After Jeff and Jasper left Mia's room, Veronica—who had been quietly listening to the entire conversation—turned to Mia and Ruby. She asked them about the unspoken things that had happened to them and the kinds of hardships Lucifer had faced in his early life.
It was true that Veronica had willingly joined the Velmora family and agreed to become Lucifer's wife, but beyond that, she knew almost nothing about him. She only knew her husband's name was Lucifer.
In the world of Sinflare Augustiland, age was just a number. Relationships here were built purely on mutual love and need. People didn't care about things like:
- "I'm so much younger than her..."
- "She's the age of my mother..."
- "My god, he's over a hundred years old and I'm only twenty."
Age meant nothing. Future bonds were shaped by past ones.
For example, in Lucifer's case: Veronica was about ten years older than Mia, but since she had chosen to become Lucifer's wife, she now had to address Mia as "Mother-in-law" or "Mother."
The same applied to Westeria. She was roughly the same age as Mia, yet she still called Amelia "Miss" or "Sister."
The reality was that Veronica knew very little about Lucifer beyond his age (eighteen years and three months), his ruthless treatment of enemies, and his deep love for his family.
When Veronica asked Mia directly about him, Mia replied softly that those memories were heart-wrenching for her. She said Ruby could explain it far better than she ever could.
After saying that, Mia walked over to her bed. She needed to sleep—tomorrow she had to address the court, and according to Lucifer's announcement, the new batch of candidates for ministerial interviews would arrive.
Once Mia lay down to rest, Veronica learned everything about Lucifer from Ruby. She heard how he had lived as a child, how he had coped with constant neglect, how he spent most of his time alone in the library studying every subject he could find, how he became friends with Jason and eventually grew fiercely protective of him, treating him like a younger brother. The story went on for a full two hours and ended only when Lucifer had finally erased every last trace of the Ashers from the world.
Lucifer's life story, as told by Ruby, wasn't heard only by Veronica. Jasper's wives, his daughters, and even Daisy were all listening intently.
Veronica was stunned to learn just how far Lucifer would go for those he loved—and that he had invented the sunstone bulb, something no one in the entire world had ever created before.
While they were all talking among themselves, Ruby also learned that Jasper and Veronica had been childhood friends. He had once promised her he would never leave her side. But later, due to the kingdom's desire to expand its influence, Jasper had been forced to marry into the Softmoon and Harpy tribes. Over time, though, he genuinely came to love all three of his main wives as deeply as he loved his concubines.
Jamica and Dimancy had actually been the last to marry him, but political pressure forced him to appoint them as main wives. Thankfully, his other wives were understanding and never protested. Instead, they became his strongest moral support.
Veronica also told Ruby about Jasper's three daughters:
- Rosa was born to his concubine Rephelia and raised by Crotivia.
- Gima was born to Jamica and carried some distinct features of the Softmoon tribe.
- Nibara was born to Dimancy and showed clear traits of the Harpy tribe.
After introducing everyone to Ruby, Veronica returned to her own room. Jasper's wives also went to theirs. Ruby climbed into Mia's bed and slept beside her.
By then, the pairs who had been engaged in oral sex had already stopped and fallen asleep.
When Veronica reached her room, she gently touched her belly and murmured the name Lucifer had given their unborn child: "Lucevera... my daughter Lucevera..."
As she spoke to herself, her mind drifted back to the moment when Lucifer had made love to her in front of everyone.
Public lovemaking wasn't rare in this world—it was as common as eating or drinking. But what Veronica was truly reminiscing about wasn't the act itself. It was the overwhelming love, care, and passion she had seen in his eyes, felt in every movement he made, and heard when he named their daughter who had only just begun to form in her womb.
She kept thinking: When was the last time she had received this level of intensity, this depth of care, this fierce possessiveness? And on top of everything—the sheer bliss of being impregnated by him. It was pure ecstasy.
Suddenly, a new kind of love for Lucifer bloomed inside her. But this wasn't the love of a wife for her husband. It was the deep, protective maternal love a mother feels for her children.
After hearing about Lucifer's painful past, her heart was pounding so hard she could barely collect her thoughts. Her maternal instincts and her conjugal love for him were surging beyond any limit. Without realizing it, she was already stepping onto the path of becoming one of Lucifer's guardian wives.
*************************************************
The next morning, Lucifer woke up after long hours of deep sleep. He found Bellatrixa already back and sleeping right beside him, her arms wrapped tightly around his chest. But that wasn't the real surprise.
The surprise was that all of his shadow wives and daughters were there too—completely surrounding him, clinging to him, and sleeping soundly.
Bellatrixa's one hand rested on his chest, and just like her, the others were piled over him in a kind of human pyramid. It looked quite funny.
As soon as Lucifer stirred, they all woke up at the same moment. He spent a few tender minutes loving each one of them—kissing his daughters on their foreheads, gently caressing his wives' cheeks and hair, whispering sweet words to them. After that, they all said their goodbyes and returned to the shadow realm.
Lucifer got up from the bed, went to the bathroom to freshen up, changed into his usual clothes, and headed downstairs to the ducal courtroom.
Today was a special day for the duchy. There was no particular festival or celebration—it was simply the day Lucifer would personally select new ministers for the ducal court.
When he entered the courtroom, he saw that only Mia was seated on the ducal throne, overseeing everything. Allen stood close beside her throne, and Veronica was sitting in one of the ministerial seats.
