Canopy Bed and Teddy Bears (1)
The highest point of Stony Fortress. The uppermost floor of the inner castle, constructed from massive stacked stones, was encircled by the strictest guards and served as the residence of the lord's family—the most important figures among the Orcs. At the farthest end of the corridor on that top floor lay the room belonging to Nella, Beriberi's sole blood relative and younger sister.
Nella was Beriberi's only living kin, yet the considerable age gap between them meant she was treated as more than a mere younger sister. Having raised her with the utmost care since she was an infant, Beriberi regarded Nella almost as a daughter or granddaughter. Because he valued her safety above even his own, her room had been assigned the most secure location on the top floor, and the guards stationed along the path to it were deployed with flawless precision.
At present, Nella sat in her room with a map of the Caboni Forest and its surrounding regions spread across her desk, drafting design plans for the development project Neromeltia had mentioned. The surface was buried beneath piles of documents, maps, and blueprints, while an empty teacup and a now-cold teapot rested to one side. One wall was lined with an array of armor and weapons, all meticulously maintained—each piece was equipment Nella herself used in the field.
At first glance, the room might have seemed rugged and austere, yet it possessed an entirely different aspect that defied such a simple judgment. A beautiful bed draped in pink silk occupied the center of the room, and it was no ordinary bed—it was a canopy bed. Delicate, translucent pink curtains surrounded it, and above hung a matching fabric canopy, creating a cozy, fairy-tale atmosphere as though a princess from a storybook might slumber there.
Atop the bed rested several teddy bears, each dressed in distinct outfits that suggested clear personalities: a noble bear in a tailcoat, a knight bear in armor, a wizard bear in robes, a gentleman bear in a tuxedo, a chef bear wearing an apron, and more. Even if the canopy bed itself had been prepared by Beriberi, the collection of teddy bears was purely Nella's own preference, revealing her surprisingly girlish tastes.
What on earth am I doing…?
Nella sighed as she gazed at her pretty, adorable bed. The inexplicable tightness and ache in her chest had only become clear after witnessing the Demon Lord and her secretary's intimate moment earlier. She had felt a peculiar emotion while watching Lusteria, cradled in Neromeltia's arms and lost in ecstasy. She envied the succubus who received the Demon Lord's undivided affection.
Having comforted her own heated body after glimpsing that sensual scene, Nella had projected herself onto Lusteria. If only she were the one receiving the Demon Lord's deep affection and sharing love with her… The mere thought filled her with overwhelming happiness, and a wave of rapture colored her thoughts.
She could not help but wonder why she had fallen so deeply for the Demon Lord—a woman, just like herself. The bed Nella stared at was covered in teddy bears of many kinds, yet every single one represented a male figure. In the only form of love she had ever witnessed, a woman inevitably fell for a man. Not a single one of the romance novels she had devoured so avidly had ever broken that rule. She had accepted it as the natural order of things, never questioning it.
Yet those very novels that had shaped her view of romance rejected Orcs outright. If even fictional works denied them, how could an Orc ever receive genuine acceptance in reality? The aesthetic standards among Orcs themselves had long since ceased to matter. No matter how beautiful she might be considered among her own kind, she remained nothing more than a monstrous race by the world's standards.
But the Demon Lord had affirmed her from the very first moment they met. Those beautiful ruby-red eyes had shone with fervent affection. At first, Nella had tried not to take it at face value, assuming it was merely the gracious ruler cherishing her subordinates. She had feared that believing such casual words of fondness would only bring shame upon Her Majesty, so she had kept her emotions tightly in check.
Yet the Demon Lord's affectionate advances never ceased. If anything, they grew more sincere, leaving Nella increasingly unsettled. If Neromeltia truly desired her, a single command would have sufficed. Instead, the Demon Lord had stepped back out of consideration for Nella's confusion, revealing her feelings with gentle restraint. In that hesitation, Nella had sensed warm care and respect.
What reason could the supreme being known as the Demon Lord have for stepping back and gauging Nella's expression before expressing affection? In the end, Nella had found herself captivated by that very demeanor.
An Orc with green skin and a large frame, regarded as hideous by the outside world—yet the Demon Lord genuinely liked her and cherished her. That realization made her heart race. Nella could no longer deny it: she was in love with the Demon Lord.
Her bed and teddy bears betrayed her girlish tastes. Though romance novels had wounded her deeply, Nella still adored romance. She loved the classic tale of a wonderful prince who cherished and passionately loved the protagonist. Now, that prince simply happened to be a woman.
At the same time, she began to reproach herself for being so sentimental. Neromeltia's side was already occupied by two beautiful women—Lusteria and Beatrice. The Demon Lord herself possessed a beauty that surpassed all else in the world. Nella could not imagine inserting herself, even in fantasy, into the love shared among such peerless beauties who could rival the goddess of beauty, Eshtar.
Even if Neromeltia's affection was genuine, accepting it would be a grave discourtesy to Lusteria and Beatrice, who had already earned her favor. Perhaps the two women would come to hate her. Though she had projected herself onto the Demon Lord's affection while secretly watching their intimate night, she told herself it must not be. Once dawn broke, she resolved to sort out her irreverent feelings and rein in her unruly emotions. She berated herself for even daring to dream of romance with Her Majesty while serving as a soldier.
Those pink-dominated furnishings and cute teddy bears seemed to expose her fragile inner self. The fluttering pink curtains at the window were no different—adorable, pretty drapes that revealed her weak heart. Beyond their gentle sway, she found herself imagining the Demon Lord might appear, as though in a dream. The vision was so vivid she could almost see Neromeltia gazing at her with an elegant smile.
The Demon Lord would open the window, her alluring figure illuminated by the soft moonlight reflecting off her form. The radiant goddess of Luina would wave her hand in greeting. Nella found herself despising the insignificant scrap of fabric that inspired such fantasies. The image of the Demon Lord she had conjured felt so real she could scarcely distinguish it from reality, and she blamed her own feeble tastes for conjuring such dreamlike thoughts.
"Hello, Nella. What were you doing?"
"Hah…!!!"
Nella jolted in shock. The Demon Lord she had believed to be a mere figment of her imagination had spoken to her in reality. Neromeltia stood inside the room, having entered through the window, and Nella had been staring straight at her. Mortified by her own foolishness, she sprang to her feet and offered a formal salute.
"Engineering Captain Nella, reporting to Her Supreme Majesty the Demon Lord…!!"
In that instant, Neromeltia's finger touched Nella's lips. The gesture was a clear command to remain silent. Nella froze mid-sentence, holding her breath as she gazed at the Demon Lord. Those brilliant ruby-red eyes, like polished gemstones, gazed steadily into Nella's brown ones. Beyond the vivid scarlet hue lay an unfathomable abyss. To look into them was to feel oneself falling endlessly, their depths too profound to comprehend.
Neromeltia smiled playfully and spoke in a teasing tone.
"Did you miss me?"