Eleanor waited in front of her bedroom door; the sound of running water could be heard behind it. Amane then left the room with a towel and her hair tied back. "Finally, I feel clean" she thought, after having stayed so long in that dungeon.
Eleanor stood silently and respectfully as Amane put on her gown. "So what exactly does this ceremony entail?" she asked.
"You'll see soon enough," replied Eleanor, with a touch of mystery in her words. Amane just shrugged. When she finished getting ready, Eleanor said, "Well, let's go," opening the door.
"Let's go," replied Amane, a little anxiously. She was supposed to be invulnerable to negative emotions, yet she felt something unfamiliar stirring inside her.
The corridor stretched endlessly, its black and gold stones gleaming under the dim torches. Tall columns supporting the vault had between them long banners descending to the ground with the emblem of demons.
Eleanor walked in front with with her hands clasped, while Amane followed behind with her talons echoing in the corridor.
"The demons are already that developed," Amane reflected thoughtfully. "This story about a city of demons is quite disturbing."
"The Demon King simply told me that the army was at my disposal, but not a city." She was lost in thought. "Perhaps demons have the same way of life as other races, I know almost nothing yet; after this ceremony is over, I'll finally be able to get the information I want." she concluded, but a mistrust crept in.
"They could also be setting a trap for me," she worried, looking at Eleanor. "If that's the case then…" Her thoughts, however, were still there; she became cold, like the way she unintentionally appeared to the outside world.
Before her thoughts could settle, a man with a single horn on his right walked towards her from the other side of the corridor; he was stout, with a large belly, yet dressed quite elegantly.
He was quite calm when he saw Amane from afar, a human, then when he arrived in front of her, he bowed deeply.
"Delighted to see you again, archdemon Crimson, and to meet you, Divinity, My name is Gradon, Demon duke responsible for the kingdom's economy," he said deeply and respectfully.
"Oh, it seems the demons have a more complex management system and such unique personalities," she thought, looking at him. "They all seem to know I was coming… It's quite unsettling."
"Duke, are all the preparations ready?" asked Eleanor. "Yes, everything is ready, unfortunately I won't be able to come, I have some business to take care of." He then turned to Amane. "Please forgive my absence on what could be the most memorable day of my life!" he exclaimed, clenching his fists.
"What's this guy's crazy about?" was her troubled thought. "Haha, no worries, it's nothing," she announced, a little anxious, even her authority seemed a little lost.
He then left, waving his hand. After a few seconds, Amane finally breathed a sigh of relief as they resumed their walk. "I can't believe it… I've never stumbled over my words like that before." she murmured to herself. Then Eleanor asked, "What did you say?"
Amane then regained control. "Nothing, but where are we actually going?" Eleanor then gave a small smile as she turned to her. "We're going to the throne room."
"The throne room, she means where the Demon King Vel'krath reigns, I still don't understand what she's planning, but at least I already have the demons' support, so that's fine with me." she reflected on her opinion of demons.
At the end of the corridor, two large doors stood far away from her. They both headed toward the gates; two large monsters stood before the gates, both with spears in their hands.
"We've arrived," said Eleanor, moving a little further away. "What did the Demon King ask me at the end? Does he want me to lead his army or...?"
The two monsters began to open the two doors; the air inside was oppressive even with the entrance only half open at first.
"No, I don't think he would ask me that then…" Amane wondered, still lost as she arrived in front of the main gates. When the doors opened fully and the two monsters prostrated themselves, Amane was cornered for a few seconds, then she stepped forward confidently. "I understand now what she was getting at. I understand what the Demon King wants from me." Her thoughts were finally clear about what the demons expected of her.
In the room was a red carpet leading to the throne. The throne was placed in the center near the back wall of the vast circular hall; it was made of black and red marble with finely carved armrests.
This time Amane advanced first, with Eleanor following behind. The demon nobles, guards, knights, mages, and advisors were all stationed on both sides of the red carpet, leaving nothing in Amane's path.
"What they meant…" thought Amane.
Four demons were different from the others; they stood closer to the throne, yet bowed deeply before their deity.
The sound of her steps echoed like distant thunder. When she finally sat upon the throne, the hall fell into an awe-struck silence with her arms stretched out on the armrests. Eleanor then joined the four demons who were of greater importance those near the throne waiting patiently for Amane to sit down.
"What he meant was that I should become the queen of demons," she thought, sitting with no disturbances, instead a terrifying calm.
Eleanor then stood tall and proclaimed from the high steps before her, "Goddess, the demon people are a people who need a strong person under their command." She took a second breath and then continued, "A divinity such as yourself cannot be overlooked. Therefore, we, the demons, humbly invite you to become our sovereign, you alone have the right to be ours, we will not force you, your will is also ours."
"Become their sovereign? The first time I was summoned here, we also had this kind of welcome, but I was invisible that day," she recalled to herself.
"Today I'm different, I'm the one in the spotlight. If becoming queen allows me to become someone, I'll do it, even if it means becoming the enemy of other races." she thought, smiling with conviction. For the first time, she would speak—not through her authority, but as herself.
"Dear demon people, I shall be your sovereign. All my demands must be met, and from this day forward, I will accept no defeat for the demon race." she announced, her voice echoing throughout the room. "Now I need a catchy nickname; 'goddess' is a bit superficial," she thought mid-speech, then continued with the biggest stride of her life. "From today onwards you will call me…
« THE ABSOLUTE MONARCH »"