CHAPTER 135……………………………………………………
“Ugh, these guys really cross the line.”
Esther stood up irritably. Lately, there had been no nights free from unwelcome visitors, leaving her perpetually tired.
Frowning, she swung her hand. Her magic spread out, instantly shattering the shadows that had been attacking.
“Esther.”
Seeing Sidarius burst through the door, she nodded at him.
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine, just a little annoyed.”
Other than being disturbed, she wasn’t uncomfortable. Still, if she didn’t resolve things quickly, it could become problematic.
Even though she had cast a barrier over the entire mansion to ensure her mother and father wouldn’t wake, the situation was still inconvenient.
‘Do I really have to leave?’
Her parents would undoubtedly insist on following her, no matter what.
Thinking about it made her chest feel tight. Esther pressed her fingers to her brow several times from fatigue.
She had always despised feeling tired.
“…It’s not that bad, I guess.”
Leaving for a short while wouldn’t cause major problems.
‘Siphon and Raxa are the real issues.’
If Raxa agreed to her request, nothing would go wrong. After all, the demon realm only needed a Demon King; he could handle things without her.
‘Though Raxa, as Demon King, could try to kill me.’
That was a problem for later.
In reality, if Raxa got what he wanted, he probably wouldn’t obsess over her too much.
Esther let out a short sigh, rubbing her brow. She couldn’t avoid being tired.
“Yeah… it’s not that bad.”
She muttered softly.
“What do you keep saying isn’t that bad?”
“Leaving for a short while, and Raxa taking the Demon King’s position.”
It wasn’t something she would normally share, but since Esther had already given up, it wasn’t wrong for the new Demon King to be born.
“They’re sending a delegation tomorrow.”
“…Hmm.”
Esther nodded.
The delegation was coming from the Destroka Empire. Perhaps her grandfather and members of the Egbert family would also be there.
‘I’m not really planning to meet them.’
She lightly rubbed her cheek.
“I hope Raxa gives a good answer.”
“Did you call, Lady Esther?”
Hearing the voice from the air, Esther’s face contorted.
He popped up uninvited again, as usual. She looked at him with a tired expression.
“Don’t you know boundaries?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you barge in when I didn’t call you?”
“Didn’t you call me?”
Raxa twirled the corner of his eyes slyly.
“When did I…”
He paused, suddenly recalling something he had just said.
‘He didn’t seriously think that was me calling him?’
She had only said she hoped for a good answer.
Seeing Esther’s slightly alarmed expression, Raxa shrugged and smiled.
Truly, he was absurdly shameless. Esther frowned and let out a short sigh.
“Why that expression?”
“What expression do you think I’m making?”
“Annoyed, wishing I could hit you but can’t?”
“You read me perfectly.”
He seemed to know her thoughts in great detail.
Esther said nothing, and Raxa shrugged, letting out a theatrically exaggerated sigh.
“Why are you sighing?”
“I came to give you a good answer, but you treat me this way, so my heart feels unpleasant.”
Before his sly words finished, Esther shook the blanket, sat him on it, and smiled brightly.
“When did I treat you poorly?”
“…You really change as fast as a bat, don’t you?”
“Well, our wings do resemble bats’.”
“Comparing yourself to such a trivial creature… how magnanimous of you.”
Listening to his subtle sarcasm, Esther narrowed her eyes.
“Siphon is going with you? Or are you leaving her behind and going alone?”
“We’re going together, but…”
He trailed off.
“I’m not sure if she’ll endure it in her right mind. You don’t know how long those humans have left, do you?”
It was obvious he meant her parents and siblings. However long they were gone in the demon realm, there would probably be a significant gap.
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
Her answer felt strange. Still, Siphon had agreed to go?
“She’s really going with you?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“Did you use some ability to make her agree?”
“No, I didn’t. I only promised that her parents would be able to survive after returning.”
A hollow promise, Esther realized. She pressed her hand to her forehead.
There were some promises you should never make lightly, one of them concerning the life of others.
Human life, in particular, was not something demons or devils governed.
“Is it impossible? Lady Esther. Once that is resolved, I’ll assume the Demon King’s position, stabilize the demon realm, and return in two years.”
“Return?”
“Yes, at least… if humans the contractor knows remain safe, she’ll be willing to live in the demon realm with me.”
Raxa’s words had a strange undertone, as if this arrogant demon actually cared about a single human woman.
“Did Siphon want that?”
“She agreed to it. Once the demon realm stabilizes, there would be no need for the Demon King.”
“I see.”
Esther nodded. If Siphon wanted it, there was nothing more to say.
“You didn’t force her?”
“Forcing her would cause lifelong problems. I wouldn’t do that.”
Raxa’s voice carried a hint of fatigue.
Esther frowned, looked at him briefly, then nodded again.
If they had decided, she had no right to argue further.
‘I’ll admit it feels a little disappointing.’
They had been by her side for a long time.
“To us, a hundred years is nothing. But for humans, it’s a lifetime. It’s only fair to give that much.”
She thought of Siphon too.
Raxa had spoken rather reasonably, unexpectedly.
“When do you plan to leave?”
“Sometime today or tomorrow, I suppose.”
“You’ll be lonely.”
“You don’t really think ten years is too long, do you, Lady Esther?”
“Still, even one day feels empty when someone who was here disappears.”
Hearing her, Raxa’s eyes widened slightly. He watched her quietly, then chuckled.
“You’ve changed a lot, Lady Esther. Perhaps you’re no longer suited to be Demon King.”
Raxa turned away. Esther watched him quietly, then suddenly spoke.
“Still… come back.”
“……”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I will. I said I’ll stay in the human realm for about a hundred years.”
Raxa replied, then vanished. She hoped she could at least see Siphon before he left.
‘I’m not sure she’ll allow it.’
Esther turned to Sidarius. Only he and her parents remained.
“You’ll be lonely.”
“I’ll stay by your side for life, even if you don’t love me.”
“…I still don’t understand love.”
Esther said.
Loving someone and devoting your life was beyond her comprehension. She couldn’t promise that.
“But… let’s marry.”
Seeing Siphon and Raxa, the thought suddenly occurred to her.
The feelings Raxa held for Siphon were likely romantic. Though she had been unsure, his behavior today gave her near-certainty.
“If we live together holding each other, in the end… who else would remain?”
Humans would fade away, and she wouldn’t encounter demons again.
Perhaps for a time approaching immortality, they would be together.
“I won’t meet other men. But if you ask me to love you… I can’t promise that fully.”
“…That’s okay. I’ll love more, then.”
Sidarius embraced Esther. Seeing his face full of emotion, she awkwardly patted his back.
“I love you, Esther.”
It was a heartfelt confession.
For the first time, Esther did not reject his words.
