Octavia looked over her clothes as she was getting dressed, trying to decide what to wear for the day out of all the new clothes she had. There was a fair bit to choose from now that her wardrobe had become more diverse. She could stick to what was familiar, but she'd be lying if she said that some of the new dresses she had gotten weren't appealing, especially since they were in a similar style. Maybe later, perhaps something a bit more familiar was in order. Octavia moved to take out a shirt and pants that were of a similar pattern to what she had usually had worn only in a midnight blue with constellations and a medium gray respectively along with a matching jacket. As she got them out her eyes glanced over to two pairs of her old clothes she had decided to keep for...reasons, reasons that made her blush just thinking about. She didn't get a beanie or choker though, she wanted to try to be a little different after all.
Before Octavia closed the closet her eyes went to the few outfits that Camazotz had given her, capes and all. It still amazed and surprised her that Camazotz had been so willing to give her some of her clothing as a gift, even making sure they properly modified to fit perfectly. And while she wasn't fully against the idea of wearing clothing like Camazotz, it still felt a slight bit odd to have a few bits of clothing like that. Still, it wasn't like she didn't enjoy wearing the one she did when her mother was out shopping, so she didn't mind having them and would probably wear them here and there. After she closed the closet she looked to her bed where her new undergarments she had picked out to wear laid, it was still odd that she had to wear a bra now.
Octavia went about getting changed, walking out of her room afterward and heading to meet up with her mother and Camazotz, thinking about wanting to see a bit more of what the former did in terms of her duties and maybe going somewhere before finally starting on her lessons. Sure, she was still a bit worried about her dad, despite her newfound feelings of...resentment towards him but she also just wanted as much normality in her life as she could get before things went back to hell. Was it a bit selfish? Maybe, but no less selfish then her dad had been. Maybe she could invite Typhus over to hang out one day, he was a friend after all, one of her...only friends.
Was she really that sheltered that she never really recognized that she didn't really hang out with other goetias her age? Or was it that since her parents started to grow more distant and cold towards each other that she didn't care to socialize at all just to be spared the embarrassment? Perhaps it was a bit of both, either way, could she be bothered to care now even though things were still shit? She liked being around and hanging with Typhus, so...maybe?
As she walked down the hall she saw Skittle going about his routine duties of inspecting things about the palace. "Good morning Skittle." Octavia greeted rather happily.
"Good morning young mistress, I assume you slept well." Skittle greeted back with his usual professional demeanor.
"Yup." Octavia replied. "Where's mum and Camazotz, are they in the dining room?"
"They are indeed young mistress, they're enjoying some coffee as breakfast is prepared." Skittle replied. "I assume you'll be joining them?"
"Yeah." Octavia answered.
"Shall I inform the cooks to prepare anything for you then?" Skittle inquired.
"Just some greed seed, I'm not that hungry, but some coffee would be nice." Octavia replied.
Skittle nodded. "Very well young mistress, I shall inform the staff."
"Thanks, have a good day skittle." Octavia said as she started to walk off.
"You too young mistress." Skittle remarked as he continued on his way, a slight smile on his face as he brought up his hand to form a viewing spell to inform the kitchen staff.
Octavia continued on her way to the dining room that was near the kitchen, a smile still on her face as she walked. She couldn't remember being this happy going to get breakfast in a long time. Hell, the closest time she could recall was the day where she THOUGHT her dad was going to take her to see Azatoth's tears only to be brushed off by him, thankfully there was no way that anything like that could happen again. And, despite the eerie and foreboding nature of Camazotz' castle and her servants, it did feel rather homey thanks to the fact there was no yelling or screaming. Well, there was screaming from time to time, but not of the hate filled argument kind. Plus, she was kind of growing to like Camazotz' castle, mostly because of her already present fascination in the macabre and odd.
It didn't take too long for Octavia to reach the castle, giving Camazotz and her mother a wave. "Morning mum, Camazotz." She greeted.
Stella smiled as she looked at Octavia. "Good morning my astral princess, sleep well?" She asked as she sipped some coffee.
"Mhmm." Octavia replied as she sat next to her mother.
