At last, Bella pulled Aengus toward her father, urging him into a firm embrace.
Belial seemed awkward, but Aengus was even more so.
“Thank you, Father, for agreeing to our relationship. Soon, we’ll give you a grandson to play with,” Bella teased, her eyes glinting mischievously as she glanced at Aengus.
“Ahem…” Belial cleared his throat, looking somewhat uncomfortable. “I hope so.”
Turning to Aengus, he added, “And boy, remember, if you ever think of adding another life partner, make sure my daughter is always your first priority. Power and influence can make even the most loyal man fickle. This will be inevi—”
He was cut off by Bella’s sharp gaze.
“Father, what are you implying? My darling isn’t like you, who needs multiple women. Hubby will have only me in his heart, right, Aengus?” Her eyes, gleaming with jealousy, locked onto Aengus, leaving him little room to disagree.
“Oh, yes, yes. Bella is right,” Aengus answered hastily, trying not to make her uncomfortable. Truthfully, he’d never considered having multiple partners.
Bella smiled faintly, leaning closer as she held his hand.
Belial scoffed, as though doubting the sentiment but decided not to argue further.
Vienna, watching her lord husband and their interactions, smiled warmly at the scene.
“So, Bella and Son-in-law, when are you two planning to hold a formal wedding?” Vienna asked, her tone light but serious.
Although the demon world didn’t place much importance on formalities like marriage, the nobility held them as a way to strengthen their bonds, just like in human society.
“Vienna is right,” Belial added, nodding in agreement. “You two should have a formal wedding at least. A verbal ceremony won’t suffice.”
Bella and Aengus exchanged a glance, as if they’d already made a decision beforehand.
“Father, we’ve planned to do it after our visit to Crimson City,” Bella replied.
Belial raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were going to the human world for sightseeing. Why Crimson City now?” His voice carried a hint of concern.
Vienna visibly tensed at the mention of Crimson City.
Bella’s gaze shifted to Aengus, her voice filled with worry. “Father, Mother, Aengus has a soul injury. We’re hoping to find something there that can heal him.”
Aengus looked gratefully at Bella, their hands still intertwined, offering each other silent support.
Belial’s expression darkened as he realized the gravity of the situation. “Oh… that’s a serious issue, boy. Unfortunately, we don’t have anything here to treat soul wounds. I don’t have the ability either.”
He paused, thinking carefully before continuing. “If you’re determined to go, I’ll write a letter for you to present to Lord Crimson. It should help, but don’t rely on it too much. He’s an unpredictable and incomprehensible person. Be cautious and don’t draw unnecessary attention. You’ve already drawn plenty here, but in Crimson City, I won’t be able to protect you.”
His tone was firm, full of warning.
Bella’s nervousness crept in at his words, but Aengus squeezed her hand gently, reassuring her.
Aengus gave a curt nod, his voice resolute. “Yes, I will. I’ll make sure both of us return safely.”
“Wait, Bella and Son-in-law, why don’t you stay here for the day before heading out?” Vienna suggested kindly. “You must have traveled a long way.”
“Yes, mother. We have planned to do so.”
Bella and Aengus nodded in agreement and followed Vienna out of the court.
Belial remained behind, his gaze lingering on Aengus.
“Degaro, huh? Still, it rings no bell,” he muttered to himself, feeling an unsettling sense of mystery surrounding the young man. Despite his abilities, Aengus remained an enigma that Belial couldn’t quite decipher. He could sense something was being hidden, but he had no means to pry further.
Outside in the hallway, Vienna excused herself, leaving the two alone, intending to cook a special meal for them. As she left, Aengus noticed several mature demonic women with incredible beauty watching them curiously from a distance. He quickly surmised that they were Belial’s wives and concubines.
Growing curious, Aengus turned to Bella. “I forgot to ask, how many wives and children does your father have?”
Bella looked at him with a small smile. “My bad, I should have told you sooner. He has 49 wives, and my half-siblings? Well, they number close to 100.”
Aengus raised his eyebrows in surprise, which didn’t escape Bella’s sharp gaze.
“What?” Bella asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. “Are you tempted as well?” Her shimmering purple eyes were piercing.
“Of course not. I was just asking out of curiosity,” Aengus replied smoothly.
“Hmph.”
Bella dismissed it but then moved closer, interlocking her arm with his, her body pressing intimately against him. It was a clear sign of possession, as if declaring him hers to anyone watching.
Aengus remained silent, though his body betrayed a subtle reaction to her closeness. He could already tell the night ahead would be intense, judging by the passionate look in her eyes.
Yet despite the warmth and closeness, Aengus couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still missing, a lingering sense that gnawed at him from deep within.
Aengus and Bella passed by a training ground where young princes and princesses were being instructed, surrounded by high-ranking guards for tight security. An elder instructor was teaching them how to properly harness their bloodline powers and effectively use their strong demonic bodies to their advantage.
The guards noticed Princess Bella and Aengus approaching and gave respectful bows. Word of the recent incident had already spread like wildfire, and no one dared to underestimate Aengus anymore.
“Haha, Bella! Have you finally come to visit this old man?” an elderly, white-haired Oni stepped forward with a wide smile.
The Oni, a higher-evolved species of demonic ogres, looked more humanlike, with distinct horns and intricate red markings on his face.
Bella returned the smile. “Yes, Teacher Orlando. I thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce you to my husband.”
As she spoke, she glanced fondly at Aengus.
“Ah, I’ve already heard the news. It seems my old ears still catch the important bits,” Orlando chuckled, his voice warm but teasing.
Master Orlando then turned his gaze to Aengus, scrutinizing him from head to toe, his sharp eyes analyzing every detail.
The young princes and princesses, who had been training nearby, watched Bella with shining eyes, admiring her strength and reputation. Many of them knew the stories of how she had grown powerful under Master Orlando’s guidance. Although they were half-siblings, they rarely had the chance to interact with her as often as they would have liked.
The scene was filled with curiosity, respect, and a sense of legacy, as the next generation of demonic royalty looked to Bella and Aengus with awe.
