My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

The once-radiant sky gradually dimmed, shrouded in darkness as life-giving rain began to fall, its rhythm punctuated by the thunderous roar of lightning.

Far beyond the outer palace lay a sacred and hallowed ground, revered by the entire demon race—the Land of Eternity. It served as the final resting place for demon emperors who had fallen to the blades of past heroes.

Under ordinary circumstances, Liliana, the current Demon Emperor, strictly forbade entry to this sacred ground without her explicit permission.

Yet now, more than twenty figures stood solemnly before a newly constructed tomb. Among them were Liliana, Lyra, three Arch-demons, demon generals, and other high-ranking members of the demon race.

Liliana's gaze lingered on Heidel's tomb, her expression a mixture of sorrow and complexity.

"Heidel, I have fulfilled your wish. May you find peace at last," she murmured, her head bowed.

She stood motionless as rain drenched her, the droplets concealing the silent tears that traced paths down her face.

Beside her, Lyra gazed blankly at her father's tomb. Despite her struggle to suppress them, tears continued to flow, blending seamlessly with the falling rain.

Lilith, Garan, and Terran stood silently before Heidel's tomb, their hearts pierced with an unbearable pain.

Unlike the others, the three of them had witnessed Heidel's death firsthand, struck down by the two heroes of mankind.

Moreover, they shared a close bond with him, especially Lilith, who had been personally nurtured and mentored by Heidel. A profound sorrow weighed on her chest, her breathing heavy as she struggled to endure the overwhelming sense of loss.

As everyone else sank into an atmosphere of grief and mourning, one tall, sturdy figure stood apart, devoid of any such emotions—Aragon.

"Hahaha! So, Heidel, you're finally gone," he muttered coldly, a faint smile curling on his lips. "Though I didn't expect it to happen so soon, this works in my favor. With you no longer by Liliana Crimson's side, no one can protect her now."

Of all the people Aragon despised, Heidel was at the top of the list. Had it not been for him, he would be the one sitting on the Demon Emperor's throne now.

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But that no longer mattered. Heidel was gone, and with his death, Aragon saw his opportunity to eliminate Liliana once and for all.

Beside him, Zariel and Noah wore expressions similar to Aragon's. They simply smiled faintly, silent as they gazed at Heidel's tomb before them.

Unbeknownst to them, a handsome man stood quietly in the distance, observing them with a cold, indifferent gaze.

After an hour, the funeral procession came to an end. The high-ups of the Demon race immediately sought Liliana's permission to depart.

Liliana said nothing, offering only a small nod. Moments later, only Liliana, Lyra, Lilith, Garan, Terran, Merlin, Aragon, Zariel, and Noah remained at the site.

Aragon took a slow step toward Liliana, clasping his hands together with a thin, well-hidden smile.

"I'm sorry for the loss of Leader Heidel, Your Majesty Liliana," he said with a tone of respect, though a trace of mockery lingered in his voice. "His death is a great loss to the Demon race, but we cannot remain consumed by grief. I must ask—has Your Majesty decided who will take Leader Heidel's place?"

Ordinary demons typically view Arch-demons as powerful beings, ranking just one level below the Demon Emperor. However, that perception isn't entirely accurate.

Above them all stood the "True Leader," a figure who commanded the entire Arch-demon faction with power just one step below the Demon Emperor.

In the past, Aragon had desperately coveted this position. However, Liliana had chosen Heidel as the True Leader, a decision that stoked Aragon's deep hatred and envy toward Heidel.

With Heidel's death, the position of "True Leader" was left vacant, and among the remaining Arch-demons, Aragon was the strongest. While his ultimate ambition was to become the Demon Emperor, the desire to claim the "True Leader" title still haunted him.

Only by becoming the "True Leader" could he overcome the obstacle in his heart, which would in turn secure his path to becoming the future Demon Emperor.

At Aragon's words, Liliana's expression remained as unbothered as ever.

She glanced at him briefly, then responded with a faint, meaningful smile. "You're right, Aragon. We can't remain consumed by sorrow. I'll decide on Heidel's replacement at tomorrow's year-end meeting. So, you needn't worry."

Aragon, Zariel, and Noah were naturally surprised by her words. They had expected Liliana to reprimand Aragon, but they were mistaken.

Once he recovered from his shock, Aragon put his smile back on and nodded eagerly.

"In that case, I'll wait for your decision at the year-end meeting tomorrow," he said excitedly.

Without another word, he bowed his head to Liliana and left the Land of Eternity with a leisurely pace.

As they watched him leave, Zariel and Noah asked for Liliana's permission to depart before following Aragon.

Lilith, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange, slowly stepped forward and stopped beside Liliana.

"Sister—I mean, Your Majesty—do you think Arch-demon Aragon is acting a bit strange?" Lilith inquired, her tone laced with suspicion.

