Cabe narrowed her eyes, watching Vergil carefully after his response. "Are you flirting with me?" she asked, her voice carrying a cold tone, but the challenging gleam in her eyes suggested something more—as if she were probing his intentions, testing hisposure.


    Vergil, however, raised his hands dramatically, as if trying to avoid her gaze. "Hey, don''t look at me like that! It''s creepy!" he said, in an almost theatrical tone, stepping back a half-step.


    "And just so you know," he continued, pointing to himself, "I have wives, you know? If you keep looking at me like that, you''ll probably end up zapping me with aser beam or something. Then, she''lle after you. And kill you. Without hesitation."


    Katharina sighed heavily from the side, crossing her arms while watching the scene. "He''s doing it again."


    "Yeah," Ada agreed, not even looking away from her ss. "Definitely doing it again."


    "What thing?" Roxanne asked, throwing a sidelong nce at the two.


    Katharina simply pointed her thumb toward Vergil. "He found someone stronger and now he''s acting like an idiot."


    The response would have made Roxanneugh, but she didn''t even have time to react. A loud, unexpectedugh echoed through the hall, surprising everyone.


    "Pfff... HAHAHAHAHA!" Cabeughed openly, holding onto the nearby staircase, her eyes watering from the effort to contain herughter. It was apletely different sight from the authoritative woman who had descended the stairs moments before.


    "Your... pfff... your wives?" she managed to say betweenughs, catching her breath. Turning to Ada, Katharina, and Roxanne, she stared at them with an arched eyebrow, her gaze dancing between mockery and curiosity.


    The three, however, showed no interest in the provocation.


    Vergil, with a smile as rxed as it was dangerous, tilted his head slightly, as if considering her words for a moment. Then, he responded in a tone that seemed to y on the edge of seriousness.


    "Oh, I''m not talking about those three over there."


    Cabe furrowed her brow, confused, but before she could ask, Vergil subtly pointed his chin behind her, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.


    "I''m talking about the person behind you."


    Vergil''s smile now was a mix of provocation and something else—something that sent chills down the spines of everyone present. Slowly, Cabe turned around, as the entire hall seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.


    But... she only saw a massive redheaded woman like herself, standing behind her, arms crossed, with an expression that clearly said, "I''m going to kill you."


    "You must be enjoying meddling with my husband, huh?" Her voice was low, almost a whisper, but it had the sharp rity of a de. There was no need to raise her voice; the implied threat was more effective than any shout.


    Vergil, standing beside her, took a slight step back, raising his hands in an exaggerated disy of innocence. "Oh, look, dear, I was just talking. Talking isn''t a crime... yet." He threw a furtive nce at Cabe, as if including her in his excuse.


    Cabe, however, didn''t seem intimidated, but she wasn''t foolish either. She studied the woman in front of her with a raised eyebrow, the corner of her mouth curling into an intrigued half-smile.


    "Interesting," she said, her voice carrying a tone of fascination that seemed to disarm some of the tension. "So, you captured this barbarian? I must admit, I''m surprised this time, Sapphire."


    "Barbarian?" Sapphire repeated, tilting her head slightly. "Funny, that didn''t seem barbaric, intimidating someone with a look? But please, go on. I''m curious to hear how you nned to y with what''s mine."


    Cabe took a step forward, her expressions of surprise and amusement now reced by a mask of seriousness. It was a dangerous game, but she wasn''t known for backing down.


    "y?" Cabe said, her voice deliberately light. "I think you''re projecting something, darling. I was just testing... curiosities."


    At that moment, Raphaeline, standing further back, leaned against one of the columns, crossing her arms with an ironic smile. "Vergil," she murmured softly to herself, "you really love collecting problems."


    Sapphire took a step forward, the ground literally cracking beneath her weight, although her stride was graceful. Her smile, almost gentle, only heightened the sense of imminent danger.


    "I''ll give you some advice, Cabe," she said, leaning in slightly. "Be careful with what you call ''curiosities.'' Sometimes, ying with fire burns more than just your hands." She yed with her fingers, showing a me that made Cabe take a small step back.


    Cabe didn''t respond immediately, but the entire hall seemed to hum with electricity as the two titanic figures locked eyes. Vergil, still trying to appear carefree, shed a weak smile and murmured:


    "Well, I guess diplomacy ended before it even began."


    Experience more tales on empire


    Cabe, with a smile that didn''t reach her eyes, took a step back, adjusting the ck rose in her hair.


    Her movements were calcted, controlled, like a predator carefully assessing the terrain before striking.


    "Interesting," Cabe finally said, her voice like velvet wrapped in steel. "You have a peculiar talent for turning something trivial into a spectacle."


