The Damned Demon

"What is she talking about?" Asher asked a dazed Darren, who came back from his dream world and cleared his throat, "Ehm…this is one of the main things that makes her so interesting from the rest of them. She is a beauty who loves poetry and likes to hear us describe the meaning of her poems. But the thing is, she is the most beautiful virgin pearl who has yet to get charmed by a man's words. It is said that she would choose a man who can make her feel touched by their words. For dozens of years, so many talented and powerful men have tried…But only very few of them were able to really charm her," Darren said with a sigh of awe as he shook his head.

He then added, "But she isn't that cruel. If someone talented enough managed to impress her slightly, she would at least entertain them for a while in her chambers."

"It's a scam. Somebody like her wouldn't reach here by preserving their chastity. How do you guys even know she is still a maiden? She is simply using this to entice people," Asher said with a sarcastic chuckle.

Darren nodded with an awkward chuckle, "Of course, we know that, but that is her story we are playing along with. It's not like she really is looking to settle down with someone or that she is really a virgin. It's obvious that the best succubus in town can't be maiden. But that is her story. She is like an innocent maiden who loves music and seeks a soul mate whose soul resonates with hers. The night and the story end with her picking a man. And the same repeats when she makes an appearance again."

Those who were lucky to enter her chambers would never reveal if they slept with her or not since they are playing along too. That keeps us all guessing while keeping us on our toes and adding to her mystery. Still, they came out looking as if they were born anew, feeling like a new man and enjoyed in paradise. So who wouldn't want to share some time alone with her? So far, Prince Oberon and Young Lord Edmund are her regular patrons. But that's natural, considering they are way more talented and skilled in all kinds of arts compared to us lesser nobles."

Asher now realized why this brothel was not like the usual ones. Still, he had a slightly baffled expression and asked, "I still don't get one thing. In the end, she is still a brothel girl, right? What stops Oberon or Edmund from forcibly making her their woman and keeping her for themselves?" Asher knew the kind of people these two were or perhaps they were keeping each other in check out of rivalry?

Darren awkwardly chuckled and said, "I am afraid if one of them does that, then this establishment won't thrive anymore, or some kind of riot will happen, which would be hard to take care of. This whole business runs mainly on the feeling of conquest…the feeling of achievement we feel when possessing a pearl using our own abilities. And we all are indirectly competing to see who is more capable than the other. This is also why her 'story' is interesting for us to play along with. But if somebody cheats to possess a pearl, then the rest won't stay still, though any noble with some pride and dignity wouldn't definitely cheat. I hope you understand what I am trying to say."

"Ohh…I got it alright…" Asher now understood the mentality of these guys. This was a place where demons go to enjoy the company of succubi, but they also understood that it was not a place to assert their dominance or try to control the succubi.

Instead, they seek validation for themselves by trying to get chosen by the best "pearls" since they can't get enough validation elsewhere. And just as Darren said, the rivalry between all these demons makes them feel like they were in a competition to see who gets the best pearl, just like how Oberon and Edmund were competing to get the favor of Kira, the Temptress Supreme.

And men like these two would constantly keep the other in check even if they feel tempted to forcibly obtain something, thanks to their ego and rivalry.

Her title wasn't a joke at all. She surely can and has tempted every single man in this building to the point they would be willing to die to even just touch her feet.

He couldn't believe most of these idiots waste so much time for a pearl they wouldn't get to possess for the rest of their lives.

Still, it was obvious that she wasn't an ordinary woman at all. Otherwise, with beauty alone, she wouldn't be able to rise to this level. He also could see a few guards standing above, hidden in the shadows. It seemed as if she held some power of her own indeed.

Darren saw Asher's keen eyes observing the obscured guards and said, "Ah, I forgot to mention…She practically runs this entire business, and all the other succubi work under her. That's just another fact why nobody would try to mess with her for no reason."

"She is that old?" Asher asked since usually such positions were usually filled by senior ones.

"She is definitely older than me and probably older than Prince Oberon too, but you know how vulpinaris are…they age like wine and only get more charming as they get older. Maybe that is also why she is so charming than the others," Darren said with a dreamy gaze.

"She doesn't seem like she is from any vulpinari clan in our kingdom…" Asher said with a squinted gaze.

"That is also one of the mysterious things about her. Based on her features, none of us can really pinpoint her origins. The vulpinari women in our kingdom definitely don't share some of her graceful features. But none of us really care since we want her to remain mysterious like that and keep entertaining us like this. I can assure you that you will feel your soul resonate when you hear her poems," Darren said zealously.

Asher had a skeptical look since he felt that these men were too captivated by her charms to the point they would succumb even if she simply looked at them.

But he smiled, especially thinking about the fact that Edmund and Oberon were her regular patrons.

However, suddenly he heard a voice that was like a symphony of emotions,

"Come, my love, and take my hand,

Let me lead you to a land,

Where dreams are born and never die,

And love is all around the sky.

We'll dance beneath the moonlit skies,

And watch the stars as they arise,

We'll laugh and love, till morning light,

And hold each other through the night.

My heart is yours, my love is true,

With every breath I'll sing for you,"

The moment she finished singing her poem, a brief silence followed as if everyone had their souls charmed by hearing her poem.