She couldn't shake the feeling that Aragon, along with Zariel and Noah, was planning something significant.

Nearby, Garan and Terran, who shared the same concern, exchanged a glance before turning their curious eyes toward Liliana.

Liliana simply shook her head and affectionately ruffled Lilith's hair.

"You're probably just imagining things," Liliana replied casually.

Lilith frowned, wanting to voice her thoughts but ultimately holding her tongue.

With a deep sigh, she let go of her worries and looked at Liliana with a soft gaze.

"In that case, may I take my leave, Your Majesty?" Lilith asked, giving a slight bow.

"We too request your permission to leave, Your Majesty the Demon Emperor," Garan and Terran added in unison.

Liliana gave a brief nod, her response calm and composed. "Very well."

At her consent, the three of them raised their heads, casting one last glance at Heidel's tomb before finally stepping out of the Land of Eternity.

As they departed, Liliana's gaze shifted sharply to the handsome figure with gray hair—Merlin.

"Why are you still here? Do you need something from me?" Liliana inquired, her voice cold and indifferent.

Merlin was momentarily taken aback before letting out a soft sigh. He looked at Liliana with a complicated expression and gave a slight nod.

"Your Majesty Liliana, I have some news to share with you," Merlin said respectfully, no longer wearing the possessive gaze he once had.

Since his defeat by Leon, Merlin had come to realize how weak and vulnerable he truly was. This revelation made him reflect on the terrible things he had done to Liliana, the absolute ruler of the Demon Race.

Had it not been for her kindness, he would have long since met his end due to his previous disrespectful behavior.

Determined to atone, he focused all his efforts on self-improvement, striving to become someone Liliana could be proud of. Naturally, one of his goals was to defeat that cursed man.

"Oh?" Liliana's eyebrows lifted slightly at his words. "Then, tell me."

Merlin's expression turned grave as he began, "Actually..."

Half an hour later, Merlin requested permission to leave and walked out of the Land of Eternity, his expression solemn.

Liliana watched him go, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Your Majesty, it seems Merlin has changed since before," Lyra remarked, her tone filled with curiosity.

Liliana simply chuckled and nodded. "Yes, he has changed drastically since his defeat by Leon. His once arrogant and haughty demeanor is gradually shifting for the better. This is certainly a positive development for all of us."

Lyra agreed with a nod. She was well aware of Merlin's incredible talent, but his own traits had held him back, limiting his potential and proving detrimental to his growth.

"By the way, Lyra," Liliana called, turning to face her. "If I offered you the position of Arch-demon's True Leader, would you accept it?"

Lyra was visibly surprised, staring at Liliana in disbelief.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean—" Lyra began to ask, but Liliana pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.

"Let me explain," Liliana interrupted calmly. "This position once belonged to your father. Now that he's gone, it should pass to you, as his daughter, right?"

"But the position isn't something that can simply be inherited, is it?" Lyra inquired, her voice laced with doubt.

Unlike the position of the Demon Emperor, the title of True Leader of the Arch-demons was granted to the strongest Arch-demon in the Demon Empire.

Previously, her father had been the strongest and rightfully held the position. Now, with his death, the title would pass to the second strongest Arch-demon—Aragon, not her.

Although both she and Aragon were Arch-demons, Aragon far outmatched her in terms of age, experience, and combat power. Additionally, other Arch-demons such as Zariel, Noah, Daniel, Zahat, and Livia were stronger than her.

If she were bold enough to claim the position, Lyra could already imagine the chaos that would follow.

Liliana smiled disdainfully and waved her hand dismissively.

"You need not worry. I am the Demon Emperor of this era, and all decisions lie with me. If anyone dares challenge me, I will gladly send them to the netherworld," she declared in a commanding tone.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

She then shifted her gaze back to Lyra and asked, "So, will you accept it?"

Lyra fell silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on Heidel's tomb ahead. She suddenly recalled her father's words.

"In my absence, the responsibility of protecting and caring for Her Majesty Liliana rests with you, Lyra. Guard her from those who wish to harm her. I trust you, my daughter."

Lyra's eyes widened slightly, and a sense of determination gradually filled her gaze.

"If that is your command, I will accept," Lyra responded with unwavering seriousness.

Liliana couldn't help but smile, pulling Lyra into a tight embrace.

As she gently rubbed her back, Liliana whispered softly in her ear, "Thank you for always standing by my side, Lyra."

Lyra felt the warmth of trust and affection in the embrace and returned it wholeheartedly.

"You're welcome, Your Majesty," she murmured quietly.

After a moment, they separated, and Liliana's gaze drifted to Heidel's grave.

"Tomorrow, I will announce this decision to the higher-ups of the Demon Race," Liliana said coldly before adding with a sly smile, "And then, it will be time to rid the Demon Empire of its scum and pests."