Kei slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He did not recognized the furnitures and decorum. Considering that he was alive and in a nice place, he guessed that Deco Parade won in the end.

Kei was about to get up but couldn't. He looked both of his sides and there were Polin and Bridget hanging on both of his arms. Polin laid her head on his left arm, while Bridget took his right. While watching their sleeping faces were pleasant, he needed to know what happened.

Kei slipped his arms out from under their heads and quickly went outside of the bedroom. The more he walked around the castle, the more he saw his summoned creatures. Then he caught a glimpse of a certain undead woman.

Kei slowly crept behind her and tapped on her shoulder.

"Kya!" She yelped. The body turned around and unsheathe a sword. "Oh. It's you. Finally wake up? Everybody is on their toes."

"Hello to you too Jacklin. Been awhile," Kei said and smiled.

 ***

Jacklin told Kei was carried and brought to the castle of Yogol. Both strolled towards the throne chamber. He called all of his high ranking authorities within Deco Parade to the throne room.

Kei walked up on a short staircase leading to a grey, stony throne. There was a red cushion on the throne which Kei sat comfortably upon. Jacklin was standing by his side as they waited.

Soon, Johanna, Kipa, Talwar, Bow, and a few others came inside the throne room and got on their knee and greeted Kei.

Without hestitation, Kei asked, "What happened while I was out and how long?"

Johanna was the first who spoke, "Half a year my Lordship. After the battle, we came searching for you. You were unconscious. We had the valkyries carried you to Yogol and we witches taking care of you."

Talwar added, "We all made a collective decision to retreat to Yogol. For your safety, your wives' safety, and the safety of the citizens.

I had doubts that anyone knows that the demon race had revived and taken back their former capital. But there were no conflicts for the past months. Not even a contact with outsiders."

"So the world became quiet?" Kei said. Either they thought I was dead or waiting for something to happen. Or... afraid of me to come out.

Kei mauled over a bit and then asked: "Any word from Elen?"

Johanna replied: "No. I assume she is laying back."

"Did Kirin go back to her country?"

"Yes. She came home four months ago."

Kei then stretched his back and yawned. "Okay. Everyone! Let's go have a vacation. I wonder what's the food like in Eluvia."

Once Kei left the room, he was tackled by a petite person. "DARLING!"

Polin grabbed hold onto Kei, crying and snot coming out of her nose. "Yes, I'm here. See, I'm good," Kei said while petting her head.

Bridget and Vetros were also waiting out of the throne room.

"Yes, you're awfully looking well," said Bridget.

Then Vetros patted Kei's head. "No worry."

While Polin was letting her tears and snot onto Kei's clothes, he asked the others: "I was thinking we should go on a vacation."

----------------------------------------

Since Bishop Kelen left, Elen was stressed week after week. But nothing happened. No one acquired where the bishop went, no news of a town or city being destroyed, and scouts and search parties came back empty handed.

The world became silent. The victims of Deco Parade, no one knows what happened to them. Everyone assumed they died of natural causes since their homes were destroyed.

Weeks past and after two months, Kirin finally agreed to be escorted back home.

After that, Elen became more relaxed. She was restraining herself for no reason.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The weather had gotten colder but it didn't detered the world's residents enjoying the outdoors.

Elen was enjoying her alone time in a gazebo enjoying tea and sweets. She hadn't reconciled with her uncle just yet and neither she had taken her rightful rule.

Johl came running towards Elen and shouted in a panic: "Enemy! Enemy! De--de--de Deco Pa--Parade!"

Elen dropped her cup and it smashed on the ground.

"They're at the gate!" Johl yelled.

Everyone ran towards the edge of the outdoor patio and saw an army outside of their gates and many fliers in the sky.

***

Kei was standing in front of the gates 'chatting' with someone on top of the wall.

"Leave vile demon! If you do not leave, we will fire with everything we got!" A man named Remis, Elen's uncle, shouted. Elves were prepared to shoot their arrows and magic users lit up their staves.

"Hey! I came to see a friend! Let us in! We're on vacation! Right guys!" Kei yelled back. The people, monsters, and fliers that came with Kei, cheered and shouted, "Vacation! Vacation! Vacation!" Even the citizens heard the uproar.

Remis retorted: "Then why did you attack our fort!"

It was a long way to enter from the south of Eluvia, so they crossed the lake that was between Yogol and Eluvia. Better than going through a thick forest. They reached a fort and met some armed ships, not allowing them to go any further. They fought each other, and Kei was the victor.

"We had a disagreement." Kei was getting annoyed. Before he commanded his group to attack, Kei saw a familiar face.