"Do you know what you might want for breakfast?" Camazotz asked.
"I ran into Skittle on the way here, told him what I wanted." Octavia replied.
"Alright." Camazotz smiled.
Octavia looked at her mother. "So mum, I was thinking we could hang out some more today."
"I'd love to Octavia, but unfortunately I need to attend a meeting being held by the higher ups of the Ars Goetia." Stella said.
"Oh…" Octavia remarked.
"You can come if you like, honestly it's a bit past time that you got at least somewhat familiar with the day to day of the Goetias." Stella offered. "At the very least, you could finally meet some of your peers you might become friends with."
Octavia thought about it for a moment, her mother was right, at a certain point she did have to start learning things about being an Ars Goetian royal. Plus, she never actually had been around other goetians her age, maybe they were pleasant enough to be friends with like her mother suggested. Besides, it couldn't be all that bad...or boring...of an an experience, could it?"Sure, I guess." Octavia replied with a tone that wasn't really unwilling.
A smile formed on Stella's mouth as she looked at Octavia. "Splendid!" She beamed. "But you don't have to go if you feel forced to, I do want you to have the choice."
Octavia smiled slightly. "I don't mind mum."
"You sure?" Stella asked. "I don't want you to be bored to death just because you felt like you had to come."
"I'm sure." Octavia reassured her mother.
Stella smiled once more before nodding. "Very well then, we'll be leaving not long after after breakfast."
As Stella sad that, servants came with their breakfast, setting it before them before bowing and leaving to go about their duties. Once they had their breakfast, the three went about eating, talking as they did. Octavia brought up how she was curious to see more of what Camazotz did when it came to her duties and expressing her curiosity of what all was in the other palace that they had briefly went to when Camazotz showed Octavia and Stella her legions. To which Camazotz was happy and willing to do so, the two then discussing starting her training with magic and use of the grimoire in two days time. When they had finished eating the servants returned, taking the dishes and cleaning up as Camazotz went to start her day's duties as Octavia and Stella started out.
As they headed towards the entrance to Camazotz' palace Octavia stopped. "Can you give me a moment mum? I want to check on something real quick."
"Alright, but don't take too long, we need to be there soon." Stella replied.
Octavia nodded. "Thanks, I'll be right back." She said as she quickly turned around and headed down the hall, making her way through the palace back to where she was staying.
When She got back to her room she immediately went to look in a mirror, taking out some of the make up her mother had gotten her. Sure she didn't really care too much about about looking all prim and proper for royal business and wasn't going to be taking part of the meeting, but her mother had been making such an effort to be a better parent and she'd be remiss to not at least try to return the favor a little. She looked at herself in the mirror again, taking note of her now primarily light gray feathers with bits of pure violet running through them along with black here and there. The funny thing was, under certain light she could swear her new feathers looked almost like lavender, must be just the right shade to be able to play tricks with the eyes.
Looking over her newly acquired make up Octavia picked out what best matched her new feathers, applying it to her eyes before putting it back. As she was about to leave her room she stopped, looking once more at her wardrobe and the chokers she had gotten. She looked at them a moment, thinking about going ahead and wearing one before deciding against it. She had worn them routinely for years daily, maybe a brake from them here and there wouldn't be so bad. Shutting the drawer that had her chokers Octavia left her room, making her way back to her mother as quickly as she could.
"Alright, ready." Octavia said as she got back to Stella.
Stella smiled as she looked at her daughter. "You look lovely my astral princess."
Octavia smiled a bit. "Thanks mum."
"You know, a nice crown or tiara would top that off." Stella suggested.
"Don't push it mum, I already was willing to give the dresses and more...femininely accentuating underwear you got me a try." Octavia remarked somewhat playfully.
"But with your new look I don't think beanies are as...appropriate, not that I'm going to force you to stop wearing them." Stella countered.
Octavia sighed a bit. "Maybe one day, but not now."
"Fair enough." Stella relented. "Now, we best get going. With your father being...unable to attend, I'm the one that needs to be there."
