While Mia and Amelia were punishing Lucifer in the hall, Lovertia—running at full speed—finally reached Torren Village, which sat right on the boundary between the Lustbound Heaven Kingdom and the Westirifer Duchy.
Since the day Westirifer separated from the kingdom, its territory had ceased to be counted as part of the kingdom's land. Even though Westirifer lay at the westernmost edge, its area was still vast.
In the Human Alliance, aside from Lustbound Heaven, there were many other kingdoms—but Lustbound Heaven remained the largest and most privileged among them.
Two days of travel later, Bellatrixa had arrived at Torren Village along with Jasper, ten wagons, two platoons of Viper Guards, and King Ignis.
If Bellatrixa had come alone, she could have reached Virexion in just half an hour to an hour at most. But she wasn't alone—she had ten wagons, Jasper, and King Ignis with her. Moreover, her master and husband Lucifer had clearly instructed her to keep an eye on Ignis. So Bella had to endure this tedious journey.
It wasn't as if Jasper hadn't tried talking to her… but every time he asked something, Bella remained silent.
On top of that, all the Viper Guards were under her command, so Ignis received no special privileges or respect whatsoever.
At that moment, the entire group was camped in the forest near Torren Village.
The Viper Guards had prepared a soup from wild berries, tree bark, and potatoes. Since they were in the forest, some had hunted rabbits while others had caught deer, which they roasted over open fires and were now eating.
On the other hand, Bellatrixa hadn't touched any food.
Jasper, sitting right beside her, was served a bowl of the Viper Guards' soup along with some meat. Without any fuss, he accepted it as fine cuisine and ate quietly.
Meanwhile, King Ignis was fuming with rage just looking at the meal. And rightfully so—who serves food like this to a king? But he had conveniently forgotten that, in Westirifer, whether he was royal or not made no difference. No one here treated him even as worthy of the dust under their feet.
Suddenly, Bellatrixa's view was blocked as Lovertia appeared in front of her—arriving at such speed that Jasper, who had been sitting right beside Bella eating, flinched violently in fear.
Seeing Lovertia, Bella asked,
"Tia… how are you here?"
Lovertia replied,
"Mom… Papa cooked food for everyone today, so he sent some especially for you."
"He said that while we all eat comfortably together at the ducal home, you being here alone wouldn't feel right about the meal."
Saying this, Lovertia retrieved a silver salver from her shadow vault.
On it lay a plate with two generous portions of roasted Cluckhorn Drake meat.
Beside it was a large bowl of hearty vegetable stew, and next to that a medium bowl of honey-milk pudding.
Because it had been stored in the shadow vault, time had no effect on it—the food remained piping hot from Westirifer all the way to Bellatrixa.
Bella looked at Lovertia and asked,
"Did Honey really send this?"
Tia nodded.
"Papa said that until you finish every bite, I can't go back. And until I return, he won't eat either."
With that, Tia handed the salver to Bellatrixa.
Bella sat comfortably beside Jasper and was just about to start eating when Jasper spoke up.
"Lady Bellatrixa… may I have just one bite?"
For the first time in two days, Bella actually looked at Jasper.
Then she tore off a small piece of meat, mixed it with some stew-soaked leaves, and handed it to him in a makeshift bite-sized portion.
But when Jasper asked for a taste of the pudding too, Bella said firmly,
"I'm sharing food my husband made with you—be grateful you're even on his good side. Eat what's yours… and let me eat what's mine. This is my master's love for me."
With perfect grace and etiquette, Bella began to eat.
The roasted Cluckhorn Drake skin was perfectly crusty and golden-brown, releasing a powerful tangy-spicy aroma. Inside, the flesh was melt-in-the-mouth tender.
To balance the heat and spice, Lucifer had paired it with a warm vegetable stew—mild, slightly tangy, and deeply earthy in flavor.
And finally… the honey-milk pudding.
As Bella ate, the heavenly scent spread through the camp.
Yet not a single Viper Guard dared ask for even one bite.
Not because they feared Bella… but because they were loyal to the bone to Lucifer—and this food had been sent by him specifically for his wife.
Unfortunately, someone else lacked that sense.
King Ignis stepped out of his tent and immediately declared,
"Now **this** is more like it! Finally, food fit for a king!"
"Bring it to me!"
Saying this, he started walking toward Bella, Tia, and Jasper.
