"So you accept my proposal?" Milena asked Lucifer, just to be sure.
Lucifer nodded. "I accept."
"So, all three of you will be participating. But just remember, there's a good chance that all three of you might die in the competition even though I need you. The rules are brutal. Your survival will depend on you only. So don't lose, but don't die, because no one will save you," Milena reminded Lucifer.
She turned to look at the lady who was sitting on the right side of Lucifer.
It was a young woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties. Her eyes were also red, signifying her noble position.
"Feronia, take them to the guest house. You'll be with them during their stay in the Empire," Milena commanded the lady.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the woman stood up respectfully, realizing that she was tasked to keep an eye on these people.
"Come with me," she told Lucifer, walking towards the doors.
Lucifer took one last glance at Milena before he turned and left with Caen and Salazar.
As they left, the place returned to its usual silence.
Milena stood up finally and walked towards the body of the young man who was killed by Lucifer. His body was still mostly intact. Only his neck was crushed.
"Your Majesty, are you really going to make this guy a noble?" One of the Nobles asked, taking a guess as to what she was going to do.
Milena smirked. "I think it'll be more fun with him around. He can also take part in the battles. I'm sure the rematch would be interesting."
The young man was lying on his stomach. Milena turned him around and raised him up. She brought her luscious lips close to him, opening them to reveal two sharp teeth. She stabbed her teeth in the neck of the young man.
After a few seconds, she moved back and placed the man down before she walked back to the throne.
The young man who was lying on the ground remained unmoving, but he did start to go through some changes.
His height increased ever so slightly as the man became taller. His neck also started recovering as his crushed bones healed slowly. His body turned even paler as his hair became an inch longer.
The man's eyelids started flickering. Soon he opened his eyes, revealing his eyes that were red now. He looked around, confused as to what had happened.
Initially, his mind was completely blank, but he soon started recovering his memories. As he was now a Noble, he regained his old memories up to the moments right before her death.
He looked towards Milena, who was casually looking at him. The other Nobles were also looking at him, expressionless.
The young man looked down, noticing his pale skin. He touched his neck to feel the bite marks that hurt even now.
"I am a Noble now?!" He exclaimed in surprise.
"No need to be so happy, young man. You failed miserably in stopping the people. Your powers were not that powerful either. And you died so fast that it was embarrassing," Milena told the young man.
" So even though I brought you back as a Noble, it's not the end of it. It's just so I could give you your next test since you failed the last one so miserably," she further added.
"W-what test?" The man asked, hesitant.
"The man who killed you. He would be participating in the Annual Divine Empire. And you'll be his first opponent. It's for you to get your salvation. If you win, you'll be allowed to remain a Noble," Milena answered.
" If you lose, you'll die. And even if you survive the Battle despite losing, I'll kill you personally." she continued.
"I-I won't disappoint you, Your Majesty! I'll kill that man, I promise on my life! I'll either win or die on the battlefield!" the young man declared, placing his hand on his chest.
"Good. You can leave now. Meet Cadell outside. He would tell you the protocol that you need to know."
Hearing the command of Milena, the young man bowed once again before he left the Royal Court.
As the doors were closed again, the Noble Elders started talking about their real concerns. They weren't pleased with what was done, but they couldn't question the decision of Milena either.
So they just talked as if they were giving suggestions.
"Your Majesty, do you really think this guy can defeat him? If his claim about being a Warlock Council leader is true, then he won't be weak enough to be defeated by a weakling like him."
"I agree. No matter how much we underestimate the Warlock Council, they're still made of the strongest Warlocks of their counting. We can defeat them, but I doubt a new Noble can do it."
"Agreed. Instead of sending a weakling, why don't you send one of us against him? We would end him in the first battle. That would be good for the dignity of a Noble. On the other hand, if we send him, the Warlock Council guys would defeat him. What will happen to our dignity then?"
"What do you think, Your Majesty?"
One after another, all ten Noble Elders asked to be sent first instead of the youngster.
"What would be the fun in that? I don't want them to lose in the first battle. It's not always that we get such an opportunity for enjoyment. We'll go with the order I decide. No more questions about it!" Milena declared, silencing all the questions.
Throughout the discussion, one man hadn't said anything. He didn't even move. He was the white-haired man who stood behind Milena. He simply stood with his arms folded. He was the only person who didn't have red eyes.
Milena soon stood up. Following her, all the other nobles also stood up in respect.
"Sirius, come with me," Milena said as she started leaving. The white-haired man finally moved, leaving with Milena.
...
Lucifer and the others stepped out of the Royal Palace, escorted by Feronia.
Outside the palace, they met Heath.
"You're back. How did the conversation go?" Health asked Caen, ignoring Lucifer.
For him, Caen was the leader. Feronia did grow confused though. Why was this man not asking their leader? Were they not allowed to talk to them? She just shrugged this whole thing as a difference in culture.
"Ah, right. It's not good to talk here. Get in; we shall leave," Heath continued, realizing the presence of a noble. He walked back to the helicopter.
"We aren't going back, Heath," Caen told the man.