After a brief conversation with Bekelen, he led Veronica and her group into the Royal Court room.
All the ministers and Royal Guards stared at her with undisguised hatred in their eyes, yet no one dared speak a word.
As Veronica entered the court alongside Cesar, Aleric, Severina, and the others, murmurs rippled through the hall.
On the side of the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom's Royal Family sat the key members: Ignis, Peter, Felberta, Kaite, Larry, and Anastasia.
Ever since Ignis had returned from Westirifer covered in bruises and wounds, Kaite had developed an intense, burning hatred for Lucifer. When news reached her that Angelina Asher had been tortured to death by him, that hatred only deepened—not just in Kaite, but in her husband Peter and his other two main wives as well.
The final wound came when Jasper informed her that Veronica and her children had severed all ties with the kingdom and joined Lucifer's Velmora family. It was like salt rubbed into an already raw injury.
And because of Veronica, Jasper had also abandoned the kingdom along with his entire family.
If anyone asked Kaite who she hated to the very bone, her answer would be immediate: Lucifer and Veronica.
Now, seeing Veronica stand before her and her loved ones—proud, happy, showing not a trace of regret or remorse—Kaite felt her blood boil.
Beside her, Ignis watched Veronica with a storm of conflicting emotions.
The story Veronica had fed him was that she had compromised her marriage to him only because Lucifer had promised to spare his life if she did so.
But Ignis didn't know the truth: she had left because she cared deeply about her children's safety. She understood Lucifer's overwhelming strength and had been told his future plans—plans that openly included the possibility of conflict with the kingdom in the near future.
Yet after watching recordings of her passionate nights with Lucifer—sweet words, feverish desperate kisses—Ignis felt his heart twist in agony.
And when he saw Lucifer successfully breeding her, knocking her up, kissing her tenderly, and naming their unborn daughter Lucevera… Ignis burned with rage, yet at the same time he was aroused beyond reason. In the aftermath, he had turned to his mother Kaite at irregular intervals, filling her womb with twins in a desperate, twisted attempt to reclaim some sense of control.
Kaite knew she could do nothing to Veronica while she was surrounded by those three shadowborn women.
She also couldn't directly order the SS+ rank hunters and adventurers to attack—not yet.
So, as matriarch, she spoke in a solemn, emotionless tone—neither happy, arrogant, nor sorrowful:
"So… what brings you all to my kingdom?"
Veronica remembered Lucifer's instructions clearly: the main negotiations were to be handled by Cesar and Aleric. Her role was simple—rub salt into the Royal Family's wounds and shatter their arrogance.
She glanced at Kaite and replied with a sweet, mocking smile:
"Oh, Mother… I came to see if you're doing well. Oh wait—I just remembered… fortunately, I'm no longer part of your family.
So yes, *Aunt*… Aunt Kaite, I came to check how you're faring in your nearly exhausted old age."
Ignis roared at her humiliating words directed at his mother:
"Has living with that barbarian boy already rotted your brain? Is this how you speak to the matriarch of the kingdom?"
Veronica turned her gaze on him, seductive and taunting:
"Oh yes… Mr. Pampered King. Well yes, Ignis, I really am here to check on all of you. Three months have passed since I last saw the face of the Matriarch of the Lustbounds. I genuinely care about her old bones—didn't she just celebrate her 181st birthday two weeks ago?"
Ignis shot back:
"If that's true, then you should ask amicably—not mock her."
Veronica tilted her head.
"Yes, I should. But you know, Ignis… in all the years I ruled this kingdom, I learned one thing: a person's behavior reveals whether they are friend or foe.
And look at this—a horde of guards, adventurers, and hunters lined up to greet my arrival. Isn't that blatant provocation toward a lady of the Velmora household—toward *me*?
So why shouldn't I mock her?
If she had welcomed me without malice, I would have reciprocated the same courtesy."