When he reached them and saw Lovertia, he flinched slightly in fear.
But then he noticed Jasper eating a piece of roasted meat and sneered,
"Instead of feeding a king royal delicacies… that Lucifer is feeding a servant girl and a mere butler? This food belongs to me. Even if it's her leftovers right now… in this condition, I'll still eat it. Come—bring it to my tent!"
Saying this, Ignis turned toward his tent.
But when he realized no one was following, he spun back in fury and barked at Bellatrixa,
"You slave—didn't you hear me…?"
Before he could finish, Lovertia's open palm cracked across his cheek with a resounding **SLAP!**
Ignis collapsed to the ground.
Somehow he staggered back to his feet and roared,
"You… YOU… How **dare** you raise your hand against a king?! This isn't Westirifer—this is **my** kingdom!"
As he stood shouting, Lovertia delivered a brutal kick straight to his groin.
**DHUP.**
The sound was heavy—muffled—like the night forest itself had swallowed it instantly.
Whatever word Ignis was about to say died in his throat.
No scream—just a choked, broken gasp.
"Hh—!"
His entire body folded in on itself in a single violent convulsion. Back arched forward, shoulders dropped—as though his body had surrendered before his brain could process it. All the air rushed out of his lungs in one instant; he couldn't even draw the next breath.
His knees buckled.
He didn't fall—he **collapsed**. One hand instinctively shot downward, the other dug into the dirt. Jaw clenched so tight his entire face trembled. Eyes squeezed shut, skin turning pale.
For one second—everything froze.
Then the breath returned… short, ragged, panicked.
His chest rose and fell unevenly, each inhale a desperate struggle. Mouth open, but no curses, no words—only a strangled groan trapped in his throat.
Lovertia calmly called one of the guards.
"This man insulted Daddy. Strip him completely naked… and throw him back into his own kingdom just like this. If anyone tries to interfere—kill them on the spot. No questions asked."
The guard gave a sharp affirmative nod.
They tore Ignis's clothes off, bound both his hands, and dragged him to the middle wagon—chaining him like a prisoner of war. Exactly like one.
Whatever scraps of dignity King Ignis had left… were now completely gone.
Meanwhile, Bellatrixa finished every bite of her meal. She took only one small spoonful of the pudding and carefully stored the rest in her shadow vault.
Tia noticed immediately.
"Mom… Daddy said you have to finish everything. Only then can I go back."
Bella smiled softly.
"You can go now. I saved the pudding for later."
Hearing this, Tia respectfully returned all the salvers to her shadow vault and sprinted back toward the ducal home.
***************************************************
While everyone in the hall was happily eating, on the other side Lucifer was busy in the kitchen.
He chopped seven medium-sized pumpkins, fifteen apples, and twenty carrots into small pieces and set them to boil in a large pot with water. In another pot, he added 3 kg of barley and left that to boil as well.
After about half an hour, both the pumpkin-apple-carrot mix and the barley were fully cooked.
Lucifer combined them, then used wind magic to cool the mixture quickly.
He added seven tablespoons of honey, donned his boar-skin gloves, and mashed everything together into a smooth consistency.
Then he took a large container and transferred the mashed vegetables, fruits, honey, and barley into it.
At that moment, he noticed Allen had finished eating.
"Allen."
Allen hurried over at Lucifer's call.
"Yes, Master?"
Lucifer pointed to the container.
"Today Mephis, Opaline, and Ysoria probably didn't eat much either. Take this to them… and make sure they finish every bite before you come back. The poor things must be hungry."
Allen stared at Lucifer for a long moment—something clearly on his mind, but the words wouldn't come out.
He stored the container in his storage ring and headed toward the stables.
Just as he took his first step—Lovertia came sprinting back to Lucifer.
Right behind her, a Viper Guard came running and shouted urgently,
"Master… Lady Bianca and Elemor have run away from the duchy again!"
Hearing this, both Amelia and Mia turned at once and said in unison,
"Again?"
Lucifer calmly told the guard,
"Don't worry. It's their choice. Since you're already inside—eat something before you go back."
Then he placed a gentle hand on Lovertia's head and said warmly,
"Tia has finished her task perfectly. Now father and daughter will eat together."
Leaning close to her ear, he whispered,
"Come with me we both will tease other's"
Hearing this, Lovertia's face turn mischevious,
But she nodded, pressed herself tightly against Lucifer's chest, and clung to him.