The world is full of loyal subjects worrying about the Empire.
The gem mine was a military asset that should not be coveted by dubious groups like cults.
It is only natural that Governor Pastel, the eternal loyal subject of the Emperor who only offers upright counsel, manages such a thing.
But in a world overflowing with selfishness and greed, what seems natural is rarely accepted.
Only when the hearts of loyal subjects worrying about the Empire gather can the Empire run smoothly.
“Long live!”
Pastel cheered alone in the office set up in the hotel.
“Stepmother! So many people are working hard to protect your business!”
Including me!
I’m totally living my best life!
The Demon Lord gave a strange glance.
『What’s this ‘stepmother’ you’re talking about?』
“Stepmother is just stepmother!”
Although I have the wonderful title of Duchess Nastasha, as her daughter, I should call her ‘Mom’!
Wait.
Then shouldn’t I just call her ‘Mom’ instead of ‘stepmother’?
Calling her ‘stepmother’ seems to deny her status as a mother, and I fear the Duchess might feel hurt.
Pastel quickly corrected herself.
“Stepmother is Mom!”
Wow.
『…I don’t understand.』
The Demon Lord rubbed his chin. He turned to the window and raised an eyebrow at a flying pigeon.
『So, is she a new mom? Hm. You can talk to animals if you want, but maybe it’s time to stop doing that in front of others. You’re at an age where you should care about such things, so it’s better to change your behavior.』
His voice seemed to carry remnants of past frustrations from washing underwear.
Whoa.
That’s completely absurd.
How could someone think I’d refer to a passing pigeon as Mom?
Not even the room-renting fairy would do that.
Pastel’s gaze narrowed slightly.
“Why don’t you just focus on yourself, Demon Lord?”
『Huh?』
The Demon Lord looked bewildered.
Pastel pouted her lips.
“It’s totally petty to keep bringing this up when you were the one who messed up.”
『No, what the—』
The Demon Lord seemed on the verge of saying something.
But Governor Pastel, being a busy person, shook her head vigorously.
“I’m leaving, I’m busy, alright? I’m not someone who just wanders around like you do, Demon Lord.”
The Demon Lord was taken aback, but when Elly walked in holding a stack of documents, he was quickly shooed away.
Elly looked back at the departing Demon Lord in confusion.
“Why does the Great Demon Lord look like that?”
“I dunno, he’s super petty.”
He seems too petty to be the Great Demon Lord.
Elly glanced at Pastel with a hint of inquiry. It seemed she had many thoughts to share.
“What’s up? Do you have a question?”
Pastel tilted her head.
The Demon Lord being petty might not warrant discussion, but smart Elly’s words were worth listening to.
Elly hesitated, seemingly unsure if she should step in and risk making things awkward.
Then she glanced briefly down the corridor where the Demon Lord had left before closing the door.
Their eyes met.
“Well…”
“Spill it! We can talk openly as friends!”
We can manage to discuss things that even Melissa can’t, like the gem mine!
Elly sighed in relief and began to speak.
“Maybe you should show a bit more respect for the Great Demon Lord? As a demon, seeing him treated like that complicates my feelings. Plus, if you like the Great Demon Lord, it’s best to present a good image.”
Wait.
So, Elly seems to have complicated feelings when she sees the Demon Lord.
Hmm.
Pastel tilted her head in silence.
A moment of silence passed.
When those pink eyes kept staring, Elly flinched and began to pale.
It seemed she was regretting how her warning sensors had dulled while staying cooped up in the hotel and palace.
But it’s really just Elly overreacting. There’s no need to self-reproach between friends, so Pastel chuckled.
“More than that, isn’t it a bit disrespectful for you to call him ‘Great Demon Lord’? For me, it’s fine since we’re close, but you and the Demon Lord are technically strangers, so the familiarity seems unnecessary.”
As Elly pointed out, the Demon Lord once held considerable authority over the demon race.
Even if he doesn’t say it, he likely wouldn’t appreciate it if you disregarded his authority by approaching him so casually.
Elly’s eyes trembled. It looked like too many thoughts were racing in her mind. She swallowed hard and slowly asked.
“So, how should I address him?”
Whoa.
The etiquette question from Princess Elly.
Asking something so complicated from someone like Pastel who’s barely set foot inside the royal palace would make her head spin.
“I don’t know. Maybe try following Melissa’s lead?”
Melissa has a rather awkward way of referring to the Demon Lord. She calls him something like “that Great Demon Lord” or “that person.”
It feels like a respectful title, but it still acknowledges the fact that he’s a bad Great Demon.
Elly seems to accept the title of Great Demon Lord as merely a symbol of strength, but for someone from the Empire bathed in the light of the shrine, it carries a completely negative connotation.
If the Demon Lord did something evil, you could immediately cast a magical bullet at his head without any damage to your honor, and yet, maintain an attitude respectful during conversations.
This balanced but aloof attitude could only be pulled off by a born noble girl.
Wow.
Honestly, I think the most terrifying thing lies behind the seemingly open heart of Melissa. She seems to enjoy fairy tales while unphased by torturing people. The future commander from the South is truly frightening.
I’m lucky to call her my best friend.
Shudder.
“Ah…”
Elly nodded, but she couldn’t hide her disappointment. As a reformist, she’d finally gotten close to someone she admired yet now feels the need to keep her distance.
