Chapter 23 — The Princess Can't Sleep (2)
Chapter 23 — The Princess Can't Sleep (2)
After that, well, it was pure chaos.
The giant owlbear, unable to withstand the aura, sprawled across the library entrance. A tremendous thud echoed through the halls.
Meanwhile, the two women had no time to spare for a librarian.
Rauka was on her knees, gripping the edge of a desk.
Her Affection towards Roan was still at -99. By the game developer's manual, that put her squarely in 'sworn enemy' territory. Moreover, she was a warrior of a certain level. The old 'Mihon' wouldn't have been enough to bring Rauka down so easily.
But the difference in skill levels was significant.
Pinned down by 'Overwhelm' and 'Mihon', Rauka was fighting with all her might against the lewd moans trying to escape her lips and the suffocating presence pressing down on her.
And as for Grünent.
[So powerful! Amazing!]
"Fiora, enough! I'm busy!"
[Amazing! You sent both females flying at once!]
"No, where did you even learn words like that..., stop it!"
Roan, who had been shouting in whispers at Fiora, adjusted his skills and looked over at Grünent, who had fainted, flustered.
"Princess? Princess Grünent!"
Her face was flushed a deep red, and her small lips were slightly parted. Her blue eyes had lost their proper focus and stared blankly upward as she had fainted....
'...Th-this is a rare scene....'
It was an ahegao he hadn't even seen in the game. Such an expression on the princess! This was a treasure! Damn it all, there's no screenshot button or camera!
...No, that's not the point!
Roan hurriedly scooped Grünent up. A classic princess carry.
"Rauka! Get a hold of yourself!"
When Roan lessened 'Mihon' and 'Overwhelm', Rauka caught her breath with a deep exhale. It was only after hearing Roan's shout that the focus returned to Rauka's eyes and she realized the princess was cradled in the Demon King's arms.
"You demon bastard, what did you do...."
"What are *you* doing!"
A thunderous roar rebuked Rauka.
"Are you not her escort! Even after pulling yourself together, you were so preoccupied with your own body that you had no idea where your charge was!"
As the caster of the skills, Roan could feel who was affected and to what degree. Now that his level had risen, he could perceive it with even greater clarity.
And so, when he lessened his skills and checked on Grünent's condition, he knew that Rauka had already fully recovered her senses.
Rauka's dark eyes flickered with confusion at the unexpected fury.
"Uh..., I was flustered..., so I made a mistake...."
"She's fine now, thank goodness, but were you going to call it a mistake even if the princess had died? If you agreed to protect her, then take responsibility properly!"
"Ah...."
Leaving Rauka staring blankly at him, on the verge of saying something, and the fallen librarian behind, Roan strode out of the library, shouting. Grünent was breathing softly in his arms.
"Guards! A librarian has collapsed inside. Go and help him!"
The two troll soldiers standing outside the library came running in a panic at the sudden order, bolting into the library.
With the princess in his arms, Roan moved swiftly to the castle tower, which was by no means a short distance away. The attendants who saw Roan in the hallway while he walked were so startled they called an apothecary to the tower.
The Demon King practically flew up the stairs. Rauka, panting heavily, barely managed to follow him to the tower.
"Your Highness?!"
"Your Majesty! What happened?!"
The two maids guarding the room shrieked in shock at the sight of the princess being carried in.
"She fell under...under the influence of my power."
"Pardon?"
After hurriedly laying the princess down on the bed, Roan focused on his 'Detection'.
'...Huh. Hmm.'
Sensing something, Roan smiled inwardly. The apothecary was on his way.
"She is fine. She simply fainted for a moment. The apothecary will be here soon."
And as if on cue, an apothecary stepped through the princess's open door. It was the Chief Apothecary, who, like a human kingdom's royal physician, looked after the bodies of the Demon King and other precious individuals.
"Your Majesty."
"Mm. Examine the princess."
The Chief Apothecary frowned ever so slightly, as if he wasn't keen on examining a human body. However, he quickly focused on assessing the princess's condition.
"It seems she received a shock and lost consciousness briefly, Your Majesty. She will wake up soon with a little rest."
"There is no need for any other treatment?"
"No, Your Majesty. If you are worried, shall I burn some incense that will help her regain her senses?"
"Do so."
