Chapter 420: The Forgotten Past - XIV

[Music recommendation: Move (Me) · ABBOTT]

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"You accuse my mate of bringing beasts into Tartarus simply because she possesses extraordinary powers to tame them? How convenient." Gavriel looked over at the crowd.

"Let us get that cleared first."

"Firstly, I have been personally overseeing the investigation into the beasts appearing throughout Tartarus. For the past two days, I have been on the fifth level myself, closing the portals through which these creatures have been entering our realm. Not once have I detected any trace of magic linking these disturbances to Lady Hera. So tell me, on what grounds do you accuse her of orchestrating these incidents simply because she possesses a rare gift for taming beasts?"

Gavriel’s eyes hardened.

"Have you forgotten the difference between taming a beast and summoning one? Which of you witnessed her open a portal or summon that serpent? And where is your evidence that she was anything other than a victim of this incident?"

Silence descended upon the courtyard until one of the bolder nobles found the courage to speak.

"B-but, Y-Your Highness, that nine-tailed wolf beside her obeyed her commands, and she attacked Prince Malakov and Prince Belial!"

Queen Lilith intervened. "Lady Hera did not deliberately harm either of my sons. We all witnessed her lose control of her extraordinary powers when her beloved companion was in danger."

Belial stepped forward in agreement. "Her Majesty speaks the truth. How can you interpret an outburst of uncontrolled power as a deliberate attack?"

Turning towards Gavriel, he added, "I arrived shortly after the serpent appeared and witnessed Prince Malakov pull Lady Hera out of its path when it lunged at her."

"The serpent attacked her..." Gavriel repeated quietly. His cold gaze shifted to Malakov. "Is that true? Did it attack Lady Hera first?"

Malakov, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, glanced at Hera.

She narrowed her eyes, recalling their heated encounter in the garden and wondering whether he would use this opportunity to twist the truth against her.

But to her surprise, he smiled before meeting Gavriel’s gaze. "Yes, Your Highness. I had stepped into the garden for some quiet when Lady Hera came outside. I witnessed no magic from her during those few minutes. When the serpent appeared, it went straight for her. Had I not pulled her back, she might not have survived, as she was frozen in shock."

Gavriel’s grip tightened around Hera’s hand as he turned back to the crowd. "Then tell me, if she had summoned that serpent, why would it attack her first?"

He allowed the question to hang in the air before his crimson gaze swept across the nobles.

"You witnessed powers you could not comprehend, a beast you feared, and a woman you could conveniently blame. On that basis alone, you raised your weapons against my mate and demanded justice through her blood."

Bellarios lowered one of his enormous heads towards the crowd and released a menacing growl.

"Have you forgotten what it means for her to be my mate?"

The nobles remained silent, too frightened to respond.

"Then let me remind you." Gavriel’s voice rang through the courtyard. "You stand before your future queen. Her extraordinary powers are no proof of treachery. You should be grateful to have someone of such strength standing beside your future ruler, not condemn her for possessing gifts you cannot understand."

His gaze darkened. "You should be ashamed. Rather than seek the truth, you chose to condemn an innocent woman."

Every head lowered in silence, while Vorra gritted her teeth, furious to see the prince defend Hera with such conviction.

Gavriel then turned towards the majestic, nine-tailed wolf sitting beside him. "As for this beast, his name is Ceri, and I have known of his existence from the very beginning. He is bound to my mate and acted only to protect her."

His cold gaze swept across the gathering one final time. "Let there be no misunderstanding. Just as her companion did, I will show no mercy to anyone who dares threaten my mate. Is that understood?"

Every noble present bowed deeply in submission, their voices rising in unison, "Yes, Your Highness."

Queen Lilith smiled warmly at the outcome before she announced, "Then I believe this calls for celebration, as a grand royal wedding is in order."

Gavriel and Hera turned to face each other, the lingering tension vanishing as soft, breathtaking smiles bloomed on their faces.

In the days that followed, the entire Underworld erupted in celebration over the news of their Crown Prince finding his fated mate.

Yet beneath the grand preparations for the royal wedding, a quiet mystery unfolded.

The sudden beast breaches that had plagued Tartarus abruptly stopped. At the very same time, Queen Lilith fell mysteriously ill as the dark curse within her veins began spreading further across her body.

Just two days before the ceremony, Lilith summoned Gavriel to her private chambers.

Resting a small, ornate box upon her son’s open palm, she smiled tenderly. "This once belonged to the first Queen of the Underworld and was passed down to me. Now, it is my sacred duty to pass it down to our next ruler."

She folded her hands over Gavriel’s fingers. "Place this on Hera’s hand on the day of your wedding."

As she withdrew her touch, Gavriel looked down at the box.

Lilith nudged him gently. "Go on, open it."

Gavriel lifted the latch, his gaze falling upon a breathtaking ruby ring that shimmered with an inner crimson fire. A genuine smile touched his lips. "It’s beautiful."

"Yes," Lilith smiled. "If you infuse your essence into it, the ring will always guide you back to her if she is ever in need. Although sealing your mate bond on the night of the full moon will allow you to feel her emotions, this ring will still guide you to her side when the distance is too vast for the bond alone."

Gavriel closed the box gently, taking his mother’s hand to press a soft kiss of deep respect against her knuckles. "Thank you, mother."

Lilith lovingly brushed her hand over her son’s hair. "My Riel... you will soon take the throne and step into a new Chapter of your life with your mate. Treachery will always surround us as royals. Hera is still very young and new to all of this. So you must protect her."

Gavriel lifted his gaze to meet his mother’s eyes and gave her a firm nod. "Always, mother."

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Soon, the glorious day of the wedding arrived at last.

Beneath the soaring obsidian spires of the palace of Las Noches, before an endless sea of witnesses and under the solemn blessings of the Devil and his Queen, Gavriel and Hera were united in an eternal bond of marriage.

Gavriel slid the radiant ruby ring onto Hera’s finger, officially sealing her place as his lawful wife and the sole woman permitted to carry his middle name, Rios.

From that moment onwards, she became Hera Rios Valtherion, the Crown Princess of the Underworld.

Their joy overflowed as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife beneath the night sky, whispering their eternal love for each other.

The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers at the union.

All six of Gavriel’s brothers were also present, and all of them appeared overjoyed.

Yet one among them seemed exceptionally thrilled. That person was none other than Malakov, who wore a beaming grin. Looking at his warm expression, not a single soul would have guessed that he was Gavriel’s bitter half-brother.