The two made there way out of Camazotz' palace and walked a bit away, at least far enough away to where the palace wouldn't be visible from the other side of the portal, before opening one up and stepping through to the outside of one of Paimon's many palaces. He had a variety of palaces, all for different purposes, most of which were meant to be given to any heirs that he spawned. few had really seen or been to his main one, even Octavia was unsure if the one she had been to when she was younger was his primary one. This palace though, as opulent as it looked, might have just been for gatherings of the higher ranked Goetias only. One thing was certain though, there were a bunch of Goetian guards around. In fact, all the security were Goetias, Octavia didn't see one hellhound or even an incubus or aquatic demon in sight.
Maybe this was his main place, Octavia knew her grandfather didn't much care for demons that were under them in the class system, the only lesser demons she had seen around where he stayed were imps, and even they were only butlers and the lowest of servants. The rest, at least for protection and security were Goetias. In fact, the cooks were Goetias, the head butler was a Goetia. The more Octavia thought about it, the more she realized that she never not once seen any other lesser demon than imps as servants, the rest were Goetias. Was her grandfather really that indignant towards other demons as to only have imps for the most menial of jobs and have other Goetias do the rest?
Octavia blinked as she suddenly realized something. "Wait, if this is a meeting for the higher ranking Ars Goetia, then shouldn't Camazotz be here?" She asked as she looked at her mother.
Stella smiled as she looked at Octavia. "In my centuries of life, I have only seen Camazotz attend a gathering once, and that was the day I first met her. I don't think she cares to attend these nor really needs to." She replied. "Her duties are higher than those of the Ars Goetia after all."
"Fair enough." Octavia commented.
The two made their way into the palace, the inside just as regal as the outside. And while it was as ominous as the outside, Octavia found it nowhere near as...eerie and regal as the two of Camazotz' she had seen. There were plenty of other Goetias around, all of which Octavia assumed were dukes of differing sub-ranks and other kings and queens. There might have been a few marquis, even a few princes and princess, but if this was a meeting for all the higher Goetias then it might likely just be dukes and kings. At the very least Octavia hoped that there would be others of or around her age there.
For Stella this was almost a surreal experience, in all her centuries of being married to Stolas, she never was the one to be taking part in any sort of meeting like this, only associating with other female Goetias that came with their spouses and the odd exception who was able to do so...as she was now. Was this what it felt like, the power and authority that started to flow through her at the realization that she was to be part of what was likely an important meeting? If so, then she was going to relish every single second of it. Would anyone blame her for doing so, or for hoping that she might one day be one of those few female Goetias that were the exception to the rule?
"We must be slightly early, I think I'll at least make a good impression and proceed to the meeting chamber, feel free to go about and see if you can find anyone you want to talk to." Stella suggested. "If you get too bored see if you can at least get a servant to discretely call Cama-" As She spoke the doors tp the palace opened and Asmodeus stepped through. "Zotz…" Stella finished as she and the other Goetias looked at the sin in shock before immediately bowing to the king of the Ars Goetia and sin of lust. "Octavia, quickly." Stella informed.
"Oh, right…" Octavia said as she bowed. "Is that...Asmodeus?" She inquired as the sin of lust made his way through, giving a nod of recognition as he passed by the gathered Goetias who were bowing.
"Yes, but...usually he doesn't take on his more Goetian form." Stella replied. "This must be more of an important meeting than I thought...or maybe he's just humoring us." She mused as she, Octavia, and the others stopped bowing after Asmodeus made his way through, obviously heading to where the meeting was going to be held. "In either case, I suppose I should be heading to the meeting right away, take care." Stella said as she made her way to where Asmodeus and the other Goetias were heading.
"You too…" Octavia said as she watched her mother walk away before looking around and heading off in search of anyone near or at her age, hoping that her mother was able to handle being in what seemed to be a very important meeting.
Stella made her way through the halls of the palace to the meeting chamber, nervousness and excitement coursing through her body as she trailed behind the others. If even Asmodeus himself was attending the meeting, then just what the hell was it about and could she be able to do as good a job as Stolas might? Well, as good as he did back in his heyday, these days she was sure sje probably do better than he did. Still, the fact that all the high ranking Goetias needed to be there and that she was to be there in his stead as well was something that worried her.
