The One Who Doesn't Find Me Disgusting
The maid’s voice carried softly through the door.
“Miss Leni, your meal is ready. Shall I bring it in? Or would you prefer to come out?”
“……Yes.”
Yes. Did that mean bring it, or come out?
Emil stole a glance at her. Leni sat on the bed, book open, turning pages with no other movement whatsoever.
Better to bring it in.
She only spoke when dissatisfied; otherwise she rarely answered at all. When she did open her mouth, her voice often came out hoarse or broken by dry coughs.
“Here you are. Thank you.”
“Oh, no…….”
He offered the maid outside a gentle smile as he accepted the tray. Their fingertips brushed, and the girl’s cheeks flushed crimson as she bowed her head. Of course, the contact had been deliberate.
While attending Madam Cately he had kept the servants at a distance, but now that he was the exclusive priest he made a point of showing subtle warmth to everyone. In his position, every possible ally mattered.
“Miss, I’ve brought your meal.”
“…….”
As expected, no reply came at all this time.
Wearing only a thin white gown, Leni sat curled in the corner of the bed, quietly turning pages. Emil glanced at her again.
There’s a terrible scar on her ankle—the mark of a demon, they say…
Perhaps that was why she refused to show her legs; she sat with them carefully covered, knees drawn together in modest silence. Dark circles clung beneath her eyes like bruises. Whether she was self-conscious about them or simply didn’t want anyone looking at her face, she kept her head bowed low. Her vivid red curls fell like a curtain, hiding both the shadows and her deep blue eyes.
That posture, that impression, combined with her cold demeanor, made her incredibly difficult to approach.
“……Are you planning to stand there staring until I finish eating?”
Leni’s voice was hoarse, rough at the edges.
Had he been watching that long? It was possible. There was something almost hypnotic about the girl’s red hair and blue eyes—something that could steal a man’s senses if he wasn’t careful.
“Forgive me. Is there anything you require, Miss?”
“Then leave the room.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
Leni let out a short, irritated sigh and turned back to her book.
Uncomfortable. So unbearably uncomfortable.
Emil had always prided himself on his skill with women, yet handling a child—especially one like this—felt entirely foreign. With Daisy, playful indulgence had been enough. With Leni, nothing seemed to work.
What now…?
His true goal had never been simply to become the exclusive priest; it was to remain the exclusive priest. He could not afford to let this awkward tension continue.
He searched for a way to break the stalemate and spoke carefully.
“Miss. I…”
“…….”
She gave no sign she had heard him. He was certain that speaking further would yield nothing.
I miss Daisy more than usual right now.
Silence stretched. More silence.
“……Fine.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll eat. You’re staring so much I can’t even focus on the book.”
“Ah, yes! Thank you!”
When Emil answered with obvious delight, Leni muttered something under her breath. It sounded suspiciously like what is there to thank him for… but he chose not to notice.
“……”
He waited for her to begin, yet she still didn’t move.
“Miss?”
She glared at the tray with a distinctly uncomfortable expression, lips pressed tight, then turned that same glare on him.
“Is there something you wish me to do?”
Leni continued staring without answering. What was the problem now?
Suddenly the answer occurred to him. Unable to hide his unease, he asked, “Surely you don’t expect me to leave before you’ll eat?”
“Do I have to feel uncomfortable even while eating…?”
Her hoarse voice dripped with revulsion.
“Miss, however—”
She didn’t wait for him to finish. Turning her head sharply away, she clamped her mouth shut once more.
Normally such behavior would have irritated him. But now that he understood what lay behind it, irritation gave way to a heavy discomfort in his chest.
What child could truly love solitude?
She had chosen it herself because she hated rejection even more.
“Then I’ll return when you’ve finished your meal. Call me if you need anything.”
With that, he left the room.
Outside, the air felt refreshingly cool—though the wind carried the faint tang of horse manure from the stables. It still tickled his face pleasantly. When he looked up, the sky was free of the skyscrapers that once choked the heavens, free of the black smoke and soot, free of airplanes slicing through a narrow strip of blue. There was only endless, crystalline clarity.
