“You mean ‘death’?”
The moment he heard those words, Sylvia's breathing stopped, and David's eyes turned towards the reception room door for a moment. However, Sylvia was frozen in shock and did not realize it.
'...How?'
She felt like her head was empty due to extreme confusion and shock. Even while her thoughts were still, Sylvia tried to figure out how David had sensed her wish for 'death', which she had never expressed out loud. Meanwhile, David's gaze returned to Sylvia. He smiled with satisfaction, perhaps pleased by Sylvia's agitation.
"... You look so surprised. I bet you didn’t expect that.”
David stood up leisurely, contrasting with Sylvia's stiffened state down to her fingertips. He walked around the table to Sylvia's side, leaned down, and whispered into her ear.
“You and I are the same.”
“...”
“When I first realized that I was reincarnated as a human, I thought hundreds, thousands of times that I would rather die than continue living this miserable life.”
David, or 'Basis', was a demon from the moment he was born, and at the same time, the pinnacle of the demons. To him, the fact that he was 'reincarnated as a human' was more insulting and miserable than being reincarnated as a roadside bug. After realizing reality to some extent, David could not accept that he was a worthless human and attempted death several times. However, he was the 'Crown Prince', and annoyingly, the humans did not let the Crown Prince die. Even when he jumped into a pit of fire, they saved him and saved him. So, it was ridiculous to call it the second best, but he acted wickedly.
“Really? Since you came home early, I thought I’d suggest we shower together.”
Randall stopped talking at Sylvia's casual remark. She met his gaze and determinedly squinted her eyes. She didn't forget to tilt her head.
“Isn’t that possible?”
“...”
"Yes?"
“...Really.”
Randall let out a hollow laugh. Immediately afterward, he hugged Sylvia without warning and laughed painfully.
“There’s no way it won’t work, right?”
With those words, Randall lowered his head and kissed Sylvia deeply. Sylvia also happily wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to the kiss.
Perhaps because there was no one to see them off, he was able to examine the Crown Prince and his party more closely than before. Lang was struggling to decide who was the Crown Prince among the two people, the old man, and the young man.
"OMG...!"
The young man suddenly turned his head in the direction where Lang was. Lang, who suddenly met the young man's gaze, opened his eyes wide in surprise.
The moment he heard those words, Sylvia's breathing stopped, and David's eyes turned towards the reception room door for a moment. However, Sylvia was frozen in shock and did not realize it.
'...How?'
She felt like her head was empty due to extreme confusion and shock. Even while her thoughts were still, Sylvia tried to figure out how David had sensed her wish for 'death', which she had never expressed out loud. Meanwhile, David's gaze returned to Sylvia. He smiled with satisfaction, perhaps pleased by Sylvia's agitation.
"... You look so surprised. I bet you didn’t expect that.”
David stood up leisurely, contrasting with Sylvia's stiffened state down to her fingertips. He walked around the table to Sylvia's side, leaned down, and whispered into her ear.
“You and I are the same.”
“...”
“When I first realized that I was reincarnated as a human, I thought hundreds, thousands of times that I would rather die than continue living this miserable life.”
David, or 'Basis', was a demon from the moment he was born, and at the same time, the pinnacle of the demons. To him, the fact that he was 'reincarnated as a human' was more insulting and miserable than being reincarnated as a roadside bug. After realizing reality to some extent, David could not accept that he was a worthless human and attempted death several times. However, he was the 'Crown Prince', and annoyingly, the humans did not let the Crown Prince die. Even when he jumped into a pit of fire, they saved him and saved him. So, it was ridiculous to call it the second best, but he acted wickedly.
Until he faced Randall and was able to control the darkness again. The current David did not know exactly what punishment Sylvia received from God. But one thing was clear.
“What more so, if you were the one who was betrayed first, punished by God, and ‘forcibly’ reincarnated while remembering all of that fact in its entirety, then it goes without saying.”
“...”
David de Kelmar Lochlen is the only one who understands Sylvia Florette Belfort.
“...”
