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 Reynald remained silent as he thought about his sister\'s words. He had indeed been expecting the Darknar family to send over a representative given as their representative hadn\'t completely shut down the possibility of vassalage even though it had morphed into mere trade possibilities. 

 However, part of him had begun to secretly doubt that idea as he couldn\'t see the benefit of them going through such trouble just because of a wounded family like theirs, given the situation that had taken place during Paragon City\'s opening ceremony. 

 If they had successfully opened talks for an alliance, that would be a different story but there wasn\'t much their family could offer the Darknar family in their current state unless they were submitting to them, something the elders would never agree to. 

 Still, the fact that his genius sister felt that it was about time for the other side to send an envoy, meant that she had found a reason why they would without fail.

 He felt his heart thump in his chest as that idea reassured his sinking spirit. Truly, the council of the wise was all he had needed all along. It was one thing to make solid plans, but it was something else entirely to have your plans supported or enforced by someone much smarter than you. 

Reynald made a mental note of this and shook his head.

"No, that\'s not why I\'m here."

"So you mean, you came all this way to see me for some other reason? Does my elder brother simply misses his little sister... I\'m blushing."

 Athena had a charming smile on her face as always but there was a certain trace of mischievous intent laced behind her perfect smile as she addressed her elder brother.

 Originally, Reynald would\'ve thought nothing of this a few months ago when he still believed his sister was just an ordinary Tier 3 little princess that was bound to be used as a political tool just like all the others.

 However, his views of his younger sister have seen a drastic change over the past two months as he got to witness the other side of her that she had kept hidden from everyone since the day she was born.

 He still remembered the expression she had when she had skillfully manipulated their elder brother, the crown prince into leading the battle that occurred in the border city. 

 Normally, there was no reason why a crown prince would ever lead the charge for a mere border city but their elder brother had eagerly volunteered to prove himself in that battle even though there should\'ve been no reason for him to do so. Reynald found that strange at the time but dismissed his worries as mere paranoia.

 Only for the other two neighboring regions to flank the city from all sides. Reynald couldn\'t shake the feeling that Athena might\'ve already predicted that outcome before anyone else. Manipulating their elder brother straight to his doom. 

"Ahh. I suppose you can say that. I was wondering where you\'ve gone but the main reason for this is concerning the issue of tribute."

"Tribute you say... I take it you\'re talking about the Darknar family, aren\'t you."

 "I\'m sure you\'ve already read my mind so there\'s no need to beat around the bush."

"You flatter me too much Elder brother. However, I think that once the Darknar family\'s emissary arrives, it would be better for you to offer twice as much as what you\'ve no doubt already prepared. Half of that is a token of thanks for making them come all this way, while the other half ― I trust that goes without saying?"

 Reynald once again remained silent as he pondered on his sister\'s words for a moment. As expected of her, she has instantly come up with the perfect solution to the problem that had plagued him so intensely. 

 When it came to a battle of wits and intellect, he had to admit, his sister has far surpassed him in every single aspect and even if he had the support of the nobles. He had a sneaky suspicion that if she so wished to ascend to the throne, there was nothing he could do to stop her despite his personal strength far outclassing hers. 

 Which was why, he has no choice but to keep a close eye on Athena, doing everything he could to appease her. 

 As pertaining to the issue with the tribute, Reynald didn\'t think any of the nobles would object to presenting a gift to a guest who had come to their home in such a trying time, even if there were ulterior motives for doing so.

 Putting that matter aside for now, Reynald mind wandered back to how he could placate his younger sister into stepping aside for him to become the next Demon lord. Despite her intellect and support, her level was just too weak for the position. 

 Even though Reynald wasn\'t a stickler for traditions, there were some things that shouldn\'t change and that was requiring the Demon Lord to be one of the, if not the strongest Demon around with noble bloodline. 

 After all, Demons were creatures of desires and tend to be prideful, being led by a Demon Lord weaker than their subordinates would only bring calamity upon their family as it would be a sign of weakness and the other families would take it as a challenge. 

 If he remembers correctly, his sister had skillfully declined any marriage arrangements made on her behalf to strengthen the family. She would easily pick apart the logic behind the proposal and make the disadvantages of that offer evident for all to see.