As Stella approached the entrance to the meeting chamber she stopped, taking a breath as she gathered her nerves, this had to go just right. Opening the doors she stepped through into the large and surprisingly opulent meeting chamber that was bathed in Paimon's signature colors. It was wide, large enough to house as many Goetias as needed with separate sections aside from the large center one for direct addressing; not to mention rather imposing with how rich and decadent it looked. And, sitting at the end of it all, on an elevated platform that overlooked the entire room was Paimon with his wife next to him on their thrones. And above them, on his own platform surrounded by male and female Goetias strewn over him, Asmodeus. There was a third throne, perched higher up that was empty, Stella could only imagine who that particular one belonged to.
Stella's eyes briefly went back over to Paimon and his wife...Octavia, who her who daughter was named after and the primary of Paimon's many wives. Her six eyes and demeanor as stoically stern and calculated as she was beautiful with very light gray feathers that went to more medium, almost a complete inverse of Stolas' with some darker blacks that were close to Paimon's feathers and a ghostly white face. They ruled over the Ars Goetia with an iron efficiency, wanting to appease Lucifer and the sins with an effective ruling class and the most proficient and effective magic users and soldiers, setting up their own race specific laws and casts to produce only the finest of Goetians for specific purposes.
And while at first Stolas Stolas had seemed naively fond of his parents, as he grew into a more serious man the less he'd speak of them or want to be around them, never once speaking of taking Octavia to visit them after she reached a certain age. They had seemed nice enough at first, well, as pleasant as the rulers of the Ars Goetia could be at first, but they were somewhat more so than her parents. Even after Octavia's egg was laid and hatched they seemed even more pleased to a degree and were rather nice to an extent. But after a certain point, around the time Stolas stopped taking them around his parents, they started to become more business like with Octavia, expecting things much like hers had.
"Well, if it isn't Stella...our barely good enough daughter." Came a female voice, so full of pride and sophistication mixed with an almost soothing elegance.
Stella turned her attention to where it came from, eyes settling in shock and some fear on a somewhat lanky peahen who was as...gifted as she was. The feathers of the whole top of her head and running down the center of her face to just about where her beak was was a medium, if not dark, gray. The rest was a pale yellow with shades of green that even covered her beak. Emerald eye shadow complimented her green irises that had black pupils. Her attire was just as extravagant, a green and white dress that had an elongated flared up collar lined on the inside with red that was complemented with red and white gloves and red stripes near the shoulders. Beside her stood a two toned blue and white peacock with eyes similar to her brother's with stylistic lower frame only glasses who was of just as pretentious and arrogant demeanor and looked far from weak, her father. It was times like these that Stella was ever so grateful she only took so much from either of them in looks.
"M-Mother...father...what are you doing here?" Stella inquired, a bit of her old teachings rearing themselves as she sounded ever so somewhat afraid, curtsying as she greeted them only to let her fear cause a slight slip.
"All these years and you STILL can't do it properly enough." Her father remarked, his voice just as sophisticated and prideful, there was a slight hint of vanity mixed with intelligence and cold calculated thought.
"She was never all that bright." Her mother commented.
"I wonder why." Her father sneered.
"Bastard." Stella's mother remarked.
"Did you forget that since you were chosen by Paimon to be the producer of Stolas' heir that we got elevated to dukedom? Honestly you're about as bright as your mother." Stella's father said as he looked at her with growing callousness.
"Please, you couldn't figure out how to lead a legion if it hit you right in the face." Stella's mother countered before looking at her. "I do hope you've done nothing to embarrass us or tarnish our family."
Stella blinked. "N-no...N-never." She replied in an almost submissive voice. "W-what would make you think-"
"We've heard the rumors." Stella's father interrupted, his voice as coldly callus and studious as it had always been. "Honestly, an imp? Could you not do the one thing ANY female should be naturally good at and keep him satisfied? Or are you so inept and incompetent that you can't even perform what should come naturally to keep up with his tastes?" He inquired.