Sylvia still didn't say anything. David spoke up to that point and then raised his upper body and returned to his original position. He continued speaking in a much louder voice than before.
“And I thought about it, isn’t that why you decided to marry the Duke of Belfort in the first place?”
“...”
“A land that borders Kelvetia. In a way, it’s the perfect land to die ‘naturally’.”
"No."
Sylvia tried to cut off David's words by moving her mouth to shake off his cajoling. David stopped talking. Sylvia took a deep breath and answered in a clear voice.
“I don’t know what kind of nonsense you are talking about. It was the will of my parents and His Majesty that I married the Duke, and what I wish for now is...”
“...”
“A comfortable and peaceful rest of my life with my husband. That’s all.”
Yes, it was true that at first, she had tried to use Randall to obtain eternal rest, but now it was different.
“What more so, if you were the one who was betrayed first, punished by God, and ‘forcibly’ reincarnated while remembering all of that fact in its entirety, then it goes without saying.”
“...”
David de Kelmar Lochlen is the only one who understands Sylvia Florette Belfort.
“...”
Sylvia still didn't say anything. David spoke up to that point and then raised his upper body and returned to his original position. He continued speaking in a much louder voice than before.
“And I thought about it, isn’t that why you decided to marry the Duke of Belfort in the first place?”
“...”
“A land that borders Kelvetia. In a way, it’s the perfect land to die ‘naturally’.”
"No."
Sylvia tried to cut off David's words by moving her mouth to shake off his cajoling. David stopped talking. Sylvia took a deep breath and answered in a clear voice.
“I don’t know what kind of nonsense you are talking about. It was the will of my parents and His Majesty that I married the Duke, and what I wish for now is...”
“...”
“A comfortable and peaceful rest of my life with my husband. That’s all.”
Yes, it was true that at first, she had tried to use Randall to obtain eternal rest, but now it was different.
Now, it was different. As she spoke those words, Sylvia reflected on her own feelings toward Randall. Then, the shock and anger she had felt because of David gradually subsided.
"...What?"
Meanwhile, David, who heard Sylvia's answer, looked extremely shocked for some reason. He asked back without realizing it, but soon his face hardened. For the first time since coming here, David's face lost its composure and he smiled lowly.
“You didn’t say anything about truly falling in love with that idiot, did you, dear?”
It was a voice that seemed like a growl at first glance, unlike his smiling face. However, Sylvia repeated the same answer without wavering.
“No matter how many times you ask me, my answer is the same. All I want is a peaceful life with my husband.”
"Ha..."
David sneered lowly and brushed his bangs back with one hand. The veins on his forehead stood out through the messy hair. David let out a hollow laugh as he brushed his hair back, and then suddenly his expression disappeared.
“This is much dirtier than I thought.”
An eerie murmur escaped his teeth. His sharp purple gaze lingered around Sylvia’s neck as if he was going to strangle her. Finally, David lifted his hand from his hair and stood up.
“Why did these two people who taught me these... feelings end up being a couple? In a way, isn’t this a fate that God himself created?”
David sneered sharply. He glanced at the doorway once more and spoke with a face that was almost creepy and affectionate.
“I hope you will be happy for a long time, just like in the fairy tale.”
It was a blessing, but it was also a curse. David walked briskly to the doorway, leaving those words behind, and flung it open. And beyond.
“...Randall?”
Randall, with a hardened face, stood there, trying to turn the doorknob.
The moment she spotted Randall, her heart sank. Sylvia froze, feeling as if she had been splashed with cold water, but when David roughly pushed Randall's shoulder away and disappeared, she came to her senses and ran to him.
“Randall.”
“...Sylvia.”
Randall's voice was low and locked. Sylvia couldn't take her eyes off his face like someone who had encountered a wild beast. The sound of her heart beating in her ears was ominous like the sound of a drum. Her fingertips trembled.
'No way.'
Surely you didn't hear that. Surely you didn't... overhear the conversation between me and David, did you?
"...What?"
Meanwhile, David, who heard Sylvia's answer, looked extremely shocked for some reason. He asked back without realizing it, but soon his face hardened. For the first time since coming here, David's face lost its composure and he smiled lowly.
