Chapter 601: A Month Later

One month later, ministers from both Gildreach Vault and Velmora stood before the Violet Palace, their heads lowered as they waited for their sovereign to emerge. The courtyard had been cleared for the departure, leaving ample space for the royal entourage and the thousands of soldiers assembled to accompany it.

Black and golden banners fluttered above the palace walls, while servants and attendants maintained a respectful distance from the gathered officials.

Elsa stood among the gathered officials, dressed in expensive golden robes embroidered with intricate patterns that reflected the light whenever she moved. Precious jewels adorned her neck, wrists, and fingers, each piece carefully selected to complement her regal appearance. As a True God and the former queen of Gildreach Vault, she possessed a natural elegance that distinguished her from the other women present, but there was also an unmistakable excitement in her eyes.

When Damian’s clone had informed her that she would be joining his entourage for the council meeting, she had been genuinely delighted. After their disagreement over the Tree of Life, she had worried that he might deliberately keep his distance from her.

His invitation suggested that he had not abandoned their relationship, even if he remained wary of her intentions. Elsa had no intention of wasting the opportunity to spend time with him, and the thought of accompanying him to a gathering of the Underworld’s most powerful rulers filled her with anticipation.

Bam!

The doors of the Violet Palace swung open, and Damian emerged.

At fifteen feet tall, he remained an imposing figure, but his appearance had changed considerably over the past month. His extravagant musculature had been reduced to a lean, powerful frame concealed beneath black and golden robes.

His black hair carried more pronounced golden and purple streaks, while his presence, though heavy enough to make the surrounding air feel dense, was restrained with a precision that had been absent before. He no longer radiated the uncontrolled menace of the prince who had terrorized Velmora during his rise to power.

Instead, his aura remained tightly contained within his body, revealing little of the strength he had accumulated. It was the difference between a raging beast that threatened everything around it and a predator that no longer needed to display its fangs to make others understand the danger.

The most noticeable change, however, was his hair. Damian had cut it shorter, allowing it to fall neatly around his shoulders rather than cascade down his back in its former unruly length. The new style framed his face and accentuated the sharpness of his features, giving him a polished appearance that suited his position as ruler of two realms.

His robes were equally immaculate, the black fabric adorned with golden embroidery that emphasized his authority without appearing unnecessarily extravagant. Anyone who had known him during the early days of his reign would have struggled to reconcile this composed figure with the mad prince who had once left destruction in his wake. Damian had not become less dangerous. He had simply learned to keep that danger under control.

Shin and Malachi flanked him as he stepped into the courtyard, both carrying the imposing presence of greater demons. Shin wore black robes, with a golden piece of cloth wrapped around his eyes, concealing the blindness that had never prevented him from becoming a formidable fighter. His posture remained straight and composed, and his steps followed Damian’s movements with practiced precision.

Malachi, by contrast, wore black and golden armor beneath a hood that concealed most of his face, leaving only his burning crimson eyes visible. Although he had begun as an ordinary Fledgling demon, his growth under Damian’s guidance had changed him considerably. Neither disciple spoke as they accompanied their master, but the strength radiating from them drew occasional glances from the assembled officials.

As Damian passed through the palace entrance, his seven concubines stood in a straight line on either side of the doorway. Mary, Alice, Rah, Hazel, Racheal, Ruby, and Loth bowed in unison, their elegant garments arranged for the occasion. Damian’s expression softened into a faint smile as he approached them.

Without breaking his stride, he extended his demonic force, shaping it into several invisible hands that gently brushed against their cheeks and raised their faces. The gesture was subtle, but each woman recognized the familiar touch and responded in her own way. For all the responsibilities weighing upon him, Damian had made a point of maintaining his relationships throughout the month, even if much of that time had been spent through his clones.

He stopped near the palace facade and looked at them with a calm smile. "How have my duplicates been treating you?"

Mary straightened first, returning his smile with an expression of quiet satisfaction. "Satisfactory, but still not as good as the real one. But I understand your busy schedule, so I won’t complain."

Her answer earned a few amused glances from the others, though there was no genuine resentment in her voice. The clones were convincing enough to preserve the intimacy they shared with Damian, but none of the women pretended that spending time with a duplicate was entirely the same as being with his original body.

"I don’t mind, actually. You get to spend every moment of the day with me and do the things I want. It’s amazing," Rah said cheerfully.

She seemed perfectly content with the arrangement, perhaps more so than anyone else in the group. The constant presence of Damian’s clone had allowed her to enjoy his company without competing for his attention, and she had little interest in complaining about a situation that suited her so well.

Hazel, Racheal, and Ruby nodded in agreement, each having found her own reasons to appreciate the arrangement.

"I’m constantly satisfied sexually, so I won’t complain," Racheal said with a smile, displaying none of the embarrassment that might have accompanied such a declaration in another setting

Her straightforward response caused a few nearby attendants to lower their gazes, though the women standing beside her appeared entirely accustomed to her manner of speaking.

"I don’t have to share your attention with anyone anymore, so I guess it’s all right," Hazel added with a smile.

Having spent much of her life navigating political expectations and competing interests, she found the uninterrupted attention of Damian’s clone surprisingly comforting. Whatever complications came with being one of his concubines, at least she no longer had to wait for him to find time for her.

Ruby nodded as well. "For me, I love the fact your clone is prepared to try new things. I can’t complain."

She spoke with a satisfied smile, apparently amused by the willingness of Damian’s duplicate to accommodate her requests. The comment drew a brief laugh from Rah, while Mary merely shook her head with an affectionate expression.

Alice smiled and added, "It may be a clone, but it’s still you. It speaks, acts, and feels like you, so I don’t have a problem with it."

Loth bowed her head slightly, her expression more tender than amused. "I’m just grateful to have a piece of you by my side every day. Thank you."

