Chapter 104 - Quiet Strength*

"I agree with this decision," Apollyon said.

Luna felt elated, but she tried to stifle the smile forming on her lips.

Her husband had approved of her addition to his plans.

It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.

Luna was busy with her introspection.

She had suggested the whole event, so it was her responsibility to make sure that everything goes well. 

"If the Empress can manage the event, then it would be fine for us," Catriona spoke up at that instant, giving her a sly smile.

She pressed a hand over her mouth as if in surprise and glanced at her husband coyly, "She was amazing, and that was why she was chosen as the Empress."

"Your Highness wouldn't need any help from us in organizing the upcoming Marriage Market," Catriona said. "Why she could probably do it on her own!"

Luna arched an eyebrow, her lips pressed into a tight smile.

By the way, Catriona had worded her statements. It sounded like a backhanded compliment.

She titled her head and narrowed her eyes at Catriona as she tried to suppress her rising anger.

She was Luna's enemy: competitive, clever, and malicious concubine.

Catriona was Apollyon's other woman, his former concubine.

Luna remembered how Catriona's hatred and jealousy had reflected in her glassy eyes when she found them together on the bed.

Apollyon had chosen Luna and not her.

It would make perfect sense that Catriona would sabotage her plans.

Luna will always look over her shoulder whenever this concubine was around.

It would be harder to defend herself now that Luna had lost the power bestowed by Hecate.

Luna wouldn't be that impervious as much as she thought she is.

One attendant had approached the Vampire King's throne and handed him a thin box gilded with gold and bronze.

Apollyon received the box and approached Luna from where she stood.

Luna peeked through it when Apollyon opened the box and showed it to her.

It was a beautiful golden wreath.

The Vampire King unclasped the beautiful thing gently and placed it over her forehead.

The moment the wreath touched her skin, it gave her a burning sensation around her cheekbones.

Iridescent Aurelian thin-like vines beating like tattoos spread over her eyelids and brows, making her face glow with power.

"My Empress. I am giving this gift to you in advance instead of during the coronation where the foreign guests from other Realms would come to visit."

Apollyon stared into her mismatched eyes and cupped her cheek with one hand as his thumb grazed her madly skittering pulse.

"I wanted the Consortium to witness this beforehand in exchange for your hard work, risking your life to save me from the Blood Beast's curse."

"You will hold the golden victory wreath in acknowledgement for the battles you have triumphed as you fight for my freedom from the Archdemon. As your husband, I am proud of your accomplishments. The Goddess of the Underworld had favoured you out of all the High Priestesses-in-training, receiving her guidance and insights to help you become more powerful to achieve the feat."

Luna felt like both she and the Vampire King had changed so quickly after everything that had happened.

"Dear husband. How strange everything is today as things went on just as usual compared to yesterday. I wonder if I have been changed in the night?" 

Luna's world had currently turned upside down—or right side up--in an instant.

She was shocked and a little numb that it had finally sunk in.

Throughout her journey, many things had happened, from just an Amazon runaway, becoming the High Priestess, and becoming the Empress of the Vampire Realm later on.

She had changed throughout the night and not just in the physical sense that Apollyon had completely owned her mind, body, and soul.

Luna's life has changed dramatically, that she needed to take a moment to process everything.

She had to remember herself, her feelings, and where she had come from.

Luna had come so far, and so far, she didn't feel that lost yet.

She steadied herself and breathed in deep.

Luna knew she was finding out who she is and her identity.

"Do you want to say something, wife?"

Luna paused.

She was at a loss for words. 

She didn't know how to describe the unease creeping into her heart.

Luna crossed the room and lifted the scalloped hem of her gown so that she wouldn't trip on it as she addressed the crowd.

"Until this moment, I only knew who I am when I was faced with certain dangers and unpredictable circumstances that I found it hard to ground myself, adjusting to every new challenge thrown at me. It made me question if I was doing the right thing. Suppose I was making the right decisions. So much had changed, and I think I had found out so much about myself and others, especially the King." Luna said as much to reassure herself as her husband, Apollyon.

