Winterfall

~Marcel View Point~

I went to find her a few hours later. However, she had already gone back to Winterfall. I wasn’t too shocked but I couldn’t help but feel hurt over it. Was I too rough on her? Did I use too much of my mind manipulation on her?

I slumped back on the throne that was placed in the grand hall shortly after our arrival. There next to it was an empty throne that I had hoped Maria would have sat in with me as we greeted our guests.

“The first few will arrive soon.” Crimson said as she walked in holding a parchment and quill, ready to mark off names as they file in. “Couldn’t find her?”

“No. I looked for a few hours. Around the food booths. Magic trinkets and more. Nothing. I have a feeling he came and got her.”

“I told you not to be rough on her.” Crimson growled in a low draconic voice. She walked the rest of the way next to me and placed her warm soft hand on mine. A moment I thought was going to be pleasurable turned into a sharp intent wave of pain that pulsed from my hand up my arm.

Crimson had produced her sharp, yellow, dirty draconic claws and pierced my flesh with them. As she broke my hardened skin, thick dark blood began to pool from the puncture site. I groaned in pain and failed to think of a way to break free. “FUCK!” I shouted, as the muscles in my face tensed and my brow furrowed. My body locked as I dared to move.

“There, there.” She smiled mensingly at me as she retracted her claws. She stepped beside me and allowed my hand to spew blood.

I turned my focus to her instead of the pulsing pain in my left hand. “Why in the hell did you do that!” I spat as liquid left my lips, hitting her cheek as I glared up at her.

“That was for not listening to me. She’s been trying to behave around you. You need to do the same.” She hissed in a low tone. “Now, let me heal that quickly before our guests start showing up.”

I narrowed my eyes as I felt a pulse wave of radiant healing magic go through my body. The wound began to slowly close and the blood thickened and stopped flowing.

I took a deep breath as I heard footsteps outside the arch way of the grand hall. “Alright, let’s get this over with Crimson.”

One by one noble families from the surrounding kingdoms as well as my own started filing into the grand hall. The woman wore ballroom dresses, high heels that drove me nuts as they clicked against the marble, and their hair was done in curled fashion or up high. The men wore basic suits and black shoes and their hair was slicked back to perfection.

They all seem fake. I thought to myself. I was amused by their appearances as the devil’s gatherings were never like this. We sprouted our wings, compared our hornes, and often wore jewelry to show our wealth. On occasion a devil would bring a humanoid from the prime material plane as a way to show that they were superior than the others.

However, this gathering was very different. They drank ruby red elven wine from fine glasses, the servants prepared massive feasts, and some had brought expensive gifts for me, the new king of Summer Crest.

I had to thank them, greet them, hug them, all things I hated doing. Crimson had once told me in the beginning that this gesture was being polite and adequate in their culture. It was something I was going to have to get used to until our plan was complete.

On the second floor balcony, Crimson had arranged a band to play the various musical instruments that rested up there. They started playing a soft tune once everyone was seated and the first meal of the festival could begin.

For me, I sat on my throne, watching the scene unfold before me in disgust. Souls weren't a menu option so I had to wait to eat my meal. Which, I was fine with. I wasn’t fine with the countless rumor mills and gossip that wrapped around the room like how Maria was wrapped around Théoden's heart.

“Did you hear that the wedding is forced?” One citizen said. That was true but we tried to keep that part hidden.

“Did you hear that Maria had cheated on him already?” Another had said.

“Do you blame her? Did you see how he treated her on the stage? He’s awful!” Another explained.

I eventually learned to tune out the rumors as some were hurtful. Yes, even rumors can be hurtful to a devil.

After several hours of this and a dance that followed, I was grateful to be in my bed chambers of the kingdom’s castle.

“You did well, Marcel.” Crimson spoke with pride as I laid down in my bed in a huff.

“If you say so. I need rest so please leave.”

“Whatever, your highness.” Crimson growled and left, slamming the door behind her.

I wanted to consume my daily soul however, after the adventures today I ended up falling asleep without it.