My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 238: Saving the Queen 4

Adrian sighed heavily as he wiped off the sweat from his brow, his mind swirling with a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration.

His hair, tousled and disheveled from the passionate encounter, framed his face as he surveyed the scene before him.

On the bed lay two sleeping beauties, their bodies adorned with the evidence of their shared intimacy. Adrian couldn't help but marvel at the sight, a mixture of pride and disbelief coursing through him.

The morning's events had unfolded with unexpected intensity, leaving him grappling with a whirlwind of emotions.

'To think these two would be hugging each other like this despite 'Hating' each other…' Adrian chuckled a little.

As he gazed at Aria and Elena, their peaceful slumber masking the fervor of their earlier activities, Adrian couldn't shake the surreal feeling that washed over him.

The sudden turn of events had caught him off guard, propelling him into a realm of sensual pleasures he had never experienced before.

The passionate encounters with both Aria and the jealous Elena had been a revelation for Adrian, pushing him beyond the boundaries of his comfort zone.

While he had harbored desires for both women, the reality of indulging in such intimate acts with them had surpassed his wildest fantasies.

Yet amidst the euphoria of the moment, Adrian couldn't ignore the lingering uncertainty that gnawed at his conscience. The prospect of satisfying not just two, but all of his fiancées' desires weighed heavily on his mind.

With each additional partner, the complexities of their relationships grew, leaving Adrian to ponder how he would navigate the intricate dynamics that lay ahead.

But for now, as he stood amidst the aftermath of their shared passion, Adrian resolved to savor the moment.

….

In the deep snowy mountains of the north, a castle stood tall, its towering spires reaching almost to the clouds.

Once, the castle's surroundings were alive with the vibrant energy of nature—a colossal tree, its crystal-like leaves shimmering with an ethereal light, served as a beacon of life for the bustling city below. But now, darkness had descended upon this once-glorious land.

The tree, once a symbol of vitality, had withered and wilted, its leaves turned dark and dim. Instead of illuminating the city, it now emitted a sickly miasma, its once-pure light tainted by the presence of evil.

Monstrous creatures, grotesque and unnatural, prowled the skies, casting ominous shadows over the land below.

Where once a pristine river flowed, blessed by the spirits to never freeze, now lay a twisted sea of blood—a grim testament to the horrors that had befallen this once-beautiful realm.

It was hard to believe that this desolate landscape had once been home to the revered frost elves, known for their gentle nature and vibrant culture.

Now, the elves found themselves shackled and chained, their once-proud bodies marred by the filth and grime of their fallen kingdom.

Demons, their twisted faces contorted with glee, taunted and jeered at the pitiful sight before them, reveling in the suffering they had wrought.

For the elves, this nightmare was beyond anything they had ever imagined—a cruel fate they had never expected to face.

Men, women, children, and the elderly—none were spared from the cruelty of the demons.

They were all treated equally, forced into servitude to build the demonic structures that now marred the once-beautiful landscape.

Prayers to their goddess went unanswered, leaving the desperate inhabitants to cling to rumors of a hero who could potentially save them from their living nightmare.

"Hmm~ this place has its own unique taste," remarked a woman with golden blonde hair, her red eyes gleaming with a demonic aura. Her long ears, reminiscent of the elves, betrayed her otherworldly nature.

"I'm glad it's to your liking, Lady Elaniel," replied another woman, her black hair contrasting sharply with her own red eyes.

Two black horns protruded from the sides of her head, marking her as a demon of considerable power.

The lesser demons that surrounded her trembled in fear, a testament to her authority.

She was Annabeth, the princess of all demons in this realm, and her mere presence inspired terror in both demons and humanity alike.

The two women stood on the balcony of the castle, enveloped in the eerie breeze carrying the scent of blood.

Despite the grim surroundings, their beauty remained radiant and undeniable, a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded them.

In another time and place, they might have been mistaken for top-of-the-line beauty models, their allure transcending the bounds of conventional attractiveness.

"I'm sure father would also find this place fun once he gets here, hehe~" Elaniel remarked, her face lit up with anticipation as she imagined her father's reaction to the scene before them.

'I've prepared everything for you, father. Please come sooner' The gleeful anticipation in her eyes sent shivers down Annabeth's spine, her normally composed demeanor faltering in the face of Elaniel's unsettling excitement.

Even for a demon as sadistic as Annabeth, Elaniel's fervor bordered on the macabre, a darkness that even she found unnerving.

As she watched Elaniel's expression shift from anticipation to something altogether more sinister, Annabeth couldn't help but recall the countless times she had witnessed her new companion's insatiable desire for power and the strong.

The memory of Elaniel's lustful pursuits, her voracious appetite for dominance over high-ranking demons, lingered in Annabeth's mind the way she treated them like snacks was unsettling…

As Annabeth observed Elaniel even more, a sense of foreboding washed over her. She had once underestimated the elf's strength, dismissing her as nothing more than a beautiful but insignificant creature.

However, witnessing Elaniel's unwavering confidence in the face of danger made Annabeth reconsider her initial assessment.

Her father's warnings echoed in her mind, reminding her of the dangers of underestimating their partners.

They may be demonic royalty but in front of them they were probably just slightly more powerful demons...

What troubled Annabeth even more was her inability to gauge Elaniel's true power. Despite her own formidable strength as a demon princess, she couldn't shake the feeling that challenging Elaniel would be a grave mistake—one that could cost her dearly.

The elf seemed to conceal a monstrous strength within her delicate frame, a power that defied all logic and reason. It was a chilling realization, one that left Annabeth feeling unsettled to her core.

