Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

Chapter 293: The Shadow of Drakkur is Changing

Many nobles sensed the winds of change and became eager to congratulate Verena and position themselves to reap the benefits of this new era.

"It's amazing how you've escaped the fate of a shadow, Lady Verena!"

An enthusiastic male with short blonde hair and green eyes almost shouted, his hand reaching to grasp hers, only for Petra to block his attempt skillfully.

"The position is temporary and only thanks to my mother's grace."

Verena smiled and denied it with a completely changed atmosphere from the previous flirtatious mannerisms. She became quiet and refined with her long crimson hair and resembled her mother deeply. The handsome young man in front of her had no chance with her, not unless he could get close to Petra.

The blonde youth saw that the situation was not promising and lowered his hand with a smile. "Please convey my congratulations to your mother, Lady Verena! I'll return after she returns!"

He left disappointed, and Verena shook her head with a bitter smile. "Foolish males, why do they rush to me like a dog does a passive sausage?"

"It's because you are beautiful and charming, Mistress Verena." Petra's voice, without emotion, sometimes felt more like an insult. However, she didn't mean bad. So Verena just gave a faint smile and continued meeting the various nobles and merchants who sought her out.

"Do you think my mother is with him now?"

"With Prince Asura? I believe she will; the request for dreadnaughts and soldiers came through communications a short while ago; the naval troops have already dispatched and will pick them up in a week near the Southern Wilds. I believe that will depart immediately after that."

Petra said respectfully and bowed her head. "And congratulations to you, mistress."

"Heh, my sister is the one with him all day, and even Mother has fled her post to be with him; what congratulations?"

Verena raised an eyebrow but quickly smiled wryly. "Is he some kind of magician, though I remember those hateful eyes... ah, so intoxicating."

"Duchess Verena, please don't have lewd fantasies while we are meeting members of the kingdom."

Petra, who didn't blink at the crass descriptions and detailed thoughts, only teased the poor temporary duchess and then returned to the matter at hand.

Verena chuckled and raised her hand as a nobleman entered the room.

"Greetings, Duke Solinheim."

She rose from her seat and greeted the white-haired old man with a courteous curtsy.

'This man wanted to marry my mother. What a poor man. She is not shaking her hips on the waist of a young stud less than a quarter of his age.'

Verena almost chuckled, but the man didn't know what was going on inside her head. He nodded with a smile and sat in the seat at her side. "Lady Verena, have you been well?"

The Duke asked with a sincere and concerned gaze, which was met by the cold-blooded smile of Verena.

"Of course, Duke Solinheim. After all, I'm the legitimate daughter of the Duchess. How could I not be doing well?"

The courteous words had a poisonous needle hidden inside the man's heart, and he frowned slightly but then looked away. He must have wanted to comment on her identity as a mere shadow. However, he kept his mouth closed, which made Verena and Petra happy.

"What brings the famous Duke Solinheim all the way to Drakkur from the far northwest?"

"Haha, I came to visit you, of course, Lady Verena. You are the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom, and if I didn't visit, wouldn't that be a waste?"

The Duke took out a fine piece of jewellery and placed it on the table in front of Verena. She glanced at it and praised it. "A beautiful necklace, Duke Solinheim. Are you hoping to bed me?"

Her teasing question had a hint of contempt in her tone, and the Duke laughed softly before he shook his head. "Lady Verena is as invincible as the Phoenix itself; I only wanted to offer this as a gift. Please accept it."

His manner was calm and collected, and Verena had no reason to refuse him, so she accepted the necklace and invited him to stay for dinner.

"I'll ask the servants to prepare your room."

She clapped her hands, and a maid approached. The Duke became surprised when he saw her but remained silent.

'Old creep, I don't know if this thing has been cursed!'

Verena smiled at the Duke's surprise, and soon, they finished their meeting. The Duke retired to his room, and Verena rose to stretch her muscles.

"Petra, you can take the old man's necklace, considering my gift for you."

"Mistress?"

"Hm, it's a luxurious gift, but I'm sure it would be better in your hands. Use it to snare yourself an attractive noble and escape the fate of being the ducal servant, always seeking new men to satisfy your body."

Verena said teasingly as she passed the necklace to Petra and then walked back to her room.

With a bitter look, Petra could only shrug her shoulders and comment, "I could wring a single man completely dry in just one night..."

