Antagonized Bachelorette Enjoying a Simple Life - Chapter 105
"I put a little effort into welcoming our new sibling. A special dinner in the skies above the Holy Agrippa Papal Court, that is."
At Asmodeus's words, Belial took a sip of her wine and replied. Her full, red lips curved in mockery and delight.
"They boast such impressive defensive magic, yet they can't even detect demons enjoying themselves up in the heavens. Human arrogance is just so adorable."
After mocking the papal court's followers at length, she nodded toward the demon sitting silently without a word.
"Behemoth? Why are you sitting there like an idiot? Introduce us to Lilith already."
I could probably guess who was who even without introductions. Excluding the invisible Mammon and Lucifer, these were all familiar faces.
Behemoth lifted his head, his face deathly pale. His sharp gaze flicked briefly toward Catherine.
"I..."
The moment I heard that unsteady voice, a forgotten memory resurfaced.
'Didn't Behemoth set foot in Eden to find the previous Lilith?'
But her mother had closed her eyes long ago, and Catherine was the newly born Lilith. So his hostility was...
"Behemoth."
It was a languid summons. Just uttering his true name, yet it felt like the crisp autumn air had frozen into a midwinter blizzard.
Everyone casually sipped their wine, but a clear tension rippled through the air.
The summoner, Chezare, murmured lowly.
"Don't make a scene."
That was all. At those few words, Behemoth's deathly expression smoothed away as if nothing had happened, and he greeted Catherine politely.
'He won't try to dominate, you said?'
Contrary to Dantalion's advice, the Leviathan in Catherine's eyes looked plenty overbearing.
"Of course. Pleased to meet you, Lilith. I am the Bronze Behemoth."
Catherine stiffly nodded her head. Her heart pounded like it might burst, and the fur on her tail stood on end.
'Scared.'
It wasn't Behemoth she feared. It was Chezare—no, Leviathan.
This was the first time she'd felt such vivid terror from him. It wasn't mere intimidation. Her instincts were screaming a warning: Run if you want to live. He can kill you.
She recalled Chezare's voice from just days ago, endlessly tender.
'Do you think natural enemies can ever feel affection for each other?'
'Even if you suddenly feel intense hostility toward me one day, it'll just be the natural change that comes with being Lilith.'
Now she finally understood the meaning of that warning. It was the unadulterated, perfect truth—no exaggeration whatsoever.
Behemoth continued.
"The demon to your right is the Flame Belial."
"Hi there~?"
The introduced demon, Belial, waved with a sultry smile. Her deep-cleavage blue mermaid dress and white fox-fur cape draped over her shoulders suited her perfectly.
"To her right is the Illusion Asmodeus."
Behemoth then introduced Asmodeus as well. Leave the tedious work to the youngest, huh?
Asmodeus's lips curved softly. There was no trace of the murderous intent from when he'd probed her identity in the Abyss.
His three-piece suit and black fedora gave him the air of an intellectual university professor—calm and refined.
"The empty seat beside him belongs to the Sky Lucifer. Looks like he's running late today."
Belial shot a glare at the vacant chair and shook her head.
"Hmph. We should punish a brother who can't even keep time."
"Lilith will get to enjoy quite the spectacle on her first day, then."
"The demon to your left is the Thunder Mammon."
"Demon?"
There was no demon to my left.
Just... instead of cutlery, something else sat in that spot. A small potted plant with an unidentified sprig.
'No way—is this the one?'
The ruler of thunder, Archdemon Mammon?
"Plant respiration."
Before she could question it, a stiff voice emanated from the plant. As if that weren't enough, its motionless leaves twitched slightly toward Catherine.
"Plant greeting."
Eek!
Catherine reflexively swiped with her front paw. A scratch appeared on the waving leaves.
"Plant scream."
What the hell is this lunatic?
"Nice one, Lilith! Mammon's shy and obsessed with concepts. Just ignore him."
They really came in all types.
"And finally, this one is..."
And at last.
"The Ocean Leviathan."
The moment she faced Chezare directly, it felt like only the two of them existed in all the heavens. His presence was so overwhelming she couldn't dare look away.
The buttons of his wrinkle-free shirt were fastened impeccably right up to his sternum. The black tie and matching vest below were impeccably neat, like a painting.
His cobalt eyes stared at Catherine for a moment before losing interest and drifting away.
Losing interest and looking away! Chezare! At me—not some other person, but an actual demon!
'Major shock.'
It was shock after shock. Forget the pressure—now she felt a spark of defiance.
