Lucifer was leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up on his desk and a drink in his hand. His father and Belial sat across from him,
"So everything is prepared, correct?" His father asked, rising from his chair and grabbing the whiskey decanter on the desk.
"Yes, It's all taken care of," Lucifer reassured.
"How many guests will be staying overnight?" His father asked.
With a yawn, Lucifer put his feet down, leaned forward, and flipped open a binder on his desk. He flipped through the first few pages till he found the guest list,
"Duchess Margery with her family, Duke Kent and Duchess Katarina." He informed, scanning the page, "Suprised Duke Cazimir didn't plan on staying. He's always loved the castle. It's the only house in all of Hell bigger than his." He chuckled, leaning back in his chair with the binder in one hand and his drink in the other, "Huh, seems he's not attending at all. Guess he's still mad I'm not marrying Angelique."
"That's actually my fault; I sent him on a mission in the borderlands." His father replied as if suddenly remembering, "You remember the rogue grawpin?"
"Aye, it's been attacking some of the farmer's beasts," Lucifer recalled tossing the binder back on the desk, "Small little thing that only attacks at night."
"Right, while you were away, that small little thing got brave and attacked one of our main farmer's daughters, nearly killing her." His father explained, causing Lucifer to sit up straight.
"Are you sure it was the grawpin? They're usually very skittish. It's not like the species to attack a human. Their largest known prey is a clockra." Lucifer replied, puzzled.
"I am not, thus the reason I sent Cazimir to investigate. Poor timing, but I need the issue handled immediately. Ideally, I would have sent you, but Lunther can miss the wedding. You can't. Angelique will be filling in for him at the wedding." His father answered, sipping his drink.
Lucifer scoffed, "Not your best idea, father." He accused, shooting the rest of his whiskey.
"Angelique is the future Duchess of Central City, Louie, and with Lunther unable to attend, she's the obvious choice for a stand-in. And if we were supposed to scratch off everyone you've slept with from the guest list, then we should have just planned for a private ceremony." His father brushed it off while his Uncle chuckled.
"Angelique's not just some person, father. She's thought for years that she would be the one to marry me, not that it was ever going to happen," Lucifer rolled his eyes as he stood up and stretched, "but I imagine she harbors some bitter feelings towards my Baby Girl." He laughed, grabbing his empty glass off the desk.
"Well, if she knows what's good for her, she'll fall in line. Can't have a Duchess who quarrels with the Queen." Belial spoke up for the first time in a while.
"Hope you're right, Uncle, but I know your not. But enough on this. What of the girl? The one that was attacked."
"Do you not know?" Belial asked, "Your fiancée has been helping me see to the child's wounds. The attack happened the day you left, and I had the girl brought here after hearing about the severity of the wound. It wasn't pretty; for a while, I seriously thought she might lose her arm."
"No, she told me nothing. Not a big surprise. Due to my naivety, I've managed to upset her yet again, so she's been a bit distant." He admitted filling his glass.
"Oh no, Louie, what could you have possibly done," Belial rolled his eyes sarcastically, "I mean, it's not like you left her here to plan your entire wedding alone and came back only to blow off all her hard work and take Azazel,"
"I know what I did, Uncle!" He hissed as amusement filled the air, "I've already been informed of my mistake, she gave me a very stern talking too, and I've agreed to be more discreet about my private activities."
"There's that naivety he mentioned earlier." His father chuckled lowly to Belial, which only frustrated Lucifer more.
His father held his glass up, and without hesitation, Lucifer walked over and snatched it before turning his back on the two.
"Besides, I did nothing with Azazel. I had asked her before I left to befriend my Baby Girl. I could tell she was getting lonely and figured a friend would help. When I got back, I wanted to check in with Azazel on that situation." Lucifer defended as he refilled his father's glass.
"So you figured your favorite sex partner was the best candidate to befriend your future wife?" His father asked as he handed him the refilled drink.
"Azazel has served me loyally for years, and is a trusted friend, so yes, she was the best candidate to keep an eye on my precious doll." Lucifer replied, looking down into his drink, "Anyway! The girl, My Baby Girl, has been helping her?"
"Yes, she's been checking on her daily. The child seems to have grown quite fond of her." Belial replied.
"How old is she?" Lucifer asked, sipping his drink.
"Five or six, maybe, but she's a bit small for her age."
"How is her condition now?" Was the following question as he returned to his seat.
"Better, the wounds will heal, and she's not showing any signs of infection. The child and her mother should be able to return home in a couple of days." Belial explained, but before Lucifer asked anything else, there was a knock on the door, and one of the angelic slaves entered with a curt bow,
"Your majesties, Duchess Margery has arrived with her husband and daughters." He informed.
"Have them shown to one of the prepared rooms to settle and have a meal made for them if they request." His father answered, and with another bow, he turned to exit.
"Wait," Lucifer called out, and the angel turned back.
"Yes, young Lord?" He asked.
"The young girl Belial has been tending to; find her and invite her and her mother to my wedding. Assuming she agrees, find them appropriate attire, same goes for the small family that's taken residence down the hall from my room." Lucifer ordered.
The boy bowed again and quickly ran off to do as ordered.
"Inviting farmers to the royal wedding?" His father asked, a little taken aback.
"Yes, farmers, we are supposed to protect and failed. I see no harm in allowing them to join." Lucifer justified, "Anyway, it's my wedding, and I want them present. Now when is our angelic family joining us?" He asked, changing the subject with a pull from his drink.
"Soon, I imagine, my father said early afternoon. Micheal will officiate the wedding, and a handful of my other siblings will attend as witnesses." His father informed, looking at his watch, "Speaking of, it's about time you go get ready, Louie."
Following his father's example, he glanced at his watch, and the time had indeed passed quickly, "Yes, sadly, I'm still waiting on my," And as if he had summoned them, the door to the music room opened again and in walked Milril and Orad, "about time!" He snapped.
"Sorry, Louie, but you sent us on quite a few errands." Milril justified, a black garment bag laying over his arm, "But we got everything you needed."
"The rings?" Lucifer questioned.
Orad stepped forward, pulling a rectangular box out of his pocket and handing it to him. Lucifer opened the box and saw two very different rings, one beautifully finished and shining silver in the light, the other dull, dark, and relatively thick,
"Perfect!" He said, taking out the less glamorous ring and studying it.
"Please tell me that is not her ring." His father sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Why yes, it is, father. I think it's quite nice. I had it made out of a popular metal found on Earth, iron. It's strong, durable, and reliable, the perfect thing to describe my desires from my Queen." He smirked, returning the ring to the box.
"Iron, you had her ring made out of iron?" He spat.
"Yes, specifically made from one of the artifacts in my collection. A shackle I took from Earth during one of my visits." He smirked, causing his father and Belial to glare at him, "Love to stay and hear you two's opinion but, like you said, father, must go get ready." He smirked, quickly shooting the rest of his drink and exiting with Milril and Orad in tow.
"Louie, did you seriously have the Lady's ring made out of a shackle?" Milril asked, his brows furrowed.
"Aye. You have something to say about it?" He asked as they quickly walked down the corridor.
"It just seems a bit, uh,"
"A bit what, Milril?" He asked, coming to a dead stop causing them both to stumble a bit.
"Disrespectful." He finished looking the Devil in his eyes.
"Disrespectful?" He hummed, "I thought it was clever."
"Look, I don't know her all that well, but I don't think that she's going to find it clever, Louie," Milril warned.
"Well, she's not your fiancée now, is she?"