CHAPTER 57………………………………….
The carriage entered deep into the forest. Zhenya looked around at the trees, which all seemed the same, and asked,
“So… where are we going?”
After a long moment of staring contests with Lumière, the Demon King, who had completely lost interest in him, spoke indifferently.
“To the capital.”
“…Excuse me?”
They were supposed to be escaping the temple, but now they were heading straight for the main temple?
Yet the Demon King remained calm. Zhenya decided to at least hear him out first.
“And the carriage?”
“We go together.”
“Isn’t that too conspicuous?”
A carriage suddenly appearing in the middle of the capital—it would be a grand, flashy entrance.
“There’s a mansion I purchased in the capital. That’s where we’re headed.”
The Demon King had a mansion in the imperial capital?
‘I don’t even have a house, and he does?’
Zhenya held back a strange expression.
“Wouldn’t it have been better to head there immediately after arriving in the human world?”
Was it really necessary to stay in another city first? Because of that, they unnecessarily ran into Lumière’s companions, complicating matters.
But the question was answered quickly.
“It’s a mansion Leraige obtained yesterday.”
Leraige had really done a lot in the human world.
Zhenya, feeling a bit uneasy, thought of Leraige diligently driving the carriage. The ride was smooth, with hardly any shaking, suggesting he had a knack for this as well, aside from the carriage being sturdy.
Still, as a noble of the demon realm, it made her feel a little sympathetic.
“So we’ll be staying there for a while?”
“Yes. Behave inside the mansion.”
It was a statement emphasizing that this trip was entirely for their sake. Zhenya replied quietly, not wanting to provoke the barely cooled tension further.
“…Understood.”
Just then, Leraige stopped the carriage and knocked on its side.
“Your Majesty, shall we move now?”
“Yes.”
The moment the Demon King responded, a dazzling silver magic enveloped them.
How long had passed? A squeak, and through the opening door, Leraige’s voice was heard.
“We’ve arrived.”
As the door opened, the Demon King leapt from the carriage first. Zhenya, with Lumière’s help, stepped down and looked around.
Since they moved directly to the central hall of the mansion, the interior came into full view at once.
It seemed to be a recently acquired mansion, yet the interior was neat. It wasn’t grandiose, but elegant and clean.
“What do you think? Do you like it?”
“Yes. Though I’m a bit worried.”
Could they really hide safely in the capital? Zhenya’s concern drew a mischievous smile from Leraige.
“Isn’t the darkest place right under the lamp?”
Laughing at the thought that no one would imagine them hiding in a capital mansion, Leraige guided them to the sitting room.
“I need to inspect the mansion and select a suitable room.”
It was clear he was checking both the mansion’s safety and whether it met his aesthetic standards. Zhenya said nothing and let him go.
Again, the three of them were left in the sitting room, awkward and uneasy.
With Leraige, the smooth mediator of the group, gone, the room’s atmosphere grew cold.
Zhenya subtly glanced at the other two, and the Demon King suddenly asked.
“So, have you made a plan?”
Zhenya, confused, revealed her surprise.
“Aren’t you rushing things a bit?”
His stubbornness was extreme. But the Demon King’s next words made her swallow her sigh.
“The temple actually moved up its schedule.”
“…The temple is impressive, really.”
The temple, panicked by rumors of the hero’s death, had hastened the ceremony to confirm their presence.
Zhenya deliberately erased her conversation with Lumière from the previous day and pulled out the documents the Demon King had given her. She spread the pre-selected list of nobles on the table.
“I’m thinking of using this person.”
Count Graenon.
The Demon King flipped through the papers and asked,
“How?”
“I’ll use my status as you wish.”
“Do you know them?”
Zhenya recalled a vague face.
“Not strangers. Distant relatives of my father.”
“A duke of the kingdom, then?”
“Well, I’m not relying on bloodlines.”
“Then?”
Zhenya looked at the Demon King calmly.
“Among the nobles who defected to the Empire, this is the only one who lost their entire family to demons.”
The Demon King looked up from the papers and met her gaze. Zhenya returned it without flinching. He tossed the papers back on the table as if to say, “Look further.”
“They never remarried, so even if something goes wrong, the damage is minimal.”
Zhenya recalled the daughter of Count Graenon, someone of the same age she occasionally ran into, and asked,
“What do you think?”
