“Hmm. Is this the place where she spends her time?”
Arbes muttered as she slowly surveyed Hera’s room.
Hera’s bed. The blanket. The pillow. And even a doll that looked quite cute.
She was taking her time to examine everything from start to finish, feeling her traces.
‘This is a new feeling for me.’
A strange sensation that made her heart flutter.
But it didn’t feel unpleasant at all.
It felt like an emotion she might become addicted to.
Born with the fate of the Demon King and harboring the desire for slaughter.
For someone like her, the only pleasure had been the sight of flesh and intestines being torn apart and the sound of screams rising from pain.
Yet after meeting Hera, that desire gradually transformed into a want to conquer Hera as her own.
Moreover, now that the Demon Queen had withdrawn her power, the longstanding desire for slaughter that had been by her side was abruptly gone. The void it left was filled with this inexplicable sensation.
Thus, she took an oath to be by Hera’s side for life as a condition for what Hera desired.
Fortunately, Hera accepted it gladly.
The thought of spending the rest of her life with Hera made her heart beat softly.
‘Someday I guess I should get married too.’
Seeing that others were keenly eyeing her, she didn’t think she’d completely possess Hera.
But she didn’t care at all.
A great king typically has multiple wives.
Though she was more of a one-of-a-kind genius female than an outstanding king..
Still, she satisfied those wives more than any king ever could. Hera deserved it.
However, the backlash of having multiple wives… would purely be hers to bear.
Given their vicious personalities, she’d likely have to howl like a beast every night.
This was solely her fault, for recklessly enchanting others.
It seemed fair for her to take responsibility.
‘How many wives will I have, I wonder?’
If she thought about the women Hera gazed at with loving eyes, she’d probably fall quite far down the list.
But that was okay.
The game isn’t over until it’s over.
There was no way the foolish humans could defeat her—
“Lily!!”
A sudden shout interrupted her fluttering emotions.
With a frown from being disturbed, she turned her head.
A woman with the same hair color as the hero, exuding a dense atmosphere, was panting at the doorway.
Naturally, her gaze dropped downward.
Instinctively, she couldn’t help but react to the massive form she had never seen before.
‘….Not to my liking.’
Even succubi couldn’t have such a body.
Whoever she was, she had never felt such wariness toward a human before.
“..Who are you?”
The woman with the dense aura widened her eyes and looked at her.
“That’s something I should be asking. Who are you?”
“I’m the owner of this house’s sister… and you are?”
..Damn.
This house’s owner was none other than Hera.
Just as she’d suspected, it seemed she was someone related to Hera.
If she was involved with her, there was no doubt she would fall for her.
‘This could be dangerous.’
With the instinctive emergence of spikes, she had no choice but to remain cautious in light of the formidable presence.
“Are you curious about my identity? If you have the courage to pay the price, I might tell you.”
The woman’s green eyes widened.
But only for a moment; she soon shook her head and began to look around.
“That’s not important right now. Have you seen a girl with the same hair color as mine living here?”
“Are you talking about the hero?”
“Yes…! I have to talk to Lily. It’s urgent.”
“The hero isn’t here. Your efforts were in vain.”
“….Is that so.”
She could see the disappointment in the woman’s eyes.
What could be so urgent to be in such a state of turmoil?
“I’ll tell you what you need to say. What’s so urgent?”
After a lengthy pause, the woman took a deep breath and spoke as if resigning.
“Tell Lily that Hera has been taken to the Empire.”
“……What?”
These lowly beings.
How dare they take someone?
*
The strength of the First Knight Division’s horses was extraordinary.
In an instant, I arrived at the Imperial Palace.
It was practically akin to being kidnapped.
‘Was it really necessary to bind me..?’
As if they were saying I shouldn’t even think of escaping, they had tightly bound my arms with magic tools.
It felt like I could break free if I wanted to, but facing Godric and the First Knight Division alone definitely wasn’t a wise option, so I concluded it was better to stay put.
“Master! We have captured a woman.”
As I entered the reception room, Godric dragged me before the Emperor.
As I dazedly gazed up at the Emperor, Godric harshly pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me to my knees.
“Ouch..!”
Pain shot through my knee as I heard Godric’s voice.
“How dare you think of being on the same level as the Emperor.”
“…You really…”
While my resentment toward him was building up, the Emperor struck the throne with his hand, drawing everyone’s attention.
As all present bowed their heads to the Emperor, I, unaccustomed to such situations, stared blankly at him, and the Emperor glanced at me once before waving his hand.
“I have matters to discuss with this woman, so everyone leave.”
“Your Majesty! It’s too dangerous to be alone.”
Godric shot up and shouted.
While his words must have been out of concern for the Emperor, sadly, they only provoked the Emperor’s ire.
“Are you refusing to obey my command?”
Godric’s eyes trembled, and he bowed his head, eyes closed.
