David de Kelmar Lochlen, who tried to trick humans into going to their deaths, was killed. The dark bugs that followed him were also all captured. The war was over!
“I have something to tell you... both of you.”
Sylvia clenched her hands that were on her knees. Her fingertips trembled, and the sound of her clothes crinkling faintly rang in her ears. Why was it still like this, even though she had decided to confess everything from the past and ask for forgiveness?
At that news, people shouted and ran into the streets without exception. The weather had become cold enough to be considered early winter, but the cold could not quell the people's enthusiasm and excitement. However, there were places where the commotion in the streets had no effect. In the drawing room of the palace, only a cold silence lingered as if the soft sunlight of early winter had faded away. Count Florette, who entered the drawing room, bowed his head and spoke in a serious voice.
“Your Majesty. I hear that a delegation from Kelvetia has arrived.”
“...”
But even after waiting for a long time, there was no answer. Finally, Count Florette, who could no longer wait, lifted his head slightly. Then, he saw the King, who was lying on the sofa, staring blankly out the window. A deep sigh escaped Count Florette’s mouth. He called the King in a much louder voice than before.
"Your Majesty."
“...Ah. You’re here?”
Anyone who had seen the King half a year ago would not have recognized him now, for he had changed so much. He had lost so much weight that his cheekbones seemed to bulge out, and the bags under his eyes were so dark that they were pitch black. Count Florette barely suppressed another sigh as he heard that weak voice. He lowered his head slightly and repeated his words.
“The Kelvetian delegation, including the Demon King, has entered the palace. You must welcome them.”
“...How grandiose to call me, who almost ruined the country by becoming my son’s puppet, Your Majesty.”
"Your Majesty."
Count Florette frowned and showed his embarrassment. But the King sighed even deeper and more heavily than the Count and mocked himself darkly.
“I never thought that someone like the Duke of Belfort, or even my only son, would do something like that.”
Since he had pushed out his brothers and ascended to the throne through unfair means, he did not want his child to experience such defeat and an inferiority complex. So, despite the countless objections of his subjects, the King insisted on having only one child, and that is how David was born.
"Father."
When David was very young, he would do all sorts of bad things and he worried a lot, but David suddenly showed signs of maturity and was always friendly to him. And then, even when David occasionally acted insolently, he quickly wanted to forgive him, which he thought was love for his child. But it turned out that even that wasn't love, but brainwashing. It was a very bitter and hopeless thing.
“...”
Count Florette stared at the King in silence for a moment. His golden eyes seemed to gradually sink, and soon he told the truth in a flat voice.
“You reap what you sow.”
"...What?"
“Your Majesty, you have harmed your own flesh and blood with your own hands, so do you wish to be safe from the hands of your own flesh and blood?”
“...”
“Your Majesty should have looked after himself first, rather than being wary and pressuring the Duke of Belfort.”
The King's head lowered silently at the cold, yet irrefutable rebuke. Count Florette, who was staring at him, added calmly.
“First of all, the envoys from Kelvetia have arrived, so please do your best to welcome them.”
“...”
“Regret comes after you have fulfilled your responsibilities.”
With that, Count Florette finished speaking and turned around. The door to the drawing room opened and closed silently, and silence fell once again.
“...”
The King left alone, was lost in thought for a long time. The sunlight poured down on his deeply wrinkled face, creating shadows. Finally, the King took a deep breath and slowly rose from his seat.
“...Are you outside?”
“Did you call?”
“Summon the Kelvetian delegation to the audience room.”
“I will obey your command.”
With his last pride, he was doing what little responsibility he had left.
“Your Majesty. I hear that a delegation from Kelvetia has arrived.”
“...”
But even after waiting for a long time, there was no answer. Finally, Count Florette, who could no longer wait, lifted his head slightly. Then, he saw the King, who was lying on the sofa, staring blankly out the window. A deep sigh escaped Count Florette’s mouth. He called the King in a much louder voice than before.
"Your Majesty."
“...Ah. You’re here?”
Anyone who had seen the King half a year ago would not have recognized him now, for he had changed so much. He had lost so much weight that his cheekbones seemed to bulge out, and the bags under his eyes were so dark that they were pitch black. Count Florette barely suppressed another sigh as he heard that weak voice. He lowered his head slightly and repeated his words.