Her words were simple, but they carried a sincerity that made Damian’s smile deepen. He had expected some of his women to dislike the arrangement, particularly those who valued personal attention, yet they had adapted more easily than he had anticipated.

"I’m glad you are all satisfied," Damian said before shifting his gaze toward Hazel, Racheal, and Ruby.

His expression became more attentive as he examined their auras, assessing the changes in their cultivation.

"You three are very close to the God realm now, just from sleeping with my clones. You will make a breakthrough soon, and I’ll have more God realm allies."

Before any of them could respond, Damian raised his hand. A dozen God vein crystals appeared before each woman, their surfaces shimmering with concentrated energy.

The crystals floated through the air and settled gently into their hands, radiating a powerful aura that made the surrounding officials turn their attention toward them.

Even without touching the crystals, the three women could feel the density of the energy contained within them. Such resources were rarely distributed casually, and receiving so many at once was a clear indication that Damian intended to support their advancement rather than leave them to struggle on their own.

"This will give you the boost you need to complete the breakthrough," he explained.

The three women’s eyes widened in genuine shock. They had known Damian possessed a substantial reserve of God vein crystals, but they had not expected him to give them such a generous share. Their expressions shifted from disbelief to gratitude, and before Damian could say anything else, all three rushed forward and embraced him from different sides.

"Thank you!" they exclaimed almost together.

Damian laughed softly and patted their heads, accepting their enthusiasm without concern for the onlookers watching them. There had been a time when the thought of his women becoming Gods would have troubled him.

Their advancement would bring greater independence, greater influence, and the possibility that they might one day become threats if their interests diverged from his own. But that concern had diminished considerably since he acquired the power of both the fox and bull pendants.

Through the faith of their respective devotees, the two inheritances allowed him to draw upon power far beyond what his demigod status suggested. He was no longer as vulnerable to the possibility of being challenged by someone who had reached the God realm, and he had come to understand that powerful allies were worth far more than obedient women kept deliberately weak.

"All right, it’s time for me to leave," Damian said at last.

The three women reluctantly released him, though they continued holding their crystals carefully as they stepped back. Mary and the others offered their farewells, while Damian gave them a final reassuring smile before turning toward the assembled entourage.

His expression returned to its usual composure as he resumed his walk across the courtyard. The private warmth he had shown his concubines did not disappear entirely, but it settled beneath the authority he carried as their sovereign.

Kor and Lucy were waiting near the carriage procession. Both bowed as Damian approached, then fell into step behind him once he passed. Kor maintained a disciplined expression, while Lucy’s posture carried the confidence of an experienced Royal Guard General.

They had been assigned to accompany Damian on the journey, and neither intended to fall behind when their sovereign was preparing to attend a gathering that could reshape the political balance of the Underworld.

Elsa stood a short distance ahead, waiting beside the golden carriage prepared for the royal couple. Her golden robes shimmered beneath the sunlight, and her expression brightened when Damian approached. He extended his hand without ceremony, and she accepted it with a smile.

Their fingers intertwined as they walked toward the carriage together, presenting the appearance of a united royal couple to the gathered ministers and soldiers. Elsa understood that the gesture also carried political significance, but she allowed herself to enjoy the moment rather than dwell on the complicated circumstances of their relationship.

William and Lareth waited beside the carriage, both dressed in their customary black suits with golden embroidery. The two Grand Chamberlains bowed as Damian and Elsa approached, then opened the carriage door for them. Damian entered first, carefully accommodating his towering frame before offering Elsa a hand to help her inside.

Once she had settled beside him, the two chamberlains climbed into the carriage and took their places, ready to assist with any matters that arose during the journey. The carriage was spacious enough to accommodate its occupants comfortably, its interior furnished with polished wood, embroidered cushions, and discreet golden fittings that reflected Gildreach’s wealth.

Nearby, Kor and Lucy entered their own carriage, accompanied by three thousand soldiers under their command. The soldiers had already assembled in disciplined ranks, their armor polished and their weapons secured for the journey. Their presence served both as protection for the royal entourage and as a visible demonstration of Velmora’s military strength.

Across the courtyard, Lotus, captain of the royal guards of Gildreach Vault, stood beside Logi, a general from the Lycan clan. Their own three thousand soldiers had gathered behind them, forming a second contingent that represented the military forces now serving Damian’s expanded empire. Once the officers had boarded their carriage, the remaining guards mounted their horses and took their designated positions around the procession.

The courtyard gradually filled with the sounds of harnesses tightening, horses shifting their weight, and officers issuing final instructions. Six thousand mounted soldiers arranged themselves along the sides of the royal carriages, their formation extending far enough to surround the procession without obstructing its movement.

The black and golden banners of Velmora flew alongside the insignia of Gildreach Vault, marking the unity of the two realms under a single ruler. Ministers and attendants stepped aside as the final preparations were completed, leaving the road ahead clear.

At last, the lead carriage began to move. Its wheels rolled across the paved road, followed by the royal carriage carrying Damian and Elsa. The remaining carriages fell into position behind them as the mounted soldiers advanced in orderly formation.

The procession passed through the palace gates beneath the watchful eyes of the guards, its arrival announced by the steady rhythm of hooves and the fluttering of royal banners.

Damian sat quietly beside Elsa, his expression composed as he considered the gathering that awaited him. The council of princes would bring him face to face with the most powerful rulers of the Underworld, each possessing ambitions and interests that could conflict with his own.

He had spent the past month strengthening his body, preparing his allies, and arranging for his empire to continue functioning during his planned expedition into the Dark Continent. Now it was time to discover what the other princes intended to do about the changing balance of power, and whether any of them had begun to recognize the greater danger spreading beyond their realms.