Lucifer walked up to Mia's throne, sat down on the floor in front of her, leaned back slightly so his head rested against her knees, and spoke calmly.
"Allen, send the candidates in batches of ten. How many have shown up?"
Allen replied,
"Master, about 2,800 people applied for the positions, and everyone is present."
Lucifer nodded.
"Good. Have them come in batches of ten. I'll ask them questions, give them tasks based on their claimed expertise, and they must complete them within the given time."
Allen nodded and went to organize them.
A short while later, a group of ten women entered. They greeted Mia in unison, then turned and greeted Lucifer respectfully.
Lucifer asked them,
"In which areas of work are you all specialized? Obviously, sex is not included."
One by one, the women answered:
"Master, I'm specialized in literature."
"Master, I'm specialized in knitting."
"Master, I'm specialized in the geography of this land."
"Master, I'm known for creating different kinds of gourmet dishes."
"Master, I'm specialized in hand-to-hand combat."
"Master, I'm specialized in forging."
And so on.
Lucifer then turned to a girl named Kyla.
"You said your specialty is literature. So if I give you some notes, can you recite them in your melodic voice?"
Kyla replied,
"Master, I will try."
Lucifer closed his eyes, resting comfortably against Mia's knees as her fingers gently caressed his hair. In a calm, steady voice, he began reciting a poem:
"Seed stirs in silent soil,
Moon warms the waiting womb.
Unseen hands turn loss to life.
Fields bow without command,
Cries rise where none should be.
Spring remembers us.
We speak no sacred name,
Yet every birth answers.
Her mercy walks the world."
As soon as he finished, the entire room gasped.
Even Veronica, the former queen of the kingdom, didn't fully understand its depth—but everyone could feel its majesty. They were all shocked by the level of literary mastery Lucifer possessed.
Kyla tried reciting it several times but eventually failed. Lucifer spoke gently.
"There is no need to be disappointed. Allen—take note of this poem and give it to every candidate who claims proficiency in literature. Whoever can recite it in one perfect flow and correctly explain the hidden message it conveys... I will appoint him or her as Minister of Literature."
Then he smiled at Kyla.
"You all have until the thirteenth bell sounds—about six hours. That's more than enough time to comprehend these lines. Don't get discouraged. Strive for more. You may go now."
Kyla turned and left the room. Allen wrote the poem on several large boards with the help of Viper guards so everyone could easily read it. He then gathered all the literature candidates, explained Lucifer's condition, and left them to work.
Next, Lucifer addressed another girl named Haline.
"You said you're skilled in knitting—and I know knitting is no simple task. Show me something that demonstrates your skill so strongly that I feel compelled to select you."
The moment the words left his mouth, Haline sat on the floor, pulled out several bundles of colorful wool, and began knitting. Within an hour, she had finished a beautiful auburn scarf that would look perfect on Lucifer.
To her surprise, he said,
"It's really a good scarf. If you don't mind, I'd like to keep it for myself... but I'm sorry to say, making a scarf isn't anything unique.
You claimed to be skilled in knitting—so create something from your own imagination. Something truly unique."
Haline hesitated and said,
"Master, just like with Kyla, could you give me a specific task to perform? I don't think I can ever come up with something truly unique on my own. Please give me a demonstration so I can understand what you expect."
In her mind, she thought: He's a man—what could he possibly know about knitting, something mostly done by women?
Lucifer, still resting against Mia's knees, lifted his head just enough to glance at her.
"You—give me your knitting equipment. I'll demonstrate it once."
Then he turned to Allen.
"Allen, record this with the magic crystal ball and show it to every candidate who claims skill in knitting. Tell them this is the basic standard I expect from them."
With that, Lucifer took the knitting needles, hooks, yarn, wool, and scissors from Haline's hands and began.
He took the yarn himself.
He attached hooks to the yarn and wool.
The hook rested easily in his fingers, as though it belonged there.
Thread moved.
Loop after loop, calm and unhurried.
A small figure formed in his hands.
Black hair, stitched smooth and straight.
Fair wool skin, untouched by shade.
Eyes of pale sky-blue thread, clear and still.
A tiny yellow kirtle, falling cleanly over the form.
When he finished, he placed the doll on the table.
It was Haline.
Not exaggerated. Not softened.
Exact.
He finally looked up at her and said,
"This is the basic standard I need. See? It didn't even take me half the time you spent on that scarf.
Take this replica doll of yourself if you want it. Consider it a gift from me."
Saying that, Lucifer laid his head back on Mia's lap.
Then he instructed,
"Allen, do as I said. Tell them the maximum time limit to create it is two hours."
Haline left the room.
Lucifer then turned to another girl named Wiverla.
"You said you're skilled in geography. That's a bit more complex... What should I give you... Hmm... Yes.
Wiverla—your assignment is simple. Not just yours, but for everyone who claims to be good at geography.
Your task is to create a map of Westrifer and its neighboring counties, duchies, and kingdoms. Also mark which areas are rich in ores, metals, sunstones, and the metal called keratinium.
On the same map, show the rivers that flow through this duchy.
That's all."
He said it so casually—"just this much"—but it was an enormous task.
Then Lucifer glanced at Veronica and asked her to relay the message to all the geography candidates.
Veronica didn't take it as an insult that Lucifer was assigning such a "trivial" task to the kingdom's former queen. She simply nodded and complied.