“The Kelvetian delegation, including the Demon King, has entered the palace. You must welcome them.”
“...How grandiose to call me, who almost ruined the country by becoming my son’s puppet, Your Majesty.”
"Your Majesty."
Count Florette frowned and showed his embarrassment. But the King sighed even deeper and more heavily than the Count and mocked himself darkly.
“I never thought that someone like the Duke of Belfort, or even my only son, would do something like that.”
Since he had pushed out his brothers and ascended to the throne through unfair means, he did not want his child to experience such defeat and an inferiority complex. So, despite the countless objections of his subjects, the King insisted on having only one child, and that is how David was born.
"Father."
When David was very young, he would do all sorts of bad things and he worried a lot, but David suddenly showed signs of maturity and was always friendly to him. And then, even when David occasionally acted insolently, he quickly wanted to forgive him, which he thought was love for his child. But it turned out that even that wasn't love, but brainwashing. It was a very bitter and hopeless thing.
“...”
Count Florette stared at the King in silence for a moment. His golden eyes seemed to gradually sink, and soon he told the truth in a flat voice.
“You reap what you sow.”
"...What?"
“Your Majesty, you have harmed your own flesh and blood with your own hands, so do you wish to be safe from the hands of your own flesh and blood?”
“...”
“Your Majesty should have looked after himself first, rather than being wary and pressuring the Duke of Belfort.”
The King's head lowered silently at the cold, yet irrefutable rebuke. Count Florette, who was staring at him, added calmly.
“First of all, the envoys from Kelvetia have arrived, so please do your best to welcome them.”
“...”
“Regret comes after you have fulfilled your responsibilities.”
With that, Count Florette finished speaking and turned around. The door to the drawing room opened and closed silently, and silence fell once again.
“...”
The King left alone, was lost in thought for a long time. The sunlight poured down on his deeply wrinkled face, creating shadows. Finally, the King took a deep breath and slowly rose from his seat.
“...Are you outside?”
“Did you call?”
“Summon the Kelvetian delegation to the audience room.”
“I will obey your command.”
With his last pride, he was doing what little responsibility he had left.
***
Clink.
At the sound of the dishes clinking, Sylvia's shoulders jumped up imperceptibly. Randall, who noticed it quickly, handed her a glass of cold water.
"Ma'am."
“...Ah. Thank you, Randall.”
Sylvia smiled awkwardly and accepted the glass of water he offered her. She took a sip of water and glanced to the side. Then she saw Countess Florette and her husband eating neatly. As she looked at their faces, she felt as if her breath was being caught in her throat again. When Sylvia put down her glass with a pale face, Randall leaned toward her and whispered.
“You have to breathe to talk.”
“If it were you, would you be able to act the same way as before when something like that happened and not much time had passed?”
“Of course, that can’t be the case. But it was you, Sylvia, who mustered up the courage to come to dinner today and tell us your story.”
“...”
Sylvia sighed deeply again, having lost her words. She groaned and gnawed at the fish on her plate.
"Ma'am."
“...Ah. Thank you, Randall.”
Sylvia smiled awkwardly and accepted the glass of water he offered her. She took a sip of water and glanced to the side. Then she saw Countess Florette and her husband eating neatly. As she looked at their faces, she felt as if her breath was being caught in her throat again. When Sylvia put down her glass with a pale face, Randall leaned toward her and whispered.
“You have to breathe to talk.”
“If it were you, would you be able to act the same way as before when something like that happened and not much time had passed?”
“Of course, that can’t be the case. But it was you, Sylvia, who mustered up the courage to come to dinner today and tell us your story.”
“...”
Sylvia sighed deeply again, having lost her words. She groaned and gnawed at the fish on her plate.
A few days ago, an official delegation from Kelvetia led by Evelyn had visited the human world through the twist. She heard that Duke Shert was staying in Kelvetia to handle state affairs in Evelyn’s stead. A peace conference between humans and demons. What seemed impossible actually happened when the King himself stood up and respected and welcomed Evelyn as the King of another country. The demons also declared that they would wear restraints themselves during the conference, except when necessary, to show their favor to the humans. Of course, this was possible because the Duke and Duchess of Belfort were several times stronger than the humans who tried to harm them while the demons were weakened by wearing restraints.
