Chapter 936: Liana’s Sweet Temptation

Meeting Avandar and Alan again put Asmodeus in a good mood, after the official meeting, they met once again in a private setting. The tables were filled with food, wine, beer and various fruits from the continent.

"I really can’t believe we’re going this far." Alan joked, holding his cane while sipping on a goblet of mead. "Do you really want to fight the empire, Brother?" Though his concern was clear, he also held a tinge of hesitation in his voice.

"Hm?"

Asmodeus raised his own goblet, swilling it from side to side as the red wine sloshed like the raging oceans. Beside him, Asmodea and Velvet sat serving him fruits and meat on the delicate plate before him.

"To be honest, I don’t seek a war with the Empire, but only seek that bastard’s head."

"..."

"Fufu, that’s my husband~ here, eat this cherry." Asmodea plopped a bright red cherry into his lips, her beautiful face illuminated by the golden light cast from the torchlight. A deep smile on her face as she did so, while resting against his shoulder.

"This is the life."

"Asmodea, show some decorum..." Her father grumbled as he chewed on some salted pork on the bone. Ever watching his son-in-law’s hands with a huff as they reached inside his beloved daughter’s dress. "Demons! Pah!"

Asmodea giggled at her father’s angry expression, deliberately leaning closer against her husband’s chest. Her beautiful crimson eyes gleamed with amusement, while Asmodeus continued enjoying the delicious food. Of course, this only made Avandar’s expression become increasingly unpleasant.

"Father, I’m already married to him. Why are you still acting like this?"

"Because you’re doing it before my eyes!" Avandar grumbled, reaching for another piece of meat. "At least show your father some consideration!"

"Hahaha!" Alan almost spat out his drink. "Brother, you’ve certainly corrupted my beloved niece."

Asmodeus merely grinned and raised his goblet. Although the atmosphere remained cheerful, he noticed something. Alan seemed considerably more relaxed than before. Even Avandar’s complaints lacked their former hostility. Perhaps surviving another Imperial attack had changed things.

’It’s nice seeing everyone like this again.’

Velvet continued eating beside him, occasionally feeding him pieces of roasted meat. However, her attention soon shifted towards Valena, who sat quietly beside Erika. The dragoness seemed unusually fascinated by the enormous platters of food.

"Valena, have you tried this before?" Velvet asked, offering her some seasoned pork. "The Grigorian cooks prepare it wonderfully."

Ever since Valena came to Grigor, she seemed more reserved.

’Is it because of the sea...?’ Asmodeus thought when recalling the moment she saw her mother’s heart was close to this place.

At that moment, their eyes met.

She stared his way for several seconds before smiling and finally taking the food from Velvet and changing almost instantly.

"Hm? Ah... thank you, Velvet!"

Valena accepted the meat with obvious enthusiasm. Her crimson eyes brightened after tasting it. Erika laughed before pouring her another drink, while Asmodea continued teasing her father nearby. For once, nobody seemed particularly interested in fighting.

Asmodeus leaned back, enjoying their familiar voices. He hadn’t realised how much he’d missed this. His recent days had become increasingly exhausting, filled with enemies, conspiracies and constant travelling. Even spending an evening together felt strangely precious.

"Ryuji, are you listening to me?"

Asmodeus glanced towards Alan, blinking in surprise. His brother-in-law had lowered his goblet, watching him with an unusually thoughtful expression.

"Sorry, brother. What were you saying?"

"I was asking about your children. How are the little monsters doing?"

"Hahaha! They’re growing faster than I’d imagined." Asmodeus smiled, remembering their troublesome little faces. "Sometimes I wonder who they’re taking after."

He couldn’t help but feel shame when mentioning his children, though he still managed to make time for them using his domain wasn’t enough... A normal father would spend almost every day with his child, and yet he struggled with three or four a month.

With so many children, he realised that he was failing as a father.

Yet he kept these feelings to himself.

’It’s something I must fix...’

"Certainly not their respectable mothers," Avandar muttered.

Everyone burst into laughter at his comment. Even Asmodea couldn’t suppress her delighted giggles, although she quickly protested her father’s accusation. Asmodeus shook his head and continued drinking.

Eventually, the servants brought another round of wine. Alan dismissed the attendants after serving everyone, leaving the family alone around the enormous table. The conversation gradually became more personal, drifting towards their earlier adventures and shared memories.

Avandar listened quietly for several minutes, occasionally correcting Alan’s exaggerated accounts of their past experiences. But when Asmodea began laughing about her childhood, his expression softened considerably.

"Father, do you remember my old room?"

"Of course. Your mother refused to change anything."

Asmodea’s smile slowly faded into something gentler. She lowered her goblet and leaned against Asmodeus again, remembering the years before everything changed.

"...I should visit her tomorrow."

"You should," Avandar answered quietly.

Asmodeus gently squeezed his wife’s hand beneath the table, noticing the brief sadness in her expression. Yet Asmodea soon recovered, giving him an affectionate smile.