"Elen! What's up!" Kei waved a hand at her.

From up high, Elen saw Kei and his army. Also, she saw Vetros beside him and Jacklin on the driver seat of a carriage.

Polin popped her head out of the window of the carraige and yelled: "Big sister Elen! Hi!!!"

Elen twitched her eyebrow before calming down. She looked at Kei and said: "What's brings you here? It must be more than a vacation!"

Before she got a reply, Remis yelled out: "Leave now! You and your cohorts are not welcome!"

Johl was standing behind both Remis and Elen, and was slightly shaking. He wanted to speak out against Remis's stern stance but framed from it.

The back and forth between both parties were not going anywhere.

"Elen! "Kei yelled, making watchful eyes pointed towards Elen. "I assume you are not the queen, right? Or that you done anything for me?" Kei heavily sighed with Elen's silence.

Kei told his men to clear a path for his prisioners.

The elves gasped. The prisoners were the soldiers of the fort at the lake. Their armours were stripped from them and they were wearing rags and slave collars. There were over a hundred of them. The fort had at least 500 stationed soldiers. It was too much of a loss for the elves.

"Since I don't want to destroy your beautiful city, at least let's have a trade. For these elf slaves for demon slaves. Then we will leave," Kei demanded.

"We're not gonna stay here!" Polin was protesting from the carriage.

Elen's face paled and grimaced.

...

There was an akward silence. Since the other side was silenced, Kei thought the worst had come.

Kei shook his head and eyed at Elen. "I know our little trade had fallen. But, did you think for one second that I wouldn't come for the demons?"

Kei snapped his fingers and all the slaves were forced on their knees by undead and lizardmen warriors. The warriors placed their sword on the slaves' throat.

Elen answered with all her might: "No! I couldn't do anything! The Holy Knights killed them without question! You know I would do anything in my power to save them! It was too late! There must be something else you want!?"

Remis pulled back Elen from the ledge. "You can't bargain with that monster! Men! Ready to fire!"

"Stop!" Johl intervened before a fight could start. Johl stared at the elven slaves and then at Kei, and asked: "What do you want?"

Kei sticked out two fingers: "Two choices:

One: Become a vessal state!

Or

Two: Find and gather demon slaves from other countries!"

Elen thought the second option wasn't bad. Eluvia had the resources to gather as much demon slaves as it can. The only surviving countries that still allowed slavery were the dwarven country, Vita Empire, and Islands of Kitar. If they knew Deco Parade was alive and well, they will either form another alliance or give up their demon slaves to avoid destruction.

It was best to form a mutual relationship with Kei, even though she disliked Kei. The fate of her home was hanging by a thread.

Remis was about to decline and close any negotiations, until Elen shouted, "I choose number two!"

Johl and Remis was taken back. Remis grabbed on to Elen's shoulder. "Elen!? We can't negotiate we them. This will displease the Life Church."

Elen only shook her head. "Uncle, there is no force on this mortal world that can defeat this demon. Submission is more palatable than demise. We must lower our heads. You did it, so will I."

"..." Remis loosen his grip.

The eleven citizens of Eluvia were riled up to Elen's decision.

"We will never accept a deal with a demon!" Someone from the crowd yelled. Since there was commotion at the gate, nearby elves were gathering near the gate and listening to every word. They were livid for mud to be slung at their pride, enslaving their fellow elves and a royalty accepting the demands of a demon.

Many started spewing curses and profanities at Kei and Deco Parade.

Remis, Johl, and Elen reached the otherside of the wall to look over the outcry of the elven citizens.

"Was the people always this rowdy?" Elen asked because since her return, she barely left the castle to make rounds to meet her people.

Johl scartched his chin and respectfully responded, "It's most likely built up frustration. The pains of harrassment and heartache from the human 'visitors' left a bitter scar." Remis greatly frowned, which Johl did a few side steps further away from him.

"Silence!" Elen screamed the top of her lungs and the crowd slowly quiet down.

Elen took a deep breathe and addressed to the people. "I know that my decision is not what you wanted but for the good for mutual relationship, we must accept. You know by now who they are correct?"

Mumurs were exhanged.

"I know a lot of news have not flow through these parts often, especially for the past several months. Many nations of this world had fallen. The only ones remaining are the Vita Empire, Islands of Kitar, and our sister Jules Domain," Elen heavily said.

"That can't be right."

"There must be a mistake!"

"Are sure saying Deco Parade destroy them!?"

The people were in distress and disbelief. Some were looking at their current king, Remis, and they saw his closed eyes and solemn face.

Afterwards, the gates were opened to the citizens dismay.