Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

Chapter 292: The Queen's Concern - Drakkur Will Answer!

Asura and Ignis hurried along the silent corridor, their steps resounding with urgency.

In the attack's aftermath, many of the kingdom's servants had fled, leaving only those necessary for the queen and princess. The once majestic castle now lay in ruins, doubling everyone's workload and adding to the sense of urgency.

The city, repaired begrudgingly by Freyja, couldn't replace the lives lost; in addition, the strange declaration of war by the cult of the fallen sun shocked the entire nation.

Though Asura thought it made sense, given the number of times he clashed with them and their knowledge of the Royal Knights being in the South, it made perfect sense for them to launch an attack now.

'The Central Church seems to be the ones most extremely obsessed with their divine one and the upper realms. While the East is a man obsessed with monster women, as for the North, South and West, I am not too sure.'

"Commander, you seem to be lost in thought. Is everything alright?"

Ignis looked at Asura with concern while her injured arm caused him to feel a sense of guilt. Though the Valkyrie caught most of the traitors, some escaped in the chaos caused by the cult, which led to casualties in the Valkyrie units.

'Though created through magic and rituals, my birth is no different... I cannot see them as anything but beautiful women.'

"Commander, the queen's chambers are to the left of the monument and up those stairs." Ignis pointed out that Asura didn't know the specifics of the palace, causing him to grin, rubbing his cheek a little embarrassed.

"Haha, so they are... Let us hurry then." Asura's raven hair shimmered as if shadows followed his every movement, turning left at the monument of the Sacred Tree as two knights stood guarding the top of the stairs.

"Your Highness, and Captain Ignis! The queen and princess are waiting in the private meeting room. Please follow me!" A familiar female knight beckoned them upstairs and, after walking for a few minutes, walked into the room. It seemed they weren't used to treating Asura like a prince, bowing to him while their faces looked exhausted.

'It seems even the knights are tired. Many died, and the rest are fighting in the south.'

"Queen Freyja, Princess Vela! I bring news from Captain Ignis and the Commander of the seventh Valkyrie unit, Prince Asura."

"Let them through."

The moment Asura walked into the room, he saw a bright silver-haired beauty on the throne, though her eyes had deep purple eye bags, and her beautiful smile was absent; with a pale face, she gave a glance towards Asura before closing her eyes slowly.

Standing by her side, Vela had the same purple bags under her eyes, and her smile appeared the moment Asura entered the room.

'She seems to hide her exhaustion...' Asura realised that only the two of them were in the room. He saluted his mother and wife. "It is a pleasure to see you again, My Queen, Princess Vela."

The Queen raised her hand and seemed to curl her lips into a faint smile, but it lacked power. While Vela rushed over to him and hugged his body, burying her face in his chest, her body trembling, forcing him to hold her back tight, clenching her fragile state in his arms.

"Are you ok? Did they do anything to you?" Asura patted Vela's back while smelling her fragrance in his arms, feeling a sense of worry overcome him.

"No, it's just... I couldn't help, and so many people..." Vela's voice trembled as if recalling something horrific.

"You will not need to worry about those madmen any longer. They will soon pay for their sins." Asura held her face in his hands, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs, their noses touching. "I swear to you, my wife."

"Mmm..." Vela nodded but felt his breath on her lips. Feeling her heart beat faster, her tongue felt parched, and she craved him to hold her once more.

"Thank you for looking after my daughter, Asura."

Because her mother let out a soft cough, the two seemed to snap out of their moment of affection. Vela wrapped around his right arm and leaned on him. The slight weight of her body showed him how she trusted him and filled him with confidence.

"It is my duty and desire. Mother."

Asura seemed to have a harmonious relationship with the two and moved to sit in the guest chair while Vela remained by his side. The Queen glanced at Ignis, who stood in the doorway, waiting for further instructions. But ignored her presence and turned to face her son-in-law and daughter, who finally showed some positive feelings and a bright smile.

"Tell me, Asura. What is it you requested my presence for? What do you plan to do?"

The Queen's deep silver eyes stared at her son-in-law's alluring crimson orbs. Her beautiful eyes made him feel like he stood in front of a fierce beast. Though the mother had no desire to hurt her son-in-law, she would be cautious after the betrayal of so many nobles. Thus, she wanted to know his desires and ambitions.

"I seek to attack Romantica, conquer their capital and have them become part of Silvara."

"What about the South?" Freyja, the queen, frowned after hearing her son-in-law's declaration.