Stella grew somewhat pale. "T-that's not-"
"Not what, not true?" Her mother interrupted. "We heard from your friends what happened after your marriage celebration, how you just sat there stunned as Stolas gleefully humiliated you saying you're going to get a divorce."
Stella grew all the paler. "I-I-I did everything I could. Stolas, he-"
"Likely was never satisfied by your inadequacy." Her mother interrupted. "Honestly, the fact it took you CENTURIES to do what you were supposed to is an embarrassment in of itself. So much so that I'm debating if I should have just given your egg away or even thought about having another after Andrealphus."
"At least Andrealphus knows how to carry himself and to do our family name proud. Hell, for all of Astralla's failings, at least SHE was able to produce two eggs, even if she was only satisfactory." Her father remarked.
"Like you were a delight to be in bed with Eratu." Astralla muttered. "But he does have a point, as much as I loathe to admit it. You are an embarrassment and I hope you have done nothing else to tarnish our family name. Unlike Andrealphus, at least he KNOWS how to be a proper and intelligent Goetia and not be an embarrassing disappointment."
Stella grew a bit more submissive under her parents gaze. "But I-"
"But nothing." Eratu interrupted as he leered at Stella, the gaze alone sent Stella into a nervous fear as she knew the look all to well. "It's clear that we expected far too much from you, you really were just a waste of time and effort. And not just that, but an utter failure of a Goetia. We really should have gotten rid of you because it's clear all those years trying to get even the most basic of of etiquette and how to be even remotely intelligent no matter how simply we put it was wasted." He remarked with a cold contempt that bordered on anger that was all too familiar to Stella and made her gulp.
"I...I…" Stella started to tremble a little, the gaze she was under bringing back memories of...severe punishment that she could hear oh so vividly.
"Look at her, just as spineless and pathetic as all those centuries ago." Astralla mother retorted. "If this is how you're going to be then you shouldn't have shown up at all, but I suppose they couldn't find a competent enough imp servant so settled on you. And to think, for a time we thought you were an adequate addition despite your less than adequate learning of how to serve your function and be a proper Goetia."
"Come Astralla, it looks like Paimon is about to start the meeting and I don't want to be seen with this embarrassment of a daughter." Eratu said before the two headed off.
As her parents left Stella stood there a moment, taking quiet short breaths to calm her nerves before moving to take a place amongst the other Goetias, preferably far away from her parents. Even after all these centuries her parents were still the one thing she truly feared more than anything. It was one of the many reasons that she only took Octavia to be around them up until a certain point.
After she had gotten married to Stolas they had not been as bad, but the demeaning undertone of control and disappointment remained, uncaring in their backhanded remarks that were still veiled enough to not be too noticeable unless actively looking for it. Now with this mess with Stolas she was in being spread around it was clear that any pretense of nicety was off. Stella only hoped that this meeting would go well enough for them to not have any more reason to intensify their disappointment, the mere thought of which made her shudder.
"If that is everyone we will begin this meeting." Paimon declared after a few minutes, his voice as authoritative as it was regal and commanding of respect. "The reason I have called this meeting is to address the recent news on the attempted assassination attempt on my heir." A cold sensation went down Stella's spine as Paimon revealed the reason for the meeting.
"There was an attempt on your son?" Asmodeus asked as he looked down towards Paimon. "That's news to me. And quite ballsy I must say." The sin remarked as he gently caressed two of the Goetias that were draped about him.
"Yes, there was lord Asmodeus." Paimon confirmed as he looked up towards the sin. "It has left him in critical condition. Even with our advanced natural healing it appears it will take some time, as of now he is in a coma."
"Rather odd that Stolas was so injured by a mere assassin, one would think he'd be able to handle any." Asmodeus commented.
"The assassin used black market holy weapons and a unique concoction to ensure that Stolas was something they could handle." Queen Octavia informed. "Although I do concur that it is highly disappointing that our progeny was so easily handled. I thought we had trained him better." She said, her voice as soft and melodious as it was uncaring and equally authoritative. "I recall he used to be far more capable, though it seems he has grown lax in his decadent lifestyle. These rumors of him being seen with an imp at your establishment are most concerning...no offense lord Asmodeus."
