Calm Down, This Is the Demon King's Scheme?
Stay calm. This is the Demon King’s scheme, right?
After finishing the entry procedures—including the thorough inspection of my belongings—at the entrance to the banquet hall where I was to share a meal with the Demon King, I waited for her with a restless heart.
I’d prepared myself to a certain extent, but… it still doesn’t feel entirely comfortable.
From the moment I was first taken prisoner, I had faced the Demon King and spoken with her more than a few times. Even so, meeting someone under the explicit pretext of a date felt fundamentally different right from the start.
It was a far cry from the life-or-death tension I had experienced before. A thick, heavy emotion—equal parts anxiety, anticipation, and joy—had seized me completely. My heart pounded. A pleasant tickling sensation bloomed in my chest. Just thinking about it made the corners of my mouth want to lift, and it taught me what happiness truly felt like.
What expression would she wear when she appeared? What would she say? And what feelings would fill her eyes when she looked at me? Every possibility filled me with excitement and delight. A date with a woman you hold affection for was exactly this. Even the simple act of waiting brought me joy.
Still… I wonder what she’ll wear. The black dress I’ve seen before wasn’t bad, but…
It had revealed the lines of her figure clearly enough, yet its exposure was modest. She had worn it like everyday attire, and it was certainly beautiful. But since this was a date, it was only natural to hope for something a little more special.
While I waited, my heart fluttering with all these thoughts, her voice suddenly reached me from the side.
“We apologize for making you wait, Hero.”
“Ah… Your Maje—”
I turned my head at once. The moment I saw her, the words died in my throat. A single thought echoed through my stunned mind.
…Beautiful.
No clearer word came to me. She was the very incarnation of beauty, as if every loveliness in the world had been gathered and shaped into one being. The thought that I might never see anyone this breathtakingly beautiful again in my entire life flashed through me.
The Demon King wore a dress of black and purple fabric embroidered with threads of gold. Unlike the rather austere obsidian gown I had seen before, this one was both resplendent and elegant. Certain parts—especially the neckline—plunged daringly low, revealing roughly forty percent of her generous, irresistibly alluring chest. The garment only accentuated her perfection.
Her waist was impossibly slender with not a trace of excess flesh, while the high side slits emphasized her magnificent hips. And above all, her face—adorned with light makeup and exquisite jewelry—radiated the dignity and nobility of a goddess, completing a body that could only be called a work of art.
She was, without exaggeration, more stunning than any woman I had ever seen in this life or the last. For a moment I felt as if I were dreaming.
“Is something the matter? Perhaps… Our appearance is strange…?”
“! Ah, no! Not at all! It’s just… Your Majesty is so incredibly beautiful that I…”
The words spilled from me without filter, straight from the heart. The Demon King looked momentarily surprised, then offered a gentle smile.
“I-is that so…? We are grateful you would say such a thing, Hero.”
She gazed at my face as she spoke. Seeing the faint blush coloring her cheeks, my own heart beat even harder.
“Then let us go inside. Just as you wished, we shall spend this time with only the two of us.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Feeling another surge of excitement at her words, I followed behind the Demon King. I remained completely unaware of the subtle tension hidden in her expression.
…For the sake of this country… No… for my own sake?
“Hmm… Should we add a few more rubies after all?”
“…Um, Belzebeuty?”
“Just a moment… Just a moment. On second thought, this black pearl brooch would be better here…”
Belzebeuty stood before her, meticulously selecting each accessory. The Demon King watched her friend—who clearly disapproved of this dinner with the Hero—fussing over every detail in a way that felt unexpectedly touching. Wearing a slightly awkward expression, the Demon King asked,
“We appreciate your concern, truly. But did you not warn Us with your own mouth to be cautious of this meal with the Hero? So why are you now…”
“Precisely because of that, I must personally step forward and adorn Your Majesty with the perfect appearance that will radiate your greatest charm.”
“Huh…? W-why is that?”
Belzebeuty’s tone was resolute. Deep confusion settled over the Demon King’s face. Seeing this, Belzebeuty spoke with unmistakable seriousness.
“I have been pondering it all morning—how we might turn this dinner, born from that Hero’s shady scheme, to our advantage.”
She made no effort to hide her blatant dislike for the Hero. The Demon King privately thought he didn’t seem like such a bad person, but she kept the opinion to herself and listened carefully.
“Given his current usefulness, treating him with open coldness would only backfire. Therefore, the conclusion I reached is that we should instead reverse his scheme and place a leash on the Hero’s emotions.”
“A leash?”
Belzebeuty’s eyes gleamed sharply. The Demon King’s expression grew even more puzzled. With rising fervor, Belzebeuty began to explain in detail.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Whether human or demon, men are ultimately greatly swayed by a woman’s charm. No matter how cold and calculating the Hero may be, he will have no choice but to waver before Your Majesty, who possesses divinely bestowed supreme beauty.”
“Supreme beauty… Even so, my appearance is hardly—”
“I have told you many times that such rigid, humble words only cloud the point and hurt one’s feelings…”
“…Mm… We are sorry.”
The Demon King’s face flushed slightly at Belzebeuty’s firm rebuke while she fastened the brooch. Undeterred, her friend continued.
“In any case, if Your Majesty can seize the opening we create, it should not be difficult to capture his heart and take the initiative. He will become a loyal prisoner who swears absolute obedience to Your Majesty’s commands.”
“The Hero’s heart… in Our hands…”
The Demon King murmured the words in a faintly trembling voice. Watching her, Belzebeuty let out a small sigh and spoke with a bitter tone.
“Haa… To be honest, I do not wish to go this far either. Though I phrased it delicately, this is essentially a honey trap. We will use Your Majesty’s charm to bind the Hero’s heart in return and thereby minimize the risk.”
“…We see. It can be interpreted that way as well.”
Only then did the Demon King fully understand why her friend was throwing herself into this matter with such sincerity. Although the Hero sought to gain power in the Demon Kingdom through her, the nation currently needed the overwhelming strength he possessed even more than he desired that power.
In that case, the best solution was to use the situation to their advantage and seize the initiative instead. If the Hero intended to capture the Demon King’s heart, they would reverse it—the Demon King would capture his and hold the reins. It was a clever reversal.
Yet it still meant using her lord. Belzebeuty looked at the Demon King with regret.
“I am truly sorry, Your Majesty. If only your servant possessed greater ability, I would not have had to burden you with such troubles… Please forgive this incompetent subject who could think of no better scheme.”
Belzebeuty apologized from the bottom of her heart. The Demon King offered a gentle smile and softly stroked the head of her longtime friend, who was still adjusting the ornaments on her attire.
“It is fine. In the end, We who bear the name of Demon King exist for this nation and its people. For the sake of the kingdom’s interests, We can do at least this much.”
“Your Majesty…”
Belzebeuty’s face showed a touch of deep emotion. However, as she looked at her loyal subject and friend, the Demon King felt a different kind of guilt—one that Belzebeuty could not know.
To think that I, who have been waiting for this while even taking a special bath, would say such things… It leaves a truly unpleasant taste.
Though she spoke of the nation’s sake, in her heart the Demon King held personal anticipation for this dinner with the Hero. Moreover, she felt discomfort at the thought that she might be exploiting a man who had been abandoned by his own comrades. As a monarch who must set aside personal feelings for the good of the state, she wondered if her own capacity was simply insufficient.
Leaving Belzebeuty to continue her work, the Demon King gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Just as her friend had said, her beauty was flawless no matter whom she might be compared to. She herself did not fully understand what meaning it held, but at the very least, one fact gave her relief.
Thank goodness… At the very least, the Hero will not come to dislike Us because of Our appearance.