"I will not attack the South but the East. I have confirmed the truth that news of orcs attacking and destroying several villages is true. Then I will use the orcs to weaken their defences and then strike hard to eliminate the cultists hiding in Romantica, then take their land by storm."

"And the other nobles that fled?"

Asura could only be honest and looked into the queen's eyes. "That is something more suited to the Royal knights and those who are familiar with the nobles. Sadly, because of my past as a No-Mag, I lack the connections able to discover these people."

"The seventh Valkyrie unit will be enough." The queen thought about it for a while and accepted Asura's request. "Though I would first seek to offer alliance to the Romantican monarchy, should they be dead or show any hostility? Wipe them out. Though there would be civil unrest for a long time, I am sure we can station forces in that kingdom.

You plan to use their divine monument to create a barrier to protect both kingdoms, I presume?"

"Yes, My queen, though it would lack in power compared to our lost sword. At least the monsters would appear in a manner of being able to deal with them and use them to empower the kingdom. Mandatory hunting expeditions and training for those who reach adulthood. No matter their strength and stage!" Asura did not seem to see it as a big problem and thought it was the best way.

'Those who die in battle can have their magic and power converted and placed into the barrier, and those that grow stronger will live longer and enjoy better lives.'

"We can also set up an academy with different levels of difficulty, leading to higher chances of acquiring some skills." The Queen frowned slightly.

"You mean an academy for the common folk, a place where we could train more knights that are mediocre or have moderate strength to serve the kingdom?"

"Yes, My Queen." Asura nodded his head at her deduction. He noticed Vela squeezed his arm tight and nodded as if she agreed with his thoughts and wished to go along with it.

'Mother seems to be a little softer now...'

"Then, who will be the headmaster and help arrange these students? I don't think a weak knight would settle--"

.net

"I will do it." The door slammed open, with the beautiful Sigurd stepping inside her silver gown, with black stripes and a long curved blade on her back. "I will do anything Asura requests of me, old friend."

"Hahaha... Good. I will leave you the task then, Sigurd."

'Huh? Why did the queen suddenly change? Her smile and atmosphere of dread seem to be a lie suddenly!?'

The queen looked at Asura with a gentle smile, "Do you feel confused? Well, you see, someone already contacted me about helping you, and she isn't exactly someone I expected to become so passionate about the kingdom."

"Who is it?"

Suddenly, the doors opened once more, and a captivating beauty stepped beside Sigurd. Her long crimson hair danced above the ground, and her eyes, like the sun, peered across the room. Her mature face was alluring and filled with a charm beyond most women.

"It's me, Asura. I cannot stand being so far apart anymore. Verena is helping Drakkur improve. Then I will help you conquer Romantica! With fifty dreadnaught battleships and a thousand warriors!"

"Ahh! Duchess Valerie!?"

'Why is she here? No... Why is she helping me like this!? The last time we met, I just slept with her and left her while sleeping...'

"Pfft, I needed her help as well. She only agreed to send knights to help me if I allowed you to complete whatever you desired."

The queen's bitter smile carried nothing but glee as she looked at the faces in the room.

"Prince Asura, my son. I order you to take the kingdom of Romantica and make it yours! If you succeed, then let's have it become you and Vela's honeymoon present! Show me your abilities before I step down."

"I request Royal Knights Lorem and Lucia to join me on this journey, along with Sword saintess Sigurd and Duchess Valerie. My Queen!"

The queen watched him with her quiet eyes, the exhaustion still visible, but deep inside, as if this situation gave her hope, a feeling of belief, she narrowed them upon Asura.

"Take all of your women, and upon completion, I will oversee your wedding to those that wish to become your wife."

***

"Asura, you've grown so much since we last met~ I cannot believe you are going to attack Romantica and the eastern kingdoms!" Valerie's golden eyes shone, as her arms wrapped around his back, her lips brushing across his neck as if enamoured, wanting to bite him once again.

"Get off him, leech! Why are you trying to seduce him!?" Sigurd's body flickered with a prickly aura, but Valerie ignored her.

"We've shared a bed already~ what's the worry?"

"WHAT!?"

After that, the meeting took no longer than an hour to start organising details while Asura now stood beside Sigurd, Valerie and Vela; though the rivalry between Sigurd and Valerie seemed to still boil under their surface, he planned to iron that out during the campaign south.

'Because I am Asura, not Auros. Their competition can end, and I will fix Sigurd's wounded body.'

Vela didn't take part in their little fight. Instead, she remained close to Asura and tightly gripped his hand as, never wanting to release him.