As the dust settled above the shattered ruins of the Imperial Castle, the once-chaotic battlefield turned eerily silent. The massive dragon wings that had shielded the Phoenix Empress from view gradually retracted, shrinking and disappearing into Aengus' human form, leaving him standing tall.
Beside him, the Phoenix Empress, now transformed in both demeanor and presence, stood quietly. Her fiery, unrelenting rage was gone, replaced by a serene composure. Her eyes, which once blazed with pride and fury, now glimmered with a calm and peaceful light.
The sight left Vira momentarily stunned, but relief quickly washed over him. Without hesitation, he rushed forward, his gaze fixed on the petite figure of his wife.
"Claudia, are you okay?" Vira's voice trembled as he gently wrapped his arms around her, lifting her with the tenderness of a man who had waited lifetimes to feel her close again.
Claudia blinked, startled by the sudden contact, but her expression softened as she looked at her husband. Her voice, gentle yet tinged with guilt, whispered, "Vira... Yes, I'm fine. I love you. I never wanted to disrespect you and force my own Children against their wishes. It's just that demon lord—"
"I know everything, Claudia." Vira interrupted her softly, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I know. But remember, you've always been the woman who died once to save me. That's the Claudia I've loved and waited for. And now... you're back."
The sincerity in his words brought a faint flush to Claudia's cheeks as she nestled closer into his arms, tears of relief pooling in her eyes.
Vira turned his gaze to Aengus, his expression filled with gratitude.
With a respectful nod, he said, "Thank you... Grandson-in-law. You've given me back what I thought I had lost forever. For this, I am indebted to you."
Aengus, standing confidently with his hands behind his back, gave a faint smile. "No need for thanks, Grandfather-in-law. I simply brought her heart back to where it always belonged—with you all."
In the background, Bella, who had been standing protectively with her mother, watched the scene unfold with a beaming smile. "See, Mother? This is what you Son-In-Law can do. He didn't just win the battle—he brought us all back together."
Though some questions still lingered on Bella's mind about the personality change of their Grandmother after hearing their conversation.
"What was the exact reason of her rebirth?"
That wasn't the end of my suffering, though. In the chaos of the battle, Lucifer planted a Seed of Pride Sin in my Soul. From that day forward, I was no longer myself. The seed took root, twisting me into someone arrogant, self-centered, and consumed by pride in my noble birth as the Eternal Phoenix.
This corruption made me despise demons and caused me to neglect the happiness of my own children. The love and warmth I once held were buried beneath layers of pride and ambition. Only now, thanks to your husband, am I free from the chains of that sin."
Empress Claudia finished, her voice heavy with regret, her gaze lingering on her family as if seeking forgiveness.
A somber silence settled over the group as the Phoenix Empress, Claudia, revealed the truth of her past. Her once fiery and authoritative demeanor was now replaced with a quiet sincerity, her words carrying the weight of her regrets.
Bella listened intently, her expression softening as she looked at her grandmother with a newfound understanding. "Grandmother... so all this time, you were fighting against something planted in your mind?"
Claudia nodded solemnly. "Yes, my dear. The seed of Pride Sin corrupted my thoughts and amplified my worst traits. It fed on my innate sense of responsibility as the Empress, twisting it into arrogance and an obsession with control. My love for my family, for Vira, for my children—it was overshadowed by the overwhelming need to prove my superiority."
Vira, standing beside her, reached out to hold her hand. His voice was gentle but firm. "I never stopped loving you, Claudia. Even when you changed, even when it seemed like you were no longer the woman I married, I always believed the real you was still in there."
Claudia's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at him. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, Vira. I hurt you, our children, and so many others because of my pride. I neglected the very people I should have cherished most."
"Grandmother," Bella said softly, stepping closer, "what matters now is that you've come back to us. We all make mistakes, but it's never too late to make things right."
Claudia smiled weakly at her granddaughter. "You are wise beyond your years, Bella. Perhaps that's why I see so much of myself in you. Can you show me your true form, my dear granddaughter?"
"Should I?"
Receiving a nod of approval from Aengus, Bella gracefully transformed into her Succubus Demoness form.
Her obsidian black wings unfurled, their sheen catching the dim light, exuding both menace and allure. Her piercing purple eyes gleamed with mischief and confidence, a reflection of her dual nature. Small, elegant horns grew atop her head, crowning her transformation with an air of authority.
Draped in a sleek, flowing black dress that clung to her figure, she was the perfect blend of seduction and power. Every movement she made was captivating, a testament to her mastery of both her human and demonic abilities.