Following this disgraceful defeat, Ralfor dragged himself towards his wife's chambers after healing. However as he approached the door to her room, two guards crossed their swords in a blockade.
"What is the meaning of this?" he roared in outrage.
"Princess Talia has requested for complete privacy. For the next three hours, no one is allowed to disturb her."
The guards replied stoically, unfazed by his apparent outrage.
Their uncaring front only provoked more of his anger, however was Ralfor was forced to admit that they had the right to be aloof.
Because they were surnamed Arzul!
Even as guards they did not have to put him in their eyes.
He swallowed his anger begrudgingly and asked softly. "In that case can you please tell her I have arrived?"
"The princess asked for complete privacy during the next three hours. When the three hours are done she will see you." The guards replied expressionlessly.
Afterward they no longer paid him any attention. They were all mighty warriors form the house of Arzul. While still being commoners, Ralfor was not necessarily above them.
However this was only one of the reason why they showed him no respect. The other was that the high ranking nobles of the Arzul family practiced a lesser art created by the devourers. It allowed the user to drain the divine power of a partner during intercourse and use it to fuel their own.
Being an outsider from a lesser house, Ralfor was unaware of it, but the guards new….that there was no point in giving their respect to someone without a future.
Unaware of their thoughts, a brooding Ralfor sunk himself into his nostalgia.
He remembered a time Talia respectfully called him big brother Ralfor. Where was the intimacy of those days? Now he couldn't see her shadow without requesting a meeting. What kind of marriage was this?
However he could only endure. He was well aware of Talia's potential and the merits he would gain by being at her side, he was far from foolish enough to jeopardize that because of his laughable pride.
Half a day passed before the door to the chamber opened on its own. "Come in." An elegant voice spoke. One that enraptured the body and kissed the bone.
Ralfor stepped inside the chamber, his eyes glossing over the figure veiled by the canopy bed's silk curtain.
"My beloved." He began.
"Kneel!" She interjected in a cold imperious voice.
Ralfor without any delay sunk to his knees and cupped his hands. "I greet my princess." He said humbly.
The figure hidden by the curtain showed no response.
Undeterred Ralfor began to make his way towards the bed.
"Who allowed you to approach me?" The figure suddenly spat coldly.
Though afraid, Ralfor was more at a loos. Since when had Talia ever treated him this icily?
Ralfor felt the interior of his bone freeze as knelt and pleaded. "Beloved, did I offend you in some way?" He asked in confusion.
"Impudent fool!" Talia coldly chastised.
*Pah* Again Ralfor was once more on the floor with handprint on his face. Thought this time the force of the slap was much less, humiliation burned within his eyes knowing it was from his beloved.
"Who at all gave a waste like yourself the confidence to prance around in the fragrant night pavilion?"
Immediately understanding the crux of the matter Ralfor hurriedly sought to explain himself.
"Dearest, those fools rejected an order from me, when my only intent was to please you. Afraid of lowering your dignity I decided to take a forceful stance-"
"Shut up." Talia commanded. "Do you know whose property the pavilion is? Did you really think such an establishment was owned by a random noble? Their head is my uncle, Felhen Arzul, and tonight you stepped all over his dignity.
A shiver permeated Ralfor's spine as he threw himself onto Talia's legs.
"Beloved, please save me?" if anyone could save him at this point, it could only be her.
[Bang] Talia immediately kicked him away. Staring at him with naked contempt, she replied in a cold and unfeeling tone. "I can exempt you, but your relatives must perish. Someone must suffer for this mess you've created. If it's not you it's them. Now choose!"
Faced with these two dreadful choices Ralfor's eyes constantly shivered within their sockets. "But I-I d-did it f-for you."
"If you do not answer within the next five breaths both of you and your family will perish." Talia pushed cruelly.
Faced with such a dreadful ultimatum Ralfor threw out all his dignity and kowtowed as he bitterly wept. "Please save me."
In response he only heard Talia's disappointed sigh. "Your family has already been exterminated down to its roots. I was well aware that this would be your choice. Now SCRAM!"
***
Over the next few days several housed under the jurisdiction of the Arzul were brutally exterminated. Of course people got to know the reason. That it was all the fault of the moronic price consort who had brought calamity upon himself and sacrificed his family.
No one could estimate how many times a day he was jeered at and cursed.
The next day the coming of age ceremony proceeded just as it was envisioned.
In the palace of Arzul, an unmatched liveliness now churned the air. Several lesser devil god houses were already present, each arriving with shocking gifts, while singing endless praises. Desperately hoping to snatch the princess's favor.
In the center of the hall, was seated a broad man with an unfathomable aura. His skin was a pale chalk white without any hint of blood color, while his eyes and hair glinted with a deep blood red hue. He was the king of the blood wraiths, Lord Kaldur Arzul.
Besides him sat a woman with perfectly sculpted hourglass figure and delicate and full pair of red lips none could resist. Almost all the males present couldn't help but steal glances at her.
She was different from the every other person as her eyes and hair glinted with an amorous pink hue, effortlessly she exuded a sultry charm, as well as a depthless aura. She was the wife of the king. Lady Raya. Unfortunately she was unable to keep the directed attention.