"Alright! Let's start our fun chat over dinner. We've got some very important topics, after all~?"
Belial clapped lightly, and a lavish feast spread across the table. Fortunately, there were no grotesque dishes like dragon heart steak or human skull stew as Catherine had feared.
The problem was that Catherine was a cat.
"Plant suggestion."
Mammon's hole-riddled leaves rustled. What are you suggesting?
"Turn back into a human to eat?"
"Plant agreement."
"I'm fine."
To be honest, she had no appetite anyway. But for the demons who had prepared this seat for her, Catherine diligently lapped at the stew.
It was decent enough.
"Yawn."
She hadn't gotten good sleep last night due to the appointment today. With the tension easing a bit, her body felt heavy and tired.
The table was hard—lying on it would be uncomfortable. But curling up on a chair would tuck her under the table, making it hard to join the conversation.
"Shouldn't we get to 'that' topic soon?"
As someone spoke up, Catherine flung herself from the table into the air. She trotted on all fours toward her destination.
"Hmph. Talking about those winged rats, huh."
"Plant hatred."
She had to crane her neck to check the chair's occupant while walking, but it wasn't too uncomfortable.
"Hey, Mammon. How about turning back into human form? It's killing my appetite seeing you like that."
"Plant apology."
Reaching her goal, Catherine leaped and clung to the man's leg, then climbed up using her cat instincts, settling onto his lap.
"Maybe I should just burn you to ashes."
"Plant panic."
"Shut up!"
"Plant silence."
Hmm. Not super fluffy, but satisfactory enough. As always, Chezare carried a faint sea scent that soothed her.
'This is comfy.'
Catherine curled up on Chezare's lap. Part of her worried she'd be tossed off, but thankfully, no such sign appeared.
That said, she didn't have the courage to lift her head and meet his face.
This was a bit of bravado. Even if you ignore me, I won't ignore you.
"Plan... plant... Oh! Look at Lilith."
The boisterous table fell silent in an instant.
"Plant thinks she's crazy."
Unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, Catherine stood on her hind legs and barely propped her chin on the table edge.
They hadn't batted an eye when a cat showed up claiming to be Lilith, but the moment she sat on Chezare's lap, the mood turned downright weird.
Chezare himself showed no reaction whatsoever.
Belial, watching with a subtle expression, threw her arms wide and laughed.
"Lilith? If you need one, my lap's right here~?"
When Catherine shook her head in refusal, Belial clicked her tongue in warning.
"Because Leviathan's so handsome? Tsk tsk. Don't fall for that pretty face. His personality's rotten. He might suddenly skin your cat form and use it as a shoe polish rag."
Horrifying. And she could totally see him doing it for real.
"I like your boldness, but I don't want to see you bleeding on your first day..."
"The Papal Court has summoned Raphael."
It was abrupt timing, but news that would shock everyone present.
At Chezare's words, Belial's striking features twisted viciously. After a long moment, she nodded heavily.
"I knew it."
Asmodeus, who had been quietly cutting his meat, asked Chezare.
"Out of nowhere. Not just Behemoth, but Raphael too? And the inconsistency is glaring—one's an archdemon, the other's a great archangel... Are they planning war with the Iterana Empire?"
"Not planning war—they're willing to start one if they have to. Right, Behemoth?"
Behemoth's utensils remained pristine, unused. He'd been quiet throughout and now refused to eat?
'Is it just because it's me instead of Mother?'
He's not a kid.
After a brief hesitation, he spoke.
"Marcus III is looking for an item. He summoned me to use as a dog to find it."
"An item? A holy relic?"
In the past, she would've plugged her ears, not wanting to know. But now she couldn't.
Catherine rested her chin on the table and listened intently.
Then, a large warmth pressed against her upright back. Something like long fingers—presumably—gently stroked her fur. A careful, soft motion.
Chezare was petting her.
'So he doesn't hate me after all.'
Good call coming as a cat.
As she tried to sniffle away the emotional sniffles, Catherine realized something new.
'Ah.'
Her tiny front paws were trembling violently. Not faintly, but as if she might pass out any second.
Her body was rejecting Chezare. Simply for sitting on his lap.
Unable to withstand his overwhelming power and presence.
'What a pathetic mental fortitude.'
Once back at the mansion, she'd ditch the 6666-hour lectures and focus on tempering her mind and body.
"Owning so many relics already, yet still greedy for more? How avaricious."
At Asmodeus's blatant sneer, Behemoth shook his head.