"None taken." Asmodeus assured queen Octavia. "I merely assumed he was just out for a one time thrill. I am the sin of lust after all, such proclivities to indulge in things one normally wouldn't are something I encourage."
"As is your nature." Queen Octavia nodded. "And ordinarily this would not be an issue, although the fact the rumors of him doing so to tarnish our legacy and be rid of our perfectly selected mate for him is another matter."
"Agreed." Asmodeus concurred. "I might have had a bit of fun with it, but the laws are there for a reason."
Stella gulped as she heard them converse, hearing herself being referred to as a perfectly selected mate making her feel as unimportant as the way her parents had treated her. She was never privy to how she got selected to be Stolas' arranged wife but from the sounds of it it seemed she was selected from a thorough pool of other female Goetia. Stella didn't know if she should feel proud of the fact she was deemed the best out of who knows how many, or demeaned that she was essentially just...a traded object.
"Exactly." Paimon agreed. "And that is why we are to control this narrative. So far all the others citizens of hell only know that my son is in the hospital temporarily for what was an unexpected needed visit, they do not know he was targeted. Even everyone here, including you, are just now finding out the true extent." Paimon informed. "As of now we do not know how long he will be in a coma, at best we are expecting a month, at worst...six or more. And even then he still might die."
"I see…" Asmodeus mused as he looked at the two. "I did have a meeting lined up with him coming up, but I suppose that will need to be possibly rescheduled if he pulls through."
"A meeting?" Paimon inquired. "What for?"
"He wouldn't say, only that it was important official business. At least that is what Fizzarolli told me." Asmodeus answered.
"Hmm, curious, although I suppose as long as it concerns his duties it is no concern of mine." Paimon remarked. "Regardless, I called this meeting to instruct all those to pass these instructions down the ranks. You are to keep up the ruse that my son is fine and only temporarily in the hospital or elsewhere until his fate is determined." The king of the Ars Goetia informed. "I will not have it be known that my son was so easily bested due to weakness and his own foolishness." He instructed. "And if anyone DARES to think otherwise…"
Stella watched as Paimon simply lifted a hand, a random duke suddenly being elevated and moved to the center of the room. As he reached the center Paimon's hand glowed with magic as the poor duke...well, what happened to the duke almost made Stella sick as it made many others who watched the demonstration of what would happen. One thing was for certain, Paimon knew how to really emphasize a point.
"Understood?" Paimon asked, every other Goetia nodding. "Good."
"And if he were to expire, we are to make the narrative that he passed fighting like a proud Goetian, not due to his incompetent foolishness." Queen Octavia informed. "We do not need this black stain on our race's name."
"Precisely." Paimon echoed.
"Speaking of should he pass…" Queen Octavia started, her six eyes soon narrowing in on Stella even though she had made herself somewhat just a face among many. The queen's hand lifted slightly as her finger extended, covered in a magical aura ad Stella found herself being lifted up and brought to the center of the chamber before everyone and the heads of the Goetias as a whole. "How goes the preparation of his precautionary heir, my granddaughter, I trust you have been ensuring her readiness as well as lining up a suitable male to arrange her with so that she too might birth a precautionary heir despite what is going on?" She asked, as to the point as could be. There was no pretense of familial familiarity, no cordial or polite greeting, just business. Queen Octavia was as serious when it came to matters of the Goetias and the business of Hell as her husband.
Stella gulped, she could feel the eyes of every Goetia including her parents now on her, oh how she wished she had been not informed to be there. And those eyes, Queen Octavia's looming gaze was somehow far more worse than anything her parents did. Not to put her own parents out of the running, as she could feel their gaze as well boring into her.
"I...well...that is to say that Octavia is…" Stella started to say as she got increasingly nervous. "progressing...fine…"
"Is she now?" Queen Octavia mused as she continued to look at Stella, eyes narrowing. "Then why the nervous hesitation?" She inquired before standing, levitating up and over towards Stella from the elevated platform, landing right in front of her. "Surely if that was the case you'd be more confident in your answer, unless you are just that fearful of me and my husband. Which, is deserving, but I highly doubt is the case."
