course."
She hesitated, then blurted out, "Are women here just... allowed to rule?"
Morthen and I both turned to look at her.
"What do you mean?" Morthen asked.
She gestured vaguely. "The duchesses. The fox demon ruler. The succubi ruler. The way you talk about them—they aren’t just figureheads. They make the primary decisions in their territories. You didn’t refer to the husband as the ruler, but the wife instead."
Morthen studied her carefully.
"And?" he prompted.
Vaelory frowned harder.
"Why?"