The heavily-muscled attendant doesn’t even hesitate in opening the gate at the end of the reception hall.

And in walks an idiot.

Well, I’ll call them that. Mostly because their attire seems entirely designed for nothing but holding animal trophies and weapons…

I idly glance at Artemis and her attire basically made entirely of animal trophies…

Nah, completely different. Hers is tasteful.

As soon as I finish the thought, I feel a tinge of relief from her.

…

I wonder if she can feel my emotions as well.

Ah, and there’s embarrassment…

And confirmation. I see.

From the corner of my eye, I notice she’s blushing lightly and straining to conceal it.

Well, on with it then I guess.

“Greetings, challenger. While I realize you are likely here to challenge Artemis herself, I’m afraid this particular trial will be overseen by me in her place. For those not aware – which is likely all of you, considering I’m not typically in public – I am the former Astraea, and the Queen of Hunger. I am Nemesis, wife of Artemis, and the destruction of the immortal soul personified. I am the champion you will face.”

Murmurs from the humans gathered around the reception hall rise to a din as I finish my speech.

And then with a prim hop from the stage holding our thrones into a smooth landing and a refined curtsey, I take my place to one corner of the bloodstained arena serving as the main floor of the audience hall.

“Oh, one question though. Dear? Should I kill them, or simply maim them?”

My fox wife holds one hand out to offer her edict. “Maim.”

I nod.

“Well then,” I say as I turn to the heavily muscled human. “Shall we? It wouldn’t do to keep her waiting, would it? This sport is for her, after all.”

I’ve barely finished my statement before my foe is hurtling toward me at clearly inhuman speeds.

…But I simply step to one side, tripping them with a feeler and allowing their airborne form to crash full-speed into the wall, which partially buckles.

I tut. “No good, no good at all. We can’t leave the facility damaged now, can we?”

I lash out with a dozen feelers, grabbing the human by the limbs and yanking their body into the air. And then I cast a spell.

“{restore}.” It’s a simple one, causing almost no strain, but still plenty to straighten the wooden barriers down to the wood grain. I nod in satisfaction before I gently set the delirious human back down in their starting position.

“Ah, my apologies. That was hardly sporting, was it? I couldn’t resist, it’s how I typically deal with fast moving foes. Here. {recovery}. {boost physical}. {boost defense}. This time I’ll stand still and defend, as befits one testing a warrior’s Skills.”

I must be doing something right because Artemis’ bond is pulsing approval and satisfaction. Good.

Shaking their head to clear what I’m sure is their blurry vision, the human challenger only stumbles slightly before catching their bearings. “What? What did you do?”

“I tripped you,” I say nonchalantly. “And then I restored the wall you damaged, as well as cast recovery magic on you. Also, a physical and defensive buff – apologies, but if I want to put on a good show for my wife, I’ll need you to meet a higher standard. It’s nothing against your Skills, honest. If nothing else, you’re unexpectedly fast, so my compliments on that.”

They…

They blushed at that.

What?

I glance up at my wife, and she glances back.

And then she quietly says, “Challenge… Wife.”

Oh.

So that’s what this is all about.

“So, dear,” I say loudly. “Has anyone ever actually won your wager?”

“One,” she echoes in a booming voice.

I grin. “And who was it that won? Tell me.”

She savagely grins back.

“You.”

My bell-like laugh reverberates throughout the arena as the audience’s murmurs grow louder.

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“Well then, I can hardly disappoint, yes? And you,” I daintily point at the challenger, “show me what you’ve got. I’ll even go easy on you.”

***

I didn’t need to go easy on them. Sure, the challenger was strong for a mortal, I guess, and after the boost spells I’d offered them they were stronger yet.

But not even into daemon territory. Any of my retainers could have taken them apart in a heartbeat. Fighting them myself was beyond overkill.

I’ve accomplished what I meant to, though. With a single hop I return to the elevated royal stage, offering a formal bow to my wife before returning to my seat.

“How was that?” I quietly ask her.

And she offers a chuff in reply. A chuff, with an undercurrent of a growl.

“Good.”

I’m just going to ignore those emotions she’s radiating though.

“Well, go ahead. Send in the next.”

***

“Ahh, that was satisfying,” I sigh, stretching my back as we walk toward the dining room.

…Looks like the others are already here… the ones who want to eat, at least.

Artemis and I have barely taken our places when the maids are already rushing in the usual wooden platters, which they uncover to reveal…

Slabs of red meat.

Very, very lightly charred, as well as lightly seasoned.

My fox wife blinks at her meal and then looks up at me. I prop my head on my hand and grin back.

It was worth talking to the kitchen staff before my bath earlier. Entirely worth it.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Izahne glance between the two of us as she radiates more of that childish jealousy.

For someone so much older than I am, she’s surprisingly immature sometimes.

(Or maybe you’re just a pompous asshole, did you think of that?) Nyx retorts.

I did, and you’re probably right, but you know what?

(You don’t care, right?)

Absolutely.

