Chapter 379:Return.
They had barely stepped through the palace entrance before several attendants recognized them. For a moment, there was surprise as they stared at them, then relief.
Their disappearance had clearly caused more concern than either of them had expected. One attendant quickly bowed.
"Your Majesties, welcome back."
Lilith gave a polite nod.
"Thank you."
"We’ll inform His Majesty of your arrival immediately, please feel free to go to your quarters for rest in the meantime."
Atheline exchanged an amused glance with his wife.
"It seems we’re more famous here than we expected."
Lilith smiled.
"Or simply difficult guests to lose, it would be war if we ever completely dissappeared. While we do have power, it doesn’t mean they will not worry especially when it seems that word had already spread."
They were escorted through the palace to their room,to freshen up. Not long afterward, they found themselves standing before King Seragus once again.
The Demon King was seated in one of the palace’s reception chambers, and the moment he saw them, his expression brightened.
"Finally." He stood and laughed. "I was beginning to wonder whether my continent had swallowed you."
Atheline smiled.
"We nearly gave it the opportunity but it seems to be full."
Seragus laughed loudly.
"Then I assume you had a good vacation?"
The casual way he said it made Lilith smile.
"Something like that."
Seragus looked between them.
"That answer sounds unconvincing, did you encounter a problem?"
Atheline shrugged, shaking his head.
"We had an interesting journey. The continent was peaceful and prosperous, you have done a a good job your Majesty"
"Thank you for the compliment, I suppose."
The king studied them for another moment before shaking his head.
"Well, you’re back safely. That’s what matters."
He then glanced toward their fox.
"And apparently you brought your companion back as well."
The fox looked up at him. Seragus chuckled.
"Good. At least someone looks as though they enjoyed the trip."
The reunion was relaxed enough that the king didn’t immediately question them; instead, he invited them to a welcoming banquet that evening.
It wasn’t anything overly extravagant. After all, they had only been away for a short time, and their relationship had already become fairly comfortable following the recent trade negotiations.
Still, it was a formal enough occasion to acknowledge their return. Several ministers attended, a few senior nobles were present as well, and, naturally, Prince Lucifer joined them.
The moment Lucifer saw Atheline, his face lit up.
"You actually came back!"
Atheline laughed.
"Of course, I wasn’t moving into the continent. It was only a small walk."
Lucifer walked over and clasped his shoulder.
"I thought you might decide to stay in the wilderness forever."
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"He would have to survive without me."
Lucifer immediately laughed.
"I suppose that would be difficult."
Atheline shook his head.
"You two are getting along too well."
The three laughed. The banquet proceeded naturally, food was served, wine and various drinks were brought out. Conversation gradually shifted toward their journey.
Seragus rested one arm against the table.
"So."
He looked at Atheline and Lilith.
"Tell me about your trip."
Lilith took a sip from her glass.
"What would you like to know?"
"Anything."
Seragus smiled.
"You left my capital with almost no explanation, traveled to another city, disappeared again, and then returned with enough equipment to suggest you found something."
He leaned back.
"I’m curious."
Atheline glanced at Lilith.
They had already agreed on how much they would reveal. They told him the truth, just not all of it.
"We found some interesting locations."
Atheline began.
"Ancient places, mostly abandoned with little to no substance but it was good to learn about something."
Seragus nodded.
"Were they ruins?"
"Something like that."
"And did you find what you were looking for?"
Lilith answered this time.
"Yes"
The king’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Really, would you mind telling me what it is you found?"
"Just a small ruin, thought we stumbled upon it by accident."
That immediately caught his attention.
"Ooh, such a shame that my people didn’t discover such a treasure, you all must be lucky. Where was it, if you don’t mind me asking?"
The table became slightly quieter. Seragus stared at them for a moment.
"Is that also going to be kept a secret?"
Atheline nodded.
"We apologise your majesty, we teleported in a random forest so we weren’t privy of what is going to happen, we wanted to experience being spontaneous for once."
Seragus leaned back with a low whistle.
"That explains the expedition and the spontaneous disappearance."
He seemed genuinely pleased.
"The Demonic Continent is the best place to come if you want to get lost."
Lilith smiled politely.
"The scenery was absolutely beautiful."
Seragus raised his glass.
"Then congratulations."
They raised their glasses in return. The conversation continued. Seragus asked about the western city, they explained that it had been useful as a stopping point.