“I.. I apologize.”
“Get everyone out.”
When the Emperor spoke again, everyone present rapidly exited the room.
And just like that, only the two of us were left in the space.
“You must be confused because I called you.”
I could only gaze at the Emperor in bewilderment.
“…Yes… it was very sudden for you to seek me out.”
Since I had never dealt with a king before, I had no clue how to speak.
“It’s fine. Speak comfortably.”
As if he noticed my state of mind, the Emperor rested his chin on his hand and addressed me.
“……Yes.”
“We don’t have time, so I’ll get to the point.”
Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the weight of the Emperor’s authority.
Nervously, a bead of sweat slid down my throat.
“They say to hand you over to the Demon Realm. In exchange, a half-year truce was promised.”
“…….What?”
What?
“Wait, why should I be calm about this?”
The demons want me?
..Why?
My head began to spin with the unexpected turn of events.
‘…What did I do to the Demon Realm?’
I had only tried to entice the Demon King.
..Though I had indeed managed to persuade the Demon King to our side somehow.
Oh, and I did also bring Sephir from the Demon Realm.
It wasn’t intentional though.
….Hmm.
‘…I can see why they’d want to find me.’
Even if it didn’t go the way I intended, I had managed to take one of their kings and a key asset.
From their perspective, I might be seen as a significant threat.
“One person as a bargaining chip for a half-year of peace. During that time, our empire can regain the upper hand.”
Bordin looked down at me with a malicious smile.
“..Did you accept this?”
“Well, what do you think?”
The Emperor answered my question with another question, and I looked at his shadowy grin and spoke.
“You accepted, didn’t you?”
“Hmm. Half-right—”
“And then you’ll backstab us.”
The Emperor’s eyes widened in surprise.
Then, his expression shifted from one of shadowy humor to one of intrigue as he looked down at me and asked.
“A backstab? How do you plan to do that?”
How do I think?
Given your character, I’m saying it.
Emperor Bordin.
He might not be a saint, but he is certainly not an evil king.
Skilled in schemes, he sometimes shows a sinister side, but at crucial moments, displays strength.
In some ways, he might be the most sagacious king there is.
Would he truly acquiesce to a deal with the demons?
No way.
“The great Emperor will never abandon his citizens, right?”
That’s wrong. Bordin is the type who would be willing to sacrifice a few for the empire’s greater good.
I was just saying this to avoid raising any unnecessary doubts.
“Hahaha! You trust me too much. But it doesn’t feel bad.”
After having a hearty laugh, the Emperor wiped the smile off his face and looked at me with an endlessly serious gaze.
“You’re right. I don’t know why they want you, but I cannot fall for the wicked demons’ tricks.”
He adjusted his beard and continued.
“I plan to use you as bait.”
“Bait?”
“Yes. When I surrender you, the demons will bring forth a sizable army. Their leader will also come.”
He fell into silence for a moment before continuing.
“The meeting point will be at the border between the Demon Realm and the human realm. We will ambush them and eradicate all demons.”
“You’re going to… kidnap me?”
“Yes. Those who survive will be taken as hostages. And if hostages don’t work, we can extract information through torture.”
I could hardly contain my shock at the Emperor’s audacious declaration.
He’s going to kidnap and torture demons?
If that happens..
“A war will break out.”
No matter how individualistic the demons might be, they wouldn’t just stand by after witnessing their comrades harmed.
This would easily escalate into a significant battle.
Yet the Emperor showed no signs of surprise; instead, he wore a composed expression.
“Didn’t you know? The war has already begun.”
“What?”
“The invasion of the Academy. The assault on the Imperial Palace. And the annihilation of the western region. The demons have issued multiple proclamations already. There’s no more avoiding the fight.”
I was aware of the Academy’s invasion.
I had felt that dreadful calamity firsthand.
But… the western region has been wiped out?
I know the Demon Queen took her power from Arbes, but has she really done something already?
“Don’t worry. Although I’ve called you bait, I cannot harm ordinary citizens. I’ll ensure it thoroughly—”
Just then, as the Emperor was speaking,
“Your… Majesty!”
Godric, who had been outside, rushed in with an urgent expression, causing the Emperor’s face to sour.
“What is it, Godric? I told you to stay outside.”
At the Emperor’s chilling tones, Godric’s body stiffened for a moment, but he quickly shook his head and approached the Emperor.
“This is not the time!! Outside… outside right now—”
His words were abruptly cut off.
*
Ka-boom—!
With the sound of the ground shaking, a massive explosion erupted from the door, sending Godric flying to the other side.
Reacting to the sudden situation, the Emperor sprang up from his throne.
Amidst the dense smoke from the explosion, a figure began to descend.
“I tried to be nice since it’s for Hera…”
The voice was too familiar.
“I have so many things I want to kill right now.”
Athena.
Her eyes were engulfed in flames of rage, burning with fury.
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