After such a long conference, the humans and demons signed a peace treaty. Based on mutual non-aggression, the humans would teach the demons human culture and technology. The demons made a magical covenant with each other on the condition that they would control the monsters that crossed the distortion and harmed humans as much as possible, and also not harm humans unless they were harmed first. This was something that Sylvia developed together with Auston.
Of course, there were still quite a few people who doubted the sincerity of the demons. Naturally, it was impossible to relieve the fear, wariness, and resentment that had built up over the years toward the demons with just this one meeting. However, after the meeting, Evelyn discussed it with the King and stood before the people.
"Is that really the Demon King? That..
"Is that really the Demon King? That..
woman?"
"...She's not going to rush at us, is she?"
"But since the Duke and Duchess of Belfort are standing below the stage...let’s believe it."
"It's not that difficult to hear what they're saying."
People gathered in front of the stage where the speech was to be given, murmurs of instinctive fear of the unknown life. The story of Lang and a child that had spread just before David died had greatly changed perceptions. When the stage was filled with people, Evelyn spoke with surprising politeness.
"It's natural that you don't believe it. Countless people have shed blood at the hands of the Demons."
"..."
"But we too can feel emotions just like you."
Evelyn's eyes looked around the room. People flinched, but they couldn't take their eyes off her. Her sincere eyes always had the power to captivate people. Evelyn spoke carefully, word by word. She lowered her eyes and spoke firmly.
"I no longer want to live a life where I have to step on the blood of my own kind or even someone else."
"..."
"So please help me. Let me learn. Give me a chance to coexist with you."
"..."
"Please."
Evelyn bowed her head deeply in front of the crowd. Even though they were demons who were going to tear each other apart, it was definitely an unfamiliar sight for the leader of a clan to lower herself like that, so the people were quite taken aback.
"...She's not going to rush at us, is she?"
"But since the Duke and Duchess of Belfort are standing below the stage...let’s believe it."
"It's not that difficult to hear what they're saying."
People gathered in front of the stage where the speech was to be given, murmurs of instinctive fear of the unknown life. The story of Lang and a child that had spread just before David died had greatly changed perceptions. When the stage was filled with people, Evelyn spoke with surprising politeness.
"It's natural that you don't believe it. Countless people have shed blood at the hands of the Demons."
"..."
"But we too can feel emotions just like you."
Evelyn's eyes looked around the room. People flinched, but they couldn't take their eyes off her. Her sincere eyes always had the power to captivate people. Evelyn spoke carefully, word by word. She lowered her eyes and spoke firmly.
"I no longer want to live a life where I have to step on the blood of my own kind or even someone else."
"..."
"So please help me. Let me learn. Give me a chance to coexist with you."
"..."
"Please."
Evelyn bowed her head deeply in front of the crowd. Even though they were demons who were going to tear each other apart, it was definitely an unfamiliar sight for the leader of a clan to lower herself like that, so the people were quite taken aback.
However, the bewilderment soon turned into solemnity. Not wanting to lose someone. That was the emotion that humans had felt most desperately over the years. After that, the number of people complaining about the peace talks decreased to the point where they almost disappeared. The pacifist demons who followed Evelyn spent a few times with humans while wearing restraints to prevent any accidents. As they realized that the demons were not much different from humans except for being quite warlike, the atmosphere quickly spread throughout the kingdom as they talked kindly.
The demons also said that they felt even more like kin when they held back their murderous intent and had a leisurely conversation with the humans and that they did not want to hurt them. The meeting was short, but it was invaluable and they gained a lot in that they saw hope for the future. After the peace talks were concluded, Count Florette and the Duke of Belfort, who had been on a tighter schedule than anyone else, were forced out of the palace by other nobles.
"It's even worse if you collapse from overdoing it, right?"
"We will somehow fill the empty space. In the meantime, please come back after resting well enough to feel like you have been rejuvenated and all your fatigue has disappeared!"
"Please... come back...!"
"It's even worse if you collapse from overdoing it, right?"
"We will somehow fill the empty space. In the meantime, please come back after resting well enough to feel like you have been rejuvenated and all your fatigue has disappeared!"
