The Duchess and the Demon
“Make way for the Duchess!”
Right on cue, Duchess Diana appeared, trailing a long procession of attendants. “Everyone, drop those stones and step back!”
The crowd, struck by sudden fear, scrambled to split into two lines. Only I and the nameless Earthling woman remained standing prominently in the center. I quickly stepped away from her.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“……”
She just stared at me blankly, her expression unreadable. Not a single word of thanks. Her features were pure, yet possessed a haunting, seductive sensuality. ‘Is she a half-breed?’ She had the look of a Gigantian, too. Regardless, she was a top-tier beauty. She radiated sex appeal. Even after being subjected to such a brutal ordeal, she didn’t tremble in the slightest. She was either incredibly brave or just plain unfazed. ‘I feel like if I slept with this woman, I’d be the one getting devoured.’ My mind wandered to strange places even in this situation.
“You’ve returned.”
I heard the Duchess’s voice. She had approached us. “Did you rest well at the resort? I’m relieved to see you looking healthy.”
“Thanks to you, I had a comfortable stay.”
“Yes, I see. Let’s head inside and talk for a moment.”
“Very well.”
The Duchess Diana I met after all this time was as gentle as ever. However, I could clearly sense her intention to have a serious word with me. Otherwise, there would be no reason for her to make me wait outside the castle gate.
“Elenore. I’ll be back in a moment, so get this woman some shabby clothes and send her on her way.”
“I shall use the black robe that fell on the floor. Leave it to me.”
“Nightstream, what about me?”
“Berzena, stay with Elenore.”
“Okay!”
I left the Earthling woman in Elenore’s care and entered a two-story building constructed near the castle gate. Duchess Diana was already inside, seated in the room. I sat down across from her.
“I consider Nightstream a truly great hero. And I find the current reality quite regrettable.”
Duchess Diana, with her beautiful blonde hair that could serve as the standard for all blondes. Just by looking at her, one could tell she was a woman of noble, high-quality lineage. She had her lustrous blonde hair elegantly pinned up like other high-ranking ladies, revealing her neckline, and an expensive blue dress hugged her voluptuous breasts. Even in her late forties, her beauty was so radiant it seemed to have a halo. I sat respectfully, facing her deep cleavage, and listened intently to her words.
“The problem is… the First Princess. She is being put in danger.”
“Is someone threatening her?”
“I cannot tell you the specifics. However, I can state one thing clearly. Nightstream. It is because of you.”
“Me?”
“That is correct. Because of you, the Princess is walking a dangerous path. A path she must never take.”
“I haven’t said a single word to the Princess.”
“That is my judgment. It is the result of observing things carefully as an adult of this nation.”
“Might I ask what the Princess said about me?”
“I cannot tell you the details, so do not ask anything.”
“……”
Is that it? Is the First Princess in danger because she’s trying to protect me? Listening to her, that seemed to be the case. ‘So, the First Princess still wants to shield me, but the Duchess is trying to tear us apart?’ That’s why she made me wait at the gate, to ensure I couldn’t meet the First Princess at all.
“Please, leave this castle.”
She finally revealed her true intentions. Hearing this, I was certain. Duchess Diana was acting on her own, behind the Princess’s back. “I apologize for going back on my word after inviting you. However, the Emperor believes you are dead. If the fact that you are alive becomes known, our Taron Principality will never be safe. As the leader of this principality, it was an unavoidable choice. Nightstream. You are a dangerous existence.”
No, that’s just an excuse. You realized I faked my suicide, yet you accepted me as a guest. You are clearly trying to protect the First Princess for some reason. Esmeralda, the First Princess. What on earth did she say to make the Duchess change her attitude like this?
‘That I’m a dangerous person? That it’s dangerous for me to be with the First Princess? Well, I suppose it is dangerous. It is dangerous…’
But. For me, being with her is the safest option. Why should I leave when she’s offering to protect me? It’s only right to use her as much as I can. Besides, I have to finish reading the ancient book and find the missing Demonic Sword. A thief can’t let a rare treasure slip through his fingers.
‘Hmm. I guess I have no choice but to start working on her…’
Currently, Duchess Diana was exercising the Duke’s authority as his proxy. Her husband, Duke Ilias von Taron. Due to an accident that couldn’t be revealed internally or externally, he had been lying in a sickbed as a vegetable for years. It was the perfect environment for a guy like me to swoop in. Like a cuckoo chick hatched in a stolen nest, it was an environment ripe for growth.
‘Unless the First Princess herself told me to leave, I can’t just leave quietly.’
As I looked at Duchess Diana before me, I began to hatch a devious plan. Without realizing it, I cast a cold, predatory gaze at her, as if looking at prey. Duchess Diana caught it immediately and cleared her throat.