Stella gulped, standing there petrified as she looked at her mother-in-law. What should she do, should she try to double down on trying to lie? Or should she just come clean and hope to all that there was that she could spin it where she wasn't punished severely or looked bad? Trying to lie would only make things far worse, there was only one real option.
"Well?" Queen Octavia asked as she arched an eyebrow.
"The truth is...my queen…." Stella said, gulping as she dared not be so familiar with the queen of the Ars Goetia. "Octavia has...yet to do her studies nor does she have a groom arranged for her." She answered. "Stolas saw it fit that she would be given the choice of when to start her studies and we both agreed that she would not be arranged with someone until it was absolutely necessary, once more giving her the freedom of choice."
Queen Octavia narrowed her eyes. "I see that we may have made a mistake when choosing a partner for him, I expected better." She remarked. "At least you have the spine to admit your failings. If you were a proper Goetia you would have ensured that she was ready at ANY time for an occasion like this if my son were to pass and have her ready to be wed."
Stella could feel the anger of her parents brewing to new heights. "I did everything I could for Octavia, I cared for her after she hatched, I-"
"You did the bare minimum at best." Queen Octavia interrupted. "Had you done your duties properly as the provider of the precautionary heir you would have ensured that Octavia had servants that made sure she was studying and looking for fitting suitors, NOT SLACKING IN YOUR DUTIES TO HAVE TEA PARTIES." The Queen of the Ars Goetia emphasized.
"I-I...admit I might have gotten a bit lax in past years due to how Stolas was seemingly in control and not under any threat nor would be and his own wishes to give Octavia freedom to start when she desired...but I have corrected that." Stella stated. "I've ensured that Octavia has the best tutor possible and will begins her lessons in two days. A-as for the suitor...well…"
"Does she know ANY magic?" Queen Octavia inquired.
"N-no...at least, none that I'm aware of." Stella answered.
"Then I suppose THIS is just somehow a coincidence that someone dressed up like her?" Queen Octavia asked as she summoned an image of Octavia among the humans in L.A. without a disguise.
"W-what is this?" Stella asked in shock.
"Are you as unaware of what your own daughter is doing as you are incompetent?" Paimon asked. "We came across these images not long ago of her going through the living world undisguised. You should be thankful that it was in the one place where no one would bat an eye or suspect she was an actual demon unless they got too close or tried anything."
"When...was this exactly?" Stella asked.
"The day of Azatoth's tears." Paimon answered.
Stella blinked, putting two and two together as she recalled what Octavia had told her and anger building. "That was not my fault!" Stella defended herself. "At the time I was away from the castle because Stolas had kicked me out. It's on him that she did this as he pushed her to run away!" She then blinked as her in-laws narrowed their eyes, quickly bowing. "Forgive my slight outburst, but I truly had no idea due to him having Octavia at the time and with me being at my brother's palace because of.
"Is it now?" Paimon inquired.
"Yes!" Stella pleaded. "Had I known, I would have done everything I could to prevent that." The peahen Goetia gulped as Paimon and Queen Octavia kept their eyes narrowed at her. "It is the truth your majesties, I would dare not lie or shift blame so audaciously." She added as she bowed even further, now on both knees and hands.
"Very well...though your failings along with my son's is growing by the minute…" Paimon remarked. "You best be thankful it happened where it did and only once, otherwise…" He said as a magical aura circled his hand.
"Thank you for your mercy…" Stella said quickly as she remained bowed.
"You are not out of the woods yet." Queen Octavia reminded. "Your incompetence and apathetic lounging about with no regard to your duties still cannot be ignored." She said as she brought Stella's face to look up at her. "If this were to happen again, we would have to wipe the slate clean of this embarrassment and start again from scratch."
Stella felt an icy chill go down her spine, fear settling in her to an extent she had never known. "W-wipe the slate...clean?" She asked.
"Yes, completely." Queen Octavia replied as a magical aura encircled her hand.
The sheer implication of those words made Stella's irises shrink in absolute terror. "I...I understand."