Peter, lounging lazily in his chair beside the throne, spoke up:
"Oh Ignis, Kaite—why are you bullying my cute Veronica? Leave her alone. She's Daddy's daughter, isn't she?
Come here, my child. Let me hold you affectionately, just like I held you twenty-one or twenty-two years ago during your ascension as the new queen."
Veronica instantly understood the hidden lust in Peter's words.
The wolf-like hunger in his eyes as he scrutinized her made her skin crawl.
If it had been Lucifer, Tristian, or Jason looking at her with desire, she would have felt nothing but warmth.
Lucifer's gaze always carried love alongside lust.
Tristian's desire was welcome—he was her life, just as Lucifer was Mia's.
Jason's lust would be welcomed too; she knew he would never cross the line out of respect for his big brother, whose wife she was.
But Peter? He was a degenerate with no boundaries—the perfect embodiment of degradation, humiliation, and abusive sex.
Still, Veronica met his stare and said calmly:
"No need, Sir Peter. For loving embraces, I have my husband and my son. And even if I couldn't find them, I have a particularly cute younger brother named Jason in my new family.
I don't crave 'Daddy's love' from you."
Peter stared at her for a long moment, then murmured:
"Umm… a shame. Truly a shame.
You've forgotten those nights we spent together, haven't you?"
Veronica replied without hesitation:
"The worst nights of my life, sir. I have no desire to relive them."
With that, Veronica shifted to the real reason she had come—not Lucifer's instructions, but her own personal demand.
She turned to Felberta Sable Lustbound, the current queen, and said:
"Oh Felberta… congratulations on becoming queen."
Felberta did not return the warmth.
"Well, Veronica… now that we've wasted time on pointless chatter, will you finally tell us what message you bring from your so-called husband?"
Veronica shook her head.
"What are you all—deaf?
Didn't I already say I came to see how you're all doing?
Well… I do have other motives, but none of them have anything to do with my husband."
She continued:
"You see, Felberta… whatever my Lucifer wants you to understand will be explained by Sir Aleric and Sir Cesar.
The truth is… I'm pregnant. I'm carrying a daughter in my womb—about two and a half months along. And I remember I once had an excellent maid named Agastha.
So I came with this envoy to take her back with me.
I also know the general situation—how this human filth, Sir Peter, is using her to satisfy his psychopathic sexual fantasies… and how you, Ignis, are lusting after this young man Bekelen's wife, Dora.
So I suggest that you and your Royal Family release Agastha and Dora immediately.
And yes—from today onward, Bekelen is also resigning from his position as Head Minister. He, his mother, and his wife will return to Westirifer with me."
Peter sneered:
"Veronica, you have quite the iron guts to make demands in our own Royal Court.
What will you do if I refuse to release my little sex doll? What will you do if I add Bekelen's wife to my collection, use her like a bloody tool, and then kill them both right in front of that traitorous Bekelen?"
Veronica smiled sweetly:
"Sir Peter, I don't know whether I have iron guts or not… but your mind is certainly located in your limping dick.
Even before you can commit any more atrocities against these people, I'll ask Lady Artemis to gift me your head—without the body attached."
She continued calmly:
"You know, no one in this kingdom would miss your presence. Ignis is enough for his mother and Felberta. His other concubines can find comfort with ministers and guards.
Even your second wife, Anastasia Lustbound, grew tired of that limping dick of yours and took Christopher Purefield as her second husband.
Don't you find yourself miserable?"
Peter shrugged.
"You're not wrong… but I still enjoy exploring young cunts.
Christopher lets me have a fresh, tight one every week in exchange for Anastasia's wet old pussy—so I have no complaints.
And my new queen here has thoroughly enjoyed her father-in-law's dick over the past twenty or thirty days. She even received a baby as my gift.
So I don't think I'm that unwanted."
Felberta, listening to everything, added:
"Well, in truth, Veronica… Father-in-law fucks me hard every day. I wouldn't mind if he started right here.
