'Did the knights just say something about children and future heirs to the dragon throne?'
All the demons in the gathering stared in confusion as they had the same thought.
They wondered if they had heard the knights correctly because a few of the demons had heard rumors from those who spotted the Queen's carriage hovering above the city.
Many of them had thought that the rumors were just that, rumors, and since Her Majesty's knights barely talked to anyone aside from the Queen herself, no one could really be certain if the rumors circulating around the City last night were true.
However, with what the knights had just announced, many of the demons present realized a few things.
Not only had the Queen returned from her temporary vacation, but she had also returned to the kingdom with two babies by her side.
There was no doubt that her two children would be seen as the future heirs to the dragon throne.
But was this really happening?
Did the Queen really return with two children?
"Did you guys just hear that?" A red-skinned male demon with short horns asked his two friends who were standing behind him.
"Yeah, I did."
"The Queen has really returned."
"And she brought her children with her?" A female satyr asked as she clutched a handful of the clothing on her chest.
"Wait a minute, since when did the Queen have children?" Another female demon asked and the female Satyr replied.
"I don't know, but I can't wait to see them."
"Yeah me too," another female demon added. "I'm sure they'll be just as strong and amazing as their mother."
"Oh my goodness, just thinking about how cute and chubby they'll be makes me so eager to see them. I feel so happy to be alive right now." A fourth female demon remarked as she hugged herself while imagining certain scenarios in her head.
"Me too."
"Me three!"
"Me four!!"
The gathering of the demons suddenly turned into a marketplace as everyone began to smile, giggle and talk about the unexpected but pleasant news they had just received.
In the next second, a male pyro demon clenched his hand into a fist and lifted it above his head while yelling. "All Hail the Heirs of House Gremory!! All Hail the Queen!!! Long Live the Queen! Long Live the Queen!!"
And every other demon followed suit.
"Long Live the Queen!!!"
"Long Live the Queen!!!"
Cheers continued to erupt across the capital, with their laughter, roars, and chants instantly filling up the streets.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Aster could see all of these happening, thanks to his temporary connection to his mother's dragon eyes, and he couldn't help but smile as he watched and listened to everything the demons were doing.
"They seem so happy and excited about the news. I wasn't expecting them to react this way."
Vivian smiled as she watched Aster turn around to look at her. "They clearly can't wait to see you and your sister."
"Yeah, it seems so."
"Also, the news of your arrival will surely spread across the kingdom and continent within the next few hours, which means the elders will probably be aware of it before nightfall. Well, I'm certain the news will come as a shock to them, and that's what Mommy wants the most."
"But, won't they wonder who our father is? And what if they find out we were once humans, won't the elders be against having…" Vivian swiftly hushed Aster as she placed a finger on his lips.
She understood his worries, but she couldn't help but find the troubled look on his face cute as well and this made the dragon queen smile as she replied calmly to his worries.
"You worry too much, my little dragon, but trust Mommy when she says we demons can be really strange and silly with the wild thoughts we have in our heads sometimes."
Aster furrowed his brows as he asked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You'll find out soon enough, my little prince. Now, let's get going."
"But I still have a few questions I wanna ask."
"Like what?"
"Like how did you order those knights to do what they did when they were clearly far from you?"
"Oh, that's because all my knights are my familiars, so we have something akin to a telepathic link that allows me to mentally communicate with them whenever I want to."
"What is a familiar? You mean like a servant you can summon anytime to…"
"Oh no, dear." Vivian swiftly interrupted with a giggle. "Familiars are not servants. Well, some demons treat them as such, but familiars are actually partners you share a symbiotic contract with. For example, Hallie was my first familiar and the two of us share a strong symbiotic relationship."
Realizing that he might have disrespected Hallie, who was currently standing behind him, Aster swiftly turned around to the female jack-o'-lantern while looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, Hallie."
"It's fine, Your Highness." Hallie waved off his worries.
She wasn't offended that Aster had compared her to a servant when she was the Dragon Queen's first friend and companion.
Rather, instead of feeling disrespected by the dragon prince's earlier comment, Hallie now had a huge sense of respect and adoration for him after witnessing how sorry he had looked.
It was simply astonishing to witness the worried and cute look on the little dragon prince's face.
Now she could see why the dragon queen was increasingly growing fond of her two children.
And without a doubt, both children had definitely become worth conquering the world for.
Meanwhile, Aster brought his gaze back to his mother as he asked. "What's a symbiotic contract?"
"Hm, that is a question for another day, my little prince. You can ask Mommy everything you wish to know tomorrow when our history lesson begins. But for now, let's go get you your new clothes." Vivian happily replied before grabbing his hand and pulling him gently as the two of them strolled comfortably through the corridor.
Aster nodded in understanding and decided not to ask her any more questions.
But as they strolled along the corridor, Aster suddenly noticed Lily and Cara walking closer to them.
The little girl smiled as she waved at her big brother with a look of excitement and anticipation glowing on her face.
Cara had given her the gist of what was about to happen regarding the guests they were about to have and the new clothes she would be dressed in.
And the little princess couldn't wait to try on her new clothes.
The main entrance opened up, and Aster noticed a female centaur standing and waiting by the side of the door with two jack-o'-lantern knights standing behind her.
She was wearing a chestnut colored coat with a long white blouse that covered her upper body, but Aster also noticed the rolls of different colorful fabrics tied to her flank.
However, what really caught his attention wasn't the size of her perfectly shaped breasts nor the horse limbs of the female centaur.
Instead, it was the large cheval mirror hovering behind the centaur as she stepped into the hall.