“Well, in the end, it’s your decision. Do as you like.”
“I’ll take responsibility for the results?”
“Of course.”
Zhenya responded firmly to his arrogant reply.
“Understood. Then, when should we move?”
“The ceremony is in two days. The royal family will leave the palace in the morning.”
“…That’s fast.”
As Zhenya tried to glance at Lumière, the Demon King asked,
“When would you like? The day before, or the day of?”
After a moment of thought, Zhenya replied immediately.
“Early dawn on the day of.”
The Demon King asked, surprised.
“Confident in persuasion?”
“There won’t be many servants.”
Though her words were blunt, the Demon King showed no sign of offense.
“Hmm, fine.”
He rose from his seat.
“Then we should consider how to make you look like a princess during this period.”
He smirked at Lumière, and it seemed amusing that Jeremiah and Lumière were engaged.
“Leraige will help with attire.”
No sooner had he finished than Leraige appeared, opening the door.
“Your Majesty, I’ve found an excellent room for your stay.”
Seemingly unconcerned why the Demon King was standing, Leraige smiled broadly without surprise.
“Good, let’s go.”
Zhenya ignored Leraige’s remark about showing her the room afterward and watched the Demon King walk ahead.
Because Lumière insisted on staying in the same room, Zhenya ended up sharing it with him once more.
“The next room is empty, though.”
Lumière smiled faintly, recalling the completely vacant room.
“It’s dangerous, Zhenya.”
“But you said this was safer.”
Zhenya blurted out, surprised, and Lumière replied casually.
“Only compared to the temple.”
His calm response eased her tension. Exhausted from the sudden journey, Zhenya flopped onto the bed.
“So, what should we do?”
“I’m not confident in persuading others. If it’s hard, you can use me. Wouldn’t it be fine if the hero accompanies you?”
“Not that. Pretending to be Jeremiah.”
“Ah.”
Zhenya shifted her feet and turned to Lumière.
“We won’t be compared side by side, so it doesn’t have to be exact, but we can’t act too differently either.”
At the very least, she needed to look like a noble at first glance.
“Will she remember etiquette?”
Zhenya eyed her own hands skeptically.
“Zhenya, your movements are quiet and graceful. Don’t worry.”
Lumière, always flattering her, lacked credibility at times like this.
“Hmm, really?”
“Yes. Quiet people like you are rare.”
Zhenya smiled faintly.
“I’ve been cautious to avoid being caught by demons if I stand out too much.”
Jokingly, but Lumière’s expression darkened. She glanced at him.
“Just joking.”
Still, he replied in a cold tone.
“Always tense from dealing with demons, I’m sensitive to movement. So you can trust me.”
Zhenya frowned, and he shrugged.
“I’m joking too.”
Clearly not joking, but since she started it, she let it slide.
“I didn’t know you could talk so well.”
“I learned from you, Zhenya.”
Not entirely untrue. Zhenya, feeling awkward, muttered.
“There must have been other good things too.”
“They say we learn bad things first.”
Zhenya let out a bitter laugh.
“Not a word wasted.”
Lumière smiled softly after her.
“I thought you’d like this.”
“Me?”
When exactly? But Lumière didn’t answer and began organizing the clothes.
He started laying all the clothes they brought across the floor.
“I’ve heard princesses tend to be frugal.”
Frugal? Her? Had his tastes changed, or was this image-making?
Zhenya suppressed her negative thoughts and forced herself up. Instead of wasting energy on worry, she helped Lumière sort through the clothes.
Lumière picked up the most extravagant outfit and frowned.
“Why is there a banquet outfit for me?”
‘Just in case. Who knows when we’ll part ways?’
She couldn’t say that, so she mumbled.
“I just bought it.”
“But there’s nothing for you, Zhenya.”
Of course—she disliked flashy clothes and didn’t need a party outfit this time.
“It’s not my style. But it suits you, Lumière.”
She gave a half-hearted excuse. Lumière set the outfit down and asked,
“…Do you like my face?”
“Huh?”
“I think you like handsome faces.”
Oh.
Zhenya blinked a few times and smirked.
“You know you’re handsome, huh?”
Indeed. Even without sharp eyes, observing reactions would make it impossible not to know.
