“Report in detail.”
Ronove finally succeeded in stopping Belled’s steps and opened his mouth.
“Your Highness...”
The things that happened while Belled was away flowed out from Ronove’s mouth.
Beryl had suggested a way to solve the demons’ lack of magical power and had made a bet with Naberus about it.
She knew that he was dissatisfied with following her orders, so she had promised that if she won the bet, Naberus would listen to her orders without question.
“...That’s why Naberus left. Of course, the surrounding monster colonies have all been cleaned up.”
Originally, demons were not the type to stay in their places.
Belled didn’t care what his subordinate demons were doing as long as they did their jobs properly.
Therefore, there was no need for him to blame Naberus for leaving.
Ronove looked at Belled. The problem was that Naberus had moved his troops at will under the orders of a human.
Depending on how Belled felt, he could punish Naberus or criticize a human woman for exceeding her authority.
Belled narrowed his brows.
“Moved his troops...”
If someone else had come into this land and wielded his own meager power to move his knights, how would he have felt?
Belled would have ordered his head to be cut off without even thinking about it.
However, it felt strange that the person he was dealing with was Beryl.
After all, it wasn’t an abuse of authority, was it?
The Grand Duchess had the authority to move the troops, at least on the surface. It wasn’t actually given to her to move them.
...He was dumbfounded at himself for thinking of such an excuse first.
“I think it would be better to hear her story first.”
He ignored the excuses that were welling up in his head and took a step forward.
He should have been suspicious. He definitely should have been.
He wanted to hear her story first before being suspicious.
There was no such thing as a hostess greeting the head of a noble family when they returned.
When I looked out the window to do that, Belled had already disappeared.
“...You must be very busy.”
So I had just vacated the office and left.
Since it was still dark and day and night, and I had difficulty distinguishing between day and night, I had been informed that it was night in Decarabia, and it was time to return to the bedroom.
Click.
But the bedroom door, which I had thought would open a few hours after Belled finished his busy work, opened.
Of course, it was Belled who came in. However, I tilted my head at his appearance. I had heard that he had been riding in a hurry. Perhaps because of that, he looked somewhat hurried as he came in, having washed off all the dirt and dust.
Thump.
Judging from the sound of the door closing, which would not have been there normally, I could hear it.
“You came earlier than I expected...”
Perhaps he had not had time to leave his body to the maids, as his jet-black hair was still glistening with moisture.
He had said he would come back at least one more day.
Belled approached me as I thought that.
“It’s no fun to be with boring priests.”
I was convinced by the soft words.
“...Well, that place.”
It was a boring place even in my imagination, but what would it be like for Belled, who was accustomed to all kinds of stimulation and desire?
A place where only dizzying engraved patterns were engraved on the pure white walls, and where only people pretended to be clean and noble. Belled would not have time to have fun there until she fought them.
Ronove finally succeeded in stopping Belled’s steps and opened his mouth.
“Your Highness...”
The things that happened while Belled was away flowed out from Ronove’s mouth.
Beryl had suggested a way to solve the demons’ lack of magical power and had made a bet with Naberus about it.
She knew that he was dissatisfied with following her orders, so she had promised that if she won the bet, Naberus would listen to her orders without question.
“...That’s why Naberus left. Of course, the surrounding monster colonies have all been cleaned up.”
Originally, demons were not the type to stay in their places.
Belled didn’t care what his subordinate demons were doing as long as they did their jobs properly.
Therefore, there was no need for him to blame Naberus for leaving.
Ronove looked at Belled. The problem was that Naberus had moved his troops at will under the orders of a human.
Depending on how Belled felt, he could punish Naberus or criticize a human woman for exceeding her authority.
Belled narrowed his brows.
“Moved his troops...”
If someone else had come into this land and wielded his own meager power to move his knights, how would he have felt?
Belled would have ordered his head to be cut off without even thinking about it.
However, it felt strange that the person he was dealing with was Beryl.
After all, it wasn’t an abuse of authority, was it?
The Grand Duchess had the authority to move the troops, at least on the surface. It wasn’t actually given to her to move them.
...He was dumbfounded at himself for thinking of such an excuse first.
“I think it would be better to hear her story first.”
He ignored the excuses that were welling up in his head and took a step forward.
He should have been suspicious. He definitely should have been.
He wanted to hear her story first before being suspicious.
***
There was no such thing as a hostess greeting the head of a noble family when they returned.
When I looked out the window to do that, Belled had already disappeared.
“...You must be very busy.”
So I had just vacated the office and left.
Since it was still dark and day and night, and I had difficulty distinguishing between day and night, I had been informed that it was night in Decarabia, and it was time to return to the bedroom.
