Chapter 603: The Imperial Palace

By morning, Damian’s convoy emerged from the Imperial Capital’s stone gate and immediately came to a halt before the military checkpoint established in front of the Tori Gate. Beyond the towering gate, enormous buildings rose against the morning sky, their dark walls reinforced with metallic plates and intricate runes.

Military banners hung from the surrounding towers, while heavily armed demons patrolled the battlements with an alertness that suggested the checkpoint was far more than a formality.

Even from a distance, Damian could sense the immense power concentrated throughout the city, and the moment the convoy stopped, his eyes slowly opened.

His gaze narrowed as his senses brushed against the enormous formation covering the Imperial Capital. The Zero Gravity Rune extended throughout the entire region, its influence pressing against his body and interfering with his ability to manipulate the surrounding space.

Beneath it lay layer upon layer of restrictions, each interwoven with arrays designed to suppress divine power and prevent powerful beings from unleashing their full strength within the city.

Damian could feel the restrictions settling over his body as though invisible chains had been fastened around his limbs. He opened his palm and closed it again, testing the resistance. Even the simplest applications of his power felt different here, as if the land itself rejected the authority he had grown accustomed to wielding.

"This entire land is a cluster of God killing arrays," Damian muttered with a deep frown.

"Of course. This is a preemptive measure to stop any deity from running rampant across the land. But as long as you stick to the rules, there shouldn’t be a problem," William explained from his seat opposite Damian.

The Grand Chamberlain adjusted his spectacles and glanced toward the checkpoint, where several soldiers were examining the documents.

"The Imperial Demon Realm is governed by the Dukes of Hell, and they cannot afford to let the princes settle their disagreements by destroying the capital. These restrictions apply to everyone, regardless of their status. Even the princes must obey the laws here."

Lareth nodded firmly in agreement.

Before Damian could respond, Elsa leaned against his shoulder and slipped her hands around his arm.

"Sire, you slept all through the journey and left me here all alone. I have been bored this entire time," she complained, her tone carrying the playful affection of a wife seeking her husband’s attention. She rested her head against him, apparently unconcerned by the fact that William and Lareth were seated nearby.

Damian rolled his eyes and gently pushed her away from his shoulder. "I was having a chat with your husband about what to expect from this meeting."

Elsa shuddered and immediately released his arm, jerking backward with genuine surprise. Her emerald eyes widened as she stared at Damian, trying to determine whether he was joking.

The casual way he had delivered the statement made it worse. He had not hesitated, nor had he shown any sign that he considered the revelation particularly unusual.

Damian glanced at her with an unimpressed expression. "Aren’t you aware that the consciousnesses of the previous wielders of the Sin of Lust are all tied to the new wielder?"

Elsa searched his eyes, looking for any indication of deceit, but she found none. Damian appeared entirely sincere, and the realization left her struggling to reconcile what she had just heard with everything she thought she knew about the Sins.

"Of course you didn’t know," Damian remarked, rolling his eyes at her reaction.

Elsa opened her mouth to respond, but Damian had already pushed the carriage door open. Before anyone could protest or ask him to wait, he stepped out and jumped down to the road.

Thud!

He landed softly on the paved ground, his black and golden robes settling around his towering frame. The soldiers nearest the carriage turned toward him, several instinctively tightening their grips on their weapons before recognizing the pendants hanging around his neck and bowed.

Damian paid them little attention as he surveyed the checkpoint and the long queue stretching before the Tori Gate. Each carriage was being inspected by demons clad in black and red armour.

They were enormous creatures with extraordinarily long limbs, their proportions making them appear almost unnaturally elongated. Their movements were precise, and despite their strange physiques, they handled the inspections with the efficiency of soldiers who had performed the same duties for centuries.

"Isn’t that Jota’s clan?" Damian blurted out.

Puff!

Rin and Biron appeared on his shoulders, materializing in small bursts of smoke. Rin settled comfortably against his neck while Biron adjusted his position on the opposite shoulder, his golden horns catching the morning light. Both spirit beasts followed Damian’s gaze toward the soldiers guarding the checkpoint.

"Of course. That’s the Longman Clan, a mid tier clan," Rin confirmed. His tails flicked behind him as he examined the soldiers, apparently more interested in their equipment than their unusual appearance.

"That’s not even a problem. All their weapons and armour are embedded with divine energy. The soldiers of the capital are trained to fight demons, not angels," Biron commented.

He sounded mildly impressed by the equipment, although his attention soon drifted toward the military structures beyond the gate

Damian slowly nodded in agreement. He looked beyond the Tori Gate, where enormous structures spread across the capital in every direction.