I stab my fork into the bloody slab before me, tearing a large chunk from it with my daggerlike teeth before pulling it down the empty abyss that is my throat with my tongue.

Yeah, so I apparently have a prehensile tongue. I only figured that out recently. It’s probably an Astraea thing though – I’m fairly certain that until I woke up here the first time, the only thing in my mouth past my teeth was a gaping black abyss to nowhere.

It makes me wonder if Astraea herself was some kind of monster, at least originally.

Artemis idly nods her head across the table as she similarly demolishes her meal. I don’t even need to read our bond to tell she’s enjoying this an order of magnitude more than the truffle dishes she’s been insisting on for my sake.

I won’t let her sacrifice her interests for mine. That’s boring, and unnecessary.

The others at the table… well. They seem less sure of our fare, but it at least hasn’t stopped them from trying.

Omorth for one simply stabbed himself into the center of it, rapidly draining its fluids until only a thin shell remained. When he withdrew himself, it crumbled to dust.

…Now that I look at him, his blade has a scar down the middle where it was restored.

…

He’s technically an object, right? A possessed object?

(What are you getting at?) my former Assistant asks.

I have an idea.

I’ve already finished my meal anyway, not that I need to eat, though something about the blood was particularly satisfying, as if it was meeting some other deep need I didn’t know I had.

…Is it just me, or did the others just shiver? Well, whatever.

I glance over at Omorth and set the focus of my will – I’ve learned that greatly simplifies anything I do with Spellspeech. It’s even more effective if I can touch the focus.

“{permanence}.”

The possessed sword’s false body blinks confusedly for a moment, and then its glowing eyes swivel to face me.

“I thought I’d try something.”

He rumbles in his seat. “What did you try?”

I smile back gracefully. “You’re an object. Permanence works on objects, asserting that their forms will never be altered under the Record. I cast Permanence on you.”

Ah. Now everyone at the table is giving me a dumbfounded look. I assume Nyx wouldn’t be, but she’s not here.

She’s on Gramr.

“Yes, yes. I can do that. Eat more if you want, I think I’ve had my fill for now. Take your time though,” I say idly while gesturing to one of the maids for another glass of wine.

Or whatever this is, anyway. I think it’s made with honey and some kind of herbs. I don’t feel a thing from it, no surprise there, but it does taste good.

Less than half an hour later and the others have finished their meals as well, so I stand and head toward the balcony.

Well, one of them. I’ve mostly staked out this one as my usual spot for after meals or… well. Whenever I feel like it, really.

I suppose at this point, outside of some work on the Shadowed Plane or terrifying the mortals at Artemis’ audience arena, I’m mostly a house ornament for now.

Almost like a trophy wife I guess.

I scoff lightly as I look up at the night sky and form an ashen chair, this one with a reclined back so I can lounge while I watch the stars.

And then I feel a presence behind me.

I glance over my shoulder to see my fox wife leaning on the door frame.

“Hm?”

She saunters in, sitting on the ground next to me. Without a word, I gently scoop her up with a handful of feelers, rapidly forming another ashen lounge chair next to mine and setting her on it. “If you’re going to join me, at least let me do this much.”

Artemis doesn’t resist, and instead lets out a small sigh.

…

We sit in silence for what must have been at least an hour before she speaks.

“Astraea.”

I glance at her sideways.

“Race? Race. Monster.”

Oh right, I did ask about that. Idly, but still.

“Do you remember what race she was, specifically?” I ask.

My companion takes out her writing tablet and starts scribbling. After a moment, she shows it to me.

“Viper of Lamashtu,” it reads. “Also called Starry Devil.”

“Fascinating,” I mutter. “Sounds strong. What did she evolve from?”

Artemis takes back the tablet, wipes it clean with her sleeve, and starts scribbling again.

“Gorgon (Least) when met.”

Huh.

(Uhhh.)

What?

(Check your Status, or your messages. You never check those anymore,) Nyx warns.

Right.

But I know how to just call up the changes now – for the most part. I wish I’d known it sooner. Some things I just can’t turn off though.

[Status]

[Name: Nemesis]

[Race: True Wraith – Queen of Hunger – Usurper of Night (She of Shattered Facets – Stolen Radiance of the Moon)]

[Mantle of (Domain: Envy, Hunger, Night)]

[Domain: Control (Class)]

[Domain: Malevolence (Legacy)]

[SYSTEM: TYPE E – Level ??? – XP error/?0]

[Inherent Skills:]

…

[Bewilder 0]

…

[Class: Adherent of Ananke (Initiate) – Level 4 – XP 2750/5000]

…

[General Skills:]

…

[Traits:]

…

[Blood Thirst]

…

[Legacy of Lamashtu]

…

[Titles:]

…

[True Demon Lord]

…

Oh.

I glance at my fox wife and say, “Hey, guess what? I actually am a demon lord, apparently. Dipshit was right, who knew?”

She blinks sleepily at me and says, “Was? Was. Astraea.”

…

I… guess Astraea was a demon lord.

Huh.