“You didn’t say anything about truly falling in love with that idiot, did you, dear?”
It was a voice that seemed like a growl at first glance, unlike his smiling face. However, Sylvia repeated the same answer without wavering.
“No matter how many times you ask me, my answer is the same. All I want is a peaceful life with my husband.”
"Ha..."
David sneered lowly and brushed his bangs back with one hand. The veins on his forehead stood out through the messy hair. David let out a hollow laugh as he brushed his hair back, and then suddenly his expression disappeared.
“This is much dirtier than I thought.”
An eerie murmur escaped his teeth. His sharp purple gaze lingered around Sylvia’s neck as if he was going to strangle her. Finally, David lifted his hand from his hair and stood up.
“Why did these two people who taught me these... feelings end up being a couple? In a way, isn’t this a fate that God himself created?”
David sneered sharply. He glanced at the doorway once more and spoke with a face that was almost creepy and affectionate.
“I hope you will be happy for a long time, just like in the fairy tale.”
It was a blessing, but it was also a curse. David walked briskly to the doorway, leaving those words behind, and flung it open. And beyond.
“...Randall?”
Randall, with a hardened face, stood there, trying to turn the doorknob.
The moment she spotted Randall, her heart sank. Sylvia froze, feeling as if she had been splashed with cold water, but when David roughly pushed Randall's shoulder away and disappeared, she came to her senses and ran to him.
“Randall.”
“...Sylvia.”
Randall's voice was low and locked. Sylvia couldn't take her eyes off his face like someone who had encountered a wild beast. The sound of her heart beating in her ears was ominous like the sound of a drum. Her fingertips trembled.
'No way.'
Surely you didn't hear that. Surely you didn't... overhear the conversation between me and David, did you?
Sylvia tried to appear calm, hiding her hands behind her back.
“When... did you come?”
Spitting out that one question was as hard as pouring blood. Sylvia stared at Randel’s lips anxiously. A second felt like an eternity. Fortunately, Randall soon returned to his usual self. He lowered his hand, which had been hanging in the air, and smiled familiarly.
“I’m sorry. I was just about to open the door when His Highness the Crown Prince came out, so I was a little... startled.”
“Are you hurt anywhere? It looks like you hit something hard a little while ago.”
“I am fine. More importantly, was everything okay during your conversation with His Highness?”
Randall looked at Sylvia with a worried face. Sylvia sighed softly, relieved by his warm expression. She followed Randall and smiled faintly.
“He didn’t say anything. He just said he stopped by to say hello while passing by.”
“I’ll take responsibility, so you can just kick him out next time.”
“If I do that, it will be difficult to avoid being held accountable.”
“I would rather be blamed than have my wife face such a man.”
Randall expressed his displeasure with a serious expression. Sylvia finally gave a faint smile and patted his shoulder.
“I’ll do that next time. You must have had a hard time coming back in such a hurry. Are you going to go out again?”
“I guess...”
“When... did you come?”
Spitting out that one question was as hard as pouring blood. Sylvia stared at Randel’s lips anxiously. A second felt like an eternity. Fortunately, Randall soon returned to his usual self. He lowered his hand, which had been hanging in the air, and smiled familiarly.
“I’m sorry. I was just about to open the door when His Highness the Crown Prince came out, so I was a little... startled.”
“Are you hurt anywhere? It looks like you hit something hard a little while ago.”
“I am fine. More importantly, was everything okay during your conversation with His Highness?”
Randall looked at Sylvia with a worried face. Sylvia sighed softly, relieved by his warm expression. She followed Randall and smiled faintly.
“He didn’t say anything. He just said he stopped by to say hello while passing by.”
“I’ll take responsibility, so you can just kick him out next time.”
“If I do that, it will be difficult to avoid being held accountable.”
“I would rather be blamed than have my wife face such a man.”
Randall expressed his displeasure with a serious expression. Sylvia finally gave a faint smile and patted his shoulder.