Eyes immediately darted to a now parted flaming curtains as a fairy like figure stepped forth from them. It was a young, snow white colored woman who clearly didn't look more than eighteen years old. Dressed, in a sapphire, backless dress with long, wavy crimson hair and piercing, blood cored eyes, she stood out, not because of her riveting beauty, but because of her amorous curves that simply didn't match her youth. Large breasts that formed a mesmerizing cleavage as the luscious globes within threatened to burst out of her dress, a firm large and perky butt, and a narrow waist to perfect it all.
Even in the royal palace where beauties now gathered, such a striking figure was hard to come by, and when matched with a divine countenance, gave birth to charm that could conquer all.
She was the house of Arzul's princess Talia. And while her expression was outwardly amiable and kind. Within her eyes, frigid scorn froze the gazes of all who dared to make eye contact with her.
As far as she was concerned, this was no celebration, but a gathering of prancing fools competing for the right to amuse her. In fact, her royal relatives included, she didn't see any of those individuals as sentient beings, but as pets and toys she could use to fulfill her goals.
With an elegant stride, Talia walked toward the seat of honor, merely curtsying before taking her seat. Her relatives cheered and sung great praises as she made her way over, however not a single one fazed her. The celebration carried on, and now that Talia was present the servants carried in the dishes and wine to liven up the banquet hall. Festivities continued as the mood of the party became more sanguine. But as the banquet approached its end, Kaldur stood up with a palm pointed at Talia.
"No father has ever felt more proud of a daughter in this world? Talia, it is your birth that allowed me to realize that fate had truly not been so unkind to us." Kaldur recounted in a warm, proud tone that filled many with emotions. He carried on. "The Coming of Age Ceremony's proper end is the consummation night, the bridge to true maturity. I know that many outstanding men have already been prepared to serve you. However, I also tried my hardest to bring you the best of the best."
*CLAP*
Following Kaldur's loud clap, the royal guards brought in eight males in chains. In this realm regardless of age gender or race anyone could have multiple consorts as long as they passed one requirement. If they had strength! As the hope of their house Talia no doubt deserved the best of the best.
The chests were bared for all to see, revealing their enthralling muscle. The first five all were breathtakingly handsome, however the sixth was an entirely different case. Not different because he wasn't handsome, but because he was too handsome.
Rarely could a male be described as handsome enough to move ancient deities, and yet this was not an exaggeration in the slightest in the case of the sixth.
He did not lose a single bit of his masculinity, however whether it was his sculpted chest or the dream-like contours of his face, or even the strange glowing molten chocolate hue of his skin, each feature stole the attention of everyone present.
All the females were unable to look away from him as they fell into an abyss, never to be free for the rest of their lives whiles the males felt a sense of shame and inferiority so profound they almost wish to bury holes into the earth and dive in. He was perfect beyond any dream, beautiful beyond any fantasy. His very existence was a miracle.
However his expression was downtrodden and beaten down, an uncontrollable bout of pity suddenly permeated the all the females present.
"Where did you find such treasure!?" Lady Raya asked with a heated expression. As if on instinct her mind had already began to devise ways to snatch this youth from her daughter. This was the first ever time she had fostered such treacherous thoughts during her marriage.
Without noticing his wife's strangeness Kaldur began. "They are the result of my desperate searches to please my beloved daughter. Of the six, five are silver rank devil gods. As for the sixth, while he's merely mortal, his worth speaks for itself."
Without a word, Talia stood up, lifting her trailing dress to step toward the slaves. As she moved, her tight-fitting wear perfectly highlighted her swaying curves, and the wiggle of her hips pulled the males' attention away from the sixth slave…if only for a moment. Bypassing the first five slaves, she stopped before the focus of her attention and stretched her silky palm toward his cheek, letting her nimble fingers trace it before seizing his chin in an unabashed move that startled more than one. Although devil gods didn't have much protocol, such a display still was unexpected.
"I only want him." Talia declared as her eyes stared into the glorious deep pools of abyssal light within his.
Watching her from a nearby seat, her prince consort Ralfor almost puked blood as he was filled with great shame and indignation. Even though he wouldn't be Talia's only consort he would get a taste of her along with the others. However now he had been cheated out of the experience by this divinely beautiful demon.
"Naturally, it being your special day you can do whatever you want." Kaldur acceded gently.
The slave now faced Talia gaze. His eyes were proud and noble, not due to any conceited pride. It was simply his aura, he naturally radiated an air of control and confidence even whiles shackled in chains.
From him Talia could feel a faint suppression, it was hollowed out by his weakness, however it was present nonetheless.
However all of these were utterly and completely overpowered by the seductive ambience around him and sweet scent he exuded.
Without saying anything else Talia grabbed his wrist and shattered his chains.
"Follow me." She commanded as she led him in the direction of her bed chamber under the shocked gazes of all present.
"Pluh" Having had his tolerance hammered at again and again, blood burst from Ralfor's lips as he finally found relief and fainted.
All around him looks of great scorn gathered onto his body.