FALLEN ANGEL: MARRIED TO THE DEMON KING
Chapter 40: THE STUDY

Chapter 40: THE STUDY

Velmoria laughed as she walked from behind the settee. It was a full-blown cackle that sounded evil even to Arella’s ears. She arched a brow as she listened to Velmoria’s laughter unfold, echoing somewhat ominously in the grand chamber. Even Echo, who had been nodding off, shifted slightly to peer at Velmoria for a few seconds before shutting his eyes oncee more.

"Is it that amusing?" Arella chuckled.

Velmoria’s tail swished as she looked at the queen in a somewhat different light. "Your majesty, do you have any idea what you have done?"

"Ordered clothing for the King and I? Was I not supposed to?" Her sarcastic tone made Velmoria laugh once more.

"Your majesty, Melasva, is the child of one of the high lords. She was one of the strongest contenders for the spot of queen."

"And so?" Arella tilted her head. "She is not the current queen, is she? Yet she is disrespectful. I thought demons were really strict about ranks and all that shit."

At her words, Velmoria laughed once more. "Your majesty, I thought angels were supposed to be the epitome of purity; where did you even learn such language?"

"Try staying in the human realm for a hundred years. Takes the purity away. Practically strips it off of your bones." Arella patted Echo’s head twice, and the creature immediately took its head off and stood on its paws. It stretched, opening its large mouth wide to yawn, "Shall we go to the study, or do I not have enough time?"

"This way," Velmoria gestured to the door. As they walked to the door, Velmoria continued to speak, "If anything, your majesty, the demons are a prideful bunch, the high nobles more so. They will strip you piece by piece if you seem even slightly weak. I am glad that you are strong enough to fend them off yourself."

Arella felt a chill run down her spine, and she turned back to Velmoria just as they were reaching the door. The demon looked so innocent that Arella could have sworn there was a dark halo above her head.

"Is something the matter, your majesty?"

"I just have a feeling you are smiling sinisterly behind me." She paused at the doorknob, "I do not mind if you are using me for revenge against the nobles, but I will not take keenly to being used like a puppet."

"I quite despise petty tricks," Velmoria’s laughter faded into a sly smile, her eyes gleaning with mischief, "and I would never dream of using you as a puppet. If anything, I will become your ally. Let us wreak havoc together."

Arella narrowed her eyes. "Whether you have the spine to be my partner in crime has yet to be seen."

Velmoria laughed—a full-on belly laughter this time. "Oh, I will do my best to prove my worth to you, Your Majesty," she lifted her skirts and curtseyed low. "I shall show you to your study, your majesty."

The corridors of the palace were still winding and confusing, and Arella simply walked past the demons who bowed at her. Some looked at her warily, seemingly already aware of the fact that she had burned someone’s hair all the way down to the roots. Arella almost wanted to giggle. Their reaction was too cute.

Back home, her mother would have had her wings tied at the base as punishment for her actions.

Her dark gown trailed behind her, with Velmoria leading the way and Echo padding softly behind her. The corridors were not silent, but none of the demons approached them.

They stopped at an ornate door. The knobs were shaped into a howling creature that Arella had not seen before but seemed scarier than even her little pet. The intricate carvings on the door seemed to faintly pulse, as though alive. Velmoria pushed open the door and stepped to the side to allow Arella to enter first.

The study room was silent but vast, its walls lined with shelves that groaned under the weight of tomes, books, and scrolls. A massive desk stood at the center, its surface cluttered with quills, inkpots, and perfectly arranged parchment. It was clear that the desk had not been used in ages. To each of the sides were two other desks, which were devoid of any books and pens.

"This is the room all queens have used to take care of their work. However, since the King has neglected to take on a queen for centuries, it has remained empty, and he has undertaken all of the work." Velmoria explained as Arella walked into the room.

Their air smelled faintly of aged paper and ink. Arella took in a huge lungful.

Echo padded in after her, his figure weaving through the furniture before settling near the hearth, where a low fire crackled. There were hearths in all the rooms that Arella had gone into, apart from the bath area, which naturally had its own heat. It was quite curious, seeing as the weather was literally perfect.

The skies were blue, the clouds were scattered, and the flowers were blooming beautifully out in the garden.

Arella moved to the desk, her fingers brushing against the leather-bound volumes that were stacked there. She selected one at random, flipping it open to reveal sketches of various demons. As she skimmed, her mind drifted, and she thought of how diverse demons were.

They were almost like humans in that regard.

Angels are almost always the same when they are younger after all. Therefore, the stark differences in the different demons were somewhat disorienting.

"Shall I leave you to go through the books, your highness?"

"How much time do I have before I have to meet with the king?"

Velmoria looked past the desk and to the window at the far end of the room, at the suns outside. "Approximately one hour, your highness."

Arella nodded and placed the book on the desk. She walked around it to the chair and took a seat. "I guess an hour should be enough for me to refresh my mind on the types of demons before delving into your culture. In the meantime, I would like you to go ask the king what duties he needs relieved from his shoulders. I have been trained in many sectors; if there is one I do not know, he will have to do it himself." As she spoke, she dragged the first book to her seated form.

Her wings stretched out slightly, as if they were soaking in the suns’ light.

"Very well, your highness, I shall have a maid come in with tea and snacks and will be back to escort you when the hour is done."

Arella looked up and gave Velmoria a slight smile. "Look at you, the ever-perfect little assistant, eh?"

"Wouldn’t want anyone taking this cushy job, your highness." Velmoria’s laugh tinkled through the door as she pulled it shut.

Echo stretched lazily near the hearth, his eyes squinting as he watched Arella with an almost careful gaze, as if he worried that she was going to be kidnapped or disappear.

Arella failed to see his gaze as she concentrated on her books. The book she had picked out was a comprehensive guide on demon hierarchies. The different types of species were more than a matter of race, Arella realized as she read. It was an intricate caste system, and the book outlined the different noble crests, their respective family histories, and even highlighted those that had long gone obsolete after King Varziel had come into power.

Arella found herself rereading the king’s name over and over on the pages that it appeared. Just at the thought of his red eyes poring into her own caused an immense heat to bubble in her stomach.

She had to shake her head multiple times to drag her filthy mind out of the gutters.

The demon realm wasn’t just structured; it was rigid.

Unlike angels, who worked for their power, demons were literally born into power. The high lord and their ladies, the governing nobles, wielded immense power, just short of rivaling the influence of the King. Under them were the mid-tier families, military leaders and scholars, each occupying their own niche. At the very bottom were the labourers, the lesser demons, of which, Arella realized, Velmoria belonged.

As she turned the page, an illustration caught her eye: a towering demon with six arms and six eyes. Each arm wielded a different weapon. The description at the bottom of the picture read: "The oath of each high noble family to the king keeps them in check, to serve as generals and assistants to the crown, their loyalty unwavering until death." A little below that description were words in smaller cursive, written in a language that Arella did not understand.

Still, a smirk lifted her lips up.

So as long as her husband did not plan to kick her out, no matter how much the nobles protested, they could not do anything about it?

It could not be any more perfect.

A devious smile settled upon her pretty pink lips.

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