**Serendity Town, Westirifer.**
Under the lead of Head Minister Allen, Veronica, Westeria, and Elder Guntor, the guests of Florence County and the Livingstone Duchy entered the ducal palace of Westirifer… or rather, the fortress city of Westirifer.
What welcomed them upon passing through the main gate was not the shiny, majestic, and beautiful walls of a palace.
Instead, bunkers and barracks greeted them—structures built right against the fortress walls. And these bunkers and barracks were far from few.
Seeing this scene, Duchess Velora voiced her thoughts with clear bewilderment.
"When we entered, I truly believed a grand ducal palace would greet me… yet what is this? Why does everything look like a military zone?"
"Why are there only these barracks and soldiers in my sight? I clearly remember that only moments ago we were guiding our entourage by that enormous palace."
This was not her question alone. Everyone wished to know the same thing, but she was the first to raise her voice.
Allen smiled at Velora's question.
"Duchess, these barracks and soldiers are stationed here so that immediate action can be taken should any insurgency ever arise.
Building the barracks in this location was the young master's own idea.
On our ducal grounds, the first area is the military zone.
Here stand a total of five thousand barracks, while another ten thousand are currently under construction.
Each of these five thousand barracks can comfortably accommodate three hundred soldiers. In fact, the soldiers who arrived with you will be housed here for the duration of their stay."
Velora questioned him once more.
"Then where is the ducal palace I saw from afar?"
Allen replied,
"Actually, Your Grace, what you saw earlier was not our real palace. What you beheld was an illusion. Our true ducal palace lies much farther ahead. At present we are still within the military area. Beyond this stretch come the grain fields, followed by numerous orchards and small freshwater lakes and ponds. Only in the middle section—at the very core—stands our ducal palace."
Hearing this, confusion appeared not only on the faces of the newly arrived guests but also on Elder Guntor's.
Allen continued,
"It is an illusion-array magic cast by the young master himself.
From the outside our ducal grounds appear one way, yet from the inside everything is entirely different.
And before any of you even ask what illusion magic is, allow me to clarify: it is a branch of magic used to create deception and confusion."
After Allen's explanation, a minister from Florence County spoke up.
"Sir Allen, for a very long time I have wished to ask about this, yet never found the opportunity. What are these orbs that glow like miniature suns? I saw them along the Silk Road, on the streets of Breathwait Town, and in Serendity as well."
Allen answered calmly,
"Lady Melesty, you have excellent observation skills.
These orbs you see are not miniature suns. They are called sunstone bulbs.
These bulbs are exclusive products of our forges.
Their production process remains secret to all except the personnel directly involved. Even I do not know every material required to create them.
What I do know is this: a single unit of this bulb can provide adequate brightness for every household of our citizens.
Another feature is that these bulbs can maintain a room's temperature so that people may comfortably survive the winters of our mountainous regions.
They draw their power from sunlight. Used continuously, each unit lasts four to five months—yet they can be recharged with adequate sunlight."
Veronica then glanced at Allen.
"We should lead our guests to the palace. It is already late in the evening, and I assume they are tired after traveling for so long.
Tomorrow our guests may tour the ducal grounds and the streets of the capital city."
Allen answered,
"Yes, my lady."
Just then the youngest brother of Duchess Velora—Kinru Livingstone—raised a question that everyone else also wished to ask.
"Head Minister, you just mentioned that your ducal palace is still far from here.
So how are we going to reach it? Have you prepared carriages for us?
Or do you expect the guests of your duchy to walk the entire way?"
Although Kinru's words carried a rather rude edge, Allen paid it no mind. He once again displayed his practiced smile.
"His Highness is quite humorous.
Of course we do not wish our guests to walk the whole distance. You need not worry about that."
The moment Allen finished speaking—
*Dang… Drum… Dang… Drum… Dang… Drum…*
The sound of alert drums began to ring out once more.
Hearing the drums, Westeria said,
"I believe the guests from Redbarn Barony, Ironford County, and Weilhiem Duchy have also arrived.
Yet there is no one at the entrance to welcome them. What should we do?"
Allen considered for a moment, then said,
"Do this: along with the princesses and Lady Veronica, lead our present guests to the palace.
I, Elder Guntor, and Lady Talmora will go and receive the others."
Westeria quietly nodded.
Then she called,
"Lucelith, Luvina, Vritra, Gracy."
At her summons the four shadowborns stepped forward.
Westeria looked toward the crowd of guests—most of the men among them openly ogling the four.