Click.
But the bedroom door, which I had thought would open a few hours after Belled finished his busy work, opened.
Of course, it was Belled who came in. However, I tilted my head at his appearance. I had heard that he had been riding in a hurry. Perhaps because of that, he looked somewhat hurried as he came in, having washed off all the dirt and dust.
Thump.
Judging from the sound of the door closing, which would not have been there normally, I could hear it.
“You came earlier than I expected...”
Perhaps he had not had time to leave his body to the maids, as his jet-black hair was still glistening with moisture.
He had said he would come back at least one more day.
Belled approached me as I thought that.
“It’s no fun to be with boring priests.”
I was convinced by the soft words.
“...Well, that place.”
It was a boring place even in my imagination, but what would it be like for Belled, who was accustomed to all kinds of stimulation and desire?
A place where only dizzying engraved patterns were engraved on the pure white walls, and where only people pretended to be clean and noble. Belled would not have time to have fun there until she fought them.
“But it was definitely worth running.”
“Huh?”
At that moment, Belled’s words rang out from above my head. He had come to me without me noticing and reached out to the bedside light.
Whew.
A thin sheet of cloth covered the light, darkening the surroundings somewhat.
Was it too bright because of me?
Was it too bright because of me?
Only then did Belled, who was sitting next to me, look at me. The bed swayed softly. My cheeks turned red at the new movement. He was just sitting next to me. I, no, I didn’t know what my body was thinking.
Oh my. My face felt hotter in an instant.
Then Belled continued.
“I heard some interesting news as soon as I got here.”
Then he sat down a little closer to me. The bed shook again... Just like that day.
My mind finally stopped as I thought about that.
At this point, it was confusing whether it was the devil or me who was consumed by desire. The devil himself was sitting next to me, seemingly unconcerned!
“What is it?”
I asked, trying to stay calm. Fortunately, what he said was enough to blow away the white thoughts in my head.
“I heard news of Naberus’s expedition.”
“Ah.”
The place where all other thoughts had disappeared felt creepy.
Could it be that he had rushed here so quickly because I had moved his troops on my own?
“When I heard it, it wasn’t a simple order.”
It was clear that he had even heard all the reports. It was definitely something he would have to rush to soon.
“...”
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them tightly. When was it that I had made up my mind to survive, and now I was already... obsessed with pleasure.
I clenched my fists.
It was something to be suspicious of. I had moved his troops at the right time as soon as he left.
If you look at it negatively, you could easily see it negatively...
“I thought about it, did you see something in your past life?”
Belled, who had thought that I would think badly of him, was saying something completely different.
While I blinked, Belled spoke.
“A person who could not help but know that moving the military recklessly would be suspected, and who was always so cautious.”
The person who had asked about the extent of the mistress’s authority in this land was somewhat different from other places in the first place.
“I thought there must be a reason for doing something so noticeable. But Yubar... ”
A look of displeasure appeared on his face for a moment and then disappeared. I vaguely realized that the displeasure was not directed at me, but somewhere else.
“...You must have been there in your past life, so I thought you saw something then.”
I nodded at his words.
“...Yes.”
He was thinking from my perspective before he doubted me.
It was a strange feeling.
It was something that no one I knew had ever done.
Even though I was the one who should have been the most suspicious of them all.
“Did you also know in your past life that demons enjoy betting?”
There was almost no doubt in his face as he asked.
“Yes.”
I spoke carefully and examined him. Belled had been a bit sharp when he entered the room, but he had gradually softened.
...Just like that night.
“My name alone would have been enough to command him.”
It seemed as if he was saying that it wouldn’t have been difficult to order Naberus to bring her the wine even without making a bet.
Belled looked peaceful as he spoke. As if he wasn’t angry at all.
“...I guess so, but I thought that if I was going to stay here, I had to make sure they knew me.”
That was why I carefully but surely expressed my thoughts.
“To stay here...”
Belled mumbled my words. Then he looked back at me.
“That’s what you want now.”
My desire.
I didn’t deny those words. My mind was just confused.
Was I doing this to escape the temple that might ‘abandon’ and kill me at any moment, or was this place... really good?
As I thought about that, Belled came a little closer.
“...!”
He followed my body which had fallen backward without me knowing.
It was hard to keep my balance, so I put my arm on the soft bed. Right next to that arm, Belled’s arm was placed.
I straightened up as I felt my body leaning toward his arm.
“You seem to be thinking rationally.”
It’s not good to have too many thoughts. He narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“Are you thinking about why you want that?”
That was the right answer. I was silent for a moment and then nodded.
Belled leaned a little closer to me. Our bodies were almost touching.
