26 First Demonic Contract: Partnership of Equals (2/2)
She didn't hesitate, stood up and walked toward him.
”Are you willing in all conscience to abandon your humanity for my demonic blood?”
”I am willing.”
”Are you willing in all conscience to forsake your lineage and ancestry for the right to join my household?”
”I am willing.”
”To forever brand your soul with the mark of my lineage?”
”I am willing!”
”Then I, Konrad of the house of Talroth welcome you to the fold of demonkind as my chosen kin and bind myself to you through spirit and blood!”
Massive purple light exploded from the pentagrams and shrouded the two of them while Konrad took Jasmine within his arms and kissed her with his bloodied lips. Parts of his demonic essence flew past his mouth, dived into her and mixed with her bloodline, turning her from a pureblooded human being to a half-succubus.
Her cultivation base experienced another breakthrough, going from the fifth step Adept Knight to the first step True Knight and from first step Adept Priest to the sixth step Adept Priest.
Meanwhile, her innate comprehension level and cultivation talent were added to Konrad's and a part of his to hers.
Thus, the pact was sealed.
Konrad then placed the harem ring on her finger and left her to adjust to her new self.
...
In the meantime, within a pavilion of the Holy Empress' palace, two breathtaking women were engaging in a chess match.
One was dressed in an elegant backless white maxi dress that outlined her perfect hourglass body and possessed curly silver hairs and eyes that made her paragon spirit heritage evident. She was the Holy Empress, Verena Kvass.
The other was a crimson dressed woman with long ink-like hairs and slit blue eyes that were the only thing discernable beneath her silver mask. She was the Holy Consort, Else Metze.
And with the Dowager in seclusion, those two were the most powerful women of the Holy Flame Empire.
”Your last move was not bad. Reshaping Wenzel's memories to make him forget who truly harmed him and then using him to turn Yvonne against the emperor and gain her support. I must say I'm impressed.”
”But are you not afraid that when his majesty comes looking for answers, I will reveal the little stunt you pulled?”
Although she rarely intervened in matters of the court, the Holy Empress was fully aware of the various consorts' daily moves. That night, she had been monitoring Else and was surprised to see her intervene in a matter directly related to the emperor for the sake of a eunuch boy.
More surprising was that despite knowing that she was being monitored, Else didn't hesitate to act. And while she subsequently used that matter as a tool to obtain the support of Wenzel's mother, it was clear the original intent was to save that boy.
Verena was perplexed as to why Else who never made any rash move would risk offending the emperor for the sake of a seventeen years old eunuch.
”As the leader of the inner court, your majesty is by right my older sister. That being the case, I don't see why I should be afraid of my older sister revealing my secrets. Also, if there is something, we can all agree on, it's that antagonizing the emperor is your favorite activity.”
Else nonchalantly replied while moving a black pawn.
”Touché. I do not care about any of that. I'm more interested in the eunuch boy you seem so fond of. Could he be a man you snuck into the palace to be your little lover? Or is there a deeper story here?”
Verena teased with her lips curled in a mischievous smile.
”I didn't know your majesty had such an interest in gossiping.”
”Don't all bored women love spicy gossips? As the country's most unentertained woman, it is only natural that I also have some interest in them.”
Verena replied while moving a white pawn.
”If you're that interested, why not make a full inquiry? Investigate as you wish and see what you can find out. I have nothing to hide.”
”Will you really not mind?”
”As long as your majesty doesn't go beyond a certain point, I will of course not mind.”
Verena's interest was only heightened.
But looking at the chessboard, it seemed Else's pawn was about to reach promotion. As for what it would turn into, she didn't know.