She did not blame them; all four were truly beautiful, possessing an otherworldly charm and an ice-cold temperament.
Westeria addressed the entire group of guests.
"As per the new arrangement, all of you will follow my daughters, me, and Sister Veronica.
Inside the palace proper arrangements have already been made for every one of you.
For the men, numerous women are available; for the women, numerous men. We will take complete care of your needs.
However, there are a few things I must warn you about.
This is Westirifer, and Westirifer has its own set of rules that every one of you must follow.
Inside the ducal palace there are some women who are pregnant—including me and Sister Veronica—who will not entertain you with penetrative sexual contact. Other forms of foreplay depend entirely on their own mood.
Lastly, all the princesses of the Velmora household are completely out of your reach. Do not attempt to lay hands on them.
As you are guests of Westirifer, my daughters will not harm you.
But as host, it is my duty to give this warning: although my daughters appear quite mature and beautiful, every single one of them is powerful—so powerful that any one of them could annihilate you before you even have time to react. And they possess rather high tempers.
We will not entertain questions regarding our princesses, yet I am informing you all that my daughters are not human.
So do not be deceived by their looks. Throughout the entire duchy only a handful of people can control them.
Those people are Commander Artemis—whom you all saw outside, the lady warrior holding the flag of the Velmora family—her husband Commander Vance, whom you will meet inside the palace, and lastly Lucifer himself.
I have not included my daughters' actual mothers, because they too are not human.
Now, all of you, follow me."
Hearing Westeria, Nicole Kidman remarked,
"Quite the extensive warning, Lady Westeria."
Walking forward, Westeria replied,
"It is for your own good. As host I do not wish any of you to suffer mishap when you have come here for a joyous occasion.
We are not like those old noble families you are familiar with, and in truth we do not even consider ourselves noble.
Mistakes are therefore bound to happen."
From the Florence County side, Countess Cinthia raised another question.
"Esteemed ladies… please do not take this as any offense, but what I see before me is an empty pathway. How exactly are we going to reach the ducal palace?"
This time Veronica answered with a smile.
"There is no need for us to take your words as any kind of offense, Countess Cinthia.
This is simple curiosity, and you are fully entitled to know.
Roughly a hundred meters from this point there are several short-distance teleportation portals."
Cinthia—and the others—exclaimed in surprise.
"Teleportation portals? Isn't teleportation an ancient, lost subcategory of spatial magic?
It is said that in the present world only a few ancient dragons can still use teleportation spells, and even their range is limited."
Veronica answered,
"Although I do not know a great deal about this spatial-magic matter, what I do know is that these teleportation portals were created and placed by Lucifer.
If you wish to learn more, you may discuss it with him directly.
He is quite the innovative sort—always trying to create something new.
I know many people believe he is ruthless or possesses a murderous personality.
They are wrong. He is playful, full of mischievousness, and rather childish.
Beyond that he is protective, caring, and responsible."
Hearing Veronica's words, Duchess Velora said,
"You seem so fond of him. Now I truly wish to meet him and see what kind of man he is."
Smiling, Veronica replied,
"A very possessive, emotional, and childish man who has peculiar preferences.
He likes to draw, cook food, place crazy wagers, and is always busy with something.
He is also extremely flirtatious—and even more insatiable than we women.
Duchess Velora, I advise you not to appear before him dressed as you are right now."
Intrigued, Velora asked,
"And why is that? What is wrong with this outfit of mine? Actually, I basically prefer to remain naked all the time."
This time Westeria answered playfully,
"There is nothing wrong with your outfit—what you wear is entirely your preference. What Sister Veronica means by suggesting a change is… cover your chest.
Because if you go before him like this, what he will focus on will not be you, but your breasts. Everyone in the entire Velmora household knows how much Lucifer loves them."
Westeria's words made both Velora and Cinthia—and several others—smile.
Velora cupped her own full breasts and gave them a playful shake.
"He likes these lumps of fat?
Is he a baby who feeds on milk?"
Veronica laughed.
"You guessed it exactly right. Yes, he is an overgrown baby who feeds on milk."
Cinthia asked,
"For real?"
Veronica laughed even more.
"Why would I lie to you?"
She continued,
"Can you imagine what promise he extracted from Sister Westeria when it comes to her breasts?"
Hearing this, Westeria shot Veronica an incredulous look.
"I did not tell you that so you could announce it to the whole world."
From behind came Lisa's voice—eldest daughter of Countess Cinthia.