Many were military bases, fortified compounds, and training grounds, while others appeared to house the administrative offices responsible for governing the Imperial Demon Realm. Towers equipped with heavy artillery rose above the surrounding buildings, and the occasional pulse of energy suggested that powerful arrays were operating beneath the streets.

More importantly, Damian could sense several formidable presences scattered throughout the city, some so powerful that even the restrictions imposed by the arrays could not completely conceal them.

The Imperial Demon Realm was not merely a capital where the princes gathered to discuss politics. It was a fortress built to contain them.

"I hate that I can’t fly my way through the city. These arrays are annoying," Damian sighed, although his expression suggested that he was more irritated by the inconvenience than genuinely concerned about the restrictions.

Rin snorted. "Stop complaining and follow the rules. You came here for a meeting, not to prove you can break the city’s defences."

Before Damian could reply, the doors of the adjoining carriages opened. Shin and Malachi stepped out and approached him, their robes and armour moving with the morning breeze.

Both bowed deeply despite Damian having his back turned toward them, demonstrating the respect they had developed for their master. Shin’s golden blindfold caught the light as he straightened, while Malachi’s crimson eyes remained fixed on Damian beneath his hood.

"Sire, can we come with you to the meeting? I’m curious about the other princes," Shin asked.

Damian glanced over his shoulder and nodded. "Of course. I planned to take you two with me even if you didn’t ask."

Shin and Malachi exchanged a delighted look before bumping their fists together.

A large golden palanquin carried by twelve demons soon approached Damian’s position. Its polished frame was decorated with intricate carvings, and the curtains hanging from its sides were woven from expensive fabric embroidered with the insignia of Gildreach Vault.

The bearers moved in perfect coordination, their steps barely audible despite the weight they carried. At the same time, William emerged from the royal carriage, holding a black file beneath one arm as he made his way toward Damian.

"Sire, we need to cut the line and head straight for the Council Chambers. The meeting is about to start," William informed him.

Damian nodded in agreement. Waiting for every carriage in the procession to undergo a full inspection could take hours, and he had no intention of wasting the morning standing in a queue.

Damian turned toward Elsa, who was watching him through the carriage window. "I’ll let you handle setting up our manor and managing the security details while I attend the meeting. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done."

"All right," Elsa replied with a tired smile.

She had hoped to accompany Damian directly to the council chambers, but she understood that there were practical matters requiring her attention. As Queen of Gildreach Vault, she was responsible for ensuring that their residence was properly established and that the attendants accompanying them were settled.

Damian climbed into the golden palanquin, followed by Shin, Malachi, and William. The bearers lifted their poles, and the palanquin moved ahead of the waiting convoy, drawing curious looks from the soldiers at the checkpoint.

When the palanquin reached the inspection point, one of the guards raised his hand to halt the bearers. His gaze moved across the golden frame before settling on the curtains.

"State your identity and present your authority for entering the Imperial Capital," he demanded, maintaining the formal tone required of his position.

Damian drew aside the window curtain and revealed his face. He then lifted the fox and bull pendants hanging around his neck, allowing their auras to spread just enough for the guards to recognize the authority they represented.

The soldiers froze.

Their expressions changed almost immediately, and the guard who had spoken straightened before bowing deeply. The others followed his example, stepping aside to clear the road without asking another question.

The palanquin continued through the Tori Gate, passing beneath the enormous archway and entering the Imperial Demon Realm. Damian drew the curtain closed and settled back into his seat, his expression returning to its usual calm.

Shin and Malachi exchanged another excited glance, while William opened his black file and began reviewing the schedule for the day’s proceedings.

Behind them, Elsa watched the palanquin disappear beyond the checkpoint before slowly closing the carriage window. Her emerald eyes lingered on the road for a moment, and the smile she had worn earlier faded into a tired expression. She turned toward Lareth, who was seated beside her with his notebook resting on his lap.

"I don’t think the prince likes me. In fact, I believe he would have gotten rid of me if he didn’t have a use for me," Elsa sighed.

Lareth adjusted his spectacles, giving her a measured look.

"You did try to use him to accomplish your selfish dreams despite him opening up to you. It’s only natural he doesn’t like you." He returned his attention to the notebook, though his tone remained firm. "And before you start getting impulsive ideas, don’t forget that this man has managed to gain the support of Duke Astaroth and Duke Paimon, despite the Minks remaining neutral for up to thirty thousand years. You made the mistake, so you need to put in the effort to fix it. Having him as your husband will be more beneficial to you in the long run."

Elsa stared at him for a moment, apparently hoping for a more comforting assessment, but Lareth showed no intention of softening his words. She knew he was right, which made the criticism all the more irritating.