"Sometimes, I fear inexperience and uncertainty as to the new Empress. Still, I will try my best to do what was expected of me and take complete responsibility and accountability to improve the Vampire Realm inhabitants' quality of life. I also wonder if everything I had experienced is part of a great dream. I am always concerned about whether I am living my own dreams, if this was what I wanted, making my own mistakes, following what my heart thinks is best for me, and living that dream."

Some women had exclaimed and gasped at her empowering speech, twisting around to eye her with new appreciation.

"In the Consortium, we treat the Vampire royalties and its own race as powerful. A superior society than us. The way of life as a concubine, a consort, or an escort would have liked us to live a certain dream—to marry, to have a comfortable place to stay, to pleasure, and prioritize men, and then what? When our beauty fades away, and our sparkling personalities had already bored our husbands to death? Our life will turn dull and meaningless."

The contempt shadowing Apollyon's features made her husband appear more sinister, as if he was plotting for her downfall. 

He disapproved of her words, but should she care, though?

"These women from the Consortium are expected to disappear and to die peacefully. Alone. Forgotten. Most women have done everything to support the people they love until their last breath." Luna informed them grimly as she gave some of them a rueful glance. "But, who else would stand their ground to support these brave, loyal women? None."

Apollyon stiffened, stung by his wife's boldness.

They wouldn't be able to deny that she was telling the truth.

"That dream, the collective dream as a part of the Consortium, had already stilled in your mind by years of brainwashing. The dream of the ruling nobility may not be your dream. I want all of you to remember your own dreams and wishes and make sure that it is governing your choices. It is time to break free from this collective dream and live within your own. Belong to only one dream---belong to your own."

"Luna, that's enough," Apollyon said as he clenched his teeth, his voice seething with fury as he tugged at her cloak without making it obvious.

Luna didn't waste time taking offence or pretending to misunderstand her husband.

The Vampire King had wanted to shut her up.

Luna realized at that moment that the most powerful chains are not of iron but air.

They tighten around the neck without leaving marks and crushing willpower.

Love is a trap.

A trap she wasn't sure she wanted to be in the first place or not.

The bond that prevents others from escaping should be not made out of fear but joy, not chains but freedom, not past promises but plans.

"This isn't an act of rebellion, Apollyon. I am only telling the truth, and all the ladies in this Hall needed to hear that. Nevertheless, I would try to live up to my authenticity as the Empress, and as your wife, and as your equal."

Luna did pause and turned to look at her husband, a speculative gleam lighting her eyes.

"You can't silence me whether you agree with me or not. I don't want the ladies to live dependently over a man just because it was part of the ancient traditions."

The Vampire King clutched her arm to force her to glance up at his face and glared at her. "No, you are transforming the world around you to make it similar to your revolutionary ideals."

"I want all the women to break free from this centuries-old imprisonment of not making our own decisions for ourselves," Luna said. "Always adapting or staying in situations that aren't beneficial for us just because we are already used to it."

The Vampire King crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to look guilty.

"Women are forced into gender roles because of societal expectations. Always thinking about other people's concerns—men, especially--over prioritizing ourselves."

Luna shifted her gaze to Apollyon, cocking one silvery eyebrow. "Change is coming, You're Highness, and if you know what is best for you, you have to accept that." 

She looked around, and she was elated when the girls in the Consortium applauded grudgingly.

Luna took that as a sign of support for her goals to improve the Vampire Realm and how it should be run--the right way.

The Vampire King gave her a disapproving look before shaking his head.

Apollyon stood nearly a foot taller than Luna, his broad shoulders blocking the crowd as he stepped in front of her.

The rich aroma of his chocolate scent wafted from his skin, mingling with the intoxicating warmth of his body every time he was near.

"Luna." Apollyon whispered dangerously in her ear, "Why are you doing this?"