Chapter 423: The Forgotten Past - XVII

"I’ve been wonderful," Hera replied warmly.

She was genuinely thrilled to see her friend.

Hera had previously felt guilty after discovering that Gavriel was her fated mate, knowing Vorra had once held feelings for him. But when she had spoken to her about it back then, Vorra had simply replied graciously that whatever she had felt for Gavriel was merely superficial, and that she was truly happy for Hera.

Hearing that had put Hera’s mind at ease and made her realise what a great friend Vorra was. Because of that, once Hera began living in Rios Palace, she had asked Gavriel to grant Vorra special permission to visit whenever she wished.

Since each royal palace was heavily protected by barriers and elite guards at every corner, no one could simply teleport inside the premises without direct authorisation. Only a select handful of royals, high nobles, and Gavriel’s trusted officers possessed that privilege.

"So what brings you here today? Did you finish your training?" Hera asked.

"Yes, my training is complete, and I am officially part of the royal guards now," Vorra informed her.

"That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you!" Hera smiled warmly before asking, "Where have you been posted?"

Vorra licked her lips lightly before replying in a quiet, disappointed tone. "Actually, I have been assigned to Prince Malakov’s Palace. I was hoping I would be assigned to Rios Palace so that I could spend more time with you."

Hera’s smile faltered as she looked at her disheartened friend before turning to meet her husband’s eyes.

One look at her, and Gavriel understood exactly what she wanted.

"I can arrange your transfer to Rios Palace so that you can remain close to the Crown Princess," he offered.

Vorra’s eyes widened as she looked up at Gavriel before breaking into a delightful smile and bowing deeply. "Thank you, Your Highness! I’m truly grateful for your kindness!"

Hera smiled as well, pleased that her friend would be close to her.

Gavriel turned to Orin, his right-hand commander. "See to it."

"Yes, Your Highness," Orin bowed.

Gavriel turned back to his wife. "We should leave now, Hera."

"Right!" Hera turned towards Vorra with a regretful smile. "I wish you could come with us on this mission. But since you’re still assigned to Prince Malakov’s palace, it wouldn’t be right to take you along just yet. Once your transfer is complete, I’ll bring you with us on a mission."

Vorra cursed her silently in her mind, but maintained her sweet smile on the outside. "Of course, I understand, Your Highness."

With that, Gavriel and Hera departed, leaving Vorra behind to watch Hera walk away with her arm looped affectionately around Gavriel and her heart burning with growing resentment.

.....

Half a month passed as Vorra began practically living in Rios Palace. Because Hera was so close to her, Gavriel officially appointed Vorra as Hera’s personal guard.

Although Hera was delighted with the arrangement, Ceri and Bellarios were far from pleased. For some reason, both beasts seemed to dislike Vorra and would bare their fangs whenever she drew near.

When Gavriel asked Bellarios why he kept acting that way, Bellarios simply gave him a sharp, snotty reply, "I hate the way she smells."

Gavriel simply had to warn both beasts to behave, considering she was Hera’s dear friend.

As the weeks slipped by, things in the realm began to turn chaotic.

With the King and Queen’s declining health, the nobles grew increasingly restless.

Knowing that the crown would soon pass to Gavriel and seeing that Gavriel had no concubines... they feared losing their influence in the realm. So they began pushing several candidates forward, pressuring Gavriel to take one of their daughters.

Gavriel rejected every petition outright. He had even grown agitated, particularly after sensing Hera’s quiet distress over the prospect of sharing him.

Undeterred, the desperate nobles suggested the beautiful Lady Yuna reside at Rios Palace temporarily so Gavriel could evaluate if he wanted to take her as his mistress.

That final insult drove Gavriel to declare publicly to the entire realm, "I have only one woman in my life, and that is my wife, Crown Princess Hera. I will never accept any concubines, nor will I ever build a harem."

The announcement sent shockwaves through the Underworld.

Monogamy was unheard of among the rulers of the Underworld, as no Devil had ever reigned without a full harem at his command.

Outraged nobles brought their grievances to King Raizel, only for the dying monarch to crush their complaints without mercy.

Raizel declared that Gavriel’s heart was his own to give, warning the lords that pushing a mated Devil Prince would only invite swift annihilation upon their houses.

Hearing that stern warning, the nobles backed out immediately.

Seeking to solidify control over the anxious realm, King Raizel announced that Gavriel’s royal coronation would take place in five days... the morning immediately following the full moon.

Yet as the sacred date approached, catastrophic beast breaches erupted across Tartarus at an unprecedented rate. Powerful monsters surged through mysterious portals, leaving Gavriel enraged as his commanders failed to locate the mastermind behind the chaos.

It was not until the day before the coronation that Gavriel finally obtained proof of the seventh Prince Azrath’s involvement.

Furthermore, they discovered evidence of Azrath’s treacherous plot to open a permanent portal to the living world and disrupt the natural order.

Furious at the revelation, Gavriel prepared to leave the palace and take Azrath into custody for his treason.

However, earlier that same day, Hera had suddenly fallen ill.

She lay exhausted upon their bed, pale and weak after throwing up at constant intervals.

Consumed with worry, Gavriel knelt beside her and gently took her cold hand into his. "How are you feeling, my love?"

"I’m alright," Hera replied with a weak smile, despite feeling as though her stomach had turned completely upside down.

Gavriel reached out, his long fingers gently smoothing her dark hair. "Rest, my love. The royal physician will be here shortly."

Hera reached for his hand, bringing his knuckles to her lips. "Forgive me... I won’t be able to come with you this time."

Gavriel simply shook his head. "No, I can handle this. You just need to rest and stay safe. The coronation is scheduled for tomorrow, but if your strength has not returned, I will postpone the ceremony-"

"No!" Hera’s brows drew together. "The coronation must happen tomorrow. Father and Mother... they don’t have much..." Her voice trailed off before she gathered herself and continued, "I’ll be fine by tomorrow. Just come back to me as soon as you’re done."

"I will," he promised.