Chapter 291: Reyna’s Unusual Conduct and Liliana’s Rejection
As one of the eight Demon Generals, Reyna was not only highly skilled but also possessed an enchanting beauty that was impossible to ignore.
Her striking appearance and esteemed position made her the object of desire for many demons in the outer palace. Even Terran, the fourth Demon General, harbored feelings for her—a testament to Reyna’s undeniable allure.
Unfortunately, Reyna had never been interested in a relationship, believing that no one in the outer palace—not even Terran, the fourth Demon General—was worthy of her.
Her pride had made many demons in the outer palace feel inferior, leaving Reyna without a partner until now. However, for the first time in her life, she found herself drawn to someone, and the thrill of it caused her heart to race wildly and unpredictably.
Her enchanting face flushed slightly as she bit her lower lip and whispered, ‘I want him to be mine!’
Meanwhile, Leon noticed the fear and anger on Merlin’s face and responded with a slight chuckle, folding his arms across his chest.
“Does it really matter if I’m still in the inner palace? It doesn’t seem like it concerns you,” he teased, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He had expected this reaction from Merlin, knowing his irritable nature, and wasn’t surprised when he was right.
After recently defeating Merlin and shattering his once towering pride, it was only natural for Merlin to now stand before him, shocked and afraid.
Merlin was momentarily stunned by the comment, but soon anger flared up inside him.
“You…” he hissed through gritted teeth, seething with hatred.
Leon’s words had enraged him so much that the veins on his forehead began to bulge.
He wanted nothing more than to lunge at the man who had humiliated him time and again.
Yet, after suffering such a crushing defeat earlier, Merlin knew he couldn’t fight back and could only stand there, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Noticing Merlin’s defeated demeanor, Leon chuckled and shook his head.
“It looks like that crushing defeat taught him a lesson in controlling his temper,” he muttered, letting out a bored sigh.
In the past, such provocation would have sent Merlin into a furious rage, prompting him to attack without hesitation.
But the current Merlin knew better; he recognized his strength and understood that any attempt to retaliate would only lead to further embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Liliana, who had been watching, raised her right hand and glared coldly at Merlin.
“Stop wasting my time, Merlin. I’m very busy right now, and if you don’t tell me why you’re here immediately, you can go back to the outer palace,” she said indifferently, folding her arms across her ample chest.
Although she always appeared gentle, it was only toward Leon and her three daughters—those she loved and cared for. When dealing with outsiders like Merlin, her demeanor shifted to one of cold indifference.
Furthermore, she held a negative opinion of Merlin due to the disrespectful attitude he consistently exhibited toward her.
If it weren’t for his power and talents, which were still valuable to the Demon race, she might have already thrown him into the underground prison and punished him severely.
Upon hearing Liliana’s words, Merlin, consumed by anger, quickly regained his composure and took a deep breath to calm himself.
Once he had steadied his emotions, he looked at Liliana with a gentle gaze and bowed his head slightly in a gesture of respect.
“Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty Liliana. I hope you aren’t upset with me,” he said.
Though he felt a twinge of dissatisfaction, he understood that he must not provoke the Demon Emperor.
If he did, his goal of reaching the inner palace would undoubtedly fail, and he might miss the chance to go to the battlefield—an outcome he could not afford to let happen.
Liliana dismissed his apology with a wave of her right hand, her demeanor nonchalant.
“State your purpose immediately,” she commanded.
Merlin slowly lifted his head, adopting a serious expression as he met her gaze.
“Your Majesty, my purpose in coming here is to request that you appoint me as the leader of the reinforcements you will send to the battlefield,” he explained firmly, clasping his hands together.
As the first and most powerful Demon General, he considered Liliana’s decision to exclude him from the three Demon Generals heading to the battlefield both unreasonable and unacceptable.
He believed he was more qualified than Garran, Terran, or even Lilith to lead the charge and secure victory for the Demon race.
Despite his reluctance, he understood that once Liliana made a decision, he had no right to oppose it. However, his high pride and deep-seated sense of superiority made it difficult for him to accept this reality.
Thus, when he heard that Liliana intended to send reinforcements to the battlefield, he felt a surge of joy and was determined not to miss this opportunity.
Liliana’s expression remained unchanged; she had already anticipated Merlin’s purpose based on Leon’s analysis. In contrast, Lyra, standing beside Leon, was taken aback by Merlin’s words.
Although she had been aware of it through Leon’s insights, hearing it spoken aloud was still quite shocking.
Subconsciously, she cast a glance at Leon, her gaze a mix of indifference and unhidden admiration.
“Your Majesty Leon is truly remarkable,” Lyra muttered to herself.
On the other hand, Leon, who had heard Merlin’s explanation, couldn’t help but smile, as he had anticipated this outcome. However, he remained silent, regarding Merlin with a calm yet meaningful gaze.
Liliana redirected her gaze from Merlin to Reyna, regarding her with an air of indifference.
“Reyna, are you here for the same reason as Merlin?” she asked casually.
Reyna quickly nodded in response.
“You’re correct, Your Majesty the Demon Emperor. My purpose for coming here is indeed the same as Merlin’s,” Reyna replied respectfully, although her gaze kept drifting toward Leon behind Liliana.
Leon noticed her furtive glances, feeling both puzzled and intrigued.
“What’s going on? Why does she keep her eyes on me?” He wondered, taken aback.
Aside from their brief encounter in the outer palace, he had never interacted with Reyna since moving to the inner palace.
Even during that chance meeting, he had worn a black mask that completely concealed his face, making it impossible for her to recognize him.
“Does she know my identity as the sword hero?” The thought crossed Leon’s mind, causing his expression to shift slightly before quickly returning to normal.
Throughout his career as the Sword Hero, he had always worn a mask to conceal his handsome features, ensuring that no one could recognize him—except for those closest to him, like Luna and Arshley, or those who knew him well, like Athena.
As Leon pondered the reason behind Reyna’s continuous glances, Liliana, having heard their purposes, took a slow breath and regarded the two with an indifferent gaze.
“I understand your strong desire to go to the battlefield, and I truly appreciate it,” Liliana said in a cold yet slightly softened tone. “However, I must apologize; I cannot grant that request, as I have already chosen who will lead the reinforcements.”
Both Merlin and Reyna were taken aback by this revelation, but Merlin, in particular, felt a surge of anger as if his last chance had been snatched away.
With his pale, handsome face flushed, he gritted his teeth and asked in a strained voice, “Your Majesty, may I know who you have appointed as the leader of the reinforcements being sent to the battlefield?”
Seeing the anger clearly etched on his face, Liliana smiled faintly, crossing her long legs in a way that accentuated their alluring beauty.
“Even if I didn’t tell you, you should already know who he is, Merlin,” she replied casually.
“I should know?” Merlin exclaimed, visibly taken aback by her statement. His brows furrowed slightly as he contemplated who it could be.
After a moment of contemplation, he realized he couldn’t think of anyone suitable, which only intensified his confusion.
At that moment, his gaze unintentionally landed on Leon, who was smiling playfully at him, causing his face to drain of color.
“Is it him!?”
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A/N: Ahem! I apologize for not updating yesterday. I had some business to attend to and didn’t have time to use my laptop.
Thank you for your understanding! I appreciate your support, so stay tuned for more updates!
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