«Emeric... - Aldis pressed her lips together and began to delve into her past. - When I was growing up, Hell was very different...
His Wisdom finally made itself known, and activated on its own. He had absolutely no control over the urges of his gift. The effects of overexertion were too great.
... Disdainful chuckles, which were completely ignored by the young red-haired girl ...
«After the death of Lucifer and God, Hell began to be ruled by the descendants of the original Lords. The original Beelzebub, Asmodeus and Leviathan died of their wounds later, but it seems to me that their power-hungry descendants had a hand in it....
... Rizevim Livam Lucifer, a young white-haired man, Valerie's grandfather, watched indifferently as the original Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies, was killed by his own children. A blade with holiness right through the heart of an already not the healthiest, post-Great War, demon...
«And then the demons who had gotten their hands on the power started to go on a rampage... - Emeric put his hand over Aldis's. But she didn't need his support. She was one of the strongest members of her species, who had been through several bloody conflicts. - If the original Lucifer didn't exactly restrain the worst impulses, but channeled them in another direction, here was Valerie's grandfather ... - Aldis shook her head. - It wasn't that he was horrible, no. He didn't care about what was going on. He had been incredibly inert to everything since he was a child, despite all his potential. After his father's death, Rizevim didn't even scratch his head and silently took the reins of power, but he wasn't interested in them. And then Hell began to be ruled by the father-killers, who only longed for complete self-assertion over others....
... Entire townships and cities were burning under the vicious laughter of a group of demons ...
... Noble demons began collecting slaves from the noble families of monarchs from all over the world. The young girls began to behave like animals because of the torture and vice ...
... Orgies full of violence and murder. The whole world looked on in horror at all the chaos brought by the demons ...
Emeric shook his head, trying to banish the horrifying images from his mind. It didn't work, if Wisdom was showing him something, he couldn't forget it. The young demon tried his best to contain his inner gift, which had gone off the rails at a bad time.
It wasn't working. With each new detail Aldis said, more and more images of horror continued to fill Emeric's mind.
«Emeric," Aldis must have sensed his confusion somehow, so she touched her warm palm to his cheek. - It was a cycle of madness. With every year, with every horrifying act, the demon society was sinking more and more into vice and evil. All the stereotypes and beliefs didn't come from nothing. And then I realized.
... Young Aldis cold-bloodedly ripped the arms off another brazen bastard.
The surrounding demons began to cheer at the hysterical cries of their former comrade, but shut up abruptly when they sensed a change in the general atmosphere. Like rabbits in front of a boa constrictor, they froze in place and slowly began to look up from the bloody spectacle to the young girl.
Aldis wasn't smiling. Aldis wasn't sad. She didn't care.
BOOM!
In the next moment, the explosion of destruction power, the epicenter of which was the girl, completely engulfed the entire room. Many demons of the upper class, close to the Lords, were instantly turned into nothing....
«And then I swore... - Aldis looked hard into her brother's eyes. - That I would create a Hell that wasn't based on a lust for self-satisfaction. The hedonism that nearly destroyed us would never be the first impulse for any demon born after me. I've killed, and I've killed a lot, not always honorable acts. I have sacrificed and sacrificed and sacrificed, in the hope that my actions are not meaningless ...
...that one! Aldiss, we were friends! Spare me, please!
Aldis tearfully said just one word to her childhood friend.
«I'm sorry.
The explosion of the power of destruction has once again consumed the victim of the new order....
«But hundreds of years later, after all the horror created by my hands..... - Aldis smiled fondly at him. - You were born. So small and defenseless.
... Aldis was choking back tears. The Lord of Hell was over the moon as she looked at the little lump in her arms.
His sister's large tears fell on his newborn body.
Venelana and Zeotikus watched the touching scene lovingly from the sidelines.
The Lord of Hell has finally found solace for all the horrifying deeds of her life....
«You were not born in the same horror in which I was born..... - Aldis kissed him lovingly on the forehead. - You weren't destined to fall into vice from birth... You were born into the very conditions I sought.... You are the true proof of my efforts....
Emeric embraced his sister in emotion until she rested her head on his shoulder. She looked at him affectionately, love evident in her gestures.
«That's why I don't know the answer to your question... - Aldis closed her eyes slightly. - On the one hand my life's work, which is not over yet, and on the other hand, you.... - His sister's finger traced across his cheek. - An affirmation of that very effort...
Emeric didn't know how to respond to all of Aldis's revelations, but one thing was certain. He loved his sister sincerely and with the greatest dedication.
«Thank you, for your sincere response," Emeric touched Aldis' cheek with his lips with a smile.
He was more than pleased with her sincerity. If she had said that she would have chosen him without hesitation, he would not have believed it. Aldis was too strong-willed a person to risk all her principles without thinking.
