Being worshipped is quite enjoyable.
Though it feels a bit disappointing when it’s a worship paid for with money, the thrill of it when it’s someone else’s cash is still exhilarating.
The moment I stepped into Count McKenna’s villa, I was greeted with a perfectly synchronized array of greetings from the lined-up maids.
“Welcome, Marquis!”
“Hehe.”
Pastel trembled with a grin on her face. She wrapped her arms around herself, fidgeting, and her legs felt a bit weak.
“Ah! The power of unfathomable wealth that I haven’t yet grasped. To be treated like this by such a being. Pastel, Pastel…”
She wobbled and leaned against the Demon Lord.
“The feeling of getting tipsy from power.”
The Demon Lord looked perplexed, supporting her.
“Don’t get too weird. Lately, your state has been getting increasingly strange.”
“I’m slowly turning purple.”
Full demon corruption.
Is this the price for unsealing the Great Demon?
“I’m scared.”
With a playful tone, she rubbed her cheek against his attire.
At this rate, she’ll turn violet.
The Demon Lord narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Then let’s splash some pink paint.”
“Puha!”
What does that even mean?
Pastel looked up at the Demon Lord, her pink eyes sparkling.
“How childish! Demon Lord! Maintain your dignity! It’s embarrassing to say such things while dressed in a suit!”
The Demon Lord looked slightly put out, his pride somewhat wounded.
“You’re unhappy even when I’m trying to match your level? What does ‘embarrassing’ even mean? Speak properly. Communication should be based on mutual respect.”
Uhhhhh.
“If you don’t understand what ‘embarrassing’ means, then you’re not matching my level! You’re doubly childish! You made a childish remark without even matching my level, Demon Lord!”
With a resigned expression, she pushed off the Demon Lord’s support.
“Honestly, no one except me can match the Demon Lord’s level.”
She shook her head.
“What are you so confidently saying? I am the one matching you!”
“Ding ding ding!”
She waggled her finger at the bewildered Demon Lord, shooting him a side-eye with her pink pupils.
“So you were dumped by Mom.”
“No.”
The Demon Lord’s expression morphed into one of frustrated contemplation. After a sigh, he swept his bangs up, adopting a look that said, “What do you want me to say?”
Is that the expression of a heartbroken lovesick fool?
Ding ding~.
Honestly.
No one except me can match the Demon Lord’s level.
“Hehe.”
This is the boundless capacity of the great Pastel to even bring a Great Demon to repentance!
Pastel twisted her body.
I’m utterly magnificent!
“Marquis Craft!”
Huh?
As I turned around, the butler, who had slipped out of existence, approached. It appeared that he took the liberty of interrupting Pastel’s moment of solitude.
“I will escort you to the reception room.”
“Ah! I’m so sorry!”
Pastel clasped her hands together and bowed her head. Her pink hair danced in the air.
The butler and all the maids, who had been silently observing, let out a breath of relief.
Oh no.
I’ve taken such treatment for granted.
Is this the side effect of power?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Ugh.
Suddenly, a quote popped into my mind that made my conscience prick.
Pastel was led directly to the reception room.
“The Count will be here shortly.”
“Okay.”
The butler bowed and exited.
Pastel adopted a serious expression. Sitting on the intricately embroidered sofa, she crossed her legs in the posture the Demon Lord often used.
“Demon Lord, what should I do? Life is so enjoyable.”
It almost makes me forget the mental struggles I had because of Dad.
Ohhhh.
Isn’t this just an escape through power?
The boldness of a dad who throws away his child with such declarations of love is leaving me mentally confused…?
Stop right there.
I tried to understand what love even is, but when I wanted to embark on a romance, the Demon Lord categorically opposed it without clarifying his motives.
Ugh.
Suddenly, I feel like I want to date twice as much.
But thanks to that strong objection, I regained a bit of reason and thought it over, realizing that starting a romance as the popular Pastel isn’t the best choice.
Sadly, there are so many people who can’t distinguish romantic feelings from friendship.
With how chummy I act, everyone must be thinking, “Does she like me?”
I’ve even received several confessions already.
“Sorry! I don’t date friends! Just because I called you a friend doesn’t mean you’re a romantic interest! Friendships can’t turn into romances! That’s the rule of a popular person! If a decorative cherry blossom turns into a not-so-decorative one, it’ll be chaos!”
Ant Friend just exploded.
“Hey! Look here! Hi, Ant Friend! The crumbs look delicious! Do you love me too? Of course you do! It’s just a normal thing! Right?”
I squished my shoe.
“Ahh! Ant Friend! To stomp a hardworking Ant Friend to death, you’re such a bad person?! Such a complete jerk!”
Added to the blacklist.
Anyway.
Still, it feels wrong to just blindly accept a marriage proposal from someone’s portrait in order to learn about love, like the Demon Lord said.
After fidgeting around, I finally yelled.
“I don’t get it! No matter how I think about it, Dad is weird! If he loves Mom, shouldn’t he love me, who looks like her?!”
