Chapter 117
“I’m ready too.”
The one standing there was Ariella, but not the Ariella Ludwig had known.
Her red hair was tied neatly back without a single strand out of place, making her facial lines and neckline stand out clearly.
Her tidy yet restrained appearance gave off both elegance and firmness.
And beneath it shone a gaze—sharp and strong, one that no one could face lightly.
Her high nose, firm lips, and glossy cheeks completed the look.
Even just standing silently, she drew every eye.
“What are you staring at like that?”
Ludwig, dazed by Ariella’s transformation, snapped back to his senses.
Instead of blurting out what rose in his heart, he turned the topic to what she was wearing.
“…Those are the things we took that day.”
Ariella frowned.
“Took? You could at least say it better.”
The day they escaped from the ship heading to the emperor’s wedding.
Ariella had dragged Ludwig to the cargo hold.
There, treasures bound for the Empire were stacked high, and Ariella had warned Ludwig they had to snatch some.
It was her way of not leaving empty-handed after all that had happened.
After all, who knew what awaited them in the Demon Realm?
That foresight was invaluable. Once in the Demon Realm, Ariella—half by choice, half by necessity—sold some of the treasures to help rebuild Ludwig’s Demon King territory.
Of course, she kept a portion for emergencies.
Like the antique emerald ring on her hand, the golden necklace at her throat, and the elegant green dress flowing around her body.
“Shall we go?”
Ariella’s voice carried a strange sense of resolve.
“Why do you look… all dressed up so beautifully, yet wear the face of a warrior heading into battle?”
Already armored in spirit as well as appearance, Ariella replied,
“Of course. It’s a ball, isn’t it? You said it’s the place where all the high demons gather.”
“And?”
Ludwig blinked at her.
Ariella clicked her tongue.
“Society may not draw swords or spill blood, but… it’s still a battlefield no less fierce.”
The tension in the air was broken by Pi.
“Ariella! Look, doesn’t this suit me perfectly?”
The hatchling lifted his neck proudly, showing off the black bowtie wrapped around his golden scales.
As usual, he wore nothing else.
Ariella wondered briefly if the outfit was appropriate.
‘If he were human, it would look like being naked with just a bowtie. But… he’s a dragon, so maybe it’s fine?’
The bowtie wasn’t even originally his—he must have begged for one when he saw the others getting dressed up.
‘Still…’
Ariella asked with concern,
“Is it really okay for you to wear that around your neck now?”
Pi answered brightly,
“Yep! No problem at all.”
There was a reason she asked.
Right after rescuing Pi, he couldn’t stand having anything touch or bind his neck, hands, or feet.
She’d learned this when trying to tie a cloth bib on him while he kept spilling food.
Even after settling into the Demon King’s castle, he’d once trembled violently at just that small act.
It was the lingering trauma of the cruel iron restraints he had suffered when imprisoned by the Fedwick Merchants.
‘But now he’s fine… The scars must have faded.’
Relieved, Ariella smiled and stroked Pi’s head.
Before long, an attendant arrived to guide them.
On the way, Pi chattered excitedly,
“I bet Ariella’s prettier than all the demons at the ball put together!”
“You’re overdoing it today,” Ariella replied lightly, not taking it seriously.
But Cecile chimed in,
“You know I never flatter, right? But really, today you’re shining. Don’t you agree, my lord?”
“Mm? Uh… well, sure.”
Soon, they joined the southern merchants and orcs waiting in the lounge.
The merchants looked thrilled—perhaps realizing this was their chance to expand business into the North.
The orcs, on the other hand, looked very uncomfortable.
As their captain, Ariella asked,
“Did you all sleep well?”
“Captain!”
During the voyage, the merchants had played the role of crew, and now “Captain” came naturally to their lips.
“We slept very well. Slept in so late we even skipped breakfast.”
“But after sailing so long, land feels strange. With the bed not rocking, my head feels dizzy instead.”
“Funny, isn’t it? Seasickness is long gone, but now we get land-sickness.”
Their tone, while polite, was much more relaxed now.
Naturally so, after sharing hardships at sea.
“That’s called land-sickness. If you’re feeling it, it means you’ve truly become sailors.”
Then Ariella turned to the orcs.
Their specially tailored formalwear, made to fit their bulky frames, clearly made them uneasy.
One scratched at both shoulders, another stretched and bent his arms, muttering,
“Ugh, so stiff. Feels worse than armor.”
“Why’s it so tight? Can’t even breathe.”
One orc looked at Ariella with concern.
“Captain, we really have to attend this ball?”
“Yes.”
“Once inside… what exactly do we do?”
Ariella answered casually,
“Just enjoy yourselves.”
She meant it.
Though the ballroom was a battlefield, she planned to take the brunt of the fight herself.
No one expected orcs to master court etiquette.
And the northern nobles wouldn’t bother picking fights with mere sailors.
“If someone talks to you, just answer politely. Don’t stress. Remember, this is basically a welcome party for us.”
“A welcome party, huh.”
One young orc nodded.
“So… like a village festival.”
Their eyes lit up as they remembered their own traditions—lighting fires, roasting freshly slaughtered boars, guzzling ale straight from barrels, dancing wildly to drumbeats while smashing rocks.
Dreamlike memories.
“Then, when we go in, we should take a spot by the bonfire. Since we’re the guests.”
“And when the beast is killed, of course the Captain drinks the blood first. But how do we decide our order after that?”
“We should play drums as thanks too. I can show off again.”
“No, stop! None of that.”
Clearly, they’d misunderstood.
Ariella waved her hands quickly.
“No fire. No slaughtering beasts. No drums.”
The orcs looked shocked.
“Then… how’s it even fun?”
“…Just enjoy talking with strangers. And if you don’t understand, just smile and nod.”
Their faces darkened.
“But don’t worry—there’ll be plenty of food and drink.”
The orcs brightened immediately.
The central hall of the Demon King’s castle.
Beneath the golden chandeliers, high-ranking demons traded quiet words over wine glasses.
“They say another dark-iron mine was found? Our Demon King’s realm knows no end to its prosperity.”
“All thanks to His Majesty’s wisdom. Even with growing production each year, he keeps funding exploration.”
“Lord Rowdel, long time no see. Your expedition went safely, I trust?”
“The northwest border is bitterly cold. Naturally so, since beyond it lies no Demon King’s land.”
“I hear monsters outside the border are increasing in number compared to last year?”
“Oh! My lady, you’re as lovely as ever. Care to join me on the balcony for some quiet—”
Suddenly, the murmurs fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the entrance, the attention spreading like a wave.
The heavy doors were opening.
And from beyond, Ludwig and Ariella stepped in.
“Ah, that must be them!”
Hundreds of eyes fixed on the strangers.
Curiosity, scorn, even hostility.
Ariella felt the weight of their stares upon her skin.
But her steps never faltered.
Walking side by side with Ludwig, she strode proudly toward the center of the hall.
“Ariella, when you stand before others, never shrink yourself. Even without words, there’s a way to become the center.”
Her late mother’s voice echoed in her mind.
“So hold your head high, and walk each step as you will it.”
“A human? Ah… the southern Demon King’s contractor, is it?”
“She looks even younger than expected.”
“They say this human is the key figure in the deal.”
“Pfft, just rumors. How could a young girl like that be?”
Their blunt words poured down, but Ariella didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.
“But the southerners call her Captain.”
“Captain? Is that true?”
“Soldiers escorting them swore they heard it clearly.”
All the northern demons knew by now—the southerners had achieved the miracle of crossing the dreadful sea.
A voyage no one else dared attempt.
And the one who led that voyage… was this human girl?