"Do you?" Queen Octavia asked, leering at Stella with a cold calculative gaze.
"Y-yes." Stella said quickly. "I will ensure that Octavia will be properly trained and ready should anything happen to Stolas and be ready to take over when she is of age."
"Good." Queen Octavia remarked.
"Although, if I might mention something…" Stella said hesitantly.
"Yes?" Queen Octavia asked.
"Should anything happen to Stolas during her training...might I suggest humbly that my brother temporarily take over his duties? He is as proficient and capable…" Stella suggested. "Although that is for you and Paimon's infinite wisdom to determine what is best…"
Queen Octavia looked at Stella for a moment. "A rather presumptuous suggestion, but not one without merit. Had you not done so with such caution and respect I'd have struck you down." She remarked. "But Andrealphus has shown the capability to do so, it would be a prudent decision to let him take over temporarily if my son passes during her training. But do not presume to be one to offer council."
"Yes, of course, thank you my queen." Stella said as she remained bowed, hopefully this placated her parents a little and would get Andrealphus to back down a little.
"You are to also find her a suitor, not let it be left to the whim of happenstance, like is allowed with the lesser Goetias of the lower ranks, understood?" Queen Octavia stated.
"Yes...I will ensure the slate does not need to be fully wiped clean." Stella stated, her heart heavy with what she knew would happen if she failed. Still, she had finally grown so close to her daughter that she had to dare to try and help her, it was the few things she and Stolas agreed on. "But...my queen, if I may once more…"
"Watch your words carefully…" Queen Octavia remarked.
"Octavia has been sheltered, unknowing of a lot of our ways and of other Goetias, much to Stolas' insistence to make sure she was never forced into anything. As you say she is his precautionary heir…" Stella said, being careful to keep a submissive tone. "She is a princess, your granddaughter. Only the best would do for her so would it not be fitting for the granddaughter of Paimon to choose who is worthy?" Stella asked. "After all, she does take after...you in a lot of ways and has as keen an insight. It would...show that your genetics are truly superior not to mention show that those of Paimon's house are the masters of their own destiny."
"She does have a point." Asmodeus chimed in. "It shows that you and your house are the masters of the Goetias and their destinies. Plus…" He smirked. "It could be a good source of furthering my power."
Queen Octavia and Paimon looked at Stella, their minds clearly calculating her words rather thoroughly. It was clear they were considering what she said, and thankfully her appealing to their prideful nature had worked. "Very well." Paimon answered. "She will be given leeway in that so long as she is as discerning as you say and shows clear progress in becoming a replacement for Stolas. But should she pick any lesser than expected...then you are to choose one for her...or we will."
"Of course, thank you your majesty." Stella said gratefully as she kept herself low.
Paimon dismissively motioned towards her as Queen Octavia returned to his side. "Do not make us regret this leniency, or else." He remarked.
Asmodeus cleared his throat. "I believe that settles that matter, now I believe we should begin discussion of the others, like how the Goetia's efforts in preparing for our future efforts against our enemies are progressing."
"Of course." Paimon concurred.
Stella breathed a sigh of relief as she felt what might have been certain death and a potentially worse fate for Octavia be avoided completely. She had to wonder though if it would have been as convincing if Asmodeus hadn't piped up, which was unexpected to say the least. Had he taken some pity on her, or did he see her reasoning as well? In either case, Stella wasn't going to look a gift in the mouth. The only other thing she had to worry about now was...her parents, hopefully the rest of this meeting went by fast enough and she and Octavia could leave quickly. Oh how she wished Camazotz was here right now. Even if their relationship had to remain secret for now, surely she would have helped her out just as she had when they first met and in their periodic meetings after.
At least now she wasn't on a time clock to pick a suitor for Octavia and she was allowed to pick a Goetia of her liking...so long as it was one Paimon and his wife were happy with. That was only something that Stella hoped wouldn't be a problem. And with Camazotz training Octavia to use the grimoire there was little fear that she would not show progress that would please her grandparents. Still, Stella wasn't out of the woods just yet thanks to Stolas. She just hoped that Octavia was having a far more pleasant time than she was.