No matter how much his daughter looks alike, he shouldn’t so coldly separate the mother and daughter as a scholar!
If he can’t distinguish, that’s practically a crime!
Pastel was starved for love.
So, instead of pursuing love, she decided to devour power instead.
Devouring power.
Ugh.
It’s way tastier than I thought.
Life is becoming exciting!
The great powerful Pastel groaned.
“It’s so much fun! At this rate, I might actually turn purple!”
What I said earlier was just a joke, but a thrilling future really lies ahead.
Uh-oh.
Feels like something about that description is off?
“It’s always been about rebellion or something, and it’s gotten worse recently. I suppose it’s a relief that you realize that.”
The Demon Lord rubbed his chin.
“I think it’s because the manners and respect have collapsed. Showing respect to your teacher, honoring your guardians—I think it would be good to observe this hierarchy.”
Pastel stopped groaning. After some deep thought, the corners of her mouth perked up slightly.
“Isn’t that just the Demon Lord’s hope?”
The Demon Lord shrugged.
“Think what you want. Just know that everything seems unnecessary for a reason. That’s how hierarchy works.”
Pastel crossed her arms, contemplating like a model student.
Then she smiled brightly.
“I don’t want to!”
The Demon Lord looked displeased.
“Do you even have any intention of solving this problem?”
Hehe.
“Your reaction makes me feel like I really don’t want to do anything.”
“Ugh.”
The Demon Lord rubbed his forehead.
“What do you want me to do about it?”
I don’t know~.
You’re the source of the problem, so please take responsibility later.
#
She walked down the hallway with Count McKenna.
Though he wasn’t in a suit, his outfit, decked out in gold accessories, was quite striking. In fact, without the suit, he looked like an incredibly wealthy merchant, and it suited him well.
Pastel couldn’t help but admire.
“Back then, that fashion wasn’t complete. It’s like my perspective has broadened.”
“Is that so? Some nobles get caught up in the old ways and inevitably criticize, but you seem to truly appreciate luxury goods, Marquis.”
Count McKenna fiddled with a golden bracelet. It leaned more toward glamour than practicality.
“I suspect it’s a ceremonial bracelet that priests might have worn in ancient times. The important thing is that the design is very sophisticated, so it wouldn’t feel out of place in this era. It’s a top-tier luxury item that combines historical and practical value.”
“Wow!”
It looks extremely expensive!
Pastel’s heart raced at the price tag attached to the golden bracelet rather than its appearance.
Thump thump.
Count McKenna wore a pleased smile. He took off the bracelet and handed it to her.
“Would you like to try it on?”
Ugh.
With trembling hands, she accepted the golden bracelet. When she slipped it onto her thin wrist, it felt a bit loose, but the weight was significantly felt.
This weight.
It’s indicating the price tag matches me perfectly.
How delightful would it be to wear something like this all over my body!
Isn’t it just my imagination that a pink and white outfit wouldn’t look perfect with a golden bracelet?
Shouldn’t I embrace this friend to fulfill the role of a popular person?
Count McKenna looked regretful.
“Oh dear. It doesn’t suit your appearance, Marquis. What a shame.”
It can’t be.
Pastel helplessly returned the golden bracelet.
When they reached the end of the hallway, they arrived at a separate space dedicated to the golden collection.
All around were various golden decorations arranged closely together.
There were treasure chests overflowing with gold coins, a tiny airship made of gold, and even a gold-leafed world map.
Pastel’s mouth hung open in awe.
She came for auction collusion and business, but it felt like her mind was drifting elsewhere.
As her gaze wandered, she spotted a bookshelf and paused. Leather-bound books were crowded together.
Oh?
An eye-catching intellectual collection stood out.
“Would you like to read one?”
Pastel smartly pulled out a book.
The thin, tanned leather felt hard in her hands. Upon opening, she found pages filled with words written in melted gold.
Wow!
A book that fits someone as smart as me!
Count McKenna picked out another book.
“This one is made with the leather of the demon race.”
Leather from the demon race.
“It’s a collection made during the war. Each book details the life and demise of one demon.”
He gestured to the bookshelf.
“The current market value has dropped, but its future value is still substantial. With more funding for historical studies and more museums, when considering the material value, the price will surely rise significantly in the long term.”
Leather from the demon race.
Pastel’s hands started shaking.
The book dropped.
Count McKenna quickly caught it. His eyes stared at Pastel, bewildered.
“Marquis? What’s the matter?”
Pastel was astonished, her hands trembling. She looked at the pages in shock and glanced back at the confused Count.
Their gazes met and a brief silence hung in the air.
“Do you dislike demons?”
Count McKenna looked even more puzzled.
“What era are we in? I have no grudge against demons.”
Pastel swallowed hard.
“Why are you doing this?”
Count McKenna appeared perplexed for a moment, then seemed to ponder deeply, as if he had been asked an existential question.
He then spread his arms wide as if he had reached a conclusion.
“Because I love them.”
The golden collection surrounding them unfolded.
“All of this.”
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