The Mark on Her Nape
The mark stood out clearly on the nape of her neck.
“That makes sense… So that’s why you’ve gone to such lengths to disguise yourself.”
“Indeed. After some time has passed it may be different, but at this moment, publicly declaring that a human like you and Jim are lovers would bring about many burdensome complications.”
After hearing the Demon King’s full explanation of the situation, I gave a slow nod. With the war only just concluded, no matter how great the hero’s achievements, a human like me openly consorting with the Demon King was bound to create troublesome issues for the ruler of an entire nation. It might be different later, but for the time being this arrangement benefited us both. From my perspective, it was actually more comfortable; I could spend time with her without worrying about prying eyes.
“Thank you. For being so considerate of me.”
“Well… Are we not lovers, after all? This is merely what should be done.”
At those words the Demon King’s cheeks flushed faintly. Seeing such an unexpectedly adorable side of her, I stared in a brief daze, my gaze utterly captured. Even though her appearance was different, now that I knew exactly who stood before me, my heart began to race of its own accord—quite unlike the wariness I had felt only moments earlier.
For a while the two of us sat side by side in awkward silence, both of us blushing. Then it was the Demon King who broke the quiet first.
“Very well… Let us proceed in that manner from now on. For the present, Jim shall return. Though my substitute holds my place, remaining absent too long in this situation would still be problematic.”
She rose slowly from her seat. Watching her, I felt a deep, abiding happiness bloom within my chest and spoke with sincere courtesy.
“Understood, Your Majesty. I will follow and rejoin the gathering shortly.”
“Good. When next we meet… let it be in a more comfortable place where we may avoid needless interruption.”
With those final words we gazed at each other a moment longer, soft smiles lingering on our lips, before parting. Even in disguise, it would not do to be seen lingering too closely together in a place with so many watchful eyes.
After the Demon King’s figure vanished from sight and a little time had passed, I began making my way back toward the banquet hall in a leisurely mood.
At that moment—
“Hm?”
“...!”
Her mother, Ilios, was clearly disheveled.
Seeing this, the anxiety Elisa had been carrying in the corner of her heart grew even heavier. She opened her mouth with great care.
“Mama… where have you been?”
“Eh? Ah… well… I simply… had a little to drink and wanted some fresh air.”
Ilios’s voice was stiff, the words sounding very much like an excuse. Hearing a tone so unlike her usual self—as though she were hiding something—Elisa felt the anxiety inside her twist violently. She pressed her mother with the tone of an interrogation.
“The banquet only just began. How could you already be drunk? Mama, you hardly ever drink.”
“Th-that’s…”
Ilios began to show clear signs of panic. Yet she quickly composed her expression and looked at the daughter standing before her.
“That is true, but… even so, on a day like today should we not drink at least a little? The war has ended and we have perfectly reclaimed our lost territories.”
“…That’s… certainly true, but.”
Though she still had many things she wanted to say, Elisa chose to close her mouth. Watching her, Ilios approached with her usual gentle smile and softly stroked her daughter’s hair.
“My dear daughter… Were you very worried about Mama? You even came looking for me. Thank you so much. Our little girl has grown up so much.”
“…Mmm…”
Elisa’s face reddened slightly at her mother’s warm touch. The awkward atmosphere that had arisen seemed to dissipate in an instant. Standing behind them, Rebekah let out a mental sigh of relief.
‘Thank goodness… I was nervous something terrible might happen…’
Knowing full well that nothing in this world was more terrifying than a fight over a man, Rebekah was relieved the matter had not escalated.
Yet at that very moment, unlike the relieved Rebekah, Elisa—still lightly held in her mother Ilios’s arms—remained caught in a storm of emotion far more turbulent than before. Her senses were razor-sharp.
‘This scent… It isn’t Mama’s usual one. It’s mixed with another man’s. And from the sound of her heartbeat, Mama is still extremely tense… Moreover, I couldn’t see it from a distance, but now that it’s right before my eyes… this is unmistakably…’
Right in front of Elisa’s nose was Ilios’s nape. There, a mark that had been invisible only moments ago now stood out clearly to her—a faint trace of lips… or perhaps teeth. Even without any practical experience, Elisa—who had read and heard enough in books—knew exactly what it signified.
Yet she could not bring herself to point it out openly. The moment she asked, she was terrified of what words might leave her beloved mother’s mouth, and of what secret her mother was hiding even from her own daughter.
‘Mama… It isn’t, right? It isn’t what I’m thinking… right? Please… please tell me it isn’t… please…’
Elisa did everything she could to deny the image flickering before her eyes.
But right then—
“Hm?”
“...!”
A small voice suddenly came from the side. It was the very last voice Elisa wanted to hear. She slowly turned her head.
The moment she recognized the person who had appeared, she could no longer keep a normal expression on her face.
“H-Hero…?”
“Uh… um…”
The hero wore a rather awkward expression as he looked at Elisa. After quickly reading the room, he promptly turned and vanished elsewhere. His attitude was that of someone clearly trying to hide something.
The instant she realized this, something inside Elisa’s heart shook violently.
‘It was really… true? Mama… really with the hero? Then this mark on Mama’s neck right now was left by the hero…’
The cold reality made her head spin. The moment she fully accepted it, tears began streaming down Elisa’s face.
“…Elisa?”
“Uwaaaah…. Uwaaaaaah…”
Seeing her daughter suddenly burst into sobs in her arms, considerable bewilderment appeared on Ilios’s face. She turned to Rebekah and Amelda, who had been watching the entire scene.
“Why is this child acting like this?”
“Um… well… that is…”
Rebekah hesitated, clearly struggling for an answer. Then Amelda, standing beside her, spoke in a calm voice.
“Forgive us, my lady. It appears the young mistress has had a bit too much to drink.”
They too had clearly seen the hero approach, notice Ilios and Elisa together, and quickly withdraw. They understood exactly what it meant, yet they could not speak the truth. If they carelessly revealed the sordid fact that Elisa had feelings for the very man who had just held a secret rendezvous with Ilios, they risked stepping into a situation far beyond their ability to handle.
Fortunately, Ilios seemed to accept Amelda’s words. She nodded slowly.
“That’s true… This child does tend to cry when she gets drunk. It’s all right now. Mama is here. Don’t cry, my sweet baby.”
“Hic… hic… Uwaaaaaah…”
Ilios began soothing her daughter with gentle strokes. Elisa could only accept the touch and cry even more bitterly.
Yet none of the people present—not Ilios, nor the watching Rebekah and Amelda—knew the truth. The tears falling from Elisa’s eyes were not those of resignation or despair. They were tears filled with sorrow and grim resolve: the determination to wage a bloody war against the mother she loved.