“I’ll do that next time. You must have had a hard time coming back in such a hurry. Are you going to go out again?”
“I guess...”
“Really? Since you came home early, I thought I’d suggest we shower together.”
Randall stopped talking at Sylvia's casual remark. She met his gaze and determinedly squinted her eyes. She didn't forget to tilt her head.
“Isn’t that possible?”
“...”
"Yes?"
“...Really.”
Randall let out a hollow laugh. Immediately afterward, he hugged Sylvia without warning and laughed painfully.
“There’s no way it won’t work, right?”
With those words, Randall lowered his head and kissed Sylvia deeply. Sylvia also happily wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to the kiss.
The familiar heat, the familiar body. It was finally peace.
***
Meanwhile, as soon as David showed up at Belfort Castle, Auston caught Lang, who was wandering around the castle, and put him in his laboratory. Lang was on his way to see an injured rabbit, but when Auston suddenly grabbed his ear and dragged him here, he raised his voice and rebelled.
“Ouch! I told you it hurts! Why are you doing this!”
“The Crown Prince is here. You must not move from here, not even one step, until he leaves. Do you understand?”
“The Crown Prince? If you are the Crown Prince prince... aren’t you the successor to the human King?”
“That’s right. That’s why I’m telling you not to go out.”
“Why? I am a human being now anyway, so can’t I just go and look?”
“Do you want to be tied up again?”
“...Ugh.”
After tasting freedom for the past few days, he was reluctant to put the restraints back on. Lang groaned at Auston’s threats and crouched in the corner of the lab with a discontented look on his face. Auston finally managed to keep Lang in the lab before he could breathe a sigh of relief. He didn’t want Lang to wander around the castle and run into the Crown Prince, and for him to be suspected of his identity.
“By the way, why on earth did that kid come here all of a sudden? Something feels ominous...”
Auston stood pressed against the window facing the garden, watching the outside. When he squinted his eyes, he saw the Crown Prince standing at the front door, and Sylvia's back approaching him.
“He’s not going to lay a hand on Madam again... GASP!”
Austen frowned as he recalled the events of the King's Birthday Party, then pressed his nose against the window. Although he could not see the details because of the distance, he could vaguely see the Crown Prince leaning his face close to Sylvia's and kissing the back of her hand. Auston's eyes sparkled.
“Ouch! I told you it hurts! Why are you doing this!”
“The Crown Prince is here. You must not move from here, not even one step, until he leaves. Do you understand?”
“The Crown Prince? If you are the Crown Prince prince... aren’t you the successor to the human King?”
“That’s right. That’s why I’m telling you not to go out.”
“Why? I am a human being now anyway, so can’t I just go and look?”
“Do you want to be tied up again?”
“...Ugh.”
After tasting freedom for the past few days, he was reluctant to put the restraints back on. Lang groaned at Auston’s threats and crouched in the corner of the lab with a discontented look on his face. Auston finally managed to keep Lang in the lab before he could breathe a sigh of relief. He didn’t want Lang to wander around the castle and run into the Crown Prince, and for him to be suspected of his identity.
“By the way, why on earth did that kid come here all of a sudden? Something feels ominous...”
Auston stood pressed against the window facing the garden, watching the outside. When he squinted his eyes, he saw the Crown Prince standing at the front door, and Sylvia's back approaching him.
“He’s not going to lay a hand on Madam again... GASP!”
Austen frowned as he recalled the events of the King's Birthday Party, then pressed his nose against the window. Although he could not see the details because of the distance, he could vaguely see the Crown Prince leaning his face close to Sylvia's and kissing the back of her hand. Auston's eyes sparkled.
How dare he talk to my teacher!
He kicked open the door to the study with an unusually angry expression on his face. He did not forget to give Lang a strong order before he ran out.
“You! If you take even one step out of here! If you do, I’ll put the restraints on your ankles instead of your wrists!”
Auston left those words behind and hurriedly disappeared. Lang, in a fit of rage, slammed the door to the lab that had been left wide open on purpose.
“I’m not even giving you any medicine. You’re leaving the door wide open like this and telling me not to go out.”
