TWYK 08

CHAPTER 08…………………………………………..

The surprise holiday ended just as abruptly as it had come. But for Xenia, the worry about the days ahead outweighed any regret about not having enjoyed the break.

Although Eligos had stepped in and quieted the rumors, the fundamental problem remained as long as the hero stayed in her room.

In fact, even when she first heard about Eligos intervening—and even now—Xenia pretended to be nonchalant, but inside, she had been unsettled from the moment she heard the news.

Why did he step in?

Even though Eligos officially trusted Xenia, he was not someone who would act without reason.

I didn’t ask him to, and this isn’t the first time the castle has been noisy like this…

Why involve himself in such an unremarkable matter?

Does he want something from me?

Or perhaps there was another reason… doubts swirled in her mind, but for now, she decided to focus on the urgent task at hand.

Could the hero really be left alone for more than half a day?

“Haah…”

Standing at the vanity, Xenia adjusted her neat black dress that reached her ankles and combed her hair, barely brushing her shoulders, while sneaking glances at the hero.

She had explained what the new daily routine would look like the previous day.

“You won’t be able to eat in the dining hall with me. From tomorrow, your meals will be delivered to you.”

Xenia had carefully explained that the small bird-like delivery monsters must not be harmed, and went on to voice one worry after another.

If a guest arrived while she wasn’t there, act like I’m not here. You’ll need to spend more than half a day alone from now on… and so on.

Even while speaking, she doubted whether the hero was truly listening. His gaze was fixed on her, but his eyes were still clouded and dull.

At that moment, she wanted to ask him across the mirror: How can I help you?

Looking at his blue eyes in the mirror, she lifted the corner of her mouth, something that rarely happened.

“Shall we have breakfast?”

Without waiting for a reply, she laid out the bread delivered that morning on the table. The still-warm loaves were soft and fluffy.

Pouring the fresh milk that came with it into his cup, Xenia watched him eat the bread quietly, without any complaint.

The hero didn’t seem curious about the reason behind her gaze; he simply nibbled at the bread, still emotionless.

Xenia, about to speak, was interrupted by the clear chime of bells resonating through the room.

The Demon King had returned. That meant it was time to report to work.

Summoning energy to push down her own sluggishness, Xenia brushed the crumbs from the hero’s mouth.

“All right, I’ll be going now.”

The hero, who used to block her from the bathroom and watch the clock like a hawk, showed no reaction at all as she prepared to leave.

Suppressing a sigh, she handed him the last piece of bread. He took it without protest. At least he ate properly, which was a relief.

Watching his cheeks puff out with the bread, Xenia shook off the rising anxiety. She brushed the crumbs from his mouth again before the insistent bell forced her to move.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

Before leaving entirely, she added, with firm eyes:

“Don’t cause any trouble!”

Still worried about leaving him alone, she locked the door and made her way to the top of the Demon King’s castle for work.

“Xenia, back to work after a long time?”

“Ahahaha, the castle will be chaotic again!”

“Good luck!”

“X-Xenia, hello…”

“I’m busy, so I have to go!”

“…Please take care of things while I’m gone!”

Some servants greeted her warmly, while others avoided her in fear. Preoccupied, Xenia didn’t notice the odd behavior of a few.

A short while later, at her long-unvisited workplace, Xenia bowed to her impatient superior.

“Did you return safely?”

She smiled faintly at the red eyes looking at her.

The horns on either side of the head and the wings on the back were hidden, and the outfit appeared comfortable.

In one hand, she held a pen, and on the desk were several partially broken pens, but otherwise, the workspace was ordinary.

Despite having just returned, the Demon King’s desk was piled high with paperwork. Xenia, eyeing it with weary exasperation, looked up at him and spoke:

“It stings.”

At her words, the intense aura that had made her catch her breath upon entering the room receded. Her skin still felt slightly tingly, but breathing was much easier.

After a battle or using full power, the aura never fully stabilized, so this was normal. Xenia approached the Demon King calmly.

“You returned sooner than I expected.”

The Demon King neither nodded nor answered. When Xenia approached, he handed her a stack of documents.

This must be why he summoned me so urgently.

Since it was routine work, Xenia took the papers without comment and went to her own desk.

Thus began the tedious, wearisome workday.

Xenia busied her hands. Eligos probably handled the most urgent matters, but there was still plenty left for her to do.

It feels like the Demon King does all the work himself.

No, it seemed all affairs of the demon world were handled only by the Demon King, Eligos, and Xenia.

Could they be multiplying these tasks among themselves…? Xenia tidied her workspace, eyeing the countless documents.

The hero, whom she had met briefly at lunch, appeared to be fine. He had eaten and sat obediently on the bed.

Even seeing him so well-behaved, something still unnerved her. She didn’t know why.

Sighing, she handed the newly organized documents to the Demon King. After scanning them, he spoke abruptly:

“I hear the castle has been noisy.”

“Ah.”

Good heavens, the news had reached the Demon King? Xenia, startled by the coincidence as she had been thinking of the hero, gave an awkward laugh.

“So it seems.”

At her response, the Demon King lifted his gaze to look at her, then silently stared for a long moment.

A cold sweat ran down her back. Had he noticed something?

Biting the inside of her cheek to hide it, Xenia asked:

“Is something wrong?”

“Surely you know? Eligos stopped your rumors and cut down the servants.”

Xenia didn’t immediately understand.

Cut down the servants?

She tried to interpret it as a mild ‘punishment’ metaphorically, but judging from the Demon King’s gaze, that was clearly wrong.

Realizing it was literal in the most demon-like sense, her expression stiffened.

“…This doesn’t mean they were just dismissed, right? How many?”

“More than a few.”

Not only did he intervene, he killed the servants.

That’s excessive.

Taking such extreme measures just for helping one competent subordinate seemed over the top. Frowning, Xenia asked:

“Do you know why?”

“That’s for you to find out.”

His indifferent eyes returned to the documents. Annoyed by the fact that he raised the topic yet seemed uninterested in the most important part, Xenia snapped.

“Do you mean you don’t want to tell me, or you don’t know?”

The Demon King, certainly not missing her sharp tone, looked up. His face remained calm, but his red eyes now carried a probing curiosity.

Realizing she had been uncharacteristically bold, Xenia quickly calculated that she should maintain her stance.

Raising her eyebrows, she stared at him, and he shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

“…Is that so?”

Instead of criticizing her behavior, he lightly replied and returned his gaze to the documents. Xenia quietly exhaled in relief. Without looking at her, he added:

“If you’re curious, you can go ask him yourself.”

It seemed he had been slightly irritated by her earlier attitude.

“Thank you for the advice.”

Acknowledging her own earlier behavior, the tension in the room eased.

Until the end of the workday, the office was filled only with the sound of organizing documents. Xenia felt pressure to maintain her usual composure, and the Demon King busied himself with clearing piled-up work.

When she finished arranging the papers neatly, Xenia stood.

“Well, I’ll be heading off now.”

It was exactly the end of the workday. The Demon King looked up and asked:

“Will you go see Eligos?”

Ah, a continuation of the earlier conversation. Xenia shrugged lightly.

“Not right now. I’m too tired today.”

She was curious about Eligos’ intentions, but she first wanted to make sure the hero was alright.

I don’t even know what I’d say if I met Eligos.

Normally, she didn’t like postponing tasks, but this time she decided to delay the meeting as much as possible.

“Tsk.”

The Demon King seemed more attentive to her work than she expected. Surprised, she looked at him, and he clicked his tongue.

“If you went to see Eligos, I would have sent you on a document errand.”