< 163. Princess and Demon King, Princess and Kni...ght? >
Hildean royal castle, the First Palace.
The palace, vacant for nearly a year, buzzed with life once more now that its master had returned.
Thanks to her vigorous political activities, visitors poured in, and the servants were grateful this wasn't just some capital mansion—it was a palace.
No one could barge in willy-nilly.
Even so, highborn guests arrived in droves, keeping the attendants scrambling to host them properly each time.
"Move faster! Not a single mistake allowed!"
Herran, the head servant overseeing the First Palace staff, barked orders. Under the crown princess's command, he managed everything here and had welcomed countless guests since her return.
But this was a first.
'Do your absolute best. We can't afford even the slightest slip-up.'
No matter how many VIPs they'd hosted, the crown princess had never emphasized it like this.
'Who could be coming?'
The first prince? Second prince? Duke Heinz? Or maybe nobility or royalty from abroad?
He couldn't pin it down. She wasn't one to fuss over her own princes' visits, and she was practically at odds with Duke Heinz.
Foreign nobles? Her connections were all domestic—she rarely ventured beyond the borders anyway.
'Eh, what does it matter?'
Whoever it was, it didn't concern Herran directly. What mattered was not offending this VIP the crown princess had stressed; otherwise, the thing on his shoulders might roll.
"Hurry up!"
A sudden chill sharpened his voice.
"Quite the fanfare."
He hadn't planned on being treated like proper company.
Yet here he was. Knights had greeted him at the royal road's outer gate, escorting him to this banquet in the palace.
Irrespective of the grand welcoming crowd, only two people filled the vast banquet hall.
The First Palace's mistress and the Demon King in human guise.
"It's only natural."
Ernan sliced her steak with elegant precision. Not a single superfluous motion as she speared it with her fork and brought it to her lips—like a living painting.
"This is the bare minimum for welcoming Lord Fail."
"Plenty of eyes were watching, though."
Berge carved into a massive shrimp and popped it in his mouth. No fishy aftertaste, just butter and herbs blending perfectly. Not bad.
"Doesn't matter. Dozens of nobles knock on my door daily just to see me."
"You roll out this red-carpet treatment for all of them?"
"Of course not. But you're no ordinary guest, my Demon King."
It felt like more than that.
"How about the new princesses?"
"Mediocre at best. Embarrassing to even compare to you, Kaede, Elena, or Ravinia."
Tsk. Berge clicked his tongue.
"Too frail to be of any use."
"Isn't it unusual for a Demon King to turn every princess into a limb of his own?"
"Pot calling the kettle black, coming from you."
"Me? Why me?"
Her innocent smile made Berge change the subject.
"Where's Hillun?"
"He stepped out on some business."
"You didn't summon him?"
"……"
"A lavish welcome, private dinner in the palace. Word's already spreading—what's your angle?"
Under Berge's suspicious gaze, Ernan finally confessed.
"It's about marriage proposals."
"Marriage?"
"As I dive deeper into politics, more nobles are eyeing me."
"You're of marriageable age by human standards—perfect timing, huh?"
"Yes. Countless nobles crave a royal union. Never mind what I actually think."
Marriage alliances were ancient human tradition. Suitors swarming Ernan was par for the course.
"Even with Hillun around?"
Ernan had appeared with Hillun Kargil at several social events. Humans loved inflating the tiniest hints into scandals. Plenty must suspect something between them.
"That's the problem."
"That's the issue?"
"Father brought up some archaic custom from ages ago. Guess what?"
"Custom?"
"The corny old trope: 'Give the princess to the hero who saved her.'"
She scowled in distaste.
"He wants to marry you off to Hillun?"
"Exactly. As if that outdated nonsense still holds sway."
For some reason, Berge suddenly wanted to punch Hillun.
"You refused?"
"Of course. Both Hillun and I did. But Father shows no sign of backing down."
He couldn't force a great hero into marriage, so he'd relented—for now. But it didn't feel over. No, it wasn't over.
"Society and the capital are buzzing with rumors of our affair. Who do you think started them?"
"The king."
"Bingo. He's trying to make it a done deal."
Hildean's crown princess wed to the hero who rescued her.
The masses would cheer. Suitors from nobility had dried up entirely, but it wasn't all good.
Because Ernan didn't want it.
"So this extravagant tête-à-tête is your warning shot to the king?"
"Yes. Drawing a clear line: Hillun and I aren't like that. You'll help, right?"
"After dragging me into this mess?"
By now, word must have reached that king's ears.
With Berge popping up out of nowhere amid plans to pair Hillun and Ernan, he'd be a thorn in the eye.
'Sucked into a hassle.'
Still, he could handle this much. She owed him plenty—no, he'd owe her after the Golden Moon business.
Publicly linking Fail to Hildean's crown princess wasn't a bad move either.
Just...
'Better bail from this country ASAP.'
He hated complications.
"But piling new rumors on old ones might twist them against you."
Berge savored his red wine. The grape notes and acidity cut smoothly through the meat's richness.
"No human's bold enough to spread baseless gossip about the kingdom's crown princess."
"Humans are the boldest species out there."
"Even if they did, no issue. They'd pay for wagging their tongues."
"What if they target you with it?"
"If I can't handle that much, I wouldn't have started this."
It wasn't about kingdom policy or diplomacy—just the princess's marriage.
