Free Web NovelChapter 344: The Hill Family
The next morning, Clara slowly descended the staircase, still trying to process everything that had happened the previous night. The mansion was unusually lively. The aroma of freshly prepared breakfast drifted through the spacious living room, immediately drawing her attention toward the dining table.
She stopped midway down the stairs. Only two plates had been prepared.
Linda was already seated, calmly eating breakfast with perfect table manners as though she had lived there for years.
However, it was not the breakfast that stunned Clara. It was what Linda was wearing.
The white clothes of the Order of Moses were gone. In their place was a fitted black kaftan embroidered with crimson patterns, almost identical to the attire worn by the Blood Dunes members Damian had captured. The outfit suited her surprisingly well, making her look less like a church operative and more like someone born into the mysterious Middle Eastern organization.
Linda noticed Clara standing there and gently gestured toward the empty chair opposite her.
"Sit. I made breakfast for you."
Clara remained where she was. Instead, her eyes drifted beyond the dining table toward the spacious living room.
Damian sat comfortably on the enormous couch with one leg crossed over the other while casually scrolling through his phone. He too wore a black kaftan, though his was noticeably more luxurious than Linda’s.
The dark fabric contrasted sharply against his pale skin while silver embroidery ran along the sleeves and collar. Rah occupied one side of him while Loth sat on the other. Both women wore similar black kaftans tailored to their figures, making them resemble noblewomen from an ancient Arabian dynasty rather than demons from the underworld.
The two quietly chuckled every few moments whenever Damian showed them something on his phone.
Even Rin had somehow been dressed in an absurdly tiny black kaftan.
The little fox sat proudly on Damian’s lap, its seven tails fanned behind it while the oversized sleeves dragged against the cushion.
Clara stared for several seconds. The sight was so ridiculous she almost forgot everything that had happened yesterday.
Before she could speak, footsteps echoed behind her.
Hazel and Ruby walked past dressed entirely in elegant black nun habits complete with long veils that framed their beautiful faces. Rather than making them appear modest, the clothing somehow highlighted every graceful curve they possessed.
"Finally we get to do something." Ruby laughed excitedly.
Hazel nodded several times.
"I’ve always wanted to see what the Vatican looks like."
Damian looked up the moment they entered. His eyes slowly traveled over both women from head to toe before settling on the way the fitted habits hugged their waists.
A slow grin spread across his face and he shamelessly licked his lips.
"You two should dress like this more often around the house."
Both women immediately blushed.
"If that’s what you want," Hazel giggled softly, "I don’t mind."
Ruby was considerably less reserved.
She walked directly toward Damian before casually sitting sideways across his lap as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Her arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders while she leaned comfortably against his chest.
Rah and Loth immediately moved away with synchronized frowns. Neither bothered hiding their irritation.
Ruby simply smiled victoriously as she looked directly into Damian’s eyes.
"So..." she began, gently tracing circles against his chest with one finger. "What exactly do we get for finding the seed for you?"
Damian blinked. He genuinely had not considered a reward. His first instinct was naturally sex. Unfortunately that reward had become almost meaningless.
They already slept together often enough, and with everything happening recently, he doubted he would have much free time regardless. As he continued thinking, another familiar figure entered the room.
Racheal calmly descended the staircase dressed in ordinary casual clothes with an amused smile resting on her lips.
"I’m the one watching your ex," she reminded him. "I deserve a reward too."
"Me too!" Rah immediately protested before anyone else could speak.
Damian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The room became surprisingly quiet while everyone waited.
Finally he raised his head.
"After we’ve kicked my brothers and the Church off this planet..." he said slowly, "...I’ll spend one whole year with all of you in Valmora."
Hazel’s eyes widened.
"We can actually go back?"
She hurried over almost immediately, unable to hide the excitement on her face.
Ever since leaving the underworld, she had quietly accepted that they would simply move from one conquered world to another forever. She never imagined Damian would willingly return home for something other than political obligations.
The possibility alone filled her with excitement. Meanwhile Clara and Linda exchanged confused glances. Neither understood what Valmora even was.
"No."
Racheal shook her head almost immediately.
"One year isn’t enough."
Damian looked toward her.
"What do you mean?"
"You’ll have to address your people. Reorganize your military. Hold your coronation ceremonies. Meet the noble houses. Strengthen alliances. Attend meetings with the Elder Council. Meet your fellow princes. Establish your authority throughout the kingdom."
The girls around the room nodded in agreement.
"You are thinking like a tourist. You are the Third Prince of Hell," Racheal continued calmly. "Not someone taking a vacation."
Rah surprisingly spoke next.
"She’s right."
Everyone looked toward her.
"You’ll have an entire kingdom waiting for you. Putting your affairs in order before we leave for another planet isn’t something you’ll accomplish in a single year."
She leaned comfortably against the couch and Damian slowly nodded. The more he thought about it the more reasonable it sounded.
Managing humans alone had already consumed an unbelievable amount of his time. Running an entire demonic kingdom would undoubtedly be several times more demanding.
"Three years?" he offered.
"Ten."
Racheal answered without the slightest hesitation.
Damian stared at her.
"Four."
She remained unmoved.
"Five minimum."
The two silently locked eyes. Several seconds passed and after a while Damian sighed dramatically.
"Deal."
The entire room erupted into cheers. Hazel hugged Ruby while Rah threw both hands into the air. Loth quietly smiled while Rin rolled happily across the couch.
Even Damian couldn’t help laughing at their excitement. Only Clara and Linda remained silent. Standing near the staircase, Clara watched everyone celebrating together. A strange ache slowly settled inside her chest.
Once she had belonged here.
There was a time when this family’s greatest dream had been to spend a holiday together in the Maldives. Now they were negotiating how many years to spend governing fictional kingdoms before conquering entirely new worlds.
Somehow while she had only been gone a relatively short time, everyone else had continued moving forward without her. For the first time since entering the mansion she truly understood what she had lost the day she walked away from Damian.
He finally rose from the couch and looked around at everyone gathered before him. A confident smile spread across his face.
"Alright, girls. Let’s show these gods and demons exactly how strong the Hill Family really is."
His voice immediately drew everyone’s attention.
"Okay!!!!!"
Every woman except Clara and Linda shouted excitedly, their voices filling the mansion with laughter and anticipation as the next stage of Damian’s war quietly began.