«By the way," Aldis asked him a little tiredly, after a conversation of this kind. - There is one very important question... Do you want to take credit for the Emperor for yourself? Or shall we come up with another version of his "heroic" self-sacrifice, hmm?
Now he's the one who's been asked the tough question. At first it seems that the question is painfully simple. But that's just the first, deceptive impression. It was much, much more complicated than that.
What's so hard about it? Take all the revered glory for defeating the Emperor and walk around satisfied! After all, it wasn't a lie, it was recognition for his fully deserved contribution over preventing a potential peace. Very important to the entire supernatural world! Can you imagine all the hype generated after this event? Emeric's reputation would skyrocket and he would finally be able to get rid of his first "childish" nickname!
Yes, no understatement here, this move will be incredibly beneficial to his reputation not only in Hell, but around the world. But what are the consequences?
Everyone will start to wonder why the Emperor betrayed Hell. It's likely that somehow information about the royal figure will come to light, and then.... Chaos will ensue.
There will be doubts and then potential friction with the Great King's faction. Completely deserved claims from their side, but absolutely unnecessary at this point. We keep in mind that on the doorstep of a very important world, which, bloody nose, need the support of the Great King. And here we get that for his deserved glory will have to pay for the conflict with the Great King.
Now let's take Aldis' suggestion. Make it look like the Emperor came to their showdown with Cockabiel and sacrificed his life to save a potential peace.
Of course it wasn't like that! Emeric hadn't forgotten that the Emperor had given everything to finish him off, but... Even after everything that had happened, he had no hatred for Dichauser. The one, in Emeric's opinion, was just a man in an incredibly desperate situation. Formerly great, but afterward eaten by hatred from the inside out.
What are the consequences of this choice?
The first is to prevent potential conflict between the ruling factions of Hell. At least until peace is made. You can drop a few hints here and there, and he'll be even more eager to lend his support. I hate to see Zekram get away with it again, but that's politics. A system of checks and balances that keeps not only Hell, but society as a whole afloat.
Secondly, the "sacrifice" of the Emperor, the most famous person in Hell, can be used to spin the whole peace story. Allegedly, look, the Emperor himself laid down his life for this cause, how can you be against it? Such a move will gain support from almost the entire population. All in all, a great gambit.
So there you have it, Emeric has two choices on his hands.
First. Got glory and honor in exchange for potential embarrassment and shitting all over his sister's work.
Second. Elevate someone who doesn't deserve it and contribute to the common cause. Peace between the three factions.
Does anyone see a choice here? Personally, Emeric doesn't. In his opinion, it was obvious here with Aldis' first question. His sister, honor and praise to her for such a thing, didn't push and gave him a choice. As it seemed to him, she would even fulfill any of them, taking the consequences for herself. But...
Emeric knows what the right thing to do here would be. Most young demons will choose the former and spit on the global picture, simply because it will feed their ego. That was the boy's choice.
But he'll choose the other. Despite their ignominy, they haven't lost any power, have they? Which meant that sooner or later, Hell would find out what kind of monster had joined their ranks. Right now, his sister needed a second choice. It was the choice of a real man. Someone who understood responsibility and sacrifice.
Emeric smiled at his sister's tension. She tried not to show it, but it was clear to him that she preferred the second option. Well, let's not disappoint her. He raised his mug of tea in a gesture of toast.
«To the Emperor! - And drank it in one gulp.
«Well done!
Aldis pounced on him with squeals and started kissing his face. Apparently she was really proud of his growth as a person.
«Ahem, ahem....
A cough made them freeze in place. The intonations were too familiar, so a conditioned reflex came in the form of a complete freeze. What if he didn't notice and walked away?
Naive!
«Ms. Lucifer, I would like to remind you... - Greyfia was as cold and professional as ever. Though Emeric thought he heard some uncharacteristic tones in her voice. - That the young lord has a regime, and you need to prepare for the peace talks that will begin in two weeks...
So they were going to happen soon after all. Relief and pride immediately filled Emeric's chest. All the blood that had been spilled had not been in vain!
- The Lord of Hell began to whine in an incredibly familiar way. - But my little star just woke up....
«I will stay with the young master until the peace talks to see to his well-being. We don't want a repeat of the "disguised" enemy scenario, do we? - Greyfeye's eyes flashed with an incomprehensible light. - And you should go back to Hell...
«N-but...
At that moment, his entourage rushed into the room. Akeno and Valerie, overjoyed, plus Ichika, crying with happiness, who immediately threw herself into his arms, ignoring the Lord of Hell lying on top of him.
«THE PRESIDENT IS FINALLY AWAKE! I-I-I was so worried! Uh-oh.
«King!
«Emeric-sama!
His daily life was getting back on track.
***
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