After inviting the Demon Lord to discuss national development plans at the palace last time, perhaps she had some personal motives after all.
Pastel’s mouth dropped open.
“Wow.”
Her calm voice echoed in the office.
Elly’s hands trembled, causing the stack of documents to shake.
“Oh! Right! We should get to work!”
Pastel clapped her hands.
“We don’t have time for idle chatter! Especially you, Elly! You’ve got so much to do!”
You’ve got to oversee the suspicious railroad technology of the cult, negotiate between the Craft High Merchant and the Demon Realm Stock Company to assert your rights as they push to lay down railroads across the entire nation, and now we have a gem mine issue on our hands.
Elly is no foolish ruler who would waste energy on trivial matters!
Right, right!
Pastel grabbed the documents and flipped through them.
“I think we can smoothly acquire the gem mine? The loyal subjects had some concerns about the existing sales plan, but because the cult made a mess of things, we decided to simplify the contract into private negotiation.”
Not handing military resources over to the enemy is truly important. The idea of competitive bidding in this situation is absurd.
Elly cast a cautious glance. She rubbed her trembling hands, slowly exhaling, then calmly spoke.
“Their side said they would raise the acquisition funds, so the issue now lies with the Demon Realm Stock Company. They intended to support the acquisition funds with equity investment, but now that they don’t need those shares, trouble is bound to arise. We should be prepared.”
“It’s fine! It’s fine! Instead of troublesome negotiations over profit margins, let’s aim to maintain a conciliatory stance as business partners. People like Count McKenna adapt quickly when their counterpart changes their attitude. Let’s focus on keeping human connections instead of just money!”
Good, good.
Pastel set the documents down. She locked eyes with Elly.
“By the way, do you know why the cult was trying to acquire the gem mine?”
Even her father, a high-ranking official, didn’t understand their motive. While gems are military resources, there’s no war on the horizon, and smuggling would suffice; acquiring a mine seems unnecessary.
“Perhaps their goal is to secure a source of income. After reviewing the scale of the bribes, it seems that acquiring the mine could allow them to use it as collateral to draw funds from the Empire Bank, thereby establishing a steady income stream without hindering cash flow.”
Income, huh.
“After eliminating the demons who were in contact with the cult because of your assassination attempt, they likely found themselves urgently needing funding.”
That does seem plausible.
If the demons they were sponsoring suddenly vanished without a trace, it would create significant issues for an organization of the cult’s scale regarding income and expenses.
Hmm.
That’s entirely rational reasoning, but…
“I got it! Thanks! I’ll ponder it a bit more! Please let Melissa know I plan to visit the gem mine!”
Left alone, Pastel crossed her arms, puffing up her cheeks and then letting them deflate again.
Though the reasoning made perfect sense and I agreed wholeheartedly, knowing the fairy gave me an uneasy feeling.
Well, fairies do enjoy gems.
What could be so desperately needed that they would acquire a mine where they could wish for energy?
Ugh.
Only bad thoughts arise.
Of course, it could also mean they are seizing the opportunity to acquire funds, but there may be another core reason.
Hmm.
When in doubt.
“Fairy! Good Fairy!”
You can just ask her yourself!
I’m totally clever!
I glanced around the office.
The fairy emerged from behind the window planter, radiating an air different from usual.
Whoa.
The fairy flew over to the desk and landed, looking down haughtily.
―You! Are you not misunderstanding something?
“What?”
―You thought I’d come just because you summoned me? Absolutely not!
Whoa.
What’s with her today?
Ah?!
Pastel suddenly recalled the reason.
It seems the stress from having to absorb the energy of the corrupted fairy friend she had to deal with earlier lingers on.
Ugh.
I was inconsiderate.
Sorry, Fairy.
―Seeing that expression, I see you finally figured it out?
The corners of the fairy’s mouth turned upwards with confidence.
―That’s right! I absorbed the power of that corrupted fairy, and now I’m significantly stronger! I’m not the same as before!
Whoa.
Is that how it is?
So, she’s a million times stronger now?
“Wow! Congratulations, Fairy!”
Woo hoo!
I might actually get a wish for immortality!
Pastel quickly clapped her hands.
―Uh? Uh? Thanks!
The fairy replied accidentally.
Then she looked flustered and changed her expression to one of realization. She shook her head vigorously.
―No! It’s not that! This means I’ve finally acquired power! I’ll finally rid myself of my past shame!
The fairy began to levitate slowly.
With a gaze filled with fury, she glared at the girl.
―You humans have exploited me all this time while calling me Good Fairy, huh?
The black energy stirred and flowed through the fairy’s hair.
Pastel felt a chill run down one side of her chest.
Uh-oh.
Could it be that the benevolent being disguised as a kind entity has gained power and is now betraying her partner…?
Am I possibly being deceived all this time?
―From now on, I will not listen to your words! Starting today!
She gestured to indicate herself.
―I’m going to be Bad Fairy!
Boom.
The confidently declared fairy wore a smug expression.
Whoa.
Pastel’s mouth gaped in shock.
Bad Fairy.
Bad Fairy…!
The name reeked of wickedness.
Ugh!
No way!
How did Good Fairy end up on the bad path?!
Please grant the wish for immortality and turn bad!
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