Parallel Memory

Chapter 729: The Divided Court

The days following Lilith’s coronation were far from peaceful.

While workers rebuilt roads and merchants reopened their stores, another battle was unfolding deep within the royal palace—a battle not fought with swords or magic, but with words, ambition, and fear.

Every three days, representatives from every corner of the Devil Kingdom gathered inside the Hall of Black Flames, the ancient chamber where kings had once decided the fate of nations.

This time, however, there was no agreement.

Only uncertainty.

Lilith sat upon the throne at the center of the hall, silently listening as dozens of voices argued below her.

On one side stood the merchant nobles, draped in expensive robes embroidered with gold and silver. They saw opportunities where others saw danger.

On the other side stood the military faction, armored commanders and generals who had spent their entire lives fighting humans.

Between them sat scholars, engineers, farmers, and local governors, each carrying different hopes for the future.

The meeting had already lasted for nearly four hours, yet they had made little progress.

A merchant noble rose from his seat first.

His name was Duke Valther, one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom.

"Your Majesty, we have spent centuries fighting humanity, but what has that brought us?"

He swept his hand toward the nobles.

"Ruined cities."

"Empty treasuries."

"Generations of dead soldiers."

Several merchants nodded in agreement.

Valther continued,

"The Human Domain possesses fertile land, advanced medicine, and resources we lack. Trade with humans could make us richer than conquest ever did."

Murmurs spread through the room.

Some nodded thoughtfully.

Others frowned.

Across the chamber, General Draven, one of Aamon’s former commanders, immediately slammed his fist against the table.

"And what happens when those same humans march through our gates?"

The room instantly fell silent.

Draven rose to his feet, his scarred face filled with anger.

"You speak of trade because you’ve never stood on a battlefield."

He pointed toward Valther.

"Gold won’t save you when human armies are standing outside your city walls."

Valther folded his arms.

"And war didn’t save us either."

Several nobles began whispering among themselves.

Draven glared at the merchant faction.

"For hundreds of years, humans have treated us as monsters."

"And for hundreds of years, we’ve done the same."

Valther calmly replied.

"Then perhaps it is time for someone to stop."

Draven laughed bitterly.

"You think humans will simply forget centuries of hatred because we offer them goods?"

A merchant behind Valther stood up.

"No. But people who profit together are less likely to kill one another."

The military nobles immediately erupted into protests.

"What nonsense!"

"Humans cannot be trusted!"

"You’re blinded by money!"

The merchants shouted back.

"And you’re blinded by war!"

The argument quickly descended into chaos.

Lilith quietly rubbed her temples.

Beside her, Prime Minister Rykor let out a tired sigh.

"We’ve had this exact same argument four times already."

Lilith nodded.

"And somehow they still believe they’ll convince each other."

Before the argument could escalate further, an elderly scholar slowly rose from his seat.

Professor Maldrick was one of the kingdom’s oldest academics.

Unlike the merchants or soldiers, he carried no political influence.

Only knowledge.

He adjusted his glasses and spoke calmly.

"Everyone here speaks of war and trade, yet very few speak of the future."

The room slowly quieted.

Maldrick continued.

"Human technology has progressed rapidly in recent decades."

Several nobles frowned.

The scholar raised a stack of documents.

"These are reports gathered from border merchants."

He opened one of the papers.

"Human cities now possess transportation systems capable of moving hundreds of people every day."

Whispers spread through the hall.

Another scholar stood.

"They have devices capable of communicating across enormous distances."

A military noble snorted.

"What use is communication in war?"

The scholar looked directly at him.

"What use is war if humanity surpasses us in every field except violence?"

The hall fell silent.

For the first time that day, even the generals hesitated.

Professor Maldrick continued,

"Trade is not merely about wealth."

"It is knowledge."

"We can learn from humans, just as humans can learn from us."

Another scholar added,

"Imagine what our engineers could accomplish if they combined human technology with devil magic."

One of the generals crossed his arms.

"Or perhaps humans will simply steal our knowledge."

The scholar shrugged.

"Then we steal theirs."

The room burst into laughter.

Even Lilith couldn’t suppress a smile.

For a brief moment, the tension eased.

Unfortunately, the peace did not last.

A military lord stood from his chair.

"You scholars spend your lives reading books while others shed blood to protect this kingdom."

Maldrick calmly replied,

"And you soldiers spend your lives fighting wars created by politicians."

Several nobles nearly choked on their drinks.

The military lord’s face turned red.

"You dare—"

Before he could continue, another voice interrupted.

"Enough."

Everyone turned.