To visit her mother’s grave... it was something he hadn’t even considered. After Avandar mentioned it, Asmodeus realised he couldn’t rush everything, no matter how much he wanted to do so.

’Maybe we should stay another evening...’

He didn’t mind delaying his own goal and tasks. The Empire would remain his enemy tomorrow. But these peaceful moments were equally important.

And tonight, he intended to enjoy them.

***

The gathering continued until the candles burned low. Avandar finally retired, complaining about Alan’s drinking. Asmodea caught her husband’s hand beneath the table. Her fingers tightened around his with unusual gentleness. "Come with me, dear," she whispered softly. Asmodeus noticed her expression and quietly followed.

Though she glanced in Velvet and Valena’s direction, both women appeared too focused on the expensive wine brought from the royal cellars.

"Hehe~ good, they’re not going to follow."

They climbed the staircase towards the royal chambers. Several servants bowed before returning to their duties as they shifted to the isolated tower.

Asmodea walked ahead, occasionally glancing over her shoulder. Her smile remained, although something seemed different tonight. At last, she stopped outside an ornate door and reached for its handle, then hesitated.

"Do you remember this room, Ryuji?" she asked.

Asmodeus recognised the room, though he’d only been inside a few times, back when they barely knew each other. This was the small tower where she used to reside, memories of hunting in the forest together... and her knight, who eventually married Alan, flooded his mind as she pushed open the door.

"Of course I remember, Liana, " he answered with a smile.

She opened the door and entered first. Moonlight illuminated the furniture and pale curtains. The room appeared almost untouched by passing years. Asmodea approached the window and brushed its frame. Her fingertips lingered against the smooth wooden surface. "I used to watch everyone from here... from the knights training in the courtyards, to when you first transported with your classmates."

Her smile faded as she slowly sat on the low perch.

Asmodeus approached and settled behind his wife. His arms slipped around her narrow waist. Asmodea leaned backwards, resting against his chest. Their reflection appeared faintly within the dark glass. "You weren’t particularly welcoming back then," he murmured.

She laughed softly, covering his hands with hers.

"Back then... I was so worried about rejection, everyone feared my curse, and it hurt ever so much just to move or speak. So I learned to keep people distant." Her fingers gently stroked his muscular forearms. "But you kept reaching for me anyway."

"You looked happier whenever we talked," he said. "I suppose."

"That’s not it." Her beautiful red eyes shimmered in the darkness as she lifted her chin and their lips approached one another. "Admit it~ you just... wanted.... to fuck me..."

Asmodeus couldn’t help smiling at her accusation. His fingers tightened around her slender waist. "Hahaha... Would you believe me if I denied it?" He lowered his face towards her neck, enjoying the faint shiver passing through her body.

"Absolutely not, you shameless bastard..." Liana whispered, giggling as his lips brushed her skin. "I remember how you looked at me." She turned slightly, slipping her arms around him while letting her thigh brush against his cock, aggressively. "Do you think I didn’t notice this huge thing, even back then... as a foolish virgin maiden?"

"Hmm... But you were beautiful even then." His hands slowly travelled along her back. "And I wanted to see you smile."

"Fufu... You’re surprisingly romantic tonight, Ryuji." Her fingertips traced the contours of his jaw, while her eyes lingered upon his lips. "But I remember something else, you know." She leaned closer, pressing against his chest. "You were always looking at my breasts..."

"Well..."

He couldn’t deny it, from the moment they met, he wanted to ravish her. To leave her quivering while his seed dripped from every hole. Yet when he realised that she knew his dirty and foul thoughts... it was arousal, not shame, that he felt.

Asmodeus laughed, gently squeezing her narrow waist. "Well, can you really blame me?" His gaze followed the neckline of her dress, earning an amused smile from his wife. "Besides, you’re even more beautiful these days."

"Mhm... And whose fault is that, darling?"

"...Maybe I should thank the creator for making you so beautiful."

"Don’t be a fool! You’re the one who remade me... this image, that cave... have you forgotten the pool of blood from which this new me came?"

Vines slowly grew along the window frame, with blood coloured flowers blooming as they spread across the walls and ceiling, her eyes shimmering with a seductive light the more they spoke.

She turned completely within his affectionate embrace, settling herself upon his lap beside the window. Her fingers slipped through his snow-white hair, gently pulling his face towards hers.

"Tonight, I want you all to myself..."

Asmodeus smiled, caressing her cheek with his thumb before letting his palm slide down her neck. Her warm breath brushed against his lips, while her hands slowly explored his shoulders, sliding his robes down to his waist.

"Oh, do you now?"

"Of course... give me this... right now."

Before he could respond, her delicate fingertips wrapped around his cock, squeezing the tip gently. She then slowly slid down his shaft, pulling his foreskin over his glans to reveal the large, swollen head glistening with sticky, translucent threads.