Side Story. 03
Lilith flinched in surprise at Elias’s booming shout.
It was because Elias knew exactly what she had never told anyone—what was in her heart.
“Ah… my child…”
Lilith urgently grabbed Elias’s shoulders and glanced around.
What if someone had heard?
Of course, something like that shouldn’t happen… but her greatest fear was that it might reach Asmodeus’s ears.
And Elias understood her worry perfectly.
“Don’t worry, Lady Lilith. Ever since you manifested here, I’ve made sure no sound leaks out around us.”
Elias smiled mischievously, and only then did Lilith relax.
“I see…”
“Yes. I’ve always done this whenever you appear, Lady Lilith.”
“Thank you for being so considerate, my child.”
“It’s nothing. It’s only natural.”
Elias shrugged.
Lilith gazed at him fondly and gently stroked his hair.
“But still… you already knew what was in my heart.”
Lilith asked, forcing herself to calm her trembling emotions.
Elias nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. I couldn’t not know.
I watched you closely after Lord Asmodeus disappeared.
And your sorrow then… was the sorrow of someone who had lost the person they loved.”
Lilith gave a bitter smile.
Then, lowering her voice, she spoke.
“That’s right. Back then, I didn’t fully realize what I was feeling.
But as time passed, my emotions toward Asmodeus became clearer.
However… now I…”
Lilith trailed off.
Elias, who had been listening quietly, carefully placed his hand over hers.
“Lady Lilith… are you pushing Lord Asmodeus away right now?
From what you said earlier, it sounded like you were.”
Lilith slowly nodded.
“…Yes. That’s correct.
The truth is…”
In the end, Lilith began to confess everything that had happened over the past month—
From the times she casually ignored Asmodeus, all the way up to what happened today.
As Elias listened, his expression changed constantly.
“Lady Lilith…”
He couldn’t continue easily.
*I knew she wasn’t good at romance… but this is seriously bad!
Well, I’m not exactly great at it either… but still!
I can’t believe it’s this bad!*
Elias steadied himself and looked at Lilith.
Then, carefully taking her hands, he spoke.
“Lady Lilith… I-I’ll help you!”
Lilith’s eyes widened slightly.
“Huh? Help me?”
“Yes! I’ll help you so things can go well with Lord Asmodeus!”
“Ah… I…”
Lilith hesitated.
Of course, she was grateful… but was it really okay to accept help?
Elias had always been someone she felt she needed to protect.
Receiving help from him made her feel strangely guilty.
“Is it a burden for me to help?”
As if reading her thoughts, Elias asked.
Lilith quickly shook her head.
“No, it’s just… I feel sorry toward you.”
“Don’t, Lady Lilith.
You don’t need to feel sorry.
I’m doing this willingly because I want you to be happy.”
“Eli…”
“I understand your heart, Lady Lilith.
So I want you to be happy as soon as possible…
Together with Lord Asmodeus!”
Elias’s sincerity made Lilith’s chest ache.
At last, she nodded.
“…Alright, my child. I’ll try, just as you say.”
“Yes, Lady Lilith!”
Elias’s face brightened.
“Then what should I do now?”
Elias smiled slyly.
“From now on…”
* * *
After meeting Elias, Lilith returned to the Demon King’s Castle.
*“If you want to look good to someone you like, the first thing you focus on is appearance.
So the best thing is to figure out Lord Asmodeus’s type!”*
Lilith recalled Elias’s advice.
And just then, she spotted Asmodeus entering her office.
“Asmodeus.”
“Yes, Lilith.”
Asmodeus approached with documents in hand.
Lilith snatched them from him and asked,
“What kind of demon do you like?”
“…Huh? A demon?”
“Yes. What kind of demon do you like, usually?”
Lilith didn’t realize it, but her expression was extremely sharp.
Asmodeus grew slightly intimidated.
“Well… if we’re talking demons, obviously… a strong demon?”
Lilith’s lips curved faintly upward.
“A strong demon… yes, strength is good.”
She nodded in satisfaction.
Who was the strongest demon in the Demon Realm?
Naturally, it was herself—the Demon King.
So of course Asmodeus can’t help but like me.
Asmodeus watched her with confusion.
What is Lilith doing…?
But her strange behavior didn’t stop there.
“Come to the dining hall in two hours.”
Lilith spoke as if issuing an order and left the office.
Left alone, Asmodeus stared blankly after her.
Lilith… what is going on?
* * *
Two hours later, in the dining hall.
“Uh…”
Asmodeus froze in shock.
In the month he had lived in the castle, he had never seen so much food prepared.
The long table was overflowing with dishes—
Not only famous foods from the Demon Realm, but even human cuisine.
“Lord Asmodeus, please sit here.”
One of the servants guided him to his seat.
Asmodeus, bewildered, obediently followed.
Not long after he sat down, Lilith appeared.
But today’s Lilith…
What… why is she wearing the Demon King’s armor to dinner?
She was dressed in the traditional attire passed down through Demon Kings—
“The Demon King’s Armor.”
Black armor covered most of her body, clearly uncomfortable for a meal…
Though undeniably powerful.
“You came, Asmodeus.”
“Y-yes.”
“Then let’s eat.”
Lilith sat at the head of the table with a bright smile.
Her smile was always beautiful—
But with the armor, it felt… terrifying.
Still, Asmodeus forced a smile and began eating.
“How is it?”
Lilith asked, barely touching her own food.
Her unusual behavior made Asmodeus feel like he might choke.
“It’s… delicious.”
“Right? Our chef is excellent.”
Lilith smiled in satisfaction and dismissed the nearby servants.
Soon, only the two of them remained in the vast dining hall.
Demons don’t get drunk easily, but still…
Since it was a special occasion, Lilith brought out a famously strong liquor—
“Hell Gate.”
It only gave Demon Kings and Archdemons a mild buzz…
But lesser demons would pass out after a single drink.
“Let’s have a drink.”
“Sure… Hell Gate. It’s been a while.”
Asmodeus smiled faintly.
They drank and talked about many things—
Recent news from the Demon Realm, trends in the human world…
Before they knew it, both of them were thoroughly tipsy.
After all, they had emptied ten whole bottles together.
“L-Lilith…”
Asmodeus called carefully, his voice thick with drunkenness.
“Why are you acting like this today?”
“Hm? Acting like what?”
Lilith answered, her eyes half-lidded.
Asmodeus’s cheeks were red as he spoke.
“You’ve been… strange today.
The way you treat me.”
His expression was unusually serious.
Lilith bristled.
“Well, that’s because I…”
She stared at him for a moment—
Then squeezed her eyes shut and confessed.
“…Because I like you.”
