Chapter 418: The Forgotten Past - XII

While the two mates remained still, savoring each other’s touch, the spectators dealt with a giant wave of shock upon witnessing such a rare sight with their mouths hanging open.

Nobody could utter a single word because, for them, this was monumental.

Eons ago, there had been the first devil. He ruled for a very long time before finally passing the title to his son, Raizel Rhae Valtherion.

Raizel had already ruled the Underworld for thousands of years, but he had to wait a very long time until Lilith, his true mate, showed up to take her place as Queen of the Underworld. Only a lucky few had been present to witness King Raizel find his queen.

Now, as they watched Gavriel and Hera, the reality slowly sank in that they were witnessing a moment that would go down in history... the making of the next Queen of the Underworld alongside her future devil.

Many in the crowd rejoiced at the fact that they would not have to wait centuries for the true queen to appear. Gavriel would be able to take the throne with his queen by his side, especially since the current King and Queen did not have much time left.

Lilith was among those who could barely contain her tears, right alongside Arabella, Seraphine, Theron, Viktor, and other supporters of the crown.

Even Prince Belial felt a warm smile touch his lips. Though a quiet pang of disappointment lingered in his chest that he would never have the chance to win Hera’s heart. Nevertheless, he understood that a destined mate bond was not something anyone could challenge, and he was happy for his younger brother.

Unfortunately, not everyone shared their joy.

Malakov’s burning eyes remained fixed on his half-brother Gavriel, who had taken everything away from him. Everything that should have been his. Even though he clearly knew that devils were born and not chosen by the current ruler, he still held a deep sense of entitlement. As the king’s firstborn, he believed it all should have belonged to him.

When Queen Lilith was not in the picture, Malakov enjoyed all the attention for thirteen years.

Even after the birth of his second half-brother, Azrath, who was two years younger and another son born to the king’s mistress, Malakov never abandoned his grand dream.

For him, everything was already his... the palace, the throne, and the entire Underworld.

But everything changed when Queen Lilith arrived.

When she bore the king her first child, Belial, everyone began distinguishing between Belial and the two sons born of forbidden magic.

The nobles argued between legitimate and illegitimate heirs, deciding it was wrong to recognize Malakov and Azrath as the first and second princes since they were a stark reminder of Raizel’s grave mistake.

So, they declared Prince Belial as the first prince. Then Gavriel was born as the second prince who also bore the mark of the devil, followed by Azrial, Zereph, and Sorenn.

After the fifth son, when Queen Lilith’s health began to fail due to the curse, and Malakov was officially declared as the sixth prince and Azrath the seventh.

From that moment onwards, Malakov felt himself being pushed aside. Opportunities were denied to him, privileges were granted to Gavriel and his other brothers, and he was expected to remain silent and accept whatever scraps were left behind.

Unlike Azrath, who seemed determined to ruin himself through his own notorious behaviour, Malakov had learned to remain patient. He had played the obedient prince, quietly enduring every humiliation while waiting for the right opportunity to seize what he believed had always been his.

And now, as he watched Hera... a beautiful woman possessing the extraordinary ability to command souls... something shifted within him.

At last, he had found a way to take what he believed fate had unjustly denied him, and a wicked plan began to take shape in his mind.

Not far away, Vorra was also burning with bitter rage.

Once again, Hera had taken the one thing Vorra had wanted more than anything else in her life... the Crown Prince of the Underworld.

And this time, she would not forgive her.

Her gaze shifted towards Prince Malakov as she recalled seeing him standing far too close to Hera in the garden earlier. An idea began to form in her mind. It would not be easy, but with the right ally, even the impossible might be within reach.

For now, her eyes moved back to the black wolf as he stepped closer to the prince.

Ceri lowered his massive, armoured head toward the prince and opened his jaws to gently lick his face.

Seizing the moment, Vorra ducked behind a cluster of nobles and shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Quickly! Protect the Crown Prince from the beast!"

That single, poisonous shout ignited immediate chaos across the courtyard.

Ceri flinched at the sudden scream. Whipping his massive head toward the crowd, he let out a menacing growl, his sharp fangs glistening under the night sky.

That single reaction ignited the mob.

Weapons were raised once again, and those who harboured hatred began to pour out their venom.

"Kill that monster!"

"He means to harm the Crown Prince!"

"Get that woman away from His Highness! She will harm him!"

"She already attacked Prince Belial and Prince Malakov!"

"That is right, she can control those beasts!"

"She must be the culprit who brought these monsters to Tartarus in the first place!"

"Justice must be served!"

Ceri grew more agitated by the hostility directed at him and his master. His blue powers flared brilliantly as he let out a loud, guttural growl.

"See! The beast is going to attack again!"

As they continued to hurl accusations at Hera, Arabella, whose heart was gripped with dread for her daughter, looked at Queen Lilith and whispered frantically, "Your Majesty, I assure you Hera is not-"

But Queen Lilith simply raised her hand to silence Arabella. Her sharp eyes remained fixed on her son’s back as she said calmly, "Just watch."

Even Malakov and Belial made no move to say a single word in Hera’s defence. They could feel the shift in the air, and their eyes drifted toward Bellarios, who had been unnaturally still while hovering close to them.

Meanwhile, Gavriel, who had finally found peace in Hera’s presence, slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed was the fear, distress, and nervousness reflected in hers.

She parted her lips to explain softly, "Gavriel... I would never-"

He simply placed a finger against her lips, silencing her before she could finish. His crimson eyes shone brighter, as if issuing a silent command.

Just then, another noblewoman shrieked from the crowd, "She should be execu-"

She never finished her sentence.

One of Bellarios’s seven heads shot forward with such terrifying speed that nobody had time to react. His enormous jaws seized the woman, and in a single savage motion, he crushed her with a sickening crunch before spitting what bloodied pulp remained onto the ground before the horrified crowd.