Newest Chapter of Highest Tier (December 2021)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Prince Ravin of the First Circle of Hell 

The Archdemon of Gluttony

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Standing in a well-manicured garden, Princess Sapphire answered him after the whelp landed on her arm. “He fell asleep.”

Next, the young lady ordered it to jump on her leather-gloved hand as if she had trained the whelp herself.

Sloth isn’t dead, is he, Archdemon?” She asked in a soft, high-pitched voice that made him want to set something on fire.

It wasn’t that he was deeply annoyed.

Ravin just abhorred this little girl’s voice since he wasn’t used to dealing with children who spoke to him with disrespect.

Archdemon, huh? 

Without any royal title attached to the name, he had used.

“No.” His deep baritone made the chill in the breeze colder than before. “He wouldn’t die unless an Angel tried.” 

Heart on her chest, Princess Sapphire sighed with relief. 

It appeared like Ravin’s explanation immediately calmed her down.

As he shifted his attention on the Vampire King’s half-sister, he gave her a glance from her head down to her toes only to find out that she wasn’t wearing the proper outer garments for the Winter Season here in the Autumn Courts. 

Princess Sapphire had black floral patterns on her pleated ball gown skirt, and her long-sleeves and the tight, jewelled bodice were adorned with intricate details of black and white diamonds.

A headband of bright turquoise feathers kept her long, mahogany waves in place. 

His narrowed eyes turned into a scowl as he regarded her dark brown features.

The discomfort was evident in her countenance as she tried her best not to shiver under his intense scrutiny.

Indeed, the dress suited the Princess, but it wasn’t suited to the weather and the activity she had just done.

What if, for some reason, the demons outside the barriers protecting the Autumn Courts had been destroyed, and the Princess had to run back to the safety of the Hazelnut Manor in that pathetic gown of hers?

Well, why should he care about this lady when it wasn’t his responsibility, to begin with?

He should care about his brother, Sloth, instead. 

Being an Archdemon Familiar was starting to make him feel things that he shouldn’t.

Closing his eyes, he rubbed a palm across his face to recover from the embarrassment this realization had caused.

He shouldn’t forget that he was an Archdemon.

In addition to that, the Vampire King need to keep his sister in check to avoid becoming a piece of baggage to their group.

Still, it seemed like Apollyon never cared what she was doing, either way, despite his promise to her werewolf companion to take care of her when he wasn’t there in Hazelnut Manor. 

Honestly, the bastard only cared about their mate, and his obsessive regard left no room for Ravin to insert himself to make sure Luna was alright without getting scolded, thrown out of the room by his mate and a fierce brawl from the possessive King.

It turned out that co-existing in peace was impossible. 

+++

Rere was a young dragon and a hunting weapon that was notoriously difficult to master —and she handled the demonic creature with such natural grace and ease. 

He wouldn’t be surprised if she could surpass his and Sloth’s ability to train a dragon from Hell. Likewise, he admired Princess Sapphire’s rare ability to make an infamous rogue werewolf spy from the Summer Courts behave like she was merely training a gentle and precious pet when in fact, the creatures she had befriended, so far, were cold-blooded monsters and soul eaters.

How fearless!

There must be something about this young lady that Ravin was missing. 

Despite the girl’s absence in the Autumn Palace after their group had been split into two, Xerxes had never transitioned into a werewolf due to his anxiety about his princess’ separation.

The early afternoon was an exception when a messenger had announced that Princess Ourania and the God of Fire, Hephaestus, had arrived safely in the Autumn Palace.

Apollyon had no idea what happened since he had already sneaked out of the Kingdom to go to Luna.

At the same time, Xerxes and Ravin were kicked out of the Throne Room before Queen Morgan could receive the unlikely visitors and have a secret conversation with them.

It was the reason why Xerxes didn’t return to Hazelnut Manor.

Xerxes aimed to spy on their whereabouts, discussions and investigate their purpose for their visit.

How could they travel Realm after Realm when the Material Realm itself was infested by demons?

He turned his head to look at the terrace to check if Apollyon and Luna could see the three of them from this angle, but he couldn’t see them anywhere.

Unfortunately, the trees were taller in this area despite the wide spaces while its long branches were raised towards the sky, completely covering the view from there. 

‘Why was she in the snow with his brother when she should be inside?’ Ravin pondered as he inclined his head and glowered at her with menace.

Dark, intense shadows had emerged from his sinister aura, assuming the spirit of a wolf from the skin that he had worn, compared to the spirit of the wildcat she represented, cowering in his presence. 

He was wearing all black, including the wolf skin. 

Nevertheless, it was quite a shock to see Princess Sapphire alone in the garden in the middle of the woods, enjoying the solitude and then… BAM!

 When he glanced down, Ravin realized that she wasn’t alone, and he speculated that nothing could even be scarier than how he looked right now. 

 The bastard must have been bored in the Estate with nothing to do since all the action was in the Autumn Palace and the restricted forests in the West side of the Autumn Courts.

Settling one hand in his hip, he sighed and shook his head in regret.

The Archdemon of Sloth was hopeless that it appeared like he hunted birds, plucked their feathers so hard that he ripped their flesh apart and buried it in the snow until he grew tired of the screeches.

Ravin scrunched his nose as the scent of fresh animal blood filled his nostrils.

He was right.

“Sloth. Wake up.” He nudged the Archdemon’s shoulders with his foot and growled. “I have something to tell you.”

 He saw Princess Sapphire flinch, and he suddenly recalled that she was still there with them with Rere’s claws resting on her forearm. 

 Why did the young lady still stay with Sloth without feeling traumatized? ‘He wondered with a frown in her direction.

“You , Princess Sapphire.” Ravin pointed a finger in her bewildered countenance. “Return to the Manor.”

Her brown eyes widened as her hands shivered in panic. 

“W-why?” She tried to make her voice even despite the stutter, searching the environment for threats. “What’s happening?”

“I wanted to talk to Sloth so you have to leave us alone.”

It almost took her a minute for that statement to get through her fuzzy brain. 

“What secrets are you hiding that you don’t want me to know about them?” Princess Sapphire’s posture straightened as she jutted her chin at him. It was a poor attempt to show courage. “Does my brother and the Empress know? Xerxes is not with you.” 

He closed the distance between them and snarled, “You have too many questions, young lady.” Ravin’s fingers clasped her tiny arm, and Princess Sapphire screamed in fear. “Should I kill you?”

“Stop.” Princess Sapphire gestured one hand in the air, her palm facing him. “I’ll go.” 

After making sure that Princess Sapphire was gone from his sight in a flurry of bothersome skirts, he pulled a sword from the scabbard behind his back and pointed it at Sloth.

“Brother. Stop pretending to sleep while wearing that smirk on your face.” Then, as his hand clenched on the hilt of the Archdemon sword as he let the tip touch his brother’s throat, he whispered.. “I think Queen Morgan had consorted with a fallen angel before.”