The Empress's Curse

"Ding, Snowland Task's third phase has ended. Congratulations, you have been awarded [Forgery of Authority] and [Mask of Algado]."

"[Forgery of Authority]: A replica of the Authority of Death. Although its power falls far short of the original, since it's a forgery of a divine item, it still holds a trace of divine power.

1.Grants an enhancement of certain abilities within the Death Realm.

2.Imposes a dominion of 500 over creatures from the Death Realm.

3.Can release Desolation within a 10-meter radius, draining all life including the user."

"[Mask of Algado]: Upon wearing this mask, you automatically acquire the title of a magus and awaken a random magus skill. However, the mask will adhere to your face when you are not paying attention. Once it fully integrates, you will become Algado."

Henry scrutinized the details of the two mysterious items he had acquired. 

Although he had used up Leonardo's yellow paper, the effects of these mysterious items seemed quite decent.

But the Mask of Algado, Henry dared not wear it. 

For others, wearing it might mean a slow assimilation. 

But Henry believed that the moment he put it on, he would instantly become one with the mask, unable to remove it ever again.

Right, Queen Adele wanted to use this mask to cast a reverse curse on Algado... He still needed to see her about this.

After reviewing his gains, Henry checked Anna and Emily's rewards, both of whom had reaped substantial benefits from the secret realm.

Firstly, Anna received a gold-tier longbow. Although it lacked the bleeding effect of the Dark Forest Bow, its basic attribute enhancements were enough to outshine it. 

Moreover, she had leveled up to 20, officially entering the ranks of intermediate awakeners.

Emily, while not acquiring any mysterious items, had reached level 23. 

For a magus with crowd control effects, her leveling up pace was akin to riding a rocket.

The two women were discussing what to eat after exiting the dungeon when Henry coughed and spoke up, "I need to see Queen Adele."

Instantly, both women fixed their gazes on him, their expressions turning sour. 

"What, a night of entanglement wasn't enough? You're addicted now, huh? Do you need me to accompany her in serving you?" Anna asked aggressively.

Well... that's not entirely out of the question, Henry thought secretly.

"Don't misunderstand, I'm really going to discuss serious matters," he explained. 

"You heard it too. Algado will eventually descend upon me. To resolve this trouble, I need to seek multiple sources of assistance."

"Seeing Queen Adele is to ask her to curse Algado on the mask."

Since it involved the dangerous element of Algado, neither woman dared to refuse. 

Anna furrowed her brows and said, "Then... we'll go with you."

"You two as well?" Henry pondered the consequences of several women meeting. 

Given Queen Adele's fiery passion, going there would surely lead to some incidents.

Anna, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, outwardly opposed the idea of Henry seeking other women, but inwardly, she wasn't much resistant. 

As for Emily, she had even less reason to object to meeting Queen Adele. 

After all, her relationship with Henry was still ambiguous, not yet fully established.

Henry's plan was to let Queen Adele do some superficial courteous acts first, to cool things down, and then send the two women to tour the palace. 

"Then let's go together," he said, finalizing the plan.

...

They soon arrived at Queen Adele's palace. 

A maid led Henry and his companions towards the inner parts of the palace. 

Learning from the lesson of the maid who had met a tragic end the day before, today's maid was very prudent, asking no questions, just leading the way.

Before long, the trio saw Queen Adele seated on her throne.

"Your Majesty, I have brought the mask," Henry began, but Queen Adele rose from her throne and approached him. 

Her lush red lips found Henry's in an instant.

"Mmph!" Henry tried to speak but couldn't.

Queen Adele was true to her whimsical nature, not caring about the two women accompanying Henry, and kissed him outright.

Anna and Emily were stunned, standing frozen in place. 

After all, she was a queen of a nation; even if she was having an affair, shouldn't she be a bit more discreet? 

Who just embraces and kisses a man like that upon arrival?

Feeling the intense hostility emanating from his companions, Henry reluctantly pulled away from Queen Adele's lips.

"Your Majesty, let me introduce these two ladies. One of them is my girlfriend," 

Henry hinted subtly at Adele, implying that it wasn't the right moment for such advances with his girlfriend present.

But Queen Adele didn't care about subtleties. 

She merely lifted her head disdainfully to glance at Anna and Emily and spoke with authority, 

"Are you suggesting... that I should kill these two women?"

The air turned cold in an instant as Adele's murderous intent began to rise. Her icy gaze sent shivers down Anna and Emily's spines.

"Queen Adele, you had better not joke like that," Henry warned, his voice stern, a hint of coldness in his eyes. 

"Apologize to them immediately, or our relationship is over."

Queen Adele, who had shown little regard for Henry's other relationships, perhaps due to her long-standing position of power in Snowland, had become self-centered. 

After losing her virginity to Henry, she had become completely absorbed in their physical relationship.

Seeing Henry's genuine anger, Queen Adele bit her lip, instinctively wanting to refuse. 

But for the man who possessed her body and heart, she didn't want to lose him.

"I apologize, ladies, for my earlier behavior," she finally said. 

"As a gesture of my sincere regret, I will select two appropriate jewels from the Snowland royal treasury to gift to you both."

Thus, Queen Adele, ultimately, apologized for the sake of Henry.

Henry also spoke with a smile to the two girls. "Go on, choose your gifts. Remember, it's not just from Adele, but also includes my part in it."

Queen Adele, catching the subtext in Henry's words, quickly instructed her maid, 

"Take these two ladies to the treasury and give them a thorough tour. Don't worry about the time; make sure to present the entire kingdom's treasury to express my apologies."

Obediently, the maid approached Anna and Emily. 

Having just escaped a life-threatening situation, they were not in the mood to intervene in what was happening between Henry and Queen Adele, and thus followed the maid out of the palace.

As soon as they left, Queen Adele and Henry engaged in intense affection, their hands and feet exploring each other's bodies.

After several hours, they finally stopped. 

Henry took this opportunity to take out the Mask of Algado and handed it to Queen Adele. 

"This is the Mask of Algado from the magus relic. How should we curse it?"

Queen Adele lazily took it, gave it a shake in her hand, and then handed it back to Henry. "Here, it's cursed now."

"That fast?" Henry looked at the mask in his hand, feeling as if Queen Adele might be bluffing him.

"Do you think cursing requires something complicated? This kind of thing is intangible and invisible, undetectable by ordinary people," Queen Adele explained indifferently. 

"Although you're a human chosen by Algado, if you wear this mask, he won't dare to possess you easily. The curse on it, in a way, comes from him, and it's not something that can be easily removed."

That was great news for Henry. 

He had been thinking of selling the Mask of Algado since he couldn't use it himself. 

Now, after Queen Adele's curse, he had another powerful mysterious item, allowing him an additional magus profession.

"It's my first time witnessing a curse, truly amazing," Henry casually remarked.

Queen Adele nodded and then, as if remembering something, added, 

"For the curse to remain effective, I suggest reinforcing it weekly. This way, we can prevent Algado from breaking free."

Henry frowned slightly, "Does that mean I need to enter the icy dungeon every week?"

Queen Adele coyly nestled in Henry's arms. 

"Is that such a bad thing?" she asked. 

"With Algado's avatar from the magus relic dead, he has effectively vanished from Snowland."

"I'll soon dispose of that puppet king and eliminate all of Algado's loyal followers. Then, I will be the empress of this country."

"Having bedded an empress, can't you satisfy one of her conditions?"

Henry smirked devilishly, feeling a stir in his lower body. "My empress, you are absolutely right. Let me satisfy you right now."

Decadent sounds once again filled the chambers of the Snowland royal palace.