Chapter 446 Lingering Atattchment
Once Tatiana was finished eating, she let out a massive sigh of satisfaction before reclining back into her seat and rubbing her stomach happily. "Ahh... That was wonderful..!"
"You finished all of that remarkably fast.." Erica looked down at her wellington and saw that she was only halfway done with it. "O-Oh, well part of living with Bekka is learning that if you don't eat fast then you run the risk of not eating at all."
"Is that so..? I will learn to pick up my speed then."
True to her word, Erica started eating at a more rapid pace than before and nearly choked a few times. Tatiana wanted to laugh the longer that she watched her, and against her knowledge she let words slip out that she'd always kept inside until now. "I think... I have always been jealous of you."
Erica nearly choked on her food once again in what was a much more volatile manner than before. "S-Sorry... did I surprise you?" Tatiana asked with an uncomfortable smile.
"Quite a bit, yes." Erica admitted in between sips of water. "I suppose I can see that."
An awkward silence persisted between the two for a few moments longer with neither woman really knowing what to say. "I don't understand… why would you ever have been jealous of me?" Erica finally asked.
"On the first day that I saw you… you and Abaddon were in the backyard at our old home in Luxuria. I instantly felt a small spark form between you two and it made me feel sort of threatened.
You were this beautiful, accomplished, and charismatic woman who I felt was the perfect match for him. So much so that I… would rather have left his life rather than stay and watch him choose you."
It was easy for Erica to tell that Tatiana was being incredibly vulnerable at this moment and if she was honest, she was a bit lost for words.
They once held a bit of a rivalry going on between the two of them when they were both still competing for Abaddon's affections.
They hadn't spoken since Tatiana had married Abaddon, so for this to be their first conversation since was more than a little jarring.
"I wonder… if you are telling me this because you still feel that way?" Erica asked with a building sense of dread.
Abaddon was already on the fence about taking things further with her to begin with.
If even one of his wives were to be against this, Abaddon would never entertain the thought of being with her ever again.
He was just that protective over all of their feelings.
Tatiana leisurely swirled her spoon around in her cup of tea as she tried to find the right words for how she was feeling.
"Not really… since getting married my jealousy is so bad that I can hardly think straight sometimes, but the thought of you joining our family only bothers me a tiny bit. I'll probably just punch you in the stomach once and get over it."
"P-Pardon?"
"Anyway, if you want us to see if we can give you a temporary marking tonight, then we don't have a problem trying."
Erica was immediately elated, but Tatiana still had something more that she wanted to say.
"But there are two things I feel responsible to remind you of."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Oh god."
"I'll remind you that being brought into our space isn't exactly a guaranteed method to gain a marking. If the test itself doesn't go well then you will die, Erica. Truly die with no hope of being-"
"Tatiana."
The regality that Erica had become so famous for in not just this world but the last was on full display.
She was calm, unshakable, and remarkably serious.
"Maybe you've just been married to him so long that you've forgotten what it feels like to hopelessly fall in love with him.
I would risk everything that I have a thousand times over if it means I have even the smallest chance of being with him."
A small smile formed on Tatiana's face that contained imperceptible hints of madness within it.
"Well… then that brings me to my last point."
"Which is?"
Tatiana leaned over and placed her hand on top of Erica's.
"Family is everything to Abaddon, and all of us as well. If you're determined to join us, then we want all of you if possible."
Erica felt her eyebrows lift uncontrollably from surprise and she stared at Tatiana in a new light.
A small grimace formed on her face and she nodded silently.
"Erica… if things don't work out then-" Tatiana began.
"They will… I will do my best to ensure it."
"Alright then… dessert?"
Erica laughed and picked up a menu that Tatiana hurriedly looked at alongside her.
"Tell me… how much does Mira come here that they named a skillet cookie after her?"
"She and Lailah come down here every Tuesday and Friday and eat themselves sick and the rest of us pretend we don't know."
"I see… are there any other little family secrets that I should be made aware of?"