If her support base was shaky, it could spell trouble, but Ernan trusted herself not to crumble over something so trivial.
"Why me, though? You could've picked anyone."
"Strange question."
"Strange?"
She pouted, dissatisfied.
"It has to be you, Lord Fail. Obviously."
"...Huh?"
"So, one more favor."
"Favor?"
"Duke Heinz is hosting a ball in two days."
She handed over an invitation in a red envelope.
"Pass."
"I haven't even asked."
"You want me to go?"
"Yes."
"Pass."
"Lord Fail."
"You've got Hillun."
"Then it's pointless."
A casual dinner? It meant something, but he could downplay it.
But as a duke's ball partner? That changed everything. Bringing a total stranger would raise eyebrows—everyone would expect Hillun Kargil.
Especially if she paired with him instead.
"You've helped me a ton, true. I'm grateful, sure."
But that...
"Doesn't mean I have to play escort at some ball."
"What if I use one of the favors you promised me?"
"Pass."
"You swore on the Inviting Demon Emperor and the Demon King's Canon."
"You know damn well I don't keep those oaths."
"So shameless."
"You're the one spreading weird stories to Kaede."
Berge masked his face with steel resolve.
"I'll use two favors."
"No means no."
"It's not just for me. It's for making me queen of Hildean. You promised to put me on the throne."
"...Not quite the same."
"Close enough."
Ernan stated firmly.
Berge grumbled. A ball? He never imagined attending one while in Hildean.
Donning fake smiles, laughing hollowly, petty politicking—it grated on him.
Then their eyes met.
Large, clear amethyst irises gazed straight at him.
"……"
'I'm your first.'
'You reached out first.'
'I took your hand first.'
Why did that memory surface now?
"Pardon?"
Ernan blinked again.
'Boosting Fail's honor and fame isn't bad.'
That was Berge's goal as Fail anyway.
Infiltrate human society deeper, become a deadlier poison.
Ties to Hildean—and the connections and prestige from it—would help immensely.
Worth enduring the king's scrutiny and public eyes at a ball.
Yes. Worth it.
"Fine."
"Thank you."
Ernan beamed, munching her steak before adding,
"But did you know?"
"What scheme now, with that hum?"
"In Hildean, men usually ask women to be their partners."
"You asked me."
"Skip the details."
"Be my partner? Even though you begged first."
"Minus that last bit."
"Will you be my partner?"
"Like a knight."
"I'm a Demon King."
"Does that matter?"
His brow furrowed.
"You're pushing it."
"One more favor."
"You already used it by making me ask."
"I'll use them all. You wouldn't go back on your word, right, Demon King?"
"I'd say it three times over."
"I'll spread rumors you don't honor oaths to the Inviting Demon Emperor and Canon."
"Already did. Thanks to you, Kaede's glaring daggers."
"Miss Kaede. She enjoying the chocolate?"
"Yeah, it's actually easing things u—"
...p.
Their eyes met again. Damn it.
"This is really all you want to ask?"
Berge only allowed favors from Ernan when she'd paid dearly.
Like blocking enemies as a Four Heavenly King.
Or killing Daphne Philian.
Or returning to Hildean for the tower and him.
"I think it's worth that much."
Berge pondered.
'Without Ernan, I'd be dead.'
She'd saved his skin more than once.
Compared to that, this absurd request was a breeze.
A transaction. Nothing more.
Berge rose, approaching her slowly. He didn't kneel—just extended his hand, looking down.
"Beautiful lady, will you grant me the honor of being your partner?"
Unconventional, almost grotesque by normal standards.
But Ernan smiled.
"Gladly."
Radiantly.
"A guest?"
As Berge predicted, Hildean's king learned of the new arrival at the First Palace.
"Fail, eh."
A man connected to Hillun Kargil. Akan's mages raved about his pure mana.
Meeting him alone wasn't special. But Ernan's reception was.
Grander than anyone's.
And a private dinner, no less.
Given her position, it drew eyes and whispers inevitably.
Doing it knowingly meant one thing.
"A declaration of defiance against me."
If only Ernan had refused, he could've pushed with royal decree. But Hillun didn't want it either, forcing a retreat.
Yet Hillun Kargil was too sweet a fruit to abandon outright.
So he'd schemed subtly.
And now this blatant sabotage.
"How many know?"
"Her knights greeted him from the capital's outer walls."
"The whole capital knows by now."
Purely intentional.
The king shook his head after a moment's thought.
"We'll watch for now."
Rumors were out; no stopping them. Better to bide time than force it, spark backlash, and fuel her rebellion.
"She was such an obedient child when young."
Then suddenly, defiance.
"When did it start?"
"After her kidnapping to the Demon King's tower and return, perhaps."
The chamberlain replied.
"That what changed her?"
He knew trauma could alter people. Change wasn't always bad, but this galled him.
"Know what happens to kidnapped royalty in Demon King's towers?"
"Typically imprisoned, day by day. In Frost Demon Towers, frozen with no memories."
"Matches what I know."
He wanted an obedient future queen to elevate the kingdom—not a rebellious headache.
"Parenting's tough."
"Agreed, Your Majesty."
"Dig into this Fail for now. Birth, how he got that mana, spells, even his breakfast."
"Yes."
The chamberlain bowed.
< 163. Princess and Demon King, Princess and Kni...ght? > End