"Look at yourself, the envy of all the maids in the duchy! Ha ha." Verena, who heard the comment, burst into laughter as she closed the door to her room, leaving Petra to handle the rest of the people seeking a chance to enter her eyes.

****

In the private room of Verena, she quickly removed all her stiff clothes, the corset, noble dress with black frills and a tight waist, then tossed herself onto the enormous bed in the nude.

"Ahhh~ this is so boring. Why did I ever wish for this role?"

"You wished because it was better than being a shadow. The rewards may not have come yet, but you don't have to suffer abuse."

Petra, who sneaked inside to keep her company, said as she collected the removed clothes and tossed a robe onto Verena, used to dealing with Valerie's snobbish ways. Her eyes didn't even flicker.

Verena blew out a long breath, turned towards the slender young nymph, and pulled out her tongue. "Heh, it's annoying. I want to meet him again, mother and sister, and unfair."

"..."

Petra could only remain silent at her childish words. "You must not think too much, Mistress Verena; you must succeed your mother to claim your position. That will come one day."

"Pfft, you have never seen that man, Petra. If I told you to submit to him, would you not do so?"

"I have seen the man, and he would dominate me like no other, yet that is not my prey. I prefer the weak, vulnerable and submissive type of man."

Petra smiled and sat at her side on the bed before continuing. "However, that is just a simple attraction, Mistress. Your pride is your greatest weapon. Don't fall for it."

"Sigh, how can I? When he crushed my pride into tiny pieces."

Verena's attitude changed, and her smile was faint as she rolled on the bed. Because of their age difference, Petra saw Verena and Verana like daughters, always trying to help them both with the other nymphs, but Verena's mind seemed a little broken at the best of times.

"Will you ask your mother to return us to the house? I'm sure a lot of men will miss her." Verena teased and pinched Petra's hip through the thin robe.

"Even if you were willing, the Duchess would never allow it."

"Petra, at least lie and say mother will come back..."

"Impossible. She has gone to that man's side and will never return unless he no longer wants her or something dreadful happens!"

Petra raised her voice, and her emotions appeared for a second. Verena became amused and started teasing her a little more.

"Is my sister doing well...?" Verena's voice became meek, her eyes narrow and darting from side to side. It was rare for Verena to care; rather, she never once showed any concern for her in their lives until now, so Petra was stunned for a moment before she recovered.

"I'm sure she will be fine; if something happened to the Duchess or the Prince, she would inform us."

"Hmph, those two will never lose to anyone; instead, my sister is the one who will surely suffer. I want to see her soon; now that we don't have to fight, I wish we could be like normal sisters."

Verena fell into a reflective mood; her mind returned to the past, where she was told by her grandmother that one day she would have to kill her sister for power. Or forever live in darkness alone.

'Grandmother was wrong because 'he' came and changed everything. At first, I was jealous of the girl at his side, but now I understand why he chose her. And what that means for me.'

Verena knew she wasn't the most suitable wife for him, and there were many flaws in her personality.

Only time and her mother's tutelage had corrected some of her imperfections. Nevertheless, she felt drawn to him from the moment he choked her and treated her like a normal woman rather than something special or unwanted.

'I am broken, but I cannot help it...'

"Are you alright, Verena?"

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Petra, seeing that Verena had become silent and started crying, panicked and hugged her. Because of Verena's changes, they'd never been close in the last few years.

However, when she changed, Verena finally accepted her fate and even began wishing for her sister's happiness. She was unable to stop her jealous feelings until the moment she met him and left her former fate.

Verena did not want to admit that she had fallen in love with him, but she believed they held a connection because he saved her.

'I won't ask to be his wife, but if he can be a little kinder and treat me like a sister. I think that's enough for me.'

"I am okay, just thinking about the future."

'How can I make Drakkur a place he wants to visit more? What parts can I improve... for the people, what can a former shadow do for them?'

"Ah, damn, my mother and my sister. I hope they are alright..."

Although slow, the changes in Verena's personality began to show each day she spent in the light instead of the shadow. Her caring heart, one that vanished when the twins hit puberty, began to return.

Her love for the people and improving their lives was identical to her sisters in the previous life and this one.

'I will help him destroy the Shang family, tell him everything they planned... Brother-in-law, I will tell him everything, help him and support him so he doesn't bully my sister.'

A slow transformation from a shadow to the future brilliant light that will guide Drakkur into a golden age alongside her sister's territory, the Phoenix Glade.