Chapter 442: Damain’s Foundation In Velmora
___ Seventh Day ____
Damian stood in the center of his chamber with his arms slightly stretched out while one of the palace attendants adjusted the final layers of his robes. The black and purple garments were far more elaborate than what he normally wore, with dark fabric layered over his body and subtle silver embroidery running along the edges of his sleeves and collar.
Behind him stood Mary, Lord Talos’s daughter, who had taken it upon herself to make sure his clothes were perfect. She had long black hair that fell down her back, crimson eyes that seemed particularly bright against her pale complexion and gothic black clothing that suited her appearance remarkably well.
Only two days ago she had been the daughter of a Baron, but after her father’s decision to pledge himself to Damian, she had become the youngest prince’s third concubine and a direct symbol of the alliance between their families.
Unlike Alice, who had made her displeasure toward the arrangement painfully obvious, Mary appeared genuinely pleased with her new position. She had spent the entire night with Damian without showing the slightest indication that she regretted her father’s decision, and the faint bite marks around Damian’s neck were proof of just how comfortable she had already become around him.
"You spent the entire week preparing for today." Mary smiled as she adjusted the collar of his robe, her fingers briefly brushing against the bite mark on Damian’s neck where she had drunk his blood throughout the night.
Her eyes lingered on it for a moment before she looked back at his face with an amused expression.
"You could have at least given yourself one day to relax."
"My enemies are supposed to be crushed on this very day. It’s only natural I’m trying to make sure everything goes well." Damian shrugged indifferently, although his eyes remained fixed on his reflection in the enormous mirror across the room.
He had spent the entire week studying, preparing, speaking with nobles and quietly arranging the pieces he needed for the confrontation ahead. He had also used the opportunity to familiarize himself with spells he should have known long ago, strengthen his relationship with his wives and concubines and ensure that every important position within his palace was occupied by someone he could trust.
The royal court might still belong to the nobles, but the his Palace no longer did. That distinction mattered.
Mary smiled as she moved toward his sleeves and carefully straightened the fabric. She still remembered how excited her father had been after the first royal court meeting following Damian’s return.
Lord Talos had returned home speaking about the new prince with an excitement she had rarely seen from him, particularly after Damian had openly called Sol by his name and refused to behave like a frightened child before one of the most powerful beings in the Underworld.
Her father had told her that they had nothing to fear anymore because the new prince was different from his predecessor. Mary had wanted to meet the man who was now protecting her family, but she had never expected him to personally come to their home and ask for their support. She certainly hadn’t expected to end up becoming his concubine that same night. Yet strangely, none of it felt unpleasant to her. If anything, she found herself increasingly curious about the man standing before her.
"Your sleeve." Mary murmured, pulling his arm slightly toward her. "You keep moving it."
"I’m impatient."
"I noticed."
Before Damian could respond, the chamber doors suddenly swung open with a loud clank, causing both of them to glance toward the entrance. Racheal, Ruby, Hazel, Rah and Alice entered together with several attendants following behind them.
Racheal, Ruby and Hazel immediately glanced toward Mary, their eyes lingering on her for barely a moment before returning to Damian. There was no hostility between them, but the brief exchange was enough to remind Mary that she had entered a household run by them as his main wives.
Damian had moved all of his women into his residence, so the appearance of another woman inside his personal chambers was hardly surprising anymore.
"Everyone is waiting outside. It’s time for your court session."
Hazel approached him and gently ran her hand across his face with a seductive smile. Her eyes moved over his clothing before she gave a satisfied nod, apparently approving of Mary’s work.
Damian smiled back and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Well, I’m done. You have nothing to worry about."
Hazel’s lips curved upward at his deliberately careless response. "That’s not what I said."
"I know."
Mary quietly stepped back, allowing the others to gather around Damian. She could already feel the difference between herself and the women who had been with him longer.
Damian, however, seemed completely comfortable with all of them around him. He finally turned away from the mirror and began walking toward the door, with his wives and concubines trailing beside him.
The moment he stepped outside, he saw Kor waiting alongside several members of the Royal Guards in black and purple armor covered their bodies, while dark hoods were draped over their heads and concealed most of their faces.
