The Hildean Princess
“...Why Hildean? Isn't it awfully far away?”
“That's exactly why they won't be able to bring an army.”
“Then why not the first princess, but the thirteenth?”
“The thirteenth princess is like Gruun in the Hildean Kingdom. I have no intention of kidnapping her and inviting unnecessary danger.”
“You mean she's completely useless? She's still a princess.”
Gruun was one of the demons in the Demon World treated like trash for having no abilities whatsoever.
Demon King's Canon, Second Rule
[The Demon King must kidnap a prince or princess.]
There were no additional clauses specified. But just like the first rule, the demons had established their own unwritten code.
- Kidnap princes or princesses closer to the line of succession, those with renowned names.
The more important the person to the kingdom, the deeper their rage. And the purer the magic points gained from that rage.
From the perspective where all processes must lead to greater quantities and higher quality of magic points, it was the natural choice.
“But you'll ignore it anyway.”
“Correct.”
'I heard he was a devout follower of the canon during his school days.'
What wind had blown to make him snap right after graduation?
But Gordon didn't view the situation too pessimistically.
'Compared to his words and actions at graduation, he's not completely rejecting the canon. If I gradually guide him back to it bit by bit, maybe he'll return to normal?'
He was a Demon King once called the top graduate of all time. If he became a proper Demon King again, conquering Alein wouldn't be a dream.
'I need to serve him well.'
Gordon hatched a grand plan.
'And in the current situation, His Majesty might be right.'
There were no demonkin or monsters where they should have been. If they poked the wrong bear, it wouldn't be the kingdom coming after them—it would be the other way around.
And what Gordon wanted was to conquer Alein alongside Berge, not commit suicide.
“I shall accompany you and serve as well.”
“No, I'll go alone. Someone needs to guard the tower, so manage it while I'm gone.”
“...Is there even anything to manage?”
“It's still a Demon King's Tower. It can't look like an empty house, at least.”
Berge descended the mountain like that. Monsters prowling the snowy peaks as their territory tucked tail at the Demon King's magic.
Though weakened by dimensional interference—meaning there were plenty that could actually beat him in a fight if it came to it—they fled before the inherent aura of a Demon King.
'My body's not up to snuff. If I faced heroes in this state...'
Which was why Hildean's moderately unimportant princess was perfect.
Far away, entangled in relations with other kingdoms so they couldn't bring an army, and low-priority enough that the king wouldn't splurge on the Hero Guild.
Those ragtag heroes wouldn't dare brave the monsters of the Erjest Mountains anyway.
“Perfect.”
A flawless early-game setup.
Afterward, he could slowly build strength feeding on the rage from the Hildean Kingdom (though lesser in quality and quantity than for the first princess).
'Princesses aren't the only answer to begin with.'
Kidnapping a princess was merely the most efficient way to harvest negative emotions—it wasn't the absolute solution.
'And if things go south, return the princess and take the money.'
From his past life's experience, he knew Alein's humans and heroes better than anyone, or so he believed.
'Even if she's Gruun-level, she's still a princess—they won't refuse negotiations. Use that money to hide my identity, hire humans, and play the shadowy mastermind. Not a bad idea.'
Shadowy mastermind. It was straight out of the canon in a way, so other Demon Kings might approve.
Less scrutiny that way.
But.
“I won't be the idiot who reveals himself as the mastermind.”
Once was enough for foolish mistakes.
“To do that, first...”
He needed to take this first step perfectly.
Berge quickened his pace.
A faint crescent moon hid behind clouds. A chilling wind blew.
Soldiers on the ramparts huddled by bonfires, enduring the cold.
“Fucking cold.”
“On a night like this, hot tomato stew hits the spot.”
“Dunking baguette in it.”
“Ugh, just thinking about it is killer.”
He scaled the ramparts. The soldiers' chatter faded into the distance.
The defensive magic circles were vicious, but not as ruthless as those from the Demon King Academy.
The palace grounds, lit by magical lamps, weren't that dark. Signs of life flickered here and there.
I found a relatively secluded spot and waited for someone to pass. A servant carrying miscellaneous items was just right.
“Mmph, who...?”
The servant trembled, body subdued.
“Where are the princesses?”
“I, I can't say...!”
I gave his body a light caress. He foamed at the mouth and spilled everything. I shoved the unconscious man into a corner.
No further measures because I lacked memory-wipe abilities—and to leave a minimal excuse.
A half-hearted nod to the canon by leaving traces.
'Wealthy bunch.'
Hildean, a powerhouse dominating the south, was quite prosperous. That all fifteen princesses had their own palaces was a glimpse of it.
I located the thirteenth annex where the thirteenth princess resided.
A beautiful palace at the kingdom's edge, adorned with hyacinth motifs. I opened its window.
“......”
“......”
My eyes met those of the woman perched on the bed.
Age around early twenties. Platinum hair. Two amethysts gleaming in the moonlight.
They said Hildean princesses were all stunning—and she was indeed beautiful.
Instead of freezing, I slipped inside and closed the window.
She hadn't said a word until then.
“...A kidnapper? A Demon King?”
Her first words were utterly calm.
The bold question piqued my interest. Before her small mouth could scream, I sealed the surrounding noise.
“Does my answer change anything?”
“It'll change how I respond.”
“If I'm an ordinary kidnapper?”
“I'll resist with everything I've got.”
“If I'm a Demon King?”
“Can you even handle me?”
An intriguing question. Brazen confidence, perhaps.
It was laughable. Even in this Demon King-friendly dimension, to be seen as this much of a joke.