But now I really want to know—why did you and these envoys come here?
Just to demand the freedom of Agastha and Dora along with Bekelen?"
Before Veronica could respond, Aleric cut in:
"Now, now, you tomboyish girl—sit back on your throne and listen to what I have to say.
Honestly, you Lustbounds really do have boar sperm for brains—going on and on about Peter, sex, blah blah blah."
He turned to Veronica.
"Lady Veronica, I didn't expect you to drag out this conversation so long with these foolish bastards. Just looking at their faces makes me miss home. In my eyes, they all have pig and sow heads on human bodies.
You already told them you're pregnant—two and a half months along—and yet these bastards keep talking nonsense. Not even the basic courtesy of offering you a chair."
Aleric then glanced at Nocturna.
"Lady Nocturna… please go with this man Bekelen, free his mother, and bring her here to us. After that, take Bekelen again, find his wife, and return here.
It's that simple. And I know you're the best when it comes to stealth operations. One day the young master was telling me and Shwan how much he admires your ability—he even said he wants to learn it from you."
Nocturna, usually stoic and emotionless, blushed faintly at the mention of Lucifer's praise.
The subtle flush didn't escape Veronica, Artemis, Severina, or Zyrene.
Nocturna stepped forward to Bekelen and said simply:
"Lead the way."
All this time—while Aleric openly insulted the Royal Family, expressed his disgust, and gave Nocturna her orders—the royals' reactions were completely ignored.
In Nocturna's eyes, they were already worthless ragdolls. She gave them no face and left immediately to search the palace for Agastha and Dora.
The SS+ rank hunters and adventurers stood frozen, unsure what to do—no orders had come from Kaite.
Cesar, observing the situation, spoke to Vance:
"Sir Vance… please bring a chair for Mistress Veronica. Look how she's standing with that bulging belly. If she feels even the slightest discomfort, what excuse will we give the master?"
Vance, utterly loyal to Lucifer, nodded firmly.
"True words, Sir Cesar.
Her Highness must be treated properly."
His gaze swept the room for a suitable chair—until it landed on the throne Kaite currently occupied.
Vance began walking straight toward Kaite and the rest of the Royal Family.
The moment his steps continued forward, Folia activated the anti-magic field across the entire Royal Court and ordered the sixty-eight SS+ rank hunters and adventurers to stop him.
But before anyone could move, Artemis released her aura.
According to the system, it was SSS- rank—but in practical power scaling, it reached SSS+ level.
At the same instant, Severina and Zyrene enveloped Veronica, Cesar, and Aleric in protective auras.
Everyone else in the room felt as though a mountain had been dropped onto their shoulders.
Vance continued walking until he stood directly in front of Kaite.
Without any deference to her status as ruler of the palace and kingdom, he ordered:
"Stand up."
The hunters trying to intercept him couldn't take a single step—the pressure was overwhelming.
SS+ rank hunters were considered near the peak of human power in the kingdom. The last SSS- rank adventurer had appeared five hundred years ago.
Compared to Artemis's aura, they were nothing.
Vance grabbed Kaite by the hair and hurled her straight onto Ignis's lap.
Caught completely off guard, Ignis took the full force of her landing directly on his manhood.
The sheer impact sent unimaginable pain shooting through him.
In the next moment, Vance had lifted the Royal Throne onto his shoulders, carried it back, and placed it gently in front of Veronica.
"Your Highness… please."
Veronica glanced at the shocked faces of Peter, Felberta, and the others but showed no outward reaction.
Inside, she thought: *These two commanders are truly unfathomable.*
Once Veronica was comfortably seated on the throne, Cesar sighed in relief and spoke:
"Now listen to the main point.
My master wants your cooperation in arresting, killing, and eradicating the followers of the Church of Toxara. He also demands full autonomy over Morthveil City.
He has already said: if you refuse to cooperate… we don't need your help. We will take action ourselves—without giving any of you any face."