My Wives are Beautiful Demons

125  Agares Company?...

"Hmmm." Katharina smiled as she tasted the breakfast Vergil had brought to her in bed. She was clearly enjoying the role of a wife.

"This is one of the best breakfasts in Paris," Vergil said, feeding her a spoonful.

Katharina looked at him, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "You really know how to please a woman, don't you?" She picked up the cup with one hand, savoring the aroma of the coffee as he watched her, his gaze attentive and full of interest. "But truth be told... I never thought this kind of life could be so... comfortable."

Vergil leaned back against the bed beside her, a soft smile forming on his lips. "What can I say? Above all, what matters is that you're happy. And now that we're married, it's my duty to make sure you have the best of everything."

Katharina chuckled softly, sipping her coffee before placing the cup back on the tray. "You talk like this is a fairy tale. But between us, I think we've seen enough of what happens behind the scenes to believe that, haven't we?"

Vergil merely looked at her, his smile widening slightly, though something in his eyes hinted that he understood what she was implying. "Perhaps. But even behind the scenes, we can find a little peace... even if just for a moment."

Katharina studied him with an enigmatic, almost challenging expression. "Peace... that's something rare for us, isn't it?"

"Well, I don't believe in peace—I believe in stability. And, well, after all the chaos, we're pretty stable now, aren't we?" he asked with a grin.

"Don't even get me started... first Roxanne was kidnapped, then you, then Ada, and then you got kidnapped again," she began listing off the disasters that had occurred even before Vergil had completed his first year as a newly born demon.

"So, what's the plan for today?" she asked, abruptly changing the subject, her eyes fixed on him as he seemed to be deep in thought.

"I was thinking we should head back to the Underworld. I'm a bit worried about Viviane—she seemed... rather upset while searching for Excalibur," Vergil said, falling back onto the bed and staring at the ceiling.

He lay there, pondering what he could do for the little maid... who wasn't so little anymore.

"Well... we're going to need a new maid while she's out. Technically, she doesn't have the same work contract as the others—she's basically a slave," Katharina said thoughtfully.

"What?" Vergil asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, you didn't know about this. Well, we demons have very generous labor contracts with our maids, knights, blacksmiths, and so on... Novah, Viola, and EI all get paid very well, you know?" Katharina said with a smile.

"They earn twenty thousand dollars a month, emergency assistance, a six-thousand-dollar meal allowance, one day off per week, and life insurance if they have a family," Katharina added with a casual shrug.

Vergil blinked a few times, incredulous. "You're telling me demon maids have better benefits packages than most human companies?"

Katharina laughed, elegantly covering her mouth with her hand. "Better and far more stable. After all, maintaining loyalty in the Underworld requires rewards of equal value. Happy maids are more loyal... and less likely to betray or, you know, blow something up out of dissatisfaction."

"Okay, that explains why Novah and Viola are always so cheerful," he murmured, still processing the information. "But... what about Viviane? How does she fit into all this? I mean, a slave? That sounds a bit... medieval."

Katharina tilted her head, pensive. "Ah, but it's not. Viviane is an exception. She's not bound by a standard contract but by a magical oath—something she willingly accepted when my mother offered her a second chance at life. It's different. She doesn't get a salary because, technically, what she gets is protection, unlimited resources, and... well, conditional freedom."

Vergil crossed his arms, frowning. "And she's okay with that? Because, honestly, that doesn't sit right with me."

"Well, I wouldn't say she's fine with it, but this isn't something you can just cancel. Her oath is tied to an old debt. And let's be honest, she enjoys being your maid. She serves you with more loyalty than any of the others," Katharina said with a sly smile, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "Maybe because you're the only one she truly respects."

"Respect and servitude aren't the same," Vergil sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But if Excalibur is the issue... maybe it's time to help her find it once and for all."

"Well, I'll think about it later..." Vergil concluded.

"Hm~ Fine," Katharina replied, knowing full well it was pointless to press him further.

Vergil was about to get up when Katharina grabbed the remote from the bedside table and turned on the TV absentmindedly. "Hold on, I want to check the news before we go."

The screen lit up, displaying a news anchor with a serious yet slightly excited expression.

"And in global economics, a massive shake-up has struck the stock market this morning. Companies worldwide are grappling with the repercussions of unexpected moves by major corporations. Leading the chaos is 'The Agares Company,' whose staggering 300% stock surge in less than 24 hours has sent shockwaves across the market."