Her voice was soft and melodic, with a hint of sadness and longing but also a touch of hope and joy. She sang with a certain passion and intensity that made these words come alive and make the men feel as if they were experiencing the emotions along with her.

Each line was sung with different inflection and emphasis, making the poem feel like a story that was being told. Asher had to admit that the way she sang created a captivating atmosphere that was hard to pull away from, though his heart was unmoved by her words. He hated the concept of love and only felt contempt for those who believed in such an illusion, just like the illusion of love and attention this woman created to charm these men.

He also wasn't fond of poems anymore, especially since this reminded him of the times Aira always sang poems whenever they were together. She loved to sing and even made him sing with her while teaching him how to observe the beauty of the nature around him to feel moved by it.

But at that time, he wished he had realized how rotten her heart was instead of wasting time on unnecessary things.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*

A thunderous cheering from the men followed as they came back from their dreamy state. Some were already tearing up as if their souls were touched by her melodious words.

Asher saw how even Darren was enraptured by her words, seeing his blissful expression.

Kira briefly raised her hand with a poetic smile, making the men hush themselves as they eagerly awaited her next words.

"What I sang was a simple poem that came to my mind when I looked up at the sky this morning and the people around me. I now eagerly await what you gentlemen feel after hearing my poem," Kira said as she gracefully and slightly bowed her head.

Right away, so many hands were raised while some hesitated since they didn't want to embarrass themselves before her and the others if their interpretation of her poem sucked.

Oberon and Edmund didn't raise their hands, but they had smug smiles on their faces as if they were confident in themselves.

"Yes, my lord, please go on," Kira gestured at one of the nobles who had raised his hand eagerly.

"Ahem, your poem moved my heart to the point I realized what I was missing out on in my life… an enchantress like you. So I believe you are also looking for the 'one' which made you inspired to sing this poem," The man said with a proud look as if his interpretation must be good.

Kira gave a subtle, alluring smile and said with a soft nod, "That is a good interpretation, my lord. I am glad my poem was helpful to you, and I hope you find a woman who can warm your heart. Now, how about you, my lord?" Kira had already gestured at another man.

Asher softly chuckled, seeing how this woman skillfully turned down the other guy without even making him feel as if he got rejected. Surely as expected from someone who spent a lot of time in this business.

Many men conveyed their interpretations, and Kira politely responded and complimented them, though everyone knew she had yet to hear something that could impress her.

Finally, after nobody was raising their hands anymore, Edmund suddenly spoke up, "Madam Kira, how about you hear out this young lord? Perhaps it might move your heart."

"Of course. Go ahead, please," Kira said as she gracefully bent her legs towards the other side, looking as if she was giving her full attention to Edmund.

"Your poem was a beautiful and skillful expression of love and devotion, but I cannot help but notice how it also serves to seduce and captivate the audience, drawing them in with promises of love and dreams just like how we are trying to draw you in using our love and dreams. I can't help but envy how you do it better than us," Edmund said as his lips curved upwards, his chest open, and his head leaning in slightly towards her.

Kira let out a soft, musical, and alluring giggle as she said, "Ora~ My lord, your words truly flatter me, and I have to admit your interpretation of my poem connected with me at some point."

Her words made the men sigh in envy seeing how as usual, he managed to impress her slightly while Edmund smugly smiled. They had to admit Edmund really was well-versed in these things.

"How about Madam Kira hear me out as well, and we will see if this time one of us can connect with you more," Oberon said with a flirty raise of one of his brows.

"Kira would be honored to listen to your words," Kira said as she seductively leaned in his direction.

"Your poetry is a call to my senses, yearning for a man's heart. You also painted a vivid picture of a land of love and dreams in which you would feel honored to visit your one true man. You want to dance beneath the moon with your soulmate, to hold you throughout the night and fulfill your dreams. Why not let me be the one to fulfill your every desire?" Oberon asked with a charming wink as he smiled at her.

Everyone couldn't help but praise how eloquently he put his words and confidently asked her out, knowing what she truly wanted.

Kira placed her hand on her chest as she said, "Ora~ That was a beautiful interpretation that came close to what inspired me. But I am sorry I wasn't able to recite my poem in a better way to let you gentlemen realize my desires."

Oberon and Edmund clicked their tongues, seeing how she wasn't really moved by their words. They knew she was being polite by saying it was her fault even though her poem was perfect.

They can't think of any other meaning to her poem. Still, they didn't care and were satisfied that one of them would at least get to personally spend time with her in her chamber since nobody else did it better than them. The two looked at each other with smirks, indirectly feeling smug that Kira was going to pick one of them today, though they have to wait and see whom she was going to pick between them for today.

No men were surprised to see that, as usual, nobody was able to truly move her heart. Still, they were disappointed they didn't come with interpretations as good as Edmund or Oberon's. Otherwise, they could have enjoyed some personal time with her.

"Would Madam Kira like to hear the interpretation of this simple man?" A man's voice echoed from behind, making everyone turn their heads around, especially Edmund and Oberon, wondering which idiot felt like interpreting her poem after everything was almost over?

"Eh…" Darren had a blinking expression upon seeing Asher raising his hand briefly. He can't help but wonder what he was thinking.