The Chief Apothecary took various things from the bundle he had brought and mixed them together. The maids were looking at the princess tearfully from the bedside, but they could not approach closely because the Demon King was standing right by her.
"Your Majesty, it is done."
"Good. You did well. You may leave now. And."
Roan turned his gaze to the maids.
"Clear the room for a moment. I will stay with the princess."
When Peggy hesitated, Carol, the eldest maid, quickly answered and bowed her head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Chief Apothecary and the two maids vacated the room. Roan let out a small sigh, pulled up a chair, and sat by the bed.
Then he whispered softly.
"Princess."
The princess's body did not move.
But Roan noticed her cheeks were gradually growing red again.
"...Princess Grünent. You are alright."
The princess's face grew as red as when she had been presented to the Demon King in a micro-bikini in the past.
Without opening her eyes, Grünent spoke in a tiny voice.
"...I apologize."
"Don't be. I momentarily lost control of my power."
"...It was Your Majesty's skill, then."
"Yes."
Grünent pressed her lips together tightly.
She had vaguely sensed that the Demon King possessed some skill that suppressed others or caused them to become agitated.
Not only her, but even the maids had said it was difficult to breathe when standing before the Demon King.
But lately, that aura had noticeably diminished.
His saying he lost control of his power meant he had been deliberately moderating that skill all this time.
'What a considerate person....'
With her eyes still closed, the princess savored the emperor's wonderful voice.
In truth, she had already regained consciousness halfway through. But upon realizing she was in his arms, she deliberately tried to keep her breathing slow and steady. A sweet fragrance wafted from Roan's embrace.
Moreover, during the journey in his arms, she realized. Her underwear was wet. She only noticed the fluid wetting her crotch after it had soaked her thighs and buttocks.
'I actually...lost control of my bladder...!'
The princess had grown up among maids. Sexual matters were filthy things a pure princess was not supposed to know.
Thus, she did not know how to comfort herself. She had never experienced arousal on her own, nor did she precisely know what kind of fluids a woman's body could produce.
She did not know that it was not incontinence, but the lubricating fluids of an aroused woman that had burst forth.
And so Grünent's face grew even hotter. Roan was looking down at her face silently.
'Her face just keeps getting redder.'
He had been so frantically rushing to the tower that he hadn't known the princess had woken up midway. He only realized she was awake after entering the room.
With Affection over +50, it was plausible she thought being carried was a good situation. At that level, the game developer publicly stated, 'Anyone can tell they're lovers. If you touch them, you'll be knocked out.'
'She's cute.'
Roan unconsciously reached his hand out. As if pretending to be asleep, Grünent kept her eyes firmly shut and was fidgeting with the two hands placed on her stomach without a word.
The Demon King's large hand stroked Grünent's head.
The princess's hands stopped moving.
Her blue eyes flashed open.
"...Your...Majesty?"
And Roan smiled.
"Now you open your eyes."
In that instant, accompanied by the fierce *bwoop-bwoop* sound, her Affection also soared fiercely.
+52, +54, +56...+62!
To avoid having his eye tremors noticed, Roan quickly, but at a speed that was not impolite, averted his gaze. Then Grünent looked up at him with glistening eyes.
"I'm alright...now."
"Good."
Grünent turned her head to the side, as if shy. The smile that had briefly surfaced was gone. The Demon King had returned to his usual impassive expression, but his words were warm.
"If you feel anything unusual, tell me right away."
"...Perhaps...."
The princess hesitated before opening her mouth again, as if having made up her mind.
"If I am having a hard time, may I come to see Your Majesty...?"
"Mm. Alright."
The Demon King readily granted the princess's request.
"If you are coming to see me, bring a demon attendant waiting by the door. The castle may still be dangerous until Rauka starts doing her job properly."
Roan recalled the gazes of the librarian and the apothecary. Humans were still an unfamiliar existence to them. Best to prevent accidents for now.
"Speaking of which, does Rauka follow you a bit?"
"Ah...yes. We have only exchanged names."
Grünent gave a small nod.
"Though she is still wary of me. Saying I am the Demon King's concubine...."
"Hmm...."
The Demon King quietly stroked his chin.
"If she's felt something today, that one will probably come to her senses a bit more."
"...Pardon?"
"Never mind. Now, rest."
