The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 162: The Banquet, Part I

Chapter 162: The Banquet, Part I

With each step Rosalie took, her entire body was struck by the infernal pain of a lightning bolt. However, as she attempted to assess the severity of her wounds, she was surprised to find neither blood nor any other sign of her body being pierced or torn.

"Why... What happened to my wounds?"

Asmodeus briefly examined her body, then redirected his gaze ahead and lightly tapped her hand, inflicting more invisible pain as he explained,

"The ointment you received wasn’t just to protect your skin from the heat but also to expedite the healing process. We don’t want others to see you in such a damaged state."

Grappling with bone-twisting pain, Rosalie clenched her teeth and groaned,

"So what exactly am I supposed to do now? What kind of banquet are you having anyway?"

The demon emitted a soft chuckle, as if mocking her innocent question.

"It’s a simple banquet, a gathering of friends, if you will. Your role as a hostess is to greet my guests while standing by my side. And, as I mentioned earlier..."

He leaned in closer and concluded in a whisper,

"If you display even the slightest hint of discomfort that might lead my friends to think something is amiss with you, our deal is off. Remember this."

"Yes... I will remember this."

The duo came to a halt in front of an enormously tall and old double door, painted a bright red with a peculiar hot orange glow emanating from its cracks, as if the space behind it was ablaze.

Asmodeus curled his lips into a somewhat menacing grin and remarked,

"Wipe that frown off your face, Rosalie. The one standing by my side should look impeccable at all times."

The duchess took another deep breath, straightened her posture into a tall, confident line, and looked straight ahead, ready to confront whatever awaited her behind that crimson door.

With a brief nod of the demon’s head, the doors opened with a long, heavy creak, inviting the two of them to step inside.

As they entered, Rosalie felt a sharp blast of incredibly hot, almost scorching air enveloping her like invisible tongues of dancing flames. Yet, even though she sensed her skin might be melting, her appearance remained unaltered.

The hall before them was rather dim, illuminated only by an enormous chandelier made of black metal circles, each containing dozens of black candles. The little orange flames within them were motionless yet bright. The play of shadows and light created an eerie ambiance, adding to the mystique of the surroundings.

The tall walls of the hall were painted in a rich shade of red, adorned with large, empty black frames suspended from them. Additionally, there were windows – huge golden frames with shattered black glass, offering a view of nothing but all-consuming darkness.

Beneath their feet was a long, narrow red carpet, decorated with tiny golden tassels on each side. With each step, the carpet’s surface rippled, creating the illusion that they were walking over a river of dark blood.

Confident and solemn, Asmodeus continued guiding Rosalie through the expansive banquet hall’s shadows until they reached its culmination. There, they stood before a table draped in a black silk tablecloth.

"This will be our table, My Lady."

Asmodeus gestured toward the two black chairs behind the table, a smile playing on his lips as he observed Rosalie’s reaction. The woman nodded in response, her face maintaining its expressionless and stoic demeanor.

With a swift motion, the demon turned around, gently tugging the duchess’s hand to prompt her to turn as well. Instead of the empty hall, Rosalie now beheld two rows of long black tables positioned beneath the walls. Their once-empty surfaces were instantly topped with silver trays holding an array of dishes and towering glass bottles filled with various drinks.

’This appears bizarre to the point of being almost ridiculous. I wonder what kind of guests he is even anticipating.’

As if attuned to her thoughts, the doors to the hall swung open once more, welcoming the first guest of Asmodeus’s banquet.

"Mara, the one who strangles cheating men in their sleep with her long hair. Make sure to smile at her; she appreciates cheerful women."

The demon introduced the guest, fixing his deep black eyes on the approaching creature.

Mara did not differ from a regular woman, yet her appearance was horrifying.

She was as white as a ghost, with a body so elongated that she surpassed even Asmodeus in height. Mara’s long, black, and unkempt hair trailed behind her like a torn hem. Despite being naked, her pale, slender form remained well-concealed behind the thick veil of her hair.

As Mara approached the hosts, she directed her empty glare at Rosalie, completely ignoring Asmodeus, and extended her open palm.

Perplexed, Rosalie stretched her lips into a reserved smile while the demon explained,

"Every guest must show respect to the hostess. Offer her your hand."

Complying with his orders, the duchess extended her right hand to Mara, who then kissed it. Mara’s cold, wet lips left a strange stinging sensation on the lady’s skin.

Concluding the greeting with a cordial bow to Asmodeus, Mara turned away and gracefully walked to one of the dining tables, taking her designated seat behind it.

"Well done, Rosalie. She seemed pleased with your greeting."

Still looking forward, Rosalie offered him a mocking grin and asked through clenched teeth,

"How many more guests are we expecting?"

With a suppressed scoff barely escaping his lips, Asmodeus gently tucked a lock of her brown hair behind her ear and replied,

"Sixty-eight more, My Lady."

"Goodness..."

And so, the greetings continued.

The subsequent arrivals brought guests who were even stranger than the preceding ones.

Creatures that resembled humans but lacked any human qualities; beings with animal heads; entities with animal limbs; and those who exuded an aura resembling death, bringing only an ominous presence to the gathering.

Despite the pain and the internal heat that seemed to scorch her, Rosalie stood resolute and confident. Her fake, yet convincingly genuine, smile never wavered from the redness of her lips. This strong facade left every single guest contented with the greeting.

Once all the guests had taken their seats behind the dining tables, Asmodeus assisted Rosalie in settling beside him. He then picked up a golden goblet filled with wine and turned to face the peculiar assembly of creatures.

"My esteemed guests, I am truly grateful for your presence here today. As you are well aware, the annual gatherings I host aim to unite us all, providing an opportunity to share the latest news and discuss the events of the past twelve months."

He paused, turned slightly to the duchess, offering her a subtle grin, then faced his guests again, and continued,

"This time, however, as you all can see, I have someone very special by my side. This is her first time attending such gatherings; therefore, I thought that before we commence the festivities, I would entertain both her and you with something we have never done before. What do you think?"

A loud hum echoed through the hall as the guests began to whisper, discussing the demon’s announcement. They were both bewildered and excited, and as their emotions subsided, they all started clapping in unison, indicating to Asmodeus that they were eager to see what he had prepared for them.

Curling his lips into another sly grin, he snapped the fingers of his right hand, and the doors to the banquet hall opened again. The lights dimmed, plunging the room into complete darkness for a few seconds before illuminating once more. What unfolded before everyone’s eyes was a tall, muscular man, dressed in black armor and holding a massive black sword in his trembling, blood-smeared hands.

And even though the man stood with his back turned to Rosalie, she recognized him right away.

"Damien?"