 This shows that she did not wish to be used as a political tool and found no interest in getting married. He wasn\'t even sure if she was even interested in having a romantic partner.

 Perhaps her desires were something that could not be achieved if tied down to a single man. Was she wanting to take multiple partners or do her desires lay elsewhere entirely?

 To win the people\'s hearts, Athena played the part of a perfect demoness with grace, lewdness, and a certain level of purity. Yet, Reynald knew there was more to her than that.

 Turning his head slightly, Reynald glanced at Athena\'s retainer. The young warrior boy that had been attached to his sister\'s hips for months now. 

 He recalled the various boys she had made him send to the forefront of various battlefields and for the first time ever, he began to notice some similarities. 

 \'Is that the sort of thing she\'s into?\' 

 Reynald wondered as he took another sip from his now lukewarm tea while contemplating the issue, soon, he decided to forgo the formalities and just ask, trying to predict what was in his sister\'s head was almost impossible. 

 Her facade was flawless and even his demonic eyes couldn\'t see that deep into the layers of illusions and lies she has surrounded herself with. 

 "So Athena, tell me, what is it you desire?"

 Reynald\'s voice was lower than earlier as he didn\'t want the walls to hear him speak. And understanding his intentions easily, Athena replied in the same fashion.

 "My desires. I don\'t really have alluring desires Elder brother. But if you\'re asking me what I plan to do, is simple. I plan to be independent."

 "Independent? Like a commoner, or Hunter of sorts."

 " Surely you jest Elder brother. Just because I\'m friends with Hunters doesn\'t mean I have the strength or will to join them. No, what I want is simple, Freedom."

 "Freedom? I see... so you want to be freed from your duties as a princess without losing your noble lineage."

 " Something of sorts." 

 Reynald was originally at a loss for words but soon nodded his head in understanding. 

"Indeed, becoming the next Demon Lord comes with a lot of responsibility so that wouldn\'t work for you, will it."

 " Again you flatter me Elder brother. My ambitions are not so grand that I would aim for the throne. Even I\'m aware of the Chaos that would cause."

 " Very well then, when I become the next Demon Lord I will grant you a territory at the end of the region. You\'ll be free to do with it as you wish. Rule it, sell it, that will be up to you. I can also grant you special privileges so you will be free to take on any partner you want."

 Reynald glanced at Bam as he said that but soon shifted his gaze back to Athena, he didn\'t really care what kind of sick games she was playing with such a clueless lad as long as her obsessions benefited him. 

 "You\'re truly generous elder brother. You have my deepest gratitude."

"You may take any of the castle\'s staff as your retainers. In that respect, you may do as you wish."

"Thank you very much."

The fact that she replied without a delay was evidence that Athena already knew what Reynald was going to say. 

 Glancing back at her boy toy, Bam. Reynald\'s mind came to a very odd conclusion. Having multiple partners was not unusual for Princesses if they had impressive magic potential. However, what was still unacceptable even then was to bear the child of ordinary demons much less lesser demons.

 In order to maintain the purity of the family\'s bloodline, it was important for all demoness of a ruling class noble families, to only carry the children of other pureblooded noblemen. Or at the very least, other nobles.

 As such, Athena would not be allowed to carry the child of servants or commoners unless she was freed from that restraint.

 \'Is that truly the reason for this?\'

 Reynald was fully aware of his sister\'s obsessions with fragile-looking orphan boys as he had been made to play a part in that obsession, or perhaps he should call it a fetish. 

 He hadn\'t seen his sister interact with any males for more than a few minutes until they had recruited Bam into her service which also led to the hiring of Blane so Reynald could only think she was also interested in Bam in more ways than one. 

 Then again, the appearance of Blane made it a bit difficult to a certain her true intent as his appearance defer greatly to that of Bam. Perhaps she had only hired him to prevent her boy toy from being truly harmed in battle.

 After going through so much trouble to get him, it was safe to say she wouldn\'t want anything drastic to suddenly take him away from her.

 However, Reynald could not be sure of that at all. Was her reasoning really that simple, was she just moving according to her desires or was there something else he could not see?

 The lingering thoughts plagued him as Reynald felt puzzled by the enigma that was his younger sister.