2 [2]

The ball hall, as it was built for, was used to celebrate anything the king was to deem worthy. Just as Arthur was born and celebrated, Maria had the same grand occasion thrusted onto her.

The chandeliers hung down in vibrant light created from the fluorescent glow of magic cores. Hanging like guardians above the mingling nobles of various lucrative outfits, it served to add to the already celebratory ambiance

Tables of both high-quality food and drinks decorated the already vibrant ball Hall.

Abraham held his head up high and his chest puffed out proudly. Like a guardian, he stood by the baby crib as he watched the nobles observing and saying their wishes to his new daughter. Every time a noble was to do so, he would nod proudly in an 'of course' manner before staring deeply at his child and once more beaming proudly.

It was as if he was telling everyone 'Hey! Do you see this? Do you see my cute daughter?'

His wife by his side, who was dressed elegantly in a single piece dress of green that matched well with her emerald eyes and cascading blonde hair, slowly shook her head in expressionless. Even her, the person who birthed the child did not have as much enthusiasm as this person she called a husband.

Not so much as a week had passed before this man before her had decided it was the right time to throw a party, invite all the high-class nobles, and flaunt his new found treasure.

Just then a certain duke walked over and pointed over to his son not far away, he smiled and spoke amiably "What do you think of my son?"

Abraham did not even so much as take a glance in the direction the man had pointed, he simply scoffed "Your son is unworthy of my daughter!"

How could he ever have the thought of marrying his daughter off?

It didn't matter if the noble's son was handsome, nor did it matter if his son was a gifted child of heaven. Heck! It didn't matter if the duke's son was even a knight in shining armor or a prince of a larger kingdom. Could he possibly have an overall rank of S at birth? Abraham didn't think so and, frankly, he didn't so much as take a moment of his time to care or deeply ponder about it.

All he knew was that no one was coming between him and his daughter, he would spend every moment of his and her life to care for her every need. Even if she wanted to move a mountain because it blocked the sun, he would have it done one way or the other.

Just thinking about his future life made his smile grow as fantasies filled his mind.

He would frolic in the highly decorated garden with her. He would tell her bedtime stories as he kissed her to sleep. He would partake in her cooking and, even if it didn't taste so well, gladly praise her to the high heavens. He would throw her up in the air, catch her, and spin her around the world. Finally, maybe he would beat up a few of the men chasing after her hand in marriage! Everything was a possibility!

However, just as he was engrossed in a fantasy of the future, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head as a 'thud' resounded harshly.

"What!? Who removed me from my fantas-I mean-Who dares harm this king!?" His loud roar echoed amidst the halls as his eyes gleamed daggers around the grand ball.

Martha raised her brows, and with a light smile said: "It was me, what are you going to do?"

Abraham quickly flipped around, and with a loving smile, held his wife's hands in his "I'm going to pat your hand of course and ask you if you hurt yourself when you smacked me."

"Oh please," Martha snorted in return before pointing at a group of nobles ahead "anyway, some of your counselors want to have some sort of political discussion with you."

Abraham looked at where she had pointed to find a group of orderly men standing about in slight awkwardness as they waited for him.

Instantly, he frowned in displeasure.

All they wanted was this? Removing him from the side of his daughter and kicking him out of his fantasy for this simple reason? To discuss politics? Who did they think he was, a King!? Wait...

He mumbled unpleasant words under his breath as he walked towards the group. His body passed right beside them and mumbled 'follow me'.

The nobles knew they had incurred the wrath and anger of this twenty-four-year-old king. And, although they did not know why and how they angered him, they hurried to follow in his wide steps as they left the grand and ceremonious ballroom.

***

"What!? The demon king is awakening soon!? Why didn't you tell me sooner!" The king shouted with rage.

'Sir, we tried to tell you as soon as we could, yet you always shooed us away saying you wanted to spend time with your new daughter.' The nobles felt wronged within their hearts, but they wouldn't dare voice out their thoughts, and could do naught but sigh.

"How much time do we have?" Abraham finally calmed and asked a vital question.

One of the nobles stepped forwards, a man with graying hair, and spoke for the others "Judging by the path of the red star within the sky, 15 years with a margin of error. However, sir, although this time seems long, I strongly advise you to start your preparations."

The other gathered men and women all nodded in agreement.

"Hmm? Right," Abraham also agreed "if we don't start our preparations, we would be hard-pressed to survive this chaos to come."

Within this land and expansive continent, there were two domains; the demonic domain of the demons, and the human domain. Usually, all would be peaceful between the two as no one was willing to wage an endless and blood filled war against the other race. However, every 100 years, a new demon king would awaken from the blackened spring of demonic energy located deep within the demon realm. He was the sole demon with enough power to strike fear into the other demons below him and order them to do his bidding. Then it would be a war between races.

The land would grow asunder with crimson blood and the cries of the wailing victims of war would haunt the night sky for years to come.

In the end, the human race had always managed to kill the demon king, but they were always unsuccessful in destroying the demonic spring which birthed the next. They would have tried to nuke it...but sadly or maybe thankfully...this world didn't have nukes. It did have high-grade magic like <Meteor Shower> and the like, but that didn't work either.

However, one thing was certain, the birth of the demonic king marked the years of chaos that would follow his rise.

When the red star entered the range of the moon, that was the time for chaos.

Abraham nodded as all these thoughts spun within his mind "How much of our annual taxes do we currently not have any use for?"

The same, growing old, man answered him "About 25% of our taxes are currently being unused."

"Good, I want 10% of the taxes to be kept for safe keeping for the future to come and the last 15% to fund and expand the military."

"Finally, I want another wheat granary built within the capital and to continue to stock and save it using the levied food products that we already collect."

"Do I make myself clear?" Abraham finally asked.

The counselors nodded.

Just as the nobles prepared to depart, his voice drifted over once more "Also...make sure no word of this gets into the public ears. I don't want any chaos within my kingdom."

"Your word will be carried out, your highness." The nobles gave a small bow and finally departed.

Abraham's brows furrowed deeply as he watched them walk away.

"Hmm, I don't think I remember any of them, this shouldn't be the first time I met them is it?" He faintly muttered.

It was a shame that the nobles had already departed from his office. If they had heard his word just now they would have surely stumbled over and coughed blood before loudly yelling in unison 'we are your trusted advisors within your counsel, and help with your decisions on a daily basis, how could you forget us!?'

Abraham shrugged his shoulder's with an 'oh well' expression before departing his office and returning to the ball hall with a gleaming smile.

"What was it about?" Martha asked as she carried her child in her arms.

"Oh, nothing much really. Just some things about some demon king awakening." Abraham spoke smoothly without a care as he tried to take the child from her hand.

"What!? The demon king!?" The wife expertly avoided his reach as she exclaimed in shock.

"Don't worry! With me here I'll protect my little girl!" The husband forcefully snatched his daughter as he stared at her lovingly.

"What about me...?" There was some kind of mutter but it was splendidly ignored by the husband.

Maria, who was now looking up at the brutish face, wondered 'Are they playing tug of war with me?'