MSH •

<CHAPTER 10>

Do Women Dislike Handsome Men

Dating.

So, going out together?

You and me?

She almost nodded as if possessed.

‘No. Why would I nod!’

Dating Rek was absolutely impossible.

“I’m sorry. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Ehilie firmly rejected his confession.

This was the right choice.

“……Do you not like me?”

At his gloomy voice, her heart stung.

Did she not like him?

No, that was the problem.

She liked him too much.

Even though they had not known each other long, Rek had already slipped into her heart.

Even though something about him felt suspicious and unsettling.

“Ehilie.”

Rek drooped his eyebrows and looked at her with a pitiful expression.

His face looked like he might cry at any moment.

A man with a sharp, intimidating appearance was acting like an abandoned puppy before her.

The reason.

‘You have too strong a presence.’

‘You seem like an important character in the original story.’

‘If I get involved with you, I won’t be able to live peacefully.’

All those reasons boiled down to one.

“Because you’re handsome.”

“……What?”

“Because you’re too handsome.”

* * *

“…….”

“…….”

An awkward silence filled the room.

Redemberg Lu Edeltein stared blankly into space.

‘She hates me because I’m handsome?’

Had he heard that right?

Unfortunately, he was not old enough to have hearing problems.

After a long daze, he stood up abruptly.

If he did not, he might ask her why she hated handsome men.

He could not stay here any longer.

“Rek?”

“……I just remembered something urgent, so I should leave now.”

As he staggered toward the door, he heard her call.

“Wait, Rek, just a moment!”

Ehilie ran up and grabbed his hand.

A sharp pain from her holy power shot through him.

At the same time, her soft touch made his dead heart beat again.

He wanted to turn and look at her.

But he restrained himself.

“……I’m fine.”

“No, I’m not fine.”

“……Ehilie.”

Just as he was about to turn around.

“You should at least put on some clothes.”

“…….”

“It’s still raining a lot, so I’ll get you something like a raincoat and an umbrella.”

He let out a hollow laugh.

Even after being rejected, he still liked how she worried about him.

‘Love really is a damn emotion.’

* * *

Bang—!

A massive iron gate fell uselessly.

Herond, who came to greet him, tensed up.

When Redemberg Lu Edeltein broke doors, no one should provoke him.

‘I should stay quiet today.’

He glanced up and froze.

Redemberg Lu Edeltein was wrapped in a ragged blanket.

‘Why is he wearing that?’

And in his hand was a pink umbrella with frilly lace.

Unable to resist curiosity, Herond asked.

“Your Majesty, what is that?”

“An umbrella.”

“……Why are you carrying one?”

“Because it’s raining.”

It was a natural answer, yet confusing.

A Demon King who could repel rain with magic was using an umbrella.

Herond decided not to ask more.

Just as he tried to retreat quietly.

“Do women dislike handsome men?”

“……?”

Herond froze.

Redemberg Lu Edeltein hated repeating himself.

Still, Herond asked stupidly.

“……What?”

He answered carefully.

“Of course not. What woman would hate a handsome man?”

“She said she did.”

“Who said that?”

“…….”

Redemberg Lu Edeltein ran a hand through his hair.

His gaze sharpened as he looked at the pile of documents.

“What are those?”

“Your paperwork, Your Majesty.”

He sat down with a sigh.

“Leave.”

Seeing him actually work, Herond panicked.

‘His Majesty isn’t in his right mind!’

After thinking hard, he reached a conclusion.

“His Majesty has… an incurable disease.”

* * *

Today as well, the maid Lucy silently did her job.

She had wanted to say that handsome men were not automatically liked.

But she held back out of fear.

‘He isn’t cruel, but still…’

Compared to other Demon Kings, Redemberg Lu Edeltein was generous.

He did not start wars out of boredom.

He did not behead subordinates for fun.

He had even taken in useless people like Herond and Lucy.

Lucy was grateful.

Still, she was afraid.

That power was terrifying.

So she usually stayed quiet.

But he was not here now.

“It’s not an incurable disease. It’s lovesickness.”

Herond’s eyebrows twitched.

“Come to think of it, lovesickness is incurable too.”

“What nonsense is that!”

“Why nonsense? He asked what women like, and today he asked about handsome men. Why would he ask if he wasn’t in love?”

“That’s because…!”

Herond fell silent.

Lucy smiled confidently.

“See? His Majesty is…”

“An heir. It’s for an heir.”

“…….”

“He’s dying, so he wants a child to inherit the Demon Realm.”

Lucy shook her head.

“With a human woman’s child?”

“H-How did you know that?”

She knew it.

He had noticed already.

“If it were about an heir, he should choose a demon.”

“…….”

“You don’t think humans are stronger than demons, right?”

“Of course not!”

“Then why choose a weak human, if not for love?”

Herond could not answer.

He was shocked.

“No… His Majesty wouldn’t…”

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

“Did that human brainwash him?”

“What?”

“She must have used some trick!”

“Wait, calm down—”

Before she could finish, he opened the window.

Black wings spread under the red moonlight.

Herond flew away.