Leaving the princess, who was trying to rise, the Demon King turned his body. Before Grünent could even say anything more, the maids who had been waiting anxiously outside the room rushed in, as if switching places with Roan. And slowly, a forest fairy followed behind them.
"Your Highness...!"
"I'm fine, so...."
"Your face is incredibly red. Are you breathing properly?!"
Grünent cupped her heated cheeks with both hands.
"...I-I'm fine. I'll wash up first."
She wanted to quickly hide the evidence of what she had done.
Refusing even the maids' assistance in bathing, she fell into worry inside the bathroom.
'It's strange....'
It seemed like it was the Demon King's skill, no matter what.
After collapsing that one time, her head had been hazy, and it was so hard to think about anything else.
'I just keep thinking of His Majesty....'
The princess placed her own hand on her head.
'...His Majesty's hand was much bigger than this.'
Stroking her own head alone, she smiled bashfully for no reason.
"Heheh...."
"Your Highness? Are you alright? Shall we come in?"
"...Ah, ah, no! I'm fine!"
"If it's hard, you must tell us! Don't try to do it alone!"
"No, I'm fine, I said?"
The princess let out a deep sigh.
But the maids' worry wasn't for nothing.
This was because anyone could see she had a blank expression, as if entranced by something.
"Your Highness?"
"...."
"...Your Highness."
"...Huh?"
"You need to give that back."
Grünent flinched and quickly handed the cup she was holding to Barbara. It was the warm herbal tea the maids had prepared to help her sleep.
"Please sleep, Your Highness."
"Mmkay...."
Barbara carefully closed the chamber door.
"...It feels like Her Highness is ill...."
"Right...?"
Peggy and Barbara exchanged worried glances. Carol, watching the scene, laughed quietly.
"Fufu. You still have a long way to go."
"Huh?"
"Yes, if one were to say she's ill, then one could."
Carol stared at the princess's bedroom, as if looking at the princess beyond the door.
"Tonight, she probably won't sleep because her heart is aching."
Just as she said, the princess could not fall asleep.
'...I can't sleep.'
Her wide-open eyes simply refused to close.
Grünent tossed and turned dozens of times before kicking off the tangled blanket. It was behavior her usual self would absolutely never have engaged in.
'Ugh, why can't I sleep!'
Eventually, Grünent bolted upright and sat on the bed. Though it should have been a mess, her fine hair had fallen into a charming disarray.
The princess pouted slightly and fell into thought.
'Hmm.... His Majesty said...if it's hard.... If it's hard, I should come find him.'
Right! He gave me permission, so it should be fine!
Grünent slipped quietly out of bed and opened her bedroom door.
She felt like if she could just see the Demon King's face, she might be able to sleep.
The maids' bedroom was one floor above, and outside her room was a sitting room.
"Princess. Where are you going."
"Ah...."
The princess's escape attempt was thwarted the moment she opened the door.
The forest fairy, who had been sprawled on the sofa, spoke in an indifferent voice.
"Isn't it late. Little children should sleep early to grow tall."
"...Little child!"
"To me, who has lived 200 years, all humans are no different from children."
"..."
As the princess fumbled and hesitated, holding the door, Rauka nimbly rose from the sofa.
"Where are you going."
"I..., maybe because I fainted earlier and woke up.... My body is a little...."
Rauka fell silent with a flinch. After a moment, she spoke in a slightly subdued voice.
"I'll call the maids and the apothecary."
"Ah, no! Earlier, His Majesty said I might feel unwell, and if I was having trouble, to come and tell him myself."
Rauka's eyes narrowed. Her eyes were black, but in the darkness, they shone like a cat's.
"The d...the emperor fellow, telling a sick person to come and go as she pleases. How vicious, as expected."
"That's not it...! I'm fine, but I just can't sleep, maybe because I feel a bit strange, so I was going to go ask him about it."
Even at Grünent's rambling, Rauka just gazed at her silently for a moment without a particular word, then said.
"I'll escort you."
"Huh...?"
"I can't just send you to the emperor alone with only demons. Even if I'm useless right now."
"Ah..., alright."
Rauka couldn't even leave the tower without the princess's permission. Rauka's custody had become the princess's responsibility, after all.
It was only belatedly that Grünent realized Rauka was quietly waiting for permission, and she nodded.