Katharina, who had been only half-paying attention, froze at the mention of the company's name. She blinked, incredulous, as the screen displayed a graph shooting sky-high. "Wait... Agares Company?! That's my family!"

Vergil, who had been putting on his shoe, stopped dead in his tracks. Slowly turning his head, his face was a mix of confusion and dread. "W-wait a second. Isn't my mom the current CEO? Didn't Saphire put her in charge?"

Katharina narrowed her eyes. "Yes, she is." She paused, then looked at him sharply. "What exactly is she doing?!"

The broadcast continued, showing footage of sleek corporate offices and employees in a frenzy.

"Sources suggest that this dramatic surge stems from an unexpected strategy by CEO Felicia Kennedy, who reportedly made a high-stakes bet in a series of extreme risk negotiations, leading to the collapse of several smaller competitors. Analysts are stunned by the surgical precision of these decisions."

Vergil felt a bead of sweat trail down his temple. "That... sounds like her. But... 300%?! That's not normal! What's she planning now?"

Katharina took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "Vergil, your mother is one of the most unpredictable and dangerous people I've ever met. If she's decided to use Agares Company for something, you can bet there's a much bigger goal behind it."

He ran a hand down his face, trying to process everything. "I knew she was busy, but this? I didn't even think she was this hands-on with the company—I thought it was just a facade!"

"Oh, she doesn't just get involved—she dominates." Katharina crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "But this... this is bigger than business. It's almost like she's... provoking someone."

"This is so bizarre..." Vergil muttered, staring at the news and the massive red graph dominating the screen.

The shrill ringtone of his phone shattered his thoughts. He glanced at the screen, where the word Mom flashed in bold letters.

Katharina's eyes widened. "And there it is. The source of the chaos."

Vergil swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment. "Why do I feel like this isn't going to be a peaceful conversation?"

"Because it never is with her," Katharina replied, crossing her arms and leaning in to see what he'd do next. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He took a deep breath before swiping the screen and answering. "Hello?"

Felicia's voice came through the phone, low and sharp as a blade. "Ah, darling. I'm so glad you answered so quickly. Imagine if I hadn't called over six hundred times in the past few months with no response. I was just about ready to send someone to fetch you—maybe kidnap you, beat you senseless, and lock you up until you remember you have a mother."

Vergil's eyes widened as he gripped the phone tighter. Katharina, sitting beside him, tilted her head curiously, maintaining an amused smile.

"Oh, hi, Mom…" he answered cautiously, trying to ease the tension. "I've just been busy, you know… married life and all."

Felicia's short laugh on the other end was anything but amused. "Oh, busy? How precious. Busier than a woman who runs a billion-dollar company, manipulates markets, and still finds time to call her ungrateful son six hundred times?"

Vergil rubbed his temple, feeling a bead of sweat roll down. "Well, when you put it that way, it sounds like I'm the villain in this story."

"It doesn't just sound like it, darling. You are the villain in this story." Her tone softened slightly, but every word carried a razor-sharp edge. "But that's fine, because I'm about to fix it. You're in Paris, aren't you? Of course, you are—I already spotted you on the city cameras. You're going to catch a flight immediately and come here. And if you don't show up, I'll personally drag you here myself. Is that clear?"

"Crystal clear. We were already planning to come," he replied quickly, shooting a glance at Katharina, who simply rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"Wonderful. And bring your lovely wife along. Katharina, dear, I know you're listening," Felicia added, her voice suddenly sweet but laced with undeniable menace.

"I love you too, Felicia," Katharina replied in an exaggeratedly sweet tone, waving sarcastically at the phone.

Felicia ignored the comment. "And Vergil, darling, I hope you're aware that your recent inactivity is testing my patience. You're going to make up for it. Prepare yourself for some… interesting conversations. See you soon. A driver will be there shortly—I expect you to go with him."

The line went dead before he could respond, but Vergil could easily picture his mother, legs crossed in a massive chair with a devilish smile on her face.

"Your mother… is scarier than mine," Katharina remarked with a shiver. "She used the city cameras to monitor you? Isn't she supposed to be in Los Angeles right now?"

"And I used to call her 'The Honored One'… Crazy woman," Vergil muttered before standing up.