Chapter Six

" Congratulations, two of you returned alive" Abelard's voice was not of joy or sorrow or mockery, it sounded just plain to the two brothers.

" It was all thanks to everyone's hard work" Anastasius tone was humble and gentle contrasting to the plain tone.

Giesbach blinked" It seems so, I am surprised you were able to even command the army arranged for you Anastasius"

" Oh really, I am surprised as well that you remain fearless in the battlefield without getting injured" Anastasius said emphasizing the word " injured ".

If someone knows the two best, they clearly could see them insulting each other with visible annoyance mostly from Giesbach. Well, Abelard the bystander who has been ignored again thought both of them get along well. Oh how wrong he was.

Abelard tap on his desk alerting the two to stop their "chat".

"*Ahem!*, since you both have arrived victorious, you can named anything you want. I will grant you a gift you wishes to have, I will only give you something that is possible within my power"

When Giesbach and Anastasius heard his announcement, Giesbach was the first to ask a reward he desires. Anastasius thought his brother would asked to be crowned king but didn't expect Giesbach to asked for a certain woman.

" I want the Duke's eldest daughter Krone" Giesbach said without even hesitating like he already know what he wanted.

Anastasius was not surprise by Giesbach's statement as he already knows about his brother's weird obsession with Krone. Abelard was not surprise either.

" Ho? It seem you have taken a liking to this young lady... Krone? Son you do know that it is not smooth sailing to have her" Abelard reminded clearly amused. He thought his first son will ask for the crown but it seems not.

" No father I don't like her, if you want to know why I want her... The reason is her blood is of second only to us....."Giesbach's gaze straight at Anastasius and continued" and she is a tool to help me secured my rightful place.."

' He is being cocky again...He doesn't even know he is being manipulated....' Anastasius was in a good mood seeing his bastard of a brother being fooled.

" And what might you want Anastasius...." Abelard give his attention to his second son.

" Father, I want the Sylvia land" Anastasius said calmly.

What is the Sylvia land you asked? The Sylvia land was famous for being a gift given to the previous king before Abelard, it is said that it was a human Queen who gifted him as a token of love which Anastasius thought was cringe. The Sylvia land was located at the human world close to the border of the demonic world, it was just a small piece of land about 12 km long nothing compare to the demonic world but Anastasius wanted the land because it have potential to grow crops and fruits. He was thinking of planting grapes and making wine to sell to the human world. He was thinking of expending his income.

" Oh? You want that piece of land? Alright" Abelard tone was of uncaring.

Giesbach give Anastasius a look that said " Why would you want that thing? I thought you might asked something worth" Anastasius just give him a blank smile.

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A party to congratulate the victory of defeating their enemy and the holding of the beast treaty was to be held the next evening after Anastasius and his brother arrived to the clan.

The party will be held in a mast skill celebration, invitation were send to household to household, every member within the clan was invited.

Noble Aristocrats that have lost their wealth or honor take this opportunity to make their daughters look decent to catch the eye of a suitable person for marriage, if they are lucky enough they might catch the eye of one of the heirs of powerful households or even one of the princes, they could only dream.

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In the Benmaden Castle where the royals and the royal consorts lived,

Maid servants were busy with their tasks going to one place to another to set the ballroom. The ones in charge of the plans and orders is the royal consort of the princes who are Krone and Mallory which is not surprising as they have been given certain responsibility and authority. Although the two woman have seen each other in social gatherings they have never interacted with one another. Surprisingly they get along well. They have an interesting conversation shifting from their worries for their betrothed to the current viscous rumors.

" Do you know Lady Mallory, the rumor that is going around about you is very....Malicious"

" What rumor may you be implying, Lady Krone?"

" There is a rumor concerning the relationship with you and the second prince" Krone stared at Mallory as if wanting to know the reaction of Mallory who was rumored to have anger issues. She want to know if it is real or not.

" What might be the rumor about?" Mallory titled her head.

Krone blinked and said" It's a engagement without love"

" Well, all arranged marriages are mostly without love" Mallory said calmly.

" You are right, I wanted a men that I love to be my fiancee but It was not possible with my authority" Krone expressed after their little chat both of them resumed their duties.

Mallory sighed in her heart. She too wished her engagement was of love but she knew it was impossible it was just her childhood dream. She can be said to be lucky since her fiancee treated her well.

Most of the engagement alliances in the demonic world was not a happy marriage, the male demons wanted a heir that's why they married females, if they are infertile which applies to unable to give birth they are useless to them.

The Patriarchy is very strong in the demonic world, if the wife they married can not give them a child after they bedded, they will resort to take a mistress or even marred a second wife. She saw first hand how the women are treated since she have seen how her father of hers views her mother as a mere sex toy, a thing that give him pleasure. Her poor mother who already was not strong willed killed herself since she can't stand the humiliation.

Mallory did not want to have the same fate as her birth mother. She doesn't want to be a sex toy to only pleasure a man to be able to survive. She want to be well respected in high society, live a life of comfort and without trouble. She was almost reaching the goal of being respected.

After being betrothed to the second prince Anastasius, Mallory life change for the better. Her father start respecting her, she was moved to the Benmaden Castle where her life was full of richness fit for a royal consort. If she were to be honest she did liked her fiancee.

" What might you be thinking, my dear?" A deep familiar male voice sounded interrupting Mallory out of her thoughts.

" Its nothing, Stasius" She replied with a little shake of her head.

"Don't be nervous, my dear. Nobody will talk bad about you when we stepped in the ballroom."Anastasius give a comforting smile to Mallory. 'If they did I would cut their tongue and drain their blood until there no drop of blood left' he thought.

Mallory trembled from the sudden temperature drop. " You must be cold... Here" Anastasius took off his over coat and put it over her shoulder.' His coat is warm.. I can smell his scent, it smells nice' Mallory face turned red, embarrassed by her thoughts.

"Ah-.. thank you" Mallory give a small visible smile to Anastasius who chuckled in responds.

" Your hand" Anastasius asked while stretching out his hand to her. Mallory place her hand in return and Anastasius lead them to the ballroom entrance. The massive door was opened to show a swarm of people with lavish attire in a dazzling ballroom.

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The chandeliers glow shining a golden hue brightening the ballroom where a large party was hosted. This party was hosted for congratulating the first blood founders victory of the war between the founder clan and the wolves clan. Also to welcome the peace treaty between the two species. Even though the wolves clan was the branch species mutated from the original first bloods they earn their independence.

" Second Prince Anastasius Tsukinami and his Fiance' Mallory Shimizu has arrived !" The Announcer presented.

The majestic large black door open revealing the couple that have cause an uproar because of their sudden engagement 2 months ago.

The nobles observes the newly betrothed to see if the rumors them not being on good terms was true.