"Lady Veronica… I want to know about it. Perhaps I might consider him as a potential partner, since I am not yet married to anyone."
Veronica:
"Oh, so you want to become my sister?"
She continued with a thoroughly mischievous smile.
"Well, Sister Westeria, it is not fair to hide anything from a lady who wishes to become our sister."
With that, Veronica turned around and faced the group behind them.
She continued with an even more teasing smile.
"Lucifer made Sister Westeria promise that she would always keep one of her breasts ready for him… and that even their children are not allowed to suckle that particular nipple."
Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs.
Westeria's entire face flushed a deep crimson as overwhelming shame flooded her expression.
Shame… but why?
Because even Westeria herself found the condition rather childish, absurd, and… she could not quite put the feeling into words.
Westeria fixed Veronica with a death glare.
"If you wished to tell Lady Lisa because she wants to become a future partner of Lucifer, then you could have told her privately… Why did you announce it to everyone?"
While Westeria was still glaring, Cinthia said,
"That's rather possessive… and somewhat cute."
At this Veronica replied,
"That's why sometimes I feel a little envious of her."
Surprised by Veronica's words, Westeria asked,
"Why do you feel envious of me?
We are sisters… and Lucifer is as much yours as he is mine. I have never differentiated."
Veronica answered with a faintly dissatisfied tone,
"But… but I am not his to the same degree that you are… and that is why he is so much more possessive toward you.
I also want to share the same status as you."
Westeria rebuked her,
"What nonsense are you talking? Did he say anything to you?
Let him come home—I'll punish him."
Veronica said,
"I am not speaking nonsense. What I said is a hundred percent true. That is why you are part of the Big Four in the whole household."
Westeria repeated,
"Big Four?
What… what do you mean by that?
What Big Four? Why have I never heard anything about it? And I really must ask—did you deliberately choose today as the day to tease me?"
Veronica answered with a half-sorrowful, half-smiling expression,
"If you are angry, then I will not tell you.
Sisters cannot get angry at each other… What would Lucifer think of it?"
Westeria replied,
"I am not angry… it is simply the first time I am hearing of this."
From the back came Velora's voice.
"So, Lady Veronica, who exactly are these Big Four?"
Veronica playfully answered,
"It is nothing more than a term used to indicate authority inside our Velmora household."
Velora continued,
"Then who holds the first position? Meaning, who has the supreme authority inside the Velmora family?"
Veronica replied,
"Well, although the supreme authority is Lucifer himself, he loves Mother-in-law so much that he has given her everything. By default, the Grand Duchess became the supreme authority.
The two of them love each other deeply, and Mother-in-law plays both roles—she is Lucifer's mother as well as one of his wives. Lucifer is completely obsessed with her… Now that I think about it, suddenly I am feeling envious of Mother-in-law as well.
Lucifer always claims that he loves Mother-in-law the most… How satisfying it would be if he claimed the same thing about me."
After this, Cinthia's main husband—Sherek Lovehart—asked,
"Who holds the second position?"
The answer came,
"That is Duchess Amelia.
She is Lucifer's elder sister as well as one of his wives.
Although the two of them are utterly obsessed with each other, Duchess Amelia failed to claim the first position.
And even before any of you ask about the third and fourth positions among the Big Four… it is very difficult to differentiate them, because Lucifer himself never ranked anyone. This entire ranking concept was created by other members of the Velmora family.
Still… let us say the third position belongs to Aunt Ruby.
She is the first wife of Uncle Jeff, and Lucifer is her second husband.
With Uncle Jeff she has a son named Jason.
Lucifer treats him exactly like his own younger brother, and Aunt Ruby treats Lucifer as her own son."
Veronica smirked.
"Sometimes Aunt Ruby and Mother-in-law even playfully banter with each other over who loves Lucifer more.
And lastly… we have Sister Westeria.
She is the only one who shakes the standing of everyone above her.
All of the Big Three feel envy and jealousy toward her. You may wish to know the reason.
The reason is… she is Lucifer's most favored wife. Lucifer loves her so much that he calls her… 'My dear Wess.'
And because of that, she has never allowed anyone else to call her Wess.
Not even her first husband—Allen."
At that moment Westeria's face flushed an even deeper crimson than before.
Veronica continued,
"Oh, I forgot to mention it… Head Minister Allen is Sister Westeria's first husband."
With that final sentence, the entire group reached the teleportation portals and, one by one, vanished from the military area.