The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 164: The Banquet, Part III

Chapter 164: The Banquet, Part III

’Why is he here? Asmodeus has really taken it too far! To make the two of them fight each other like this!’

Rosalie shot an angry stare at the demon whose only reply was a careless shrug of the shoulders. He stretched his lips into a smug grin and said,

"Why do you look so angry, Rosalie? Did you really think that I would let go of your soul that easily? Come on, even the former Rosalie could not be this naive."

Asmodeus grabbed the duchess’s chin with his left hand and forcefully turned her face in the direction of the unfolding scene, continuing,

"Now watch. Only one shall survive. Who will you be rooting for?"

Rosalie clenched her fists under the table, the scarlet blood trickled down her knees and disappeared in a mere second as if to hide the evidence of her enormous hurt.

"Why are you here? How can you even fight against me now?"

Damien grumbled through his teeth as the wolf stood right in front of him, fixing his glowing crimson eyes on the duke’s face.

"He knew this... will happen all along... Just fight me... You have... no choice."

Altair’s hissing was full of premature defeat which made Damien tighten his grip around the handle of his sword in both frustration and anger.

Asmodeus snapped his fingers and the lights in the dining hall dimmed once again, drowning the room in ominous anticipation.

"Whenever you are ready, gentlemen. The last man standing is the winner."

The quiet hall pulsated with an eerie energy, shadows flickering like restless spirits as Duke Damien Dio faced the massive black wolf beast, Altair. The air crackled with anticipation, and the assembled creatures, guests of Asmodeus, watched intently as the two formidable opponents prepared for the clash.

Duke Damien stood tall, his black armor gleaming in the dim light. His golden eyes, focused and determined, locked onto the imposing figure of Altair. The massive black wolf, with eyes as red as the blood that was boiling in his veins, exuded an almost palpable aura of infernal strength. As the tension mounted, a low growl reverberated through the hall, signaling the imminent eruption of violence.

Rosalie, confined to her seat, could feel the weight of the unfolding confrontation. Asmodeus observed with a sinister delight, relishing the spectacle about to unfold. The diverse assembly of otherworldly beings, guests in this demonic gathering, gazed upon the impending battle with a mix of fascination and bloodlust.

’Monsters. All of them. A mere incarnation of pure evil.’

With a sudden, explosive burst of movement, Altair lunged at the duke, teeth bared and claws extended. The duke, however, moved with an uncanny lightness, sidestepping the ferocious assault. The clash of steel and bone echoed through the hall as Damien unsheathed his sword, meeting Altair’s onslaught with skillful parries.

Their dance of blades and fangs unfolded with an unmatched intensity. Altair, fueled by raw, beastly strength, attempted to overpower the duke with sheer force. Damien, though seemingly outmatched in size, displayed an unexpected strength and agility of his own, evading the wolf’s attacks with calculated precision.

The dining hall became an arena of swirling shadows and clashing elements, the combatants leaving trails of ethereal energy in their wake. Rosalie’s heart pounded as she witnessed the perilous dance between the duke and the monstrous wolf, caught in a deadly waltz that held the entire demonic assembly in thrall.

Amidst the chaos, Altair’s deep, guttural voice rumbled, breaking through the cacophony of battle.

"We must... entertain his foolish guests... before you can have... the pleasure of ending me... Duke Damien Dio."

The wolf’s words hissed through the noise with a sinister undercurrent, hinting at a macabre understanding between the two of them. As if heeding Altair’s suggestion, the duke and the wolf intensified their movements, their clash evolving into a choreographed spectacle that enthralled the excitement of the underworld audience.

Damien’s black sword moved with deadly precision, each stroke a calculated display of martial prowess. Altair, with a primal finesse, countered with ferocious attacks, creating an intricate scene of combat that mesmerized the onlookers. The demonic creatures, their eyes gleaming with malevolent delight, reveled in the violence unfolding before them.

’How can he be so strong if his curse was broken? I know that Damien was born naturally strong but still... Altair uses the power of Mephisto, is it even possible to defeat him without special powers of his own?’

Rosalie caught herself on a rather unsettling thought and furrowed her eyebrows. How could she allow herself to think that way? How could she let the thought of Altair, who had become her dear friend, be killed, even if it meant that her husband, the one whom she loved with all her heart, would emerge victorious, ending this suffering once and for all?

The ache was growing unbearable and yet, she still knew that only one person had a chance to leave the underworld with her.

The time seemed to have slowed down as the fight continued with the same intensity. Neither Damien nor Altair looked tired, their movements were still as strong and powerful as at the beginning.

"They are... Getting bored..."

The wolf hissed again as his teeth caught Damien’s black sword. The duke, understanding Altair’s suggestion hesitated for a moment, then nodded, and jumped away, releasing his weapon from the wolf’s grip, slashing the beast’s lower jaw in half.

Altair released a loud, almost deafening scream as blood from his wounded mouth flowed onto the floor.

With another swift, decisive move, Damien lunged at Altair again and slid his black sword over the wolf’s stomach, sending the beast sprawling to the ground. The demonic hall fell silent, the only sound filling it was the heavy breathing of the combatants and the ominous whispers of the assembled guests.

The duke wiped the sweat from his forehead as he slowly approached Altair’s body with heavy steps. Then, he raised his sword above his head, prepared to put an end to the staged fight between them.

’I cannot look!’

Rosalie closed her eyes, her entire body trembling from fear and pain.

Altair took a deep breath and whispered his last words,

"Entertain the guests, Duke... for that is the pact... we’ve made. Take care... Of her... In the end... I am glad... It’s you..."

The duke offered him a brief nod and said in a quiet voice,

"Thank you for lending me your powers, Altair."

A loud symphony of gasps spread through the dining hall as Damien’s sword pierced the body of the wolf.

Rosalie felt hot tears running down her pale face while her chest compressed under the weight of her loss.

At last, the demonic assembly erupted in applause, an unsettling chorus of approval for the macabre spectacle they had witnessed. As the duke concluded his performance with a final, lethal strike, the hall fell into a chilling silence. The guests, satiated by the entertainment, watched with predatory satisfaction as Altair succumbed to the cold embrace of death.

"Asmodeus..."

The demon’s name escaped Damien’s lips and rushed through the hall like thunder. The guests fixed their glares on Asmodeus who rose to his feet and fixed his black eyes on the approaching duke. Damien continued,

"You got what you wanted. I won. Now let us go."

The demon narrowed his eyes, placing his heavy hand on top of Rosalie’s shoulder, and replied,

"You played your role but the banquet is not over. The lady still has her responsibilities here."

Damien clenched his fists, a deep frown cutting the skin between his black, blood-smeared eyebrows. His golden eyes shifted to Rosalie whose gaze was filled with sadness and agony as she ran her gray eyes over her husband’s body.

"I don’t care, you filthy demon! You lied both to me and my wife, promising that only one of us would be forced to participate in your disgusting schemes! Let us go this instant!"

He pointed his large sword at Asmodeus who only snickered and said in a low, menacing voice,

"And what makes you think I will listen to you, you lowly human?"

"That’s enough, Asmodeus. You might not listen to him but you will listen to me."