But the irritability was short-lived. Left alone in the lab, curiosity slowly began to rise in Lang's mind.
“...Isn’t it okay to sneak a peek through the window? He told me not to leave here, he didn’t say anything about not looking. Yeah, yeah, it’s okay.”
He muttered to himself and immediately answered, “It’s okay,” and went to the window. Hiding behind the half-opened curtains, he looked outside and saw Auston, who had escaped the building, rushing toward the Crown Prince, but was caught by Wilcott’s hand and going berserk.
“Tsk tsk.”
Lang, who was clicking his tongue, turned his gaze towards the main gate. However, as the group soon began to move towards the castle, it became difficult to distinguish who was who.
“Hmm. Who the hell is the Crown Prince?”
It was even more difficult to tell them apart because David was pretending to be sneaking around and wearing clothes similar to those of his escorts. While Lang was pondering, the group entered the castle and disappeared from sight.
“Ugh.”
Lang, who failed to recognize the Crown Prince, slumped down on the windowsill in sorrow. But his despair was short-lived. He quickly regained his motivation and clenched his fists to strengthen his resolve.
“No. They're going to come out of the castle anyway, right? He said we had to leave the castle to use the teleportation magic circle... If I wait until then, I might be able to find out.”
Lang waited for the Crown Prince and his party to come out of the castle again, and searched through Auston's files, hoping to find some paper describing the Crown Prince's appearance, but to no avail.
“Oh, it came out!”
How long had it been since he saw Randall hurriedly returning to the castle?
“You! If you take even one step out of here! If you do, I’ll put the restraints on your ankles instead of your wrists!”
Auston left those words behind and hurriedly disappeared. Lang, in a fit of rage, slammed the door to the lab that had been left wide open on purpose.
“I’m not even giving you any medicine. You’re leaving the door wide open like this and telling me not to go out.”
But the irritability was short-lived. Left alone in the lab, curiosity slowly began to rise in Lang's mind.
“...Isn’t it okay to sneak a peek through the window? He told me not to leave here, he didn’t say anything about not looking. Yeah, yeah, it’s okay.”
He muttered to himself and immediately answered, “It’s okay,” and went to the window. Hiding behind the half-opened curtains, he looked outside and saw Auston, who had escaped the building, rushing toward the Crown Prince, but was caught by Wilcott’s hand and going berserk.
“Tsk tsk.”
Lang, who was clicking his tongue, turned his gaze towards the main gate. However, as the group soon began to move towards the castle, it became difficult to distinguish who was who.
“Hmm. Who the hell is the Crown Prince?”
It was even more difficult to tell them apart because David was pretending to be sneaking around and wearing clothes similar to those of his escorts. While Lang was pondering, the group entered the castle and disappeared from sight.
“Ugh.”
Lang, who failed to recognize the Crown Prince, slumped down on the windowsill in sorrow. But his despair was short-lived. He quickly regained his motivation and clenched his fists to strengthen his resolve.
“No. They're going to come out of the castle anyway, right? He said we had to leave the castle to use the teleportation magic circle... If I wait until then, I might be able to find out.”
Lang waited for the Crown Prince and his party to come out of the castle again, and searched through Auston's files, hoping to find some paper describing the Crown Prince's appearance, but to no avail.
“Oh, it came out!”
How long had it been since he saw Randall hurriedly returning to the castle?
Lang spotted the three figures outside the castle and quickly pressed his face against the window.
“That person is carrying a sword, so he seems to have a solid escort. The human Crown Prince... How old is he? I don’t know if he’s young or old.”
“That person is carrying a sword, so he seems to have a solid escort. The human Crown Prince... How old is he? I don’t know if he’s young or old.”
Perhaps because there was no one to see them off, he was able to examine the Crown Prince and his party more closely than before. Lang was struggling to decide who was the Crown Prince among the two people, the old man, and the young man.
"OMG...!"
The young man suddenly turned his head in the direction where Lang was. Lang, who suddenly met the young man's gaze, opened his eyes wide in surprise.
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