Chapter 602 - Nowhere To Stay

Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (July 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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Their group's conversation with Henry, the Vinca Innkeeper, didn't last long.

The friendship they forged with the owner from the day she and Apollyon landed on the Summer Courts and entered the establishment collapsed like how the ceiling of their royal suite did the moment Henry saw the ancient grimoire she clutched on her chest.

Henry claimed it looked familiar until his memories started to sink in.

At least, the physical damages of the building during the binding rites can still be fixed.

But she was sure this wouldn't.

A flash of recognition morphed into many expressions such as shock, fear and terror all in one second before he forced neutrality. 

It turned out that her hunch was right.

Hecate cursed the Vinca Innkeeper into a frog as revenge when he refused to accommodate her a room because of her ratty disguise.

She recalled Henry told her that the witch who cursed him appeared like an old hag, seeking shelter in the rainstorm.

No wonder the Goddess was insulted for his insolence! Henry must have treated the divine being rude without his knowledge.

It was a test from the Goddess of the Underworld.

Henry had failed miserably the moment he threw her out of Vinca Inn a long time ago. 

The innkeeper connected the dots, and he quickly figured out that Luna was working under Hecate because she possessed the ancient grimoire.

Since all of them were in his glass office, Luna thought that Henry would confront her about it in front of the guests in the tavern, but he let it slide.

Perhaps, he didn't care about it anymore since Luna already turned him back into a Summer Faerie, and he had already paid his dues living as a frog for the longest time.

Stroking his beard, Henry regarded Sloth and Ravin with suspicion.

He must not know where to place these two strangers in the picture. 

The Innkeeper asked them simple questions such as their names or where they came from, but her Archdemon familiars played the role of two silent statues behind her very well—just there giving him an unnerving stare.

Henry cleared his throat and began talking about the money they had to pay for the damages while we listened to his reasonable demands.

It was clear that one of her familiars hated wasting time.

Ravin was able to shut him up and made him twitch in discomfort when he stalked towards the innkeeper's table and slipped the straps of the empty straw basket he carried the whelp in. 

It was supposed to be empty, but then every Summer, Faerie gasped the minute Ravin had pulled pure gold bars from it and placed them one by one.

Luna's eyebrows almost reached up to her hairline when she saw that it was real. 

She smirked at Henry's eyeballs almost falling out of his sockets.

Archdemons can give earthly pleasures since they can grant material wishes to those priestesses who could summon them from Hell.

The Vinca Innkeeper already accepted Ravin's payment for the damages of his property when he picked each of the precious gold bars carefully and shoved them inside his drawers while his guards openly gawked at the scene.

After that, Henry gave them an hour to pack their things from the royal suite and go.

They were on their own now.

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Since they were kicked out of the premises, the four stood outside the Vinca Inn with the luggage Ravin, and Sloth packed in silence using their Archdemon Magic.

Her husband and Archdemon Familiars had everything under control that she didn't need to lift a finger.

They were lost, not knowing where the Tree of the Four Seasons can be found. 

Should they return to the Summer Castle after what Princess Ourania had done?

If only she could start the journey since she already acquired the Archdemon Familiar Hecate told her to bind with. 

But she didn't even know what to do, what decisions to make and what they need to do next.

"Which way do we ought to go from here?" Luna asked no one in particular.

Maybe, she would have to let her husband decide when she was too confused.

Apollyon will be her rock—the one to anchor her to stability-- whenever she felt like escaping the situation.

It was only natural to ask her husband for advice since he lived way longer than her.

After all, he knew more than what she did.

Sometimes, they just needed to voice out their frustrations as a couple and promise to do better.

It was either that, or they would complain about the world around them.

They can argue like an old, immortal couple who were married for centuries.

They can have stupid misunderstandings similar to the time they just got married, and both couldn't stand each other's guts.

Yet, they always achieve some common ground.

Even if they were separated for months on her side when Lilith dragged her to Hell, Luna learned a lot from her husband.

If she wanted people to change, she must change herself first. 

He taught her not to demand or expect others to change.

Then, punish them for not meeting her expectations.

Until now, she wondered if this wasn't all a dream.

She was surprised to see him waiting, doing his best to bring her back.

He never looked in another woman's direction despite everything--despite his old reputation.

She trusted that he was telling the truth.

Apollyon trusted her, and it made her ashamed of herself.

"It depends on where do you want to go," Apollyon replied.

"I don't know where—" 

"Then it doesn't matter which way to go." Apollyon cut her off. "We go where you desired to go."

Her husband wasn't helping.

It felt like he would do whatever she told him to do when she wanted him to take control.

"Until you know that, it will be hard for me to offer you any advice at all."