This world had no ice cream, no pizza, no cheeseburgers. He could not claim it was better than the one he had left… but the sky, at least, was far more beautiful.
Looking up at the sky like that really makes you look like a fool, fool Emil?
At the sudden voice, Emil flinched and spun around. A girl stood before him.
Or could she truly be called a girl?
Small horns peeked through her hair. White locks fell to the nape of her neck. Her cheeks were faintly flushed and rounded, one eye gleaming gold, the other a vivid purple. Outwardly she looked like any young girl, yet those eyes held both a child’s innocence and an ancient, knowing gleam that made her true nature impossible to guess.
Purple and gold. Child and elder.
That very imbalance revealed her inhumanity.
“……Don’t startle me like that, Pidea.”
This girl was the first being Emil had encountered after arriving in this world—his helper, the one who had guided him all this time, and the noisy, mischievous demon who delighted in tormenting him.
Demon.
The word was no metaphor. Beneath her innocent appearance lurked a power so vast it could make one’s skin crawl.
Was my body useful to you?
“Your body? It isn’t yours anymore.”
Oh, the thief speaks. “This was originally yours. You worked so hard to obtain it, but now that I have it, it’s mine.” Something like that?
The demon girl giggled.
Nasty Emil. Just when did you develop such a nasty personality?
“Probably from the moment I was thrown into this world against my will and forced to use this body, Pidea.”
Before he knew it she had slipped behind him. She leaped lightly onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging there.
“You’re heavy.”
No way. I can’t possibly have any weight.
Pidea laughed again, delighted.
Enough pointless jokes. Tell me what happened while I was asleep. Are you still sleeping with that woman? Did you manage to become her exclusive priest?
“Yes. I’m still involved with Madam Cately. As for becoming the exclusive priest… it happened a few days ago.”
Tsk. I never liked that woman. She acts like sleeping with you is perfectly natural after throwing a few coins your way. Instead of gratitude, she behaves as if she’s some great prize.
“Not a few coins—the gold of Iredain. Some people call that power. Madam Cately is useful in many ways.”
Pidea clicked her tongue.
Well, congratulations on becoming the exclusive priest anyway. I suppose flattering that ill-mannered little brat was worth it.
“Ah, about that…”
Ill-mannered little brat. He nearly laughed. Compared to Daisy, Leni was practically well-behaved.
Just then, a question he had been meaning to ask resurfaced.
“Listen, something strange happened recently. There’s a girl who smells of a sweet fragrance. It’s deep and rich—nothing like perfume. The longer you breathe it in, the more it feels like you could drown in it. And she wasn’t even wearing any scent.”
Oh dear, vulgar Emil. So that’s your taste? No wonder you look at me with such strange eyes…
“Shut up. I’m not talking about my tastes. But everyone else says she reeks—a stench so foul it’s almost impossible to stay in the same room with her.”
Oh… now that is interesting.
The playful glint in Pidea’s eyes sharpened into genuine curiosity.
“What do you think? At first I wondered if she might be the same kind as me. But…”
She isn’t. There are no demons outside Sheol right now except for me. She can’t possibly be carrying one the way you do.
He nodded. He had already heard that from her before.
“Right. That’s why I’m confused. Something is definitely wrong… The maids whisper that it’s a curse.”
A curse? That makes even less sense. How could she be cursed when there’s no demon to cast it? Unless it’s a powerful bloodline curse… Wait.
Pidea made a small groaning sound.
I’ll know once I see the child myself. Who is she?
Just as he feared. This was going to be awkward.
She had probably finished eating by now, so that wasn’t a problem… but the real issue was that Pidea would almost certainly dislike Leni’s attitude.
“She’s Alon’s daughter. Not Daisy—the other one…”
As they walked back toward Leni’s room, he considered how to explain. If Daisy had been an “ill-mannered little brat,” what would Pidea call Leni?
He found out soon enough.
Emil, what the hell is this damn bitch?
He nearly burst out laughing.
Damn bitch, was it?