"Fufufu~ There are so many that you will hardly believe it."
-
After having a thoughtful lunch date with Tatiana, Erica flew through the sky on her crimson wings and admired the majesty of Sheol.
The city of Sha-Leh can be considered to be the capital of the land of dragons, as this is the place where Abaddon's closest friends and important societal figures all dwell.
However, Erica was leaving her home for the first time in around a week or so to visit someone dear to her.
But she had to admit, she was rather nervous about how this meeting would go.
Maybe that was the reason why she took a more leisure three hour flight instead of crossing the whole distance in thirty minutes like she normally would have.
Nevertheless, she eventually reached her intended destination all the same.
A three story home just on the outskirts of a city called Drolta.
Landing right by the front door, she opened it up without a second thought since it was rare for residents outside of Sha-Leh to lock their doors.
With the disappearance of capitalism also goes the need or desire to steal.
Erica stepped inside of the home and she let out a disapproving sigh like she always did.
Coinciding with the disappearance of capitalism also came with the arise of a few individuals who liked to overcompensate.
Dragons like precious things, yes that is true, but the desire for such things should never substitute taste.
Golden walls, gold floors, toilets, diamond countertops, fancy portraits of the homeowner, and all of the latest tech that Valerie was pumping out. (TVs, Cell Phones, Game Consoles, Speaker Systems and the like.)
"You're such a fucking loser!"
Erica heard an unfamiliar voice coming from upstairs and she wondered if she should come back later.
However, in only a short couple of seconds a beautiful young girl came rushing down the stairs; clearly annoyed.
She was a flame spirit from the domain below, with a beautiful dark complexion and a head full of literal orange fire.
Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, she immediately paused when her eyes fell on Erica's extremely recognizable figure.
Inhabitants of Sheol do not bow before anyone besides Abaddon and his immediate family, so instead the young lady clenched her fist and crossed her arm over her chest in a respectful salute.
It was easy to see that the sight of her had made the young girl quite emotional.
"G-General Erica… it is really quite an honor."
"Please, no need for formalities, dear. Might I know your name?"
"I-It is Monica, ma'am… I know that this may be rude, but I wonder if you might listen to my request?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Oh?"
At that moment, Erica's son Caelum Vermilion came from around the corner, and when he saw his mother at the bottom of the stairs he went as pale as a sheet.
Discreetly, he backed away without making a sound and tried his best to hide.
"I know that you do not know me, but I want to join the Scarlet Legion." Monica declared.
Immediately, Erica raised a brow at this.
Abaddon's military is devided into seven legions who are led by seven of his hand picked generals.
From weakest to strongest, there is the the Gold Legion led by Darrius.
The Grey Legion, led by the Rabisu Trio.
The Violet Legion led by Kirina, Seras' mother.
The White Legion led by Hajun, Seras' father.
The Emerald Legion, led by Belphegor. (Unwillingly)
The Scarlet Legion, led by Erica herself.
And The Black Legion, commanded efficiently by Asmodeus.
With the exception of the Euphrates who obey commands from only the royal family, The Scarlet and Black legions are the most destructive forces in Sheol.
They also have by far the strictest recruitment criteria.
Erica only has 350,000 soldiers under her, while Asmodeus only has 200,000.
"I tried out before, but… I didn't make the requirements." Monica said sadly. "T-That's why I was hoping… that maybe you would be able to find the time to give me some personal lessons..?"
"Really..? I-"
"I-I mean you were able to train up your own son to the point where he can beat Prince Apophis, and I want to be just as good as him! B-But I… I don't want to sleep with him to get your approval."
Almost immediately, a vein bulged in Erica's forehead.
Her skin became such an ungodly shade of red that it matched her hair and nails.
The beautiful white teeth within her mouth grew to a dangerous point, and the air around her became so hot that it was practically boiling.
When her anger reached a fever pitch, she released an unholy and demonic bellow that only a mother was capable of recreating effectively.
"CAELUM!! GET THE FUCK DOWN HERE!!"