"Please... come back...!"
The nobles seemed more eager to make them work than to let them rest. If they continued on this path, it would be a bigger problem if they, the most capable people, collapsed, so the nobles threw them out of the palace with tears in their eyes.
When that happened, Sylvia gathered her courage and caught Count Florette as he was leaving the palace.
"...You asked me to come over for dinner before. Is that still true? I have something... to tell you."
Fortunately, Count Florette nodded with a faint smile as if nothing had happened between them. And so, Sylvia was enjoying dinner with Randall and Count Florette.
'I feel like I'm going to throw up...'
In fact, it would not have been strange if she had gotten sick of it rather than enjoyed it. Randall carefully rubbed Sylvia’s back, avoiding the eyes of the Count and his wife. He smiled warmly and patted the back of Sylvia’s hand with his other hand.
“Didn’t I tell you that I would be by your side?”
“...Yes. Thank you.”
Thanks to Randall's presence, Sylvia was able to finish her meal even though she felt like she was sitting on a thorn cushion.
"...You asked me to come over for dinner before. Is that still true? I have something... to tell you."
Fortunately, Count Florette nodded with a faint smile as if nothing had happened between them. And so, Sylvia was enjoying dinner with Randall and Count Florette.
'I feel like I'm going to throw up...'
In fact, it would not have been strange if she had gotten sick of it rather than enjoyed it. Randall carefully rubbed Sylvia’s back, avoiding the eyes of the Count and his wife. He smiled warmly and patted the back of Sylvia’s hand with his other hand.
“Didn’t I tell you that I would be by your side?”
“...Yes. Thank you.”
Thanks to Randall's presence, Sylvia was able to finish her meal even though she felt like she was sitting on a thorn cushion.
After finishing her meal, they moved to the spacious living room. Sylvia, sitting next to Randall on the sofa opposite the Count and his wife, took a deep breath. She opened her trembling lips with a still slightly pale complexion.
“...As I told my father.”
“...”
“...As I told my father.”
“...”
“I have something to tell you... both of you.”
Sylvia clenched her hands that were on her knees. Her fingertips trembled, and the sound of her clothes crinkling faintly rang in her ears. Why was it still like this, even though she had decided to confess everything from the past and ask for forgiveness?
Even though Randall was still holding her hand, she felt like someone was grabbing her throat every time she tried to say a word. The Countess, who had not said a word about what was going on, smiled quietly and called her daughter.
“Sylvia.”
"... Yes?"
The call made her heart sink. When Sylvia answered with a big flinch like a guilty child, the Countess's eyes filled with pity. She continued to console her daughter with a voice that was so tender it almost brought tears to her eyes.
"It's okay."
“...”
“It’s really okay. I’ve seen your face and seen you eat a decent amount, so that’s enough for me.”
“...”
“So don’t rush. I’m always here to listen to what you have to say.”
Sylvia bit her lip as tears seemed to well up in her eyes. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Even during that time, her throat got choked up several times, but she managed to hold it back. However, apart from the fact that she was about to cry, the Countess’s words seemed to calm her stomach. Sylvia’s face relaxed a little and she held Randall’s hand tightly.
“This is... a story about things that happened to me. You might find it hard to believe, but...”
Then she began to tell stories in a quiet voice. From Alyssa to Sylvia. They were all stories about her past lives.
“Sylvia.”
"... Yes?"
The call made her heart sink. When Sylvia answered with a big flinch like a guilty child, the Countess's eyes filled with pity. She continued to console her daughter with a voice that was so tender it almost brought tears to her eyes.
"It's okay."
“...”
“It’s really okay. I’ve seen your face and seen you eat a decent amount, so that’s enough for me.”
“...”
“So don’t rush. I’m always here to listen to what you have to say.”
Sylvia bit her lip as tears seemed to well up in her eyes. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Even during that time, her throat got choked up several times, but she managed to hold it back. However, apart from the fact that she was about to cry, the Countess’s words seemed to calm her stomach. Sylvia’s face relaxed a little and she held Randall’s hand tightly.
“This is... a story about things that happened to me. You might find it hard to believe, but...”
Then she began to tell stories in a quiet voice. From Alyssa to Sylvia. They were all stories about her past lives.
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