CHAPTER 22

My heart was well on its way out of my ribcage. My hands were clammy with sweat. She is just a few centimetres away now. I closed my eyes for the inevitable.

And I was enveloped in a warm hug?

I opened my eyes in disbelief, and yes, they indicated that the Queen of Annihilation—Lucifer's wife—was hugging me.

It went on for a few seconds, and I made no sound that might poke the bear, bearess?

She still looked impassive, but the edges of her lips were tilted upwards in what could generously be interpreted as a smile.

"I'm glad."

"Err… For what, your majesty?" Stupid fucking mouth can't wait for the brain to think first.

"That I found you, and none of that with me. Call me Grayfia." She did sound happy. Were the MREs laced with something? My incredulous face must have conveyed my sheer confusion, and she elucidated.

"Your mother, who I guess never told you about me, was my teacher and saviour. You look just like her." It just dawned on me. She must have been looking for her.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Oh, I knew she was impressive, but way to go, Mom."

"And act like her, too."

"I'm sorry."

"No need to apologise; I am the one who should be sorry. I did take you without your consent, after all." The queen of the Underworld was apologising. To me.

"Anyway, how… how did you find me?"

"I was looking for your mother and set up a detection ward for House Ipos artefacts. Everyone thought she was dead after the War. But I was sure she survived and was out there, somewhere." Her eyes looked to a faraway place that sounded like she missed.

"My mom was in the War?"

"Did she not tell you that part either?"

"To me, she was just an average ordinary Devil housewife. Albeit very talented in the arcane arts." At that, she showed her first expression in our encounter—genuine shock.

"Selene Ipos, a housewife?......Hahahahahah." She went up like a Christmas tree, laughing in a very unrefined, unladylike manner, complete with snorts. It took her a few minutes to calm down, and she was wiping her tears away.

"I'm sorry, just the image of her in a frilly dress, serving dinner, a housewife, heh."

"I gather she was not up to cooking-related activities in the past?"

"She was one of the top generals of our army. Slew Seraphs. Hell, fought their father and walked away from it. She was no housewife, no."

"Unholy shit."

"Unholy shit indeed."

We stood there for a few moments of comfortable silence. I am digesting and trying to comprehend what Grayfia said. And her thinking about Satan knows what.

"So…. What now?"

"Now I take you home."

"Pardon?"

"You heard me. We are going to meet my wife. She will want to see Selene's child."