Chapter 18: Beginning of gray days

(Mael's POV)

2 years had been passed since Jeanne and I became an official couple.

And that's about it.

You were wondering why the heck I didn't lay my wife already. The reason was the cowardice of King Charles VII.

After few months, after the coronation of King Charles, Jeanne urged to save Paris as soon as she can since British forces were strengthening their foothold on the land.

But that coward, instead of going to war with Jeanne like a proper king, only came to war without any real intention to fight.

Since Jeanne was quite reputable within the kingdom and Charles also became the king with the help of Jeanne, he couldn't openly oppose her.

When she got injured in the battle, instead of supporting her, he made peace with Burgundians.

In short, nothing was going according to her plan.

As for Eliza? Even though most of the events went according to her predictions, the state was different meaning that some external forces were involved.

Devils.

She didn't say anything but I knew that something fishy going on in the supernatural world.

I also had little to no contract with Eliza as she had already lifted herself to see me since she only wanted to associate herself with a single human as Eliza was Jeanne's guiding angel.

"Jeanne, I think something fishy going on in the capital. We should refrain from going to another war." I said sitting in a room with her at event tea.

She was now in her royal suite with a metal plate on her head, some armor on her body while an opening in her skirt revealing her soft leg with black tights. Her suit was designed based on Eliza's attire but in navy blue color.

(AN: I didn't clear Eliza or Jeanne's attire before. Basically, Eliza's outfit is similar to Jeanne's third ascension while Jeanne was wearing the same outfit as her Apocrypha self but she wears full body armor in battle.)

She also looked confused as to what she should do.

Burgdandians were treacherous by nature and as expected from those money-hungry people, the so-called peace treaty didn't even last a year before they attacked another one of the small cities called Compiegne along with other British forces.

Not only that but they also attacked many other small cities and territories that were previously got freedom through Jeanne's actions.

In short, we returned to ground zero, wasting not only resources but also essential time to take back the country.

And now that bastard Charles VII wanted to send Jeanne with the same small army to do his work.

"Mael…" She was about to say something but closed her lips with deep regret and sorrow on her face.

I knew that she was hiding something from me but I couldn't come up with enough force to spill the beans.

"Mael… You are right. I should have been more proactive in politics. Maybe if I had persuaded more officials, I would have persuaded for a better army…" At that point, she was only muttering her thoughts.

I sighed, stood from my chair and went behind Jeanne, and hugged her. Her big chest supported my arms and I had urged to fondle them but neither of us was in a mood for that. I could only display my support as I had limited strength. I couldn't convince Jeanne to refrain from warfare neither do I can take her place as both Eliza and Jeanne were against it.

"Mael?" After a brief silence, Jeanne called.

"Yes?"

"You can make a harem…"

"…What?"

Where did that come from?!

"I mean… Look, I don't want to look like a typical selfish wife but a supportive partner just like you have supported me in my quest. So I just want you to fulfill your wish and desires with me as a support."

I had no idea why she was bringing that topic as the 'harem' word didn't even hit my thought until now.

"Don't be foolish. I don't even need to look at other women as I have you with me." I jerked my head and dispersed the idea.

Maybe because of anxiety or depression when things were not going her way, she was thinking that I would leave her, could be her thoughts but there was no way I was going such absurd length.

Harem was just my silly fantasy that I had as a child and nothing else.

In response, she smiled brightly and nodded. "Mael, I love you."

"Same here."

I nodded then our faces got closer and we kissed.

---

(3rd person's POV)

Splash* Splash*

Blood spilled on the walls as two more headless winged individuals fell but soon turned into ashes leaving not a single clue behind.

"Huff* this is wrong…" Eliza wiped the blood from her face while breathing heavily after killing two more devils.

She couldn't believe in her eyes what was happening right under Heaven's rule.

Several devils had already invaded the human world and were living like humans for God knows how long!

At first, she thought that it was some devils that used to come to the human world to exploit humans against god but it was more to it.

They were hiding in perfect synchronization that she or probably even God couldn't see.

Although most of them are low-level devils, they were even hiding sacred places like churches too. She didn't know what kind of method they were using but it was not something God or she could now ignore.

"Cough* Cough* I have to warn… No, Jeanne, Mael…." She coughed some blood and was about to call Jeanne and Mael to warn them when her eyes glowed and saw a vision and tears began to fall from her eyes.

"My time has come huh…." Eliza smiled looking at the sky with tears of sorrow in her eyes.

---

"Your Holiness, I have taken all the action according to your instructions but nothing is going well. Didn't you say that Burgdandians will help us against British forces? What now? They have already broken the treaty!"

King Charles was agitated with Francois.

He had done what Francois told him to secure France's freedom peacefully but now things were turning back against him and the damned priest was doing nothing.

He even made the enemy of Saint Jeanne by opposing her from time to time. Even though he didn't want her to interfere more in his political affairs but he also couldn't simply discard her demands. After all, he became king because of her.

François told Charles that he was in contract with the Burgdandian tribe so Charles did what François had said but now that Burgdandians had betrayed him, he wanted to confront François and his real plans.

"Haha~ since when did I say that they won't betray you?" François simply chuckled before taking a sip of wine.

"You!! You trai-"

Before Charles could even say anything, something hard hit his face sending him some distance away.

Charles didn't know what the hell happened until he a surge of pain went through his skull. His jaw was barely hanging with his head while his nose was broken.

However, the thing he was seeing in front of his eyes took his breath away. A person was standing in front of him with a pair of dark wings on his back and dark red eyes. Not only that but also the crimson aura the person was emitting made Charles wet his pants.

"Weak and puny human, allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Francois Marbas, the heir to Marbas main house of supreme demon race that will soon rule, you insects." Francois gently introduced himself.

"!!!!"

A horrifying chill ran down to Charles' spine that let alone screaming, he couldn't even move a muscle.

What should he do? Pray?

That's right, demons will go if he prays but… pray to whom? Pray to what? What is even praying?!

"Good grief, are you confused about praying~? Well bad for you since your God will soon die anyway and you human insects will be at our disposal." François chuckled and mocked injured Charles who was thinking hard about how to escape from the predicament.

Francois already used a brainwashing spell on Charles where anyone with a low belief in God will become a 'non-believer'.

Thanks to certain mage of humans that devils could create a strong foothold in the human world.

Francois then walked towards scared Charles and bent down on a knee. He smiled viciously upon seeing the pathetic image of the so-called human king. A broken jaw and wet pants, it couldn't get any more vivid for Francois to enjoy Charles' pathetic state.

Francois lifted his finger and chant a spell before a white magic circle appeared on his fingertip then-

!!!

"Ahrgg!"

Charles creamed with his lungs as his soul like a bed cover is getting ripped apart from dragging onto a bed of pointed nails.

"Dear Charles, since you were a great use to me, I will show you a little mercy if you don't want your soul to be eaten right away. Say, wanna hear?" Francois asked while idling his finger and torturing Charles' soul.

Charles immediately nodded and begged to stop Francois with his eyes.

"Very well then, let me tell you my next plan. It's gonna be so much fun~."

===

Just throw all the stones on my face and help me write exciting content.

Lets set a goal: 1k for the end of this week.

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