“Of course. I am a Demon King.”
“Then I'll come quietly.”
“You're strangely calm.”
“Demon Kings kidnapping princes and princesses isn't a one-time thing. I've always thought something like this might happen someday.”
Though I never imagined someone would actually show up.
She murmured.
'What?'
Of course, Alein was the most Demon King-friendly world, and there were cases of Demon Kings and heroes playing poker together. But even accounting for all that, this reaction was beyond unexpected.
In my previous life, no princess had ever faced me this boldly.
No matter how accustomed they were, or how they feigned politeness to survive—Demon Kings were evil incarnate in human eyes, steeped in negativity.
Was I being tricked, perhaps?
“If you're playing possum to strike from behind, give it up. I'm desperate too—no falling for cheap tricks.”
“I'm not. How would I dig a trap knowing you'd come here today?”
Fair point.
I extended my senses to probe her, but as befitting the frail thirteenth princess, nothing stood out.
She might be completely fooling my senses, but I doubted it. Weakened by interference or not, I was a Demon King. No mere princess, not even a hero, could look down on me like that.
As I stayed silent, she turned the question back.
“But how did you know I was here?”
“Easy.”
“...Easy?”
Definitely a Demon King. She nodded slowly.
“What happens to me as a prisoner?”
Plenty of options.
The Demon King's Canon didn't specify treatment of captives, as Demon Kings varied in personality and inclinations.
Some treated kidnapped princes and princesses with courtesy, others worse than rags, some just killed them.
Actually, the Demon World recommended the latter two. Witnessing their ruin fueled greater kingdom rage.
But Alein's common practice was the first.
Maybe that's why this princess was so nonchalant.
Or sheer resignation.
“I'll treat you like any other princess. Cooperate, and I'll cooperate. Resist, and vice versa.”
“Scary. Guess I should obey His Majesty obediently.”
She rose from the bed, approached slowly, and extended both hands. Her pale wrists caught my eye.
“Shall we go?”
“Let's.”
I took her and escaped the palace.
The kidnapping went smoother than expected.
I left Hildean Kingdom before anyone noticed and caused trouble.
After that, it was quick. Paid top coin for inter-kingdom teleport circles and shot north.
“Welcome back safely, Your Majesty.”
Erjest Mountains. Returning to the tower after a week, Gordon greeted me.
“You've captured the princess.”
“Set her up in a corner of the fourth floor, make it room-like.”
“Not the dungeon?”
Gordon paused, about to drag her underground.
“She came quietly, so I'll compromise while she cooperates.”
“Understood.”
“Wow, nothing here? I heard Demon King towers are usually swarming with monsters.”
The princess, arriving on the fourth floor, marveled innocently.
“Beauty of emptiness.”
“It's all emptiness.”
“Stay here.”
“No bed.”
“Floor's your bed.”
“Even for a princess...”
“Anyone'd think you were on a picnic.”
I dumped the grumbling girl on the fourth floor and headed to my office.
“......”
The princess watched his receding back.
Demon King. How startled she'd been when he burst through the window.
But it wasn't that special.
Alein's Demon Kings always targeted princes and princesses. Sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding—but the danger was ever-present.
But that was long ago. Demon Kings were no longer just terrifying; humans had advanced enough to track them.
That's why she'd been shocked.
She thought she knew every Demon King's face, yet this was new.
No Hero Guild reports on his movements either.
At first, she thought it fake. But the thick magic screamed Demon King.
And the tower on the snowy peaks was truly a Demon King's Tower.
They'd said the Lust Demon King died recently. A new one had come.
“...I really got kidnapped.”
She finally grasped her situation.
“Escape...”
Impossible.
No guards apparent, but the location was the issue. Descending Erjest Mountains alone was suicide.
“Hm.”
She was a hostage. Expecting good treatment was luxury.
“Hard.”
Even so, this was too much. She tapped the floor. Dirt—far from comfortable.
“No pillow.”
“No blanket.”
“No maids.”
“No pretty garden.”
“No bathroom.”
Her fine brows furrowed.
But.
“...Not bad.”
Her heart felt at ease. The pressures weighing on her had vanished too.
She smiled happily.
She removed her ring, stirred her mana. Her friends peeked out.
Pat pat—
Caressing the rising earth, she began making a bed.
“How did it go?”
“Mm.”
I nodded at the question right as I entered the office.
Everything smooth. Planning, kidnapping, escape.
It ended up looking like Alkain's blackmail forced my hand, but I'd planned this from the start.
Either way, to gather magic points and reduce interference, I needed human negative emotions.
But not so much hatred I'd become a subjugation target. Hildean's thirteenth princess was the perfect balance.
So I was satisfied.
The first button was fastened perfectly.
Knock knock—
In the lavish palace.
Escil, the princess's guard knight, knocked. No answer.
“Princess, breakfast.”
Still no answer.
“Still sleeping?”
“Never happened before.”
He tilted his head at the chef's question.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Knocked again, cracked the door. No signs of life.
'Still asleep?'
He gently pulled back the bed curtain.
Pillow visible. Blanket visible. That was it.
'...?'
Instinctively lifted the blanket. Nothing.
Checked under the bed, bathroom, every drawer, out the window.
No princess anywhere.
“...Uh. So...”
Escil swallowed. Mind reeling.
“Sir Escil!”
Servants caught him as he collapsed. Their faces paled upon confirming the princess gone.
“Oh no, Crown Princess Highness has vanished!”
The news of the kingdom's heir's disappearance spread through the palace like wildfire.