CHAPTER 39
Leave It in Front of the Door
“I heard the Imperial Palace assigned the subjugation of the Black Dragon.”
“Ah, I see. That must be why the eastern region has been peaceful lately.”
Through the newspapers, it was announced that the Imperial Palace had dispatched the Hero to subjugate the Black Dragon.
Some voiced concern, questioning whether it was appropriate to use the Hero for “something like that.”
In response, the Imperial Palace dismissed such worries, stating that the Hero exists for the peace of the world, and eliminating dangerous magical beasts is also for the sake of peace.
However, that led to another problem.
“Did you hear? The Hero has disappeared!”
“What? The Hero? How? Did something happen?”
After the Black Dragon subjugation, the Hero’s whereabouts became unknown.
[Breaking News] Where Has the Missing Hero Gone?
The Hero, Gabriel, has disappeared.
According to the grocery store he frequently visited and nearby residents, he has not been seen since the mission involving the Black Dragon.
It has also been revealed that even the Imperial Palace does not know his exact whereabouts.
Concerns are rising that something may have happened to him.
Saintess Clarisse reassured the public, stating that if anything had happened to the Hero, she would know immediately.
However, even after a week, the Hero has not reappeared, and the anxiety of the Empire’s citizens continues to grow.
***
Meanwhile, Ehilie had been spending peaceful days lately.
“Did you sleep well, Ehilie?”
“Mm, yes. Did you sleep well too, Rek?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I slept well.”
When she opened her eyes in the morning, an absurdly handsome man, practically glowing, would greet her with a smile.
“You must be hungry. I’ll prepare breakfast right away.”
There is no need. Lucy has already prepared something simple, so please rest a little longer, Ehilie.
A relaxed morning where someone else prepared the meal for her.
She had never imagined she could live such days.
And that was not all.
“Today’s dessert is mille-feuille topped with custard cream and raspberries.”
Croissants rich with butter, cake slices that melted the moment they touched her tongue, thick and sweet pudding.
Rek brought her all kinds of desserts every single day.
Not only that, he stocked the kitchen storage with fresh ingredients for the day’s cooking, allowing her to experiment with new dishes in high spirits.
Today as well, while eating warm bread fresh from the oven generously spread with butter, jam, and cream cheese, Ehilie suddenly grew curious.
“Rek, how do you keep replenishing the ingredients and desserts?”
The mansion was surrounded by a desolate forest.
There were no nearby shops, and she had not seen visitors or carriages arriving.
“There are ways, Ehilie.”
Rek smiled lazily and gently wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth with his finger.
He then brought the cream-covered finger to his lips and tasted it.
“Sweet.”
“W-Why are you eating that?”
“Is that not allowed? It did not fall on the ground.”
“Well, that is true, but…”
His seductive demeanor made Ehilie feel inexplicably shy.
“Ehilie, while you stay here, you need not worry about anything. We have more than enough funds, so if there is anything you want, simply tell me.”
At his low whisper, Ehilie nodded.
That was true.
High-ranking noble houses often had secret routes unknown to outsiders.
The supplies were likely being brought in through such discreet channels.
Ehilie chose not to pry further.
As an outsider, it would be impolite to ask too much.
“Alright. Then tomorrow, could you get some seafood? I want to make tomato seafood pasta with shrimp and scallops.”
“Of course.”
***
What Ehilie did not know.
“Well, well, Herond. Back again today? What do you need?”
“A sack of tomatoes.”
“Got it. Here you go.”
“Wait. There is a bruise on this one.”
“Ah, once it goes into the mouth, it is all the same, is it not?”
“These are items His Highness ordered. I cannot take flawed goods. Only the finest quality.”
“Tch, you are strict. Fine.”
Every night, Herond busily traveled not only through the Demon Realm but even to human markets to procure only the highest-grade ingredients.
“Let me see… Freshly pressed olive oil? He wants it made directly? Your Highness, are you not being unreasonable?”
While Herond ran himself ragged carrying out errands, Redemberg Lu Edeltein stood in the middle of the vast sea.
Despite the violent waves, he stood as steadily as if on solid ground.