At the very back of the hall stood a farmer.

Unlike the nobles surrounding him, he wore simple clothes stained with dirt.

Many of the nobles looked annoyed.

"Why is a farmer even here?"

"Because food doesn’t grow in your treasury."

The farmer ignored them and stepped forward.

"My name is Toren."

He looked around the room.

"My village lost thirty people during the war."

Silence filled the chamber.

"We lost sons."

"Brothers."

"Fathers."

He looked directly at the military nobles.

"Tell me honestly."

"How many more graves do you need before you’ve won?"

No one answered.

Toren turned toward the merchants.

"And you."

The merchants blinked.

"Trade sounds wonderful."

"But trade won’t bring back the people we’ve lost."

He looked toward Lilith.

"Your Majesty, I don’t understand politics."

"I don’t understand military strategy."

"I don’t understand economics."

He lowered his head.

"But my children deserve to grow up without fearing war."

For the first time since the meeting began, complete silence fell over the chamber.

No one argued.

No one shouted.

Because everyone understood.

The farmers cared little about politics.

They cared about survival.

Toren continued quietly,

"Peace may fail."

"Humans may betray us."

"Perhaps war will come again someday."

He looked around the room.

"But if peace has even the smallest chance of succeeding, don’t our children deserve that chance?"

Several nobles lowered their eyes.

Even General Draven remained silent.

After a long moment, the general finally spoke.

"My brother died fighting humans."

The room turned toward him.

"I watched him die in my arms."

His voice was calm, but his hands trembled slightly.

"You ask me to trust the people who killed him."

Toren shook his head.

"No."

The farmer looked at him.

"I’m asking you to trust that your brother didn’t die so future generations could repeat the same mistakes."

Draven opened his mouth, but no words came out.

The room once again fell into silence.

For a brief moment, the endless arguments stopped.

Yet not everyone was convinced.

At the far end of the chamber, Duke Morvain, one of the kingdom’s most influential nobles, slowly stood.

"Peace sounds noble."

He glanced toward Lilith.

"But we are forgetting one important question."

Everyone looked at him.

"What happens to the Devil Kingdom if peace succeeds?"

Confused murmurs spread through the room.

Morvain continued,

"For centuries, our military has protected our borders."

"Our economy revolves around war."

"Our society was built around conflict."

He folded his arms.

"If peace truly arrives, thousands of soldiers will lose their purpose."

Military commanders exchanged uneasy looks.

"Our weapons industries will collapse."

Merchants frowned.

"Entire noble families derive their influence from military service."

No one spoke.

Because everyone knew he was right.

Peace was not simply the absence of war.

It would reshape the kingdom itself.

Some would prosper.

Others would lose everything.

Morvain looked directly at Lilith.

"Your Majesty, I support your vision."

The hall immediately grew tense.

"But have you considered what kind of kingdom will remain after peace?"

For the first time all afternoon, Lilith herself stood.

The entire room immediately fell silent.

She slowly descended the stairs of the throne.

"I have."

Every eye followed her.

Lilith looked at the merchants.

"I understand your desire for prosperity."

She turned toward the military nobles.

"I understand your fears."

Then she faced the scholars.

"And I understand your curiosity."

Finally, she looked toward Toren.

"And I understand your hope."

The room remained silent.

Lilith took a deep breath.

"The truth is..."

She paused.

"I don’t know if peace will succeed."

Surprised whispers spread through the chamber.

"I don’t know if humans will accept us."

"I don’t know whether this kingdom will prosper or struggle."

She looked around the room.

"But I do know one thing."

Her voice became firm.

"If we continue walking the path of endless war, then our future is already decided."

Nobody spoke.

Lilith looked toward the enormous windows overlooking the capital.

"The roads outside are being rebuilt."

"The markets are opening again."

"Children are laughing in the streets."

She turned back toward the council.

"They deserve the chance to decide their own future."

Silence filled the room.

No applause followed.

No grand speeches.

Only thoughtful expressions.

Because for the first time since the meetings began, the people gathered there understood something important.

There was no perfect answer.

No side possessed absolute truth.

Peace carried risks.

War carried certainty.

And somewhere between those two paths, the future of the Devil Kingdom waited.

Outside the palace windows, workers continued repairing broken walls while merchants prepared for tomorrow’s market.

Life moved forward.

Inside the council chamber, however, the debate was far from over.

Because while many publicly supported Queen Lilith, doubts still lingered deep within their hearts.

And no amount of speeches could erase centuries of hatred in a single meeting.

The kingdom had survived war.

Now, it had to survive peace.