The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 89.2

-Welcome back, Lady? – said the maid, helping Judith out of the carriage. — The owner asked to bring you to his office upon your return.

– For what?

– I don’t know the reason.

Judith followed the maid, hiding the letter, although she did not realize it. My heart felt heavy because of the strange things that happened one after another. But hope and strength still did not fade away in the duchess. She came to the office in this state.

“Judith, it looks like you’ve returned,” Vincent led her to the sofa and sat down opposite.

Lately, his brother has been acting extremely strangely towards the Duchess. Every now and then he looked at her with sadness. But it would not be an exaggeration that Judith looked like a cold corpse: without vitality, will, without energy. And now she suddenly decided to go to the temple.

Even though she was accompanied by a convoy of knights, Vincent was still worried. The sister could be planning to commit suicide. But seeing how she returned home safely, the brother calmly exhaled.

“Then why did you decide to go to the temple?” – Vincent asked this at his own peril and risk, realizing that Judith could close herself off again.

– Is that why you were looking for me?

However, the man looked away and pushed some object that was on the table. Judith looked at him.

– This…

“They say that the feast at the Imperial Palace will take place in a week.” And you received an invitation. And if you don’t want to go, then, of course, you don’t have to do it,” Vincent said this extremely quickly so that his sister would never see coercion in these words.

The Duchess looked at the invitation on the tea table. The gilded pattern was so familiar it was almost annoying. She remembered how she had been neglecting her social life lately. And the last event Judith attended was the funeral.

The eyes and tongues of the mourners condemned her. The Duchess felt sick again just thinking about it. It seemed easier to fall deep into hell than to face them again. When Judith’s complexion suddenly deteriorated, he immediately removed the invitation. But the Duchess suddenly grabbed his wrist:

– Can I take a look? For an invitation.

Vincent happily handed it to her. The girl swallowed dry saliva and looked at the letter from the Imperial Palace. In the end, she did this because the date also coincided with the unexpected envelope. Was this just a coincidence or an accident?

But it had been too long since Judith had seen so many strange things. She could not explain how the jet-black invitation ended up in the carriage. After much thought, the Duchess put it aside with a sigh:

– I will go.

– What?

– Banquet. I will go.

Vincent could not hide his surprise when he heard the clear answer. Although he was already thinking about lecturing Judith, because you can’t live underground all your life. However, now I didn’t really know what to say. The Duchess, still thinking about the rumors, cowered, preparing to hide in some corner. She had a strong feeling that everything was happening now for a reason.

***

Morning never comes in the realm of demons. As if to confirm the myth, the sky was extremely dark and the panorama was not even visible. Only a vertical building dividing each zone into twelve is the only light axis of gray color. The coal-black spire looked extremely dangerous from the outside, as if it was ready to stab anyone.

The Royal Castle has now been moved to the second zone. This meant the ruler was from this area. There was a knock. The demon, who passed through space and time without any problems, was in perfect harmony with the silence around him. He slowly walked towards the empty throne. The devil named Lucas clutched his forehead as if he was really tired.

“I want you to tell me when you go for a walk.”

At the same moment, someone appeared from behind a column next to the throne. It was Liam, who was once an advisor and now became the King’s assistant.

“You can still believe what you want.” You are a great man who understands even the madness of your superiors.

Lucas shook his head, also looking at the empty throne. A glittering crown hung from the elongated back. Perhaps it was the brightest and lightest thing in the entire demon realm.

“I give this to you,” Lucas remembered the demon’s words.

Giving up everything was tantamount to giving up my own pride. The voice of the boss who said this could not leave my head. Every time Lucas remembered this, he couldn’t stop laughing. He didn’t understand how Derrick could give up so easily.

“I didn’t think you’d actually do this,” Lucas grinned dryly, thinking the same thing.

His voice dissipated into the darkness. Unfortunately, the one to whom these words were addressed was not here.