A Date Cut Short
The wide world spread out before our eyes. A bustling city where countless people hurried about their business, demons of all ages and genders immersed in their daily tasks, radiating life and energy. That was the scene unfolding right before us—the capital of the Demon Kingdom, Jerusalem.
“What a curious feeling this is…”
“Pardon? Why do you say that?”
As we strolled through the city, the Demon King voiced her admiration in a quiet yet sincere tone. I tilted my head, feeling a spark of curiosity at her words. This was no ordinary city—it was Jerusalem, the capital where she herself resided. Even now, if I turned my head, the Demon King’s Castle loomed in the distance, well within her usual range of activity. Yet despite that, I could clearly sense one undeniable truth from the sight of her walking beside me in her transformed state.
‘Whoa… she’s sparkling like crazy.’
The Demon King gazed around with bright, childlike eyes, as if seeing the city for the very first time. Hearing such words actually leave her lips only deepened my confusion. Noticing my reaction, she seemed to realize she had gotten a little too excited. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke with careful restraint.
“How should I put it… The city looks quite different from how this one usually sees it. Whenever this one ventured outside the castle, it was always the same scene—everyone bowing their heads low in deference.”
“Ah… I think I understand what you mean.”
At first glance, her words sounded strange. But upon reflection, her sentiment was only natural. Though she now hid her true appearance as my lover, she was still the sovereign ruler of this nation. Whenever she left the castle, a large escort had to accompany her, and the citizens naturally bowed before her procession. Moreover, with the constant state of war, the country had remained on high alert, making any sort of incognito outing nearly impossible. For her, witnessing the city in its raw, unfiltered state—without any prior preparation—was something truly rare, and her wonder at it felt entirely justified.
“So, Your Majesty… I mean, Esther—which do you prefer? The lively, crowded version like this, or the usual one where everyone bows their heads?”
“If this one had to choose, the current scene is far more pleasing. To this one, the citizens are like children. Seeing them tremble and bow is far less agreeable than watching them laugh and chatter while devoted to their own work.”
“…As expected. I thought you would say that.”
Even while concealing her identity, the Demon King revealed the heart of a compassionate ruler who cherished her people. Watching her like this, a warm smile naturally spread across my face.
“Shall we head over there next? According to what Marie found out, they sell all sorts of delicious things over that way.”
“Is that so? That sounds rather promising.”
With those words, the two of us made our way toward the market. As we walked, I naturally took her hand under the unspoken pretext of not getting separated. The warmth and softness that met my palm surprised me. Though she wielded a sword without hesitation in battle, her hand was far gentler and more comforting than I had imagined. Holding it alone filled me with a buoyant sense of excitement as we approached a nearby food stall that caught our eye.
“Welcome! What’ll it be?”
The middle-aged man greeted us with a hearty voice. I turned my gaze to the sizzling foods cooking right in front of us.
‘Huh… Honestly, I figured demon food would be full of weird stuff, but it’s surprisingly normal.’
The stall’s offerings were similar to the street food from my old life in Korea, yet with subtle differences. Skewers of grilled meat from some unfamiliar beast. Steamed buns or fish-shaped pastries filled with a red bean-like paste. Other dishes that resembled Korean blood sausage, tteokbokki, and fish cakes. The basic structure felt familiar enough that, despite this being my first time here, I placed an order without much hesitation.
Soon, two plates of food reminiscent of Korean street snacks sat before us. As I took a bite, I confirmed that the taste was almost exactly what I had expected.
‘At least it’s no burden for me… but I wonder if it’ll suit the Demon King’s palate.’
Given that the Demon King rarely left the palace except during wartime, I couldn’t easily predict how she would react to commoner’s fare. Considering she usually dined on the finest delicacies, there was a high chance she wouldn’t enjoy it. Just as I began to regret my casual suggestion, I glanced sideways to gauge her reaction—only to find her already eating with genuine delight.
“…This is… truly a fascinating flavor. I never imagined such a dish existed.”
The Demon King expressed her admiration while enthusiastically eating something resembling blood sausage. She continued sampling the other foods without any sign of distaste, clearly enjoying herself.
“Does it suit your taste, Lady Esther?”
“Of course. This one has tasted many dishes before, but never anything like this. If the chance arises, this one would like to enjoy it often.”
Just moments ago she had worn the dignified face of a ruler, yet now she looked like nothing more than an ordinary woman. Seeing this side of her, I once again felt how many different facets she possessed—and how every single one of them captivated me.
‘I must have saved a country in my past life. Just being able to go on a date like this with someone like her…’
Feeling that same happiness once more, I found myself forgetting to eat as I watched her lovely figure enjoying the meal in front of me. Then—
“Hm?”
“!?”
Suddenly, the pendant around her neck began to vibrate lightly. She carefully lifted it, pressing it to her ear as her voice dropped to a whisper.
“What is it? Why so suddenly… What… what did you say?”
Whatever message came through the pendant made her expression fill with deep surprise. She immediately stood up and turned to me.
“I’m sorry, Hero. It seems our date must end here.”
“Did something happen?”
The Demon King had cleared her entire schedule for today’s date. An urgent summons like this could only mean something serious. My disappointment at the interruption was quickly overshadowed by concern over what could have occurred. Meeting my gaze, she answered in a calm voice.
“An urgent matter has arisen. Word is that an envoy from the Elf Theocracy is on their way here.”
“The… Elf Theocracy?”
This was completely unexpected. Feeling that I was about to be dragged into something far more troublesome than I had anticipated, I began heading back to the Demon King’s Castle alongside her. All the while, a quiet regret lingered in my heart—the intimate time I had planned to spend with her at the end of our date had now slipped away.