Black demonic power split the seawater apart.
In an instant, the seabed was exposed.
Hundreds of sea creatures were suddenly lifted into the air.
Sailors who saw a pillar of water rise into the sky and fish floating midair turned pale.
“I-It is a disaster! The gods are enraged!”
“Aaah! It is a sign of the world’s end!”
The one responsible for this catastrophe scanned the surroundings with blazing red eyes.
His sharp gaze quickly found his targets.
“Shrimp, scallops… ah, and squid too, was it?”
He had merely split the sea to bring freshly caught seafood to Ehilie.
Who could possibly imagine that the great Demon King would personally gather ingredients in the middle of the ocean for the human he loved?
But Rek did not care.
If Ehilie would be happy, he was willing to do something this trivial as many times as needed.
As he imagined her bright smile, a gentle smile spread across his lips.
It was the tender smile of a husband shopping for his wife.
***
Some time later, Rek informed Ehilie that he would be going out unexpectedly.
“I am sorry, Ehilie. I have urgent matters to handle and must leave the mansion for about a day.”
“There is no need to apologize, Rek. I will be fine. Please go.”
“If you need anything while I am away, tell Lucy.”
“Yes.”
Ehilie walked him to the mansion door.
“I will return soon, Ehilie.”
“Yes. Travel safely, Rek.”
It felt strangely domestic.
As if she were seeing off her husband.
Ah! Come to think of it, I still have not told Rek that I like him!
Only after he left did she realize it.
She had intended to tell him that she thought she liked him too.
But she had been so immersed in their peaceful routine that she completely forgot.
I must tell him when he returns.
If one were to define their relationship, it was hardly different from that of lovers.
They slept in the same bed, woke up together, ate breakfast together, and spent each day in the same house.
Lovers?
No, perhaps “married couple” suited them better.
“I-I have lost my mind. We are not even officially dating, so how can I call us a married couple!”
Rek had insisted so persistently on the husband-and-wife narrative that she seemed to have been influenced without realizing it.
Fanning her flushed face, Ehilie returned to her room.
Was this room always so spacious?
Sitting on the sofa, she felt an emptiness.
The mansion felt especially quiet without Rek.
He had barely just left, yet she already missed him.
***
In front of the old, worn-down mansion, Bella smiled sinisterly.
As expected, investigating Herond was worthwhile.
Unlike Redemberg Lu Edeltein, who meticulously erased all traces, Herond had been somewhat careless.
Thanks to the demonic power and feathers he left behind, Bella finally located where he stayed.
“If I had done this earlier, I would not have wasted time trying to extract information from the Hero.”
Even under Bella’s brutal torture, Gabriel had revealed nothing about Ehilie.
Mind control had not worked either, so she gained no information from him.
Well, it does not matter. I found this place anyway.
All that remained was to deal with the woman named Ehilie.
By chance, both Redemberg Lu Edeltein and Herond were absent.
“Let me see…”
As Bella tried to open the door and step inside, a sharp pain shot through her hand.
A barrier cast by Redemberg Lu Edeltein surrounded the mansion, preventing unauthorized entry.
“How thorough you are, my dear.”
But he seemed to have overlooked one variable.
The barrier only prevented outsiders from entering.
Those inside could step out freely.
Bella tilted her head.
What a careless barrier. Why go through the trouble?
Still, it made things easier for her.
Bella immediately put her plan into action.
A brown-haired maid had come outside to clean the exterior wall.
“Hello.”
Bella approached in an instant and waved.
The maid’s eyes widened in shock.
“You are—”
Bella’s tail pierced the back of the maid’s neck.
“I am rather busy. Do not worry. It is only a temporary paralysis poison. Sleep quietly.”
Bella tossed the unconscious maid aside carelessly and stood before the door.
She pressed the bell confidently.
Soon, a presence was felt beyond the door, followed by a voice.
“Who is it?”
Hiding her sharp tail and claws, Bella smiled sweetly.
“Hello. I brought the item you ordered.”
Now, open the door.
But contrary to Bella’s expectations, the door did not open.
Instead, an absurd reply came from inside.
“Leave it in front of the door.”
