Vesperia looked at Caleb for less than a second before she simply smiled. ”No, but thank you for the offer.”

Jake gave Vesperia a massive mental thumbs-up as Caleb seemed a bit taken aback.

”Cute try, though, but while I do recognize Jake as my sire, that does not make his blood my family. I do not mean this in any offensive way; that is simply how things are,” Vesperia further clarified. She looked at the others and nodded.”It is a pleasure to meet all of you.”

Miranda took the momentum as she went forward. ”The pleasure is all mine, your majesty. I am Miranda Wells, the City Leader of Lord Thayne’s city back on Earth and one of his confidants.”

”No need for the formalities, Ms. Wells, just call me Vesperia,” the Hive Queen smiled at Miranda. The two women looked at each other for a moment before the others also moved to meet her.

Felix just bowed but didn’t seem overly interested, Sylphie looked at Vesperia a bit weirdly, and Maria was more polite than usual. Sandy didn’t come to greet her as they were too busy dealing with the consequences of trying to eat the essence of nothingness itself. The King also didn’t for obvious reason, with the last to greet Vesperia being the Sword Saint, who bowed respectfully as he observed her.

”I have little understanding of True Royals and only operate on rumors and second-hand information, so please let me know if my question is impolite, but would you be open to a quick spar before we head off?” the old man asked politely.

Vesperia raised an eyebrow. ”While many would not see such a request as acceptable, I see no issue with it, but are you certain? My current form is not the one you would be facing.”

”I am well aware,” the Sword Saint nodded.

”Let us have a small bout later on, then. First, let us go inside,” Vesperia said as she motioned for them to enter.

Caleb walked by Jake and muttered to him. ”And here I thought I could set up fun play dates between our two kids.”

”Calling her my kid is kinda weird, man,” Jake said. ”Look at her.”

”Yeah, they grow up so fast, don’t they?” Caleb teased him. ”Just so we are clear, I will tell mom and dad about the large amazoness-looking Hive Queen woman who calls you her sire.”

”I would expect nothing less of you.”

The group entered the mansion’s living room, where Meira had already prepared tea and snacks to welcome the guests. Caleb, who was still walking with Jake, looked a bit surprised when he saw Meira and raised an eyebrow as he threw Jake a glance.

”Ah, this here is Meira, a fellow member of the Order of the Malefic Order who works here at my residence,” Jake quickly clarified to the group. He felt damn lucky they had time to make her join the Order before this meeting, as that dispelled much of the awkwardness that could have ensued.

”Ah, a pleasure to meet you,” Miranda greeted Meira. ”I also believe a congratulations is in order for successfully joining the Order.”

Jake had told Miranda about Meira a few times in the past, as it was honestly hard to never mention her when they had their occasional meeting about how he was doing in the Order. He also had a feeling she could learn about her from the Verdant Witches even if he didn’t.

”Thank you,” Meira bowed. ”Please enjoy the refreshments. I shall take my leave and allow you all to discuss in peace.”

”No, please stay for a while,” Caleb said with a smile as he went over and extended his hand. ”I would love to hear more about it has been working for my brother.”

”Brother?” Meira asked, surprised, as she shook his hand on instinct.

It was now Jake realized he had never really talked about his family when around Meira. Mind you, this was not because Jake had forgotten, but a purposeful choice as he didn’t want to bring up any potential trauma Meira may have, considering she had been enslaved by the Order. Talking about family just seemed a bit insensitive.

”Little brother, to be more exact,” Caleb clarified. ”However, I am not at the Order as his brother but as a Judge of the Court of Shadows at the behest of my Patron, Umbra.”

nodded but was clearly still more interested in the fact

honor to greet the Judge and brother of Lord Thayne,” Meira

you two

would probably assume she was his slave by default. Moreover, she was allowed to be there when Jake brought so many people, and she clearly knew he was the Chosen of the Malefic Viper. Some random employee Jake had hired wouldn’t be

that asshole snake god who thought it would be funny,” Jake explained. ”The moment I arrived here, Meira was already waiting and was assigned as my slave against my will. Not anymore, though. She joined the Order and is now just another member, but

have one tiny little question. If she is no longer a slave, why

one,”

me to detect if she has one, so are

don’t think so?” Jake frowned more deeply as he looked at Meira. He saw how

front of you like this…” Jake muttered. ”Were you forced to

in. ”Just for quick clarification, when did you

She clearly had her gold token and was a member; Izil had confirmed this

you nullified it,” Miranda said

after you joined? I am

how it

it works, no,” Miranda sighed, answering his thoughts. ”At least not for you. You are the Chosen of the Malefic Viper, for bloody sake. These kinds of rules don’t apply. Did you seriously expect

yes?” Jake

out his token and promptly searched through it. He remembered it being linked to the contract

the contract, ignoring everything else, thus officially freeing Meira for good. It was surprisingly easy, and he didn’t even feel

was already getting several judgemental

tell mom you had an elf slave,” Caleb

”Please don’t,” Jake pleaded.

widely, and Jake was pretty damn sure the

not want to eternally serve the Chosen of the Malefic Viper?” the damn

was my decision,” Jake cut him

He then seemed to have a thought.

”No.”

a kicked

else we need to discuss regarding the upcoming ceremony? You have

would like a quick rundown on what will happen,” the Hive

attend?”

how uncomfortable she was, surrounded by everyone. She looked out of place, and Miranda seemed to also have

had invited her, but she had rejected it without a second thought. Jake totally got her; he also didn’t want

as she looked at Jake. ”Let’s allow Meira to attend to her own matters then,

are busy

bowed. ”I hope the ceremony proceeds as expected; it was nice meeting all of

away from the main mansion. After she was gone, Maria gave him an

”Did you… you know.”

realized. He frowned and looked at her sternly.

Maria a glare. ”You can say a lot of things about my

meant no offense; I was just curious, you know…” Maria said, knowing she

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