“I know you are disappointed. But I had to make a decision. I think Nightstream understands well enough now that I’ve said this much. I will provide you with more than enough travel expenses, so please spend the rest of your life comfortably in a place like a resort, as you have been doing. You, too, must be worried that the Emperor might find out you are alive, right? If you keep living here, someone might report you.”
Is that a threat? Just because I looked at her with a dirty gaze for a second, her atmosphere turned cold. ‘If I resist, you’ll report me to the Emperor…’ Good. Keep scratching at me, and I’ll get the motivation to turn the thoughts in my head into action.
“Duchess. Do not worry. I will heed your words and leave quietly.”
“Oh… Thank you. Thank you. You’ve made a wise decision.”
She was genuinely happy that I followed her instructions without a word of protest. The wrinkles on her face brightened instantly.
“I have one request. While I look for a new place to stay, could my family stay for a few more days? I have to pack the luggage I’ve unpacked in the room, and since they are all women, I feel bad about making them sleep on the cold floor.”
“Do so. I may have spoken as if I were giving a sudden order, but I am not that heartless.”
“Thank you. Then I will leave the capital starting today.”
The conversation was over. It was concluded that I was being kicked out, but I didn’t feel bad. On the contrary, I was incredibly excited about what was to come.
“Go safely. It was a pleasure having you.”
“Yes, you go back safely as well, Duchess. I’ve been much obliged.”
“Ho ho, obliged? Regardless, I hope you remain safe.”
Outside the building. Duchess Diana left with her attendants, looking satisfied. I blinked and watched her receding back. ‘It’s actually better that I don’t have to feel sorry for the Duchess. I’ll turn this place into my perfect nest.’ My heart was that of a devil right now. I began to plan to swallow the entire capital, including sleeping with that woman. I hadn’t liked the atmosphere of this city that looked down on Earthlings anyway. I would be the first to start a revolution here.
“Haeru-nim.”
Seeing that I was alone, Elenore approached. Beside her, along with Berzena, was the half-breed woman who should have already left.
“You haven’t left yet?”
I stared at the woman blankly. When there was a commotion in front of the castle gate earlier, the bite mark of the Demon King Caladia on my neck had throbbed intensely. The pain vanished in an instant while I was saving the woman. My mind was now occupied with why that pain had occurred, rather than the unknown woman. I spoke to her with a voice that showed no interest.
“Go back quickly. We have to go, too.”
“……”
“I tried to send her back, but she keeps following us…”
“This woman must be crazy. She doesn’t even talk, she just keeps following us.”
“What’s your name?”
When I asked for her name, the woman thought deeply about something, and only after about ten seconds did she open her mouth.
“…Kara.”
“Oh? She talks! She didn’t say a word when she was with us earlier!” Berzena grumbled innocently. I faced the woman named Kara.
“Kara… I wonder if that’s a name from here or a Western name from Earth… Anyway, a half-breed?”
“……”
She just gave a slight nod.
“Where is your home?”
“…Don’t know.”
“Hmm?”
“How can you not know where your home is! Are you an orphan?” Berzena got angry like a child, so I calmed her down and asked again.
“What do you mean you don’t know? Why are you trying to enter this city?”
“Don’t know.”
She was a strange woman. My feelings for Earthlings were special, but this wasn’t the time, so I decided to stop dealing with her. She was wearing nice clothes, so she’d probably be fine on her own.
“Anyway, go back quickly. We have to get going, too. Goodbye.”
I turned my back on her, and that was when it happened. The stinging pain in my neck, which had been quiet, recurred.
“Ugh… What is this. Why does it hurt again.”
I touched my neck and instinctively looked back. The woman was still lingering, not leaving, and staring at me. But her expression… was incredibly cold. As if she were radiating an evil energy. I wasn’t imagining it. I might not know about others, but I could definitely tell.
‘This woman. She harbors killing intent toward me. Why?’ Is she pouting because I left her behind? ‘No. It’s on a different level from that. The bite mark on my neck is resonating with this woman’s killing intent. Definitely…’
At that moment, her name flashed through my mind. The name she had revealed just a moment ago was Kara. My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open slightly.
‘Kara, Kara, Kara, Kara… Caladia? The Demon King Caladia? No way…’
I slowly met her eyes with a pale face. Kara’s eyes had turned vicious. She was staring at me as if she would chew me up right then and there. How deep must her grudge be… The bite mark on my neck throbbed even more. Is she really the Demon King?
‘That can’t be… That woman definitely died that day.’
The woman’s gaze was so terrifying that if my life were a novel, I felt like it would end today. With the death of the protagonist.