Reborn As The Daemon’s Wife - Chapter 169

In the underworld, Narilia turned to her handmaiden when the latter entered her room.

“Do you need anything?” She asked, shutting the book she was reading while leaving her finger between the pages to easily find them later.

“The King asked for your presence.” Answered the handmaiden, making Narilia sigh sadly. The last thing she wanted was to have an idle chat with Ulke. Nevertheless, she put a bookmark on the page where she had left off and followed her handmaiden to the garden of human realm ghosts where Ulke was waiting for her.

“You called for me.” She spoke to the demon who had his back to her as he watched the river that flowed through the garden.

“Today marks eight hundred and one years since Catalyah died.” He acknowledged her presence without turning to face her.

She frowned uncomfortably at the topic he had just brought up. “I’m aware. Painfully so.”

He scoffed, idly picking a flower that was within his reach. “Are you also painfully aware of how ambitious humans have become in the last few months?”

She gathered her skirt, ready to walk away from the topic she did not want to engage herself in.

“Don’t you dare walk out on me while I speak to you, Narilia.” Warned the demon, as if he had eyes at the back of his head.

“I have no interest in humans. They can have as much audacity as they want.” She reluctantly answered him.

“Of course they can. And immortals can groom a human girl to be the replacement of Catalyah if they want.” He smirked.

“What did you say?” She was taken aback.

When the demon turned, he had a sneer pasted on his face. He closed in on Narilia and reached to touch her hair. “Jasmine Cavendish. We can pretend that she’s an ordinary demigoddess but that will be it—pretense. The reason for her return is not even natural. Her fate was altered.”

“And what’s that got to do with me?” She almost snapped. She had already heard a lot about the demigoddess called Jasmine and was aware of how much resemblance she bore to Catalyah. It made her uncomfortable that she was also Dairon’s mate but she had no right to give her opinion regarding who he was with.

“Your parents and brother…” He paused at the word brother and huffed as if he had a grudge against Bardumond. “They want to make her the new queen of the immortal realm.”

“That’s none of my business.” She turned to leave.

“She doesn’t have enough power to do that on her own, obviously. So they will erase Catalyah’s existence to make her more powerful.”

She stopped in her tracks at the words he had just said. Erase Catalyah’s existence?

He could be bluffing like he did before, which had made her almost harm Jasmine, but she couldn’t ignore his words. She turned sharply and faced him. “What do you mean by that?”

“Literal meaning.” He walked towards her with a smile as if he was delivering good news. “Don’t forget that her mate is…” He stopped himself from revealing that Dairon was his son. That might trigger Narilia into turning against him instead of joining forces. “A powerful demon in disguise of a demigod. He will do anything to gain power.”

She didn’t understand what he was getting at. “Catalyah was his mate. He respects her.”

“Only because she was born to be queen. What he wants is the throne, sweetheart, and he will get it no matter what means he has to use.”

She narrowed her eyes and lifted her finger to shut him up, but dropped it when she realized that she needed an explanation. Whether Catalyah or Jasmine was the queen of the realm of immortals, it didn’t give him power, did it?”

Ulke was reading her mind and was glad to clarify her doubts.

“As a demigod with demon blood, he cannot rule the immortal realm where demons have long been banished. But if his mate is the queen, who would have the right to reject him?” He made it sound so convincing that she couldn’t find a rebuttal.

“Making Jasmine powerful enough to be the queen acceptable by all deities. That’s where Catalyah’s existence comes in.” He taunted. “She will take over her identity, pretend to have control over her elements,” He stopped with a shrug. “If you don’t believe me, you can go to the immortal realm and find out. I can assure you that Jasmine is trying to play Catalyah.”

“What?” Narilia was shocked. She didn’t want to believe a word Ulke was saying but he looked confident. So, she acted nonchalant.

“She can suit herself. If she manages to pull it off, good for her.”

“Your sister’s memory will be lost. Just saying,” He reminded her that all she had left of Catalyah was her memory.

Narilia knew that it would be the most devastating thing to happen to her but she shrugged. “Catalyah will not come back to life if I cling to her memory. She would want me to be happy and not remain devastated all my life because of her death.” She walked away before Ulke came with a smart response to convince her otherwise.

When she disappeared from his sight, Ulke’s lips twisted in a frown. The easiest way to pin Dairon down was by making Narilia counterattack against him. The demigod was becoming too full of himself, he thought.

“But if Narilia doesn’t want to cooperate,” He said out aloud, picking a flower as if he was speaking to it, “Then you leave me with no choice, damn deities.”

___

“I’m afraid we don’t just have one new enemy.” Dairon thought aloud.

“What do you mean?”

“If we can settle Bardumond, we have to settle Narilia as well.” He explained. “If we have him on our side, Rian—with the help of Ulke—might want to turn Narilia against us.”

“I’m glad you thought about that.” She admitted, since she had not even considered the possibility. Neither of them knew that Narilia had already been turned against them.

The next day, Jasmine met Terra as soon as she set foot in the academy.

“Jasmine! I was waiting for you.” Waved the goddess, looking bashful as her friend walked over.

“It’s been quite long, Terra.” Jasmine hugged the goddess, who looked different from she was the last time she saw her. It had only been a few weeks but the difference was huge.

“It has. Considering Madlen and I have decided to take our relationship to the next step.” She showed off the ring on her finger.

“Really? That’s so beautiful.” Jasmine hugged her again, happy for her friend.

The bashful Terra pulled her to the bridge excitedly. “I heard that you are married too. To Lord Dairon?” She slowed down while saying Dairon’s name as if it was shocking for them to be together, but didn’t express her surprise. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Jasmine tried not to fiddle with her ring.

“Madlen and I are holding our banquet in a few days. Will you come?” She produced a folded letter and stuffed it into Jasmine’s palm. “I’m sorry for not inviting you earlier. I was so held up with the preparations that I only got back today.” She explained frantically. “The Norlan Islands, three days later at sunset.”

“It’s okay. I will come.” Jasmine opened her satchel and dropped in the invite.

“Oh, I also need your help with something.” Terra smiled shyly, embarrassed that it might sound as if she was inviting Jasmine just because she needed her help.

The latter chuckled softly. “A crimson gown for your banquet, coming right up.”

“How did you…” Terra was confused because she had not said what she needed yet.

“You said it before that if you ever got married, you would ask me for a gown for your banquet. Crimson looks great on you.” Jasmine gave a believable explanation to hide the fact that her mind-reading ability was back, especially since the latter didn’t even know that it had ever existed.

“Thank you.” Terra hugged her gratefully. “I’ll let you go now.”

Jasmine offered a smile and Terra flew off. She turned to head back into the academy but stopped when she came face to face with the goddess she was planning to find upon her arrival.

“It seems to me that we are destined to bump into each other, Scarlet.”