Suddenly, the tense atmosphere was shattered by the sound of loud coughing—a harsh, guttural noise that echoed through the chamber.

Annabeth's attention snapped to the source of the disturbance, where she saw an elderly elf doubled over on the ground. His black hair was matted with sweat, his eyes a stark contrast against his pallid complexion.

With each cough, the elder elf's body convulsed, causing the metal chains that bound him to clatter loudly against the stone floor.

His once-youthful appearance was marred by deep cuts and bruises, evidence of the torture he had endured at the hands of their demonic captors.

"Oh my, looks like your pet is sick..." Elaniel remarked, her voice dripping with amusement as she watched the suffering elf.

Her smirk hinted at the pleasure she derived from his pain, a twisted enjoyment that sent a chill down Annabeth's spine.

"Apologies, I was rather bored last night and ended up going a little too overboard with his training," Annabeth explained casually, her tone betraying no hint of remorse for the torment she had inflicted upon the elf.

To her, he was little more than a plaything, a source of entertainment to alleviate her boredom.

With deliberate steps, Annabeth approached the young elf, whose outward appearance belied his true age.

Despite his suffering, he retained a flicker of defiance in his eyes—a testament to his resilience in the face of adversity.

He was Kreval, the elf king of the north, once revered as the Frost King before his kingdom fell to ruin.

As Annabeth seized his chin and forced him to meet her gaze, she addressed him with a mocking tone, referring to him by the pet name she had chosen.

"What's wrong, blackey?" she taunted, reveling in her power over him.

The sight of the young elf's resilience in the face of torment amused Elaniel to no end. It was a game of power and submission, and he played his part well, resisting even as he suffered.

This was why she liked him.

In her eyes, tormenting such an innocent soul was the epitome of entertainment—a source of amusement that she savored with sadistic delight.

And it seemed that Elaniel shared in her enjoyment, relishing the spectacle as she prepared to deliver a slap on him for not answering back to her question.

But before Annabeth could strike, the young elf suddenly collapsed, his body succumbing to the pain and exhaustion inflicted upon him.

Elaniel's laughter echoed through the chamber, a cacophony of amusement at the sight of their broken toy.

"Looks like your toy is broken now," Elaniel chuckled hysterically, reveling in the elf's demise.

"It would seem so," Annabeth replied coolly, her gaze fixed on the unconscious form of Kreval. She could only imagine the torment that had driven him to this state, both in body and mind. Despite his resilience, he was ultimately powerless against their cruelty…

"Haah… even though I wanted to show Lady Elaniel something a little special…" Annabeth sighed wistfully, her mind briefly lingering on the tantalizing prospect of tormenting Kreval further. However, she swiftly pushed aside those thoughts for the moment.

There would always be ample opportunities to resume their game later.

Right now, her focus was elsewhere—specifically, on maintaining their dominance over the northern regions and ensuring that the hero's journey would be fraught with challenges.

For Annabeth, priority lay in upholding their rule over the northern territories, ensuring that the obstacles awaiting the hero were anything but easy.

They couldn't risk the laws of causality being disrupted by either side.

While harnessing the powers of the universe granted strength in the long run, it would be futile if not coupled with strategic manipulation.

Besides, there was already a complex and intricate scheme in motion, waiting to unfold to its climax.

"Oh yeah, Annabeth, I've let a certain individual go. I hope you don't mind, okay?" Elaniel's voice broke through Annabeth's musings, drawing her attention.

A certain individual? Annabeth arched an eyebrow, intrigued by the unexpected announcement.

There were only a handful of individuals she deemed worthy within their ranks, so letting one go shouldn't pose a significant issue.

Yet, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of curiosity and caution.

"It's fine, Lady Elaniel," Annabeth replied smoothly, masking any trace of uncertainty. "It's one of the privileges you hold within our demonic army. But may I ask who it is you let go?"

"Mavis," came the swift response.

"E-Excuse me?" Annabeth's surprise was palpable, her mind racing to comprehend the implications of Elaniel's decision.

Annabeth's confusion lingered as she processed Elaniel's words.

The release of Mavis, albeit unsettling, was apparently part of a larger scheme orchestrated by Elaniel.

While Annabeth trusted her partner's strategic prowess, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive about the potential repercussions of such a bold move.

"Hahaha, I know you would make that kind of face, but don't worry, it is not without its benefits," Elaniel reassured her, a confident smile playing on her lips.

Her anticipation for the unfolding events was palpable as she envisioned the chaos and turmoil that would ensue.

For Elaniel, the prospect of manipulating the humans and the hero into a grand battle was exhilarating.

Elaniel explained her rationale, detailing how two of her personal demons were tasked with monitoring Mavis's movements closely.

This assurance was meant to alleviate any concerns Annabeth might have about the queen's interference with their plans.

Annabeth listened attentively, her expression a mixture of skepticism and curiosity.

She understood the calculated risks involved in Elaniel's strategy, but she couldn't shake off a sense of unease about the unpredictable nature of their predicament.

Despite her reservations, Annabeth chose to trust Elaniel's judgment.

After all, they were allies bound by a common goal.

Elaniel's smile widened as she gazed down upon the sprawling city below, her thoughts consumed by her own twisted desires and machinations.

'Father~' she whispered to herself, her voice laced with a chilling mixture of anticipation and malice.

She touched her stomach gently... as she recalled their intimate moment.

'I'm sorry father, but you don't need to meet any more beautiful women.'

If the queen were to meet her demise naturally, out there somewhere, surely it wouldn't be her fault right?