    Sapphire chuckled softly, but the sound was far from friendly. "If you want to test more ''curiosities,'' maybe I''ll show you something even more fascinating?" She let the me on her fingers grow for a brief moment before extinguishing it with a casual motion.


    Cabe maintained her serene expression, but her eyes, for a moment, gleamed with something that could have been either anger or fascination. "Perhaps on another asion," she replied, ncing over at Vergil, who stood there, observing the scene with a rxed, but attentive air.


    Raphaeline tilted her head slightly, the cold glint in her eyes contrasting with the rxed smile on her lips. She twirled the golden-coated katana in her hand with an elegance that seemed nonchnt but betrayed absolute mastery over the weapon.


    "Babysitters, Cabe?" Raphaeline responded softly, her voice carrying a dangerous calm. "Interesting choice of words for someone who seems to need constant validation to feel in control."


    The hall fell silent once again, the gazes now split between Raphaeline and Cabe. The tension between them was different; it wasn''t justpetition, but a deeply rooted rivalry that seemed to have history.


    Cabe let out a lowugh, though her eyes didn''t match the apparent amusement. "Validation? Ah, Raphaeline, don''t project your weaknesses onto me. Your sword is pretty, I admit, but is it more than just an ornament?"


    Raphaeline took a step forward, the slight movement making the katana glisten under the hall''s lights. "Ornament?" She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Perhaps I could demonstrate, if you''re curious. Of course, that would mean the hall would need repairs tomorrow."


    Vergil watched the scene with a smile that was somewhere between amusement and difort. He leaned toward Sapphire, whispering, "I''m starting to understand what you meant about this being an ego show. It''s more like a minefield."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Sapphire shook her head, keeping her eyes on Cabe and Raphaeline. "Things are usually like this, which is why I don''t like participating in these ridiculous little shows." Shemented, "I''d rather be at home sleeping." Sapphire said like a spoiled woman. She didn''t even seem like a Demon Queen.


    Cabe narrowed her eyes but took a step back, raising her hands in a gesture of apparent surrender. "You''re quick to draw your sword, Raphaeline. But don''t worry, I didn''te here to get my hands dirty with blood."


    "A pity," Raphaeline retorted with irony, stepping back as well. "Could have been an opportunity to teach some lessons."


    Cabe ignored thement, turning her gaze back to Vergil. "You really have a special talent for being at the center of trouble, don''t you?"


    Vergil shrugged with a carefree smile. "What can I say? You started it, deal with the consequences." He shed a devilish grin.


    Cabe tilted her head, observing him with a look that seemed to calcte every aspect of him. "Interesting. Very interesting."


    Raphaeline interrupted before Cabe could continue. "If you''re done testing everyone''s patience, Cabe, I suggest we focus on the purpose of this meeting. Unless, of course, you prefer to continue with your provocations. In that case, I''ll be more than happy to escort you to the exit."


    Cabeughed, but didn''t answer. She turned and walked toward another corner of the hall, leaving the weight of her presence hanging in the air.


    "She really knows how to steal the spotlight, doesn''t she?" Vergilmented, breaking the tense silence with his slightly sarcastic tone.


    "Strong women are like that," Sapphire responded automatically, not even thinking twice, her eyes still following Cabe from a distance.


    Vergil nced at Sapphire, raising an eyebrow. "True, you''re exactly like that," he added with a yful smile,ughing softly.


    Sapphire turned to him, unable to hide a satisfied smile, even if she tried to mask it. "Don''tpare me to her," she said, though her tone didn''t carry the weight of a reprimand.


    "Never," Vergil replied with a yful smile, feigning innocence. "After all, you can only steal my attention, right?"


    Thement was followed by an almost imperceptible expression from Sapphire, a slight blush rising to her face as she tried to hide it. "Idiot," she murmured, looking away, but the softness in her voice betrayed the insult.


    Suddenly, a deep voice, full of authority, reverberated through the hall, cutting through the moment like a de.


    "I see everyone has arrived," the man announced as he slowly advanced to the center of the room. "I hope you enjoyed the trip. I apologize for the dy... had to deal with a small issue."


    He was carrying something — or rather, someone. The body of a man d in grotesque ck armor, with intricate details and opaque runes, hung from his hand like a mere lifeless weight. The hall froze as the figure holding the defeated man was recognized: Archon Amon, one of the most feared entities in the demon world. His aura was like a whirlpool of primal force,pressing the air around him.


    Roxanne, who had seemed calm up until then, suddenly turned pale. She took an involuntary step back, her voiceing out in an almost inaudible whisper,den with fear.


    "D-Dad?!"


    The revtion dropped like a stone in the hall, and all eyes turned to the defeated man. Vergil raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.