He asked about the surrounding wilderness. They mentioned that they had encountered several beasts. They spoke about difficult terrain and the dangers of traveling through unfamiliar regions.
But whenever the conversation approached the sanctuary itself, they remained deliberately vague.
"We found an interesting area," Atheline would say.
Or:
"There were some unusual formations."
Nothing more.
Seragus noticed, he had noticed the same thing during their first conversation. They were answering his questions, but only exactly as much as necessary.
He didn’t press them; instead, he laughed.
"I suppose some things are better kept between husband and wife."
Lilith smiled.
"Probably."
Seragus raised his glass.
"Fair enough."
The banquet continued comfortably after that. Lucifer, however, had become increasingly interested in something else.
He had been curiously watching Atheline throughout the evening, eventually, he leaned closer.
"So..."
Atheline looked at him.
"What?"
Lucifer grinned.
"When are we fighting?"
Atheline blinked. Lilith immediately looked amused.
"Fighting?"
Lucifer nodded.
"You promised me a duel eventually."
Atheline remembered. During their previous meeting, Lucifer had challenged him, at the time, there hadn’t been an opportunity, then their journey had taken them away from the capital; now they were back.
Atheline smiled.
"You still remember that?"
"Of course."
Lucifer looked almost offended.
"I don’t forget promises like that."
Atheline laughed.
"Fair enough."
Lucifer leaned forward.
"Tomorrow?"
Atheline glanced toward Lilith. She gave him a knowing smile.
"You were planning to leave tomorrow anyway."
"That’s true."
Atheline looked back at Lucifer.
"How about morning?"
Lucifer’s eyes immediately brightened.
"Thats sounds good since we’re already here."
Athelind smiled broadly.
"Then it’s settled."
Seragus laughed from across the table.
"You two really couldn’t wait?"
Lucifer looked toward his father.
"He said yes."
Seragus shook his head.
"You sound like a child."
"I’ve been waiting for this father."
Atheline couldn’t help laughing. Lilith rested her chin lightly against one hand.
"I suppose this is what happens when two people with too much confidence meet."
Lucifer grinned.
"You’re welcome to watch."
"I intended to."
The ministers nearby exchanged amused looks. The atmosphere had become considerably lighter; it was no longer a diplomatic banquet and felt more like friends gathering together after a long journey.
Eventually, the conversation returned to their departure. Seragus looked toward Lilith.
"You’re leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes, we have completed what we came here to accomplish."
Seragus nodded.
"I understand."
He didn’t ask what their next destination was, he already knew they weren’t going to tell him; instead, he raised his glass.
"Then I wish you a safe journey."
Atheline returned the gesture.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Seragus smiled.
"And if you ever return to the Demonic Kingdom, you are welcome here."
Lilith inclined her head.
"We’ll remember that."
Lucifer interrupted.
"Assuming he survives our duel."
Atheline looked at him.
"You’re already talking like you’ve won."
Lucifer laughed.
"I have confidence."
"Good." Atheline smiled. "Keep it you’ll need it when you lose."
The banquet eventually came to an end. The ministers gradually departed, while the attendants cleared the tables.
Seragus retired for the evening. But Lucifer was already preparing himself for the following event.
Atheline and Lilith returned to their chambers.
The moment the door closed, Lilith looked at him.
"You’ve become rather popular."
Atheline sighed.
"I didn’t do anything."
"You made a friend."
"Apparently."
She smiled.
"And now you’re going to fight him."
Atheline nodded.
"I accepted."
Lilith walked toward the window.
"Don’t underestimate him."
"I won’t."
Lucifer wasn’t weak.
Atheline remembered their previous conversations during the trade negotiations.
The prince was outgoing and confident, but beneath that confidence was genuine strength.
He had also spent his life training within the Demonic Kingdom.
Atheline was curious himself.
After reaching Peak Mystic, he hadn’t yet had a chance to properly test his new strength.
Perhaps the duel would be useful.
Not because he wanted to prove himself.
But because he needed to understand what his newly awakened power actually meant.
Lilith seemed to reach the same conclusion.
"Just don’t destroy the palace."
Atheline laughed.
"I’ll try."
She gave him a skeptical look.
"Try harder."
He smiled.
"I’ll try very hard."
The little fox curled up near the bed. Outside, the lights of the Demonic Capital shimmered beneath the night sky.