Chapter 290: Queen Meets Queen, Tit for Tat
The woman gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod as her gaze swept across Ren's Restaurant. In her extensive travels, she had seen countless establishments far more opulent, yet this one possessed a unique charm. It was entirely free of the cloying smell of cooking oil that clung to most eateries; instead, a faint, clean fragrance of fresh flowers permeated the air.
The interior was immaculate, the polished wood gleaming under soft, warm lighting that cast a welcoming glow over everything. From the eaves, a set of wind chimes tinkled a delicate melody, a sound that seemed to carry the voice of the evening breeze itself, becoming the quiet song of the restaurant.
"Hmm... Not bad..." she murmured to herself.
Lucifer, observing her from a nearby table, smiled with a hint of amusement. "You seem to have a particular fondness for flowers and plants."
The woman turned her head, her gaze meeting Lucifer's. She neither confirmed nor denied the statement, simply holding the other's eyes with a calm, assessing look. In that instant, Lucifer felt a flicker of recognition—a kindred spirit, the unmistakable presence of a fellow monarch. It was a feeling she hadn't indulged since arriving in the human world, and on impulse, for the first time, she allowed her own royal aura to unfurl.
The shift was instantaneous. Kasugano Sora, seated between them, felt as if the air had turned to lead. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. The full, unrestrained presence of the Queen of Hell was terrifying enough on its own, but now, it was being met by an equally immense pressure radiating from the woman opposite her. Sora was trapped directly in the crossfire, pinned to her seat by the sheer weight of their combined wills.
Cerberus froze mid-scratch. The whole person... no... the whole hellhound was stunned. 'So Lucifer really has a queenly side?'the three heads thought in unison.'How is that possible? Back in Hell, she's just a stressed-out CEO, a complete corporate drone!'
As the old saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers—unless one is male and the other female. But when a queen meets a queen, the dynamic is even more volatile, a direct clash of equals. There was no question of gender roles here; their shared status as sovereigns was written plainly in the air between them.
A flicker of interest entered the woman's eyes as she studied Lucifer. "You are not human," she stated, her voice even. "And you are very strong."
"Just so-so," Lucifer replied, her tone deceptively light. "Defeating a few simple-minded beings is still quite easy, you know~"
Hearing this, a faint smile touched the woman's lips. "An interesting turn of phrase. I sense a familiar temperament in you. What is your name?"
"Lucifer~"
"Lucifer?"
The name gave the woman pause. It was a name that echoed through the myths of many worlds, this one included. Most would assume it was merely a namesake, a coincidence.
But this woman was not most people. She would never believe the figure before her was a mere namesake. Not with that formidable power and the effortlessly contemptuous air of a true ruler. If someone were to hand this Lucifer a glass of red wine and place a crown upon her head, her presence alone could likely frighten lesser beings into silence.
The woman's lips curved into a knowing smile. "The Morning Star. The Archangel who fell for nine days and nine nights, leading a third of the heavenly host into damnation to become the Lord of Hell. A being possessing power nearly equal to God's... Am I correct... Lucifer, Lord of Hell?"
Lucifer's grin widened, the amusement in her eyes sharpening. "It seems your world is quite familiar with my legend, and a rather accurate version at that. In that case, I believe it's only polite to reciprocate. You have yet to introduce yourself."
The woman was silent for a moment. Then, she turned her head back toward the potted flowers by the window. As her gaze shifted, the crushing tension that had filled the room vanished as if it had never been. Kasugano Sora let out a long, shuddering breath, her heart still hammering against her ribs. She had been caught in the middle of that silent war, and it had been utterly terrifying.
Cerberus blinked, her three heads tilting in confusion as she looked at Lucifer. "Lucifer, Lucifer, Lucifer! You have this side to you?"
"Hell is a massive enterprise, you know," Lucifer said, waving a dismissive hand. "You rarely see me in my official capacity, but... Hey? Wait a minute. How did you know I was out?"
Cerberus was startled, scratching her head with a paw. "Eh? It seems there was something... Uh... What was it again...?"
Lucifer sighed, watching the hellhound's notoriously selective memory fail once again. "Did someone ask you to give me a message? You wouldn't have just run all the way over here to find me without even checking if the door was locked first."
"Oh! Right, right, right! I remember!" Cerberus barked, her tails wagging. "It was Justice! Justice said she's super bored right now and that you should go find her when you have some free time..."
A cold sweat broke out on Lucifer's forehead. She had friends in Hell, and the High Prosecutor, Justice, was one of the closest. They had a very good relationship, which was precisely the problem. She needed to contact Justice, and soon. If she didn't... there would be trouble.
Lucifer had mentally prepared for Judgment to discover her absence, or perhaps even the ever-vigilant Pandemonica. But for it to be Justice... and for her to have voluntarily exposed her own location... this was a critical error.
'And if Justice knows,'Lucifer thought with a growing sense of dread,'it won't be long before Pandemonica finds out...'
Kasugano Sora asked timidly, "Sister Lucifer, are you really from Hell?"
"I am~ Why do you ask?"
"Well... if it's Hell, why would there be a Justice Demon? Can demons be just? Although... Sister Lucifer and Sister Cerberus are very nice..."
Hearing this, Lucifer's expression softened. "Because Justice is blind," she said quietly.
"Eh?! Bl-blind?! But what does that have to do with justice?"
Before Lucifer could elaborate, the woman, still observing the flowers, spoke with a hint of amusement in her voice. "What an interesting Hell... Blind Justice. Indeed..."
Lucifer paused, then chuckled. "You understand a great deal. You're right. The principle is that justice should be impartial, rendered 'blindly,' without prejudice."
Kasugano Sora scratched her head, completely lost. Deciding it was better to just stay quiet, she wisely scooted over to sit next to Cerberus. At least the hellhound was predictable. Who knew when the two queens would start their silent battle again? Her original seat was the absolute worst place to be.
What Sora found most baffling was that for all their posturing and cryptic words, the two never actually came to blows. Then again, it made sense. If Lucifer made a move, all of Hell would know instantly. And the mysterious woman didn't seem like someone who enjoyed causing trouble; she radiated a preference for a peaceful life. It would be a miracle if they fought. Besides, they had no reason to, not like a true battle maniac.
Just as the woman was pondering why, even with her power, she couldn't compel the flowers to look up at her, a rich, intoxicating aroma drifted through the air. The scent was so deep, so complex, that she was momentarily stunned.
In that instant, she felt as if she had never truly brewed flower tea in her entire life.
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