CHAPTER 130……………………………………..
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Yes, I think I understand why so many young ladies can’t take their eyes off you.”
“I see.”
Esther answered politely. Her stomach fluttered—not from hunger, she told herself, but perhaps it was just because she was very hungry.
Or, more precisely, she fervently hoped it would be that way.
Rubbing her eyes lightly with a tired expression, she wondered if it had been a mistake to come out at all.
“The social scene is really bothersome.”
It didn’t suit her at all.
“I’m back.”
Sidereus had quietly returned and sat next to Charlina. Just then, desserts arrived, filling the table.
Seeing all the sweets in front of her lifted her spirits slightly.
As she picked up a fork, contemplating what to eat first, she heard a soft chuckle nearby.
She turned her head and saw the Crown Prince letting out a small laugh. His gaze was so fond it made her blush, as if she were seeing a loving couple.
“Why?”
“Because it’s clear you really enjoy food.”
“Well… eating something delicious always puts me in a good mood.”
Esther replied. Whenever she felt bad, eating something tasty always made her feel better. She had been that way since she was young.
She liked alcohol too, but Kaelos disliked it, so she rarely drank.
“That must work in your favor.”
“In what way?”
“The empire has only the finest chefs. And of course, the patisserie is exceptional.”
Esther’s eyes widened slightly.
She let out a small laugh, almost in resignation. The Crown Prince’s flattery was getting clumsy.
As she laughed, his eyes widened for a moment before he joined in, smiling.
“You look much better when you laugh.”
“I usually do laugh often.”
Smiling broadly had been a habit of hers for a long time—originally for sarcasm, but over time she had also used it to defuse situations.
“That’s a fake smile, isn’t it?”
“Excuse me?”
“Your wide smile is a fake one. But this—laughing genuinely—looks even better.”
Esther blinked in surprise.
The Crown Prince wasn’t just a figurehead—he could read people remarkably well. She had thought him frivolous, but he understood the essence of people better than she expected.
“…That’s a relief.”
“Yes. So laugh often.”
“I only laugh when something’s funny.”
She replied, glancing forward. Sidereus and Charlina were both looking at her.
“Is His Highness… wooing you?”
Charlina asked in disbelief.
The Crown Prince shrugged, then nodded.
“Yes. Though, for now, I’m being rejected.”
“It’ll probably continue that way.”
At Sidereus’s comment, the Crown Prince lifted his face with a smile.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I thought Esther rejected His Highness’s advances. Persisting like this might be disrespectful to the lady.”
“Hmm… If I truly thought it would trouble her or that she disliked me, I would have stopped.”
Esther gave no sign of reaction.
The Crown Prince laughed, tossing a statement with a bite to it. Somehow, it felt like sparks were flying in the air. Was that just her imagination?
“She seems to really dislike you.”
“No, I probably suit her ideal partner more than you do.”
The Crown Prince replied calmly. The faint, confident ease in his tone inevitably caused a deep crease to form on Sidereus’s brow.
“Isn’t that right? Esther.”
He asked, smiling teasingly, as if checking.
Esther looked at him briefly and nodded.
The future he envisioned for the Crown Princess matched more closely the future she imagined for herself. She could never picture herself in love, which made it all the more fitting.
“Right?”
The Crown Prince nodded. Sidereus glared at Esther.
When she furrowed her brow, he looked away, his expression contorted as if deeply wounded. Esther’s own face twisted in a strange mix of confusion and amusement.
“Ah! Sid, shall we go? We’ve finished dessert, but there’s still the schedule ahead.”
Charlina held Sidereus’s arm as she spoke. Esther blinked subtly at the interaction.
“…Alright.”
Sidereus didn’t refuse, simply nodded. The desserts in front of him were barely half-eaten. They rose from their seats.
“Then we have other plans, so we should be going.”
“Yes, take care on your way back.”
The Crown Prince offered a light farewell.
“Goodbye.”
“….”
Esther’s own farewell went unheard; Sidereus stared at her silently, then turned without replying.
Watching him walk away, Esther let out a short sigh.
“Why sigh?”
“Because I’m tired.”
She lightly pressed her eyelids as she said it. The Crown Prince watched her quietly.
“You seem to care a great deal about Duke Agreas. And he’s not a child, either.”
“We’ve spent a long time together.”
“Do people usually care this much?”
“…I’ve been concerned for him since he was at his lowest.”
She had seen him at his weakest and made a promise. The contract was fulfilled, and he survived safely by her side.
That was all—but now as an adult, he was more than capable of irritating her. That wasn’t something she wanted.
“Hm. Do you like Duke Agreas?”
“As a person, yes.”
“Not romantically?”
“Not really. I don’t think there’s anyone I could like romantically.”
The Crown Prince rubbed his chin and regarded her.
“I see. If that’s the case, so be it. But still, you might want to reconsider my proposal.”
“…Now?”
“If Duke Agreas bothers you, why not remove the reason? From what I see, he has feelings for you. Deep ones.”
“….”
“Rather than give him false hope, it’s better to cut it off completely. That would be better for both your futures.”
It sounded reasonable, and Esther stayed silent.
“I’m sincere. So think it over carefully.”
“…I will.”
If Sidereus was wasting time with useless thoughts, it would be best to follow the Crown Prince’s advice.
“Esther.”
“Yes?”
“So… aren’t you going to finish your dessert?”
Seeing his mischievous smile, Esther lowered her gaze.
Her cake had only a few bites missing, as if a mouse had nibbled it. She pressed her lips together and turned away.
“I… should eat…”
Her expression stiffened as she looked out the window. A familiar yet strange presence passed by, eyes hollow.
“…This aura…”
Esther slowly rose from her seat.
“Esther?”
“I’m tired today, so I’ll be heading in.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
She bowed slightly to the Crown Prince and turned to leave.
“…Did I just get rejected?”
Left alone, the Crown Prince let out a dry laugh. He remembered her pale, startled expression.
“…If I leave it, I’ll probably regret it later.”
He poked at the cake with his fork, then slowly rose and walked toward where she had disappeared.
Soon, he spotted Esther in an alley, facing someone.
“That was definitely demonic energy.”
The boundary between the demon realm and human world was strict; she shouldn’t have been able to cross freely. How did it get here?
Esther’s expression hardened slightly. Following the familiar aura, she ended up in a dark alley.
The man she was pursuing stood firmly in the center.
“Hey.”
As she spoke, his neck creaked and twisted unnaturally backward.
It rotated a full 180 degrees, cracking audibly. Yet it was alive, moving.
Esther’s expression froze. This was no longer human.
The head with its twisted neck grinned.
“How…?”
Esther parted her lips.
“You’re a demon who came this far, aren’t you?”
The stench of the demon realm made her frown. The man, eyes wide, grinned.
“Why, you know best, don’t you, Seed?”
“…What?”
“If you won’t awaken as the Demon King yourself…”
He stepped forward.
“You either die, or I force the awakening.”
His eyes rolled back, showing only the whites, as he leaned his face close to Esther’s nose.
