For the next few days, Luna made it a point to do rounds in the territory in an overbearing fashion.
Several people got slapped hard and several people were whipped mercilessly at her whim, perfectly portraying her tyrannical image, even though most of the people deserved what was coming to them.
Taking things a bit further, on the third day, Luna alone stepped out of the castle and the guild territory, and when she returned, she brought back five beast carcasses that were freshly killed and dripping blood.
These beasts were not just ordinary beasts. They were elite-grade beasts who had been harassing the raid squads who entered their territory.
And Luna quickly solved this issue by taking out these beasts all on her own, even ordering the guild to prepare a grand feast for everyone using the beast's meat.
Just when everyone enjoyed the feast and began to relax, Luna unexpectedly slaughtered three of the ten guild leaders right in front of the entire territory.
She looked like a demon spawned from hell as her eyes glittered in the moonlight while she proclaimed, "This is the fate of those who defy the Alarastre clan. Let this be a lesson to all."
The sudden and brutal display of power sent shockwaves throughout the territory.
The Crown's Shield guild had a total of ten guild leaders and these three were the worst of the ten as they dabbled in slave trading and forced women to prostitute themselves.
The elimination of these three corrupt guild leaders by Luna served as a powerful statement, instilling a sense of justice and order that had been lacking under their reign.
The remaining guild leaders of the Crown's Shield, now acutely aware of Luna's zero-tolerance policy for such malpractices, swiftly adjusted their behavior and operations.
Fear and respect for Luna, the supposed scion of the mysterious Alarastre clan, solidified in the hearts of the people. Her actions, although harsh, established her as a formidable and unchallengeable leader.
Meanwhile, Lan Fen brought up the topic of not having enough manpower at the right moment.
Still unaware of Luna's identity, she tried to plead the case of Crimson Abyss guild members saying that Crawford had unfairly banished them for no fault of their own.
A couple of days of investigations later, Luna casually gave the order to reinstate these Crimson Abyss guild members.
The decision was met with mixed reactions. Some were wary of bringing back those who had been associated with the previous regime, but Lan Fen's arguments about their usefulness in the current situation swayed many, especially the little tyrant.
And so… a couple more days later, a group of people entered the territory using the teleportation station.
Lan Fen and Lan Deming stood at the entrance, patiently waiting to greet them all. The two bowed to beg for forgiveness for their actions that led to Alex's miserable plight and swore that they would rescue her no matter what.
The next instant they saw that Alex was standing alive and well right in front of them. The duo became speechless.
The two were dumbfounded, unable to understand how this was possible. Alex laughed and brought the two alone to finally fill them in on the details of who the new ruler was.
The two siblings almost cried in happiness and relief when they learned that the new ruler was none other than Liam, operating behind the scenes and that the intimidating young mistress was, in fact, Luna.
Though there were still some grievances left, no one could hold a grudge against the siblings when they saw all of their families rush towards them with tears in their eyes.
The two siblings had managed to secure everyone without the loss of even a single life. The entire guild broke down as they never thought that such a day would come.
Boisterous laughter and celebratory cheers filled the air as the reunited members of the Crimson Abyss guild embraced each other, their eyes brimming with tears of joy and relief.
That night no one slept as everyone stayed up and enjoyed the reunion. A huge bonfire crackled in the middle of the street with several people dancing and singing to their heart's content. A lavish feast was cooked and barrels and barrels of ales and wines were emptied.
Everyone shared stories, reminisced about their struggles, and celebrated their guild's official comeback. The air was thick with emotions – relief, happiness, and a sense of camaraderie that only those who had faced the brink of despair together could truly understand.
Inside one of the houses, Liam also sat down along with Luna, Mei Mei, and Shen Yue and enjoyed a simple home-cooked dinner that they had all prepared together.
Liam used one of the superior beast's meat that he had hunted down back in Tirnanog. The beast meat was very nutritious and delicious, making for an exquisite meal.
As they dined, the mood was light, the conversation filled with laughter and fond teasing. Thanks to Mei Mei's persistence, Liam relented and ended up talking about his time in the elven world, shocking both women.
In the quiet of the early morning, as the first light of day crept through the windows, the storytelling finally ended with Mei Mei passing out with loud snores.
It was clear that she was sleeping freely and peacefully after a long time. Liam did not want to disturb her and signaled Shen Yue to quietly stand up.
The two of them retired to one of the adjoining rooms, leaving Mei Mei to her restful slumber. In the privacy of the room, Liam and Shen Yue shared a quiet moment, looking at each other.
"I still can't believe that you are here." Shen Yue sighed.
"I am not the best boyfriend, am I." Liam laughed.
He, usually so composed, showed a hint of vulnerability in his smile. "The outside world is not as simple as I thought. I don't know how long this peace will last."
He gazed out the window, where the first rays of dawn were painting the sky in hues of pink and orange.
"It's fine. Whatever comes, we will face it together." Shen Yue leaned in closer to plant a kiss on Liam's cheeks.
Liam smiled, wrapping his arms around her and taking her lips in a tender kiss. The room was filled with a comforting silence, broken only by the distant sounds of celebration outside.
Liam picked up the woman next to him and gently placed her on the bed. As he did so, he whispered, "Rest now, we've both earned it."
Shen Yue shook her head. She nestled into the bed, her gaze never leaving Liam's. "Stay with me," she murmured, her voice a soft plea.
Liam smiled tenderly and nodded. He tried to give her space and hugged her gently while closing his eyes but he could feel that the woman was not satisfied with just this.
With a chuckle, he then started getting busy in earnest. Undoing the dress she was wearing, his hands roamed over her body, gently feeling her and teasing her. Soon things started heating up and the room was filled with various sounds.
The room, bathed in the soft glow of dawn, echoed with the quiet, intimate laughter. The two lay close together, wrapped in the comfort of each other's presence.
In this tranquil space, the chaos of the outside world seemed distant, almost irrelevant. However, suddenly Shen Yue broke this pleasant silence and spoke.
"Liam, can I ask you something?" She paused and then corrected herself. "Two things." She unfurled her fingers, showing her index finger and her middle finger.
"Hmmm?" Liam raised a brow. Shen Yue had never asked him for anything up until now, so he was a little startled. Also… the timing she chose to ask…
"Of course, ask away," he encouraged, his curiosity piqued.
Shen Yue took a deep breath, her gaze meeting Liam's with a mixture of seriousness and vulnerability. "First," she began, holding up her index finger, "I want a child."
Liam's eyes widened. But before he could say anything, Shen Yue placed her fingers on his lips. "Let me finish. This past year I have thought about many things, many regrets, and many memories. But the one thing that I regretted the most was not having a family with you."
"I know that the world right now is chaotic and I am probably selfish to want to bring a child into this world. But I will love that child with all my heart. The next few years are all we have. I want a…"
Shen Yue's voice trailed off, her eyes searching Liam's for understanding. "I want a piece of us, something that's ours, something that symbolizes our love and commitment, even in these uncertain times," she whispered.
"I want you to be there with me even when you are not there by my side. Do you understand?"
Liam remained silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of her words. He then gently removed her hand from his lips, holding it in his own. "Shen Yue," he began softly, "I understand your desire, and it's not selfish. Can I have some time to think about it?"
Shen Yue nodded, her eyes moistening. "I know, and I don't expect this to happen immediately. But it's something I've been thinking about, and I wanted to share it with you."
Liam squeezed her hand reassuringly. "And the second thing?" He prompted gently, noticing she still had another finger raised.
Shen Yue smiled faintly. "The second thing is simpler. I want you to marry me and I also want you to marry Alex."