The appearance was far more intimidating than the old guards had ever been, and Damian had specifically instructed William to make sure the new force looked like a royal institution rather than an extension of one particular noble family.
Kor could barely conceal the excitement in his eyes. The Demigod struck his fist against his chest before bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty."
Several other Royal Guards followed his example, lowering themselves respectfully as Damian approached.
Damian smiled and casually tapped Kor on the shoulder before continuing forward. "Let’s go."
Kor immediately straightened and followed behind him, while the rest of the guards moved into position around Damian’s wives.
As Damian moved through the corridors, he noticed even more changes. Fresh faces filled the palace. New attendants stood at intersections, new guards occupied strategic positions and servants who had once been practically invisible had been replaced by people selected by his wives and the clans that had pledged themselves to him. Damian didn’t need to ask where the changes had come from. His wives had spent the past week quietly replacing the old network of servants and attendants with people whose loyalty had been properly established.
The Violet Palace was finally becoming his.qq
For the first time since arriving in the Underworld, Damian could walk through his own residence without wondering which servant might be reporting his movements to the nobles outside. He had his own guards, his own attendants, his own allies and increasingly, his own political network.
He had finally built the foundation of his power base.
When they reached the final set of doors leading outside, William was already waiting. The moment he saw Damian approaching, he straightened and bowed briefly.
"Sire. It’s time."
He turned and opened the doors.
The moment Damian stepped outside, the atmosphere changed. The area before the royal palace was filled with people.
Officers, ministers, nobles and representatives from the Shaki, Blood Demon, Kitsune, Negan, Succubus and Kosak clans stood in organized rows. Some were powerful demons who could crush ordinary soldiers with ease, while others held positions of political importance despite possessing relatively modest personal strength. What mattered was that they had all come here together.
They had chosen to stand behind Damian.
Minister Talos and Patriarch Jugo stepped forward from the crowd, both immediately cupping their fists.
"We are here to accompany Your Majesty to the royal court." The two said together.
The people behind them immediately raised their voices.
"Long live Your Majesty!"
"Long live Your Majesty!"
"Long live Your Majesty!"
The voices rolled across the courtyard and echoed against the walls of the Violet Palace. Damian stopped walking. For several seconds, he simply stared at them.
Then something unfamiliar happened. His lips slowly curled upward.
It wasn’t the arrogant smirk he usually wore when he had already figured out how to manipulate a situation. It wasn’t the amused smile he gave whenever someone said something ridiculous. This one was different.
It was genuine.
Damian had spent the entire time since arriving in this world fighting for control over his own existence. He had awakened as a prince whose realm was being stolen from him, discovered that his supposed allies were willing to manipulate him, learned that his own body was being invaded by the abyss and found himself surrounded by people who expected him to either become useful or die.
But now, standing before the people who had chosen to follow him, Damian felt something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Freedom.
His wives and concubines moved toward his sides, their expressions brightening as they looked at the crowd. Rah stood closest to him, while Alice remained slightly farther away. Mary naturally settled among the other women, her crimson eyes quietly observing the people gathered outside.
Damian looked at all of them before turning toward his wives and concubines.
"I guess we will be walking to court today." He smiled.
A few people laughed immediately, and the tension that had been hanging over the gathering eased. Even Damian’s expression softened further as he began walking.
The crowd moved with him.
Kor and the Royal Guards followed behind his wives, while Talos, Jugo and the other ministers maintained positions close enough to make their allegiance obvious. Behind them came the officers and representatives of the various clans. The procession quickly became large enough to occupy most of the palace’s main route toward the royal court.
Everyone within the Violet Palace who happened to cross their path immediately stepped aside and bowed.
Servants whispered to one another as Damian passed, while guards exchanged uncertain glances before lowering their heads. They had seen the young prince enter the palace before. They had watched him move through the court while surrounded by enemies and uncertain allies. But this was different.
This time he wasn’t walking toward the royal court alone. He was bringing people with him. People from clans that had previously remained neutral or had been firmly connected to the old political order.
With this scene alone everyone understood one thing.
The young prince had finally made his move.