“A reason is something you need to convince yourself that it's right to have a desire.”
At this point, it was confusing whether it was the devil or me who was consumed by desire. The devil himself was sitting next to me, seemingly unconcerned!
“What is it?”
I asked, trying to stay calm. Fortunately, what he said was enough to blow away the white thoughts in my head.
“I heard news of Naberus’s expedition.”
“Ah.”
The place where all other thoughts had disappeared felt creepy.
Could it be that he had rushed here so quickly because I had moved his troops on my own?
“When I heard it, it wasn’t a simple order.”
It was clear that he had even heard all the reports. It was definitely something he would have to rush to soon.
“...”
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them tightly. When was it that I had made up my mind to survive, and now I was already... obsessed with pleasure.
I clenched my fists.
It was something to be suspicious of. I had moved his troops at the right time as soon as he left.
If you look at it negatively, you could easily see it negatively...
“I thought about it, did you see something in your past life?”
Belled, who had thought that I would think badly of him, was saying something completely different.
While I blinked, Belled spoke.
“A person who could not help but know that moving the military recklessly would be suspected, and who was always so cautious.”
The person who had asked about the extent of the mistress’s authority in this land was somewhat different from other places in the first place.
“I thought there must be a reason for doing something so noticeable. But Yubar... ”
A look of displeasure appeared on his face for a moment and then disappeared. I vaguely realized that the displeasure was not directed at me, but somewhere else.
“...You must have been there in your past life, so I thought you saw something then.”
I nodded at his words.
“...Yes.”
He was thinking from my perspective before he doubted me.
It was a strange feeling.
It was something that no one I knew had ever done.
Even though I was the one who should have been the most suspicious of them all.
“Did you also know in your past life that demons enjoy betting?”
There was almost no doubt in his face as he asked.
“Yes.”
I spoke carefully and examined him. Belled had been a bit sharp when he entered the room, but he had gradually softened.
...Just like that night.
“My name alone would have been enough to command him.”
It seemed as if he was saying that it wouldn’t have been difficult to order Naberus to bring her the wine even without making a bet.
Belled looked peaceful as he spoke. As if he wasn’t angry at all.
“...I guess so, but I thought that if I was going to stay here, I had to make sure they knew me.”
That was why I carefully but surely expressed my thoughts.
“To stay here...”
Belled mumbled my words. Then he looked back at me.
“That’s what you want now.”
My desire.
I didn’t deny those words. My mind was just confused.
Was I doing this to escape the temple that might ‘abandon’ and kill me at any moment, or was this place... really good?
As I thought about that, Belled came a little closer.
“...!”
He followed my body which had fallen backward without me knowing.
It was hard to keep my balance, so I put my arm on the soft bed. Right next to that arm, Belled’s arm was placed.
I straightened up as I felt my body leaning toward his arm.
“You seem to be thinking rationally.”
It’s not good to have too many thoughts. He narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“Are you thinking about why you want that?”
That was the right answer. I was silent for a moment and then nodded.
Belled leaned a little closer to me. Our bodies were almost touching.
“A reason is something you need to convince yourself that it's right to have a desire.”
His low voice rang out.
“But since it’s natural for you to have desires, you don’t need to give me a valid reason for it.”
I opened my mouth slightly at those words. Was I trying to find a reason?
Yes... I did. I tried to find ‘why’ I wanted to stay here.
Belled seemed to be saying that there was no need to do that.
It was a different place from the temple, after all.
“...I understand.”
But rather than feeling unpleasant, it felt like a thin layer covering me was peeling away. It felt refreshing and light.
I let out a short breath and said,
“I’m sorry for moving the army first because of Naberus. However, I judged that now that Yubar was away, it would be a good time to bring the magic wine from Yubar’s territory.”
I continued her explanation, hoping there would be no misunderstanding.
“If Belled was here, we would have discussed going on an expedition.”
“I don’t feel unpleasant, so you don’t have to apologize.”
“I don’t feel unpleasant, so you don’t have to apologize.”
Belled gently folded my trembling arms. He then supported my weight with his other arm and laid me down on the bed.
My dark green hair swayed pleasantly as it fell onto the bed.
“In particular, the fact that you made such a bet to be here, to adapt to this place...”
Belled narrowed his eyes.
He realized that this dizzying feeling coming from deep inside his head was both familiar and unfamiliar to him. It was a feeling that he had easily gained in his long life, but had never gained on such a grand scale.
It was satisfaction.
The fact that she wanted to stay here, that she was even making an effort to do so, gave him an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Strangely enough, his lips twisted.
“You said you wanted to stay here?”
You could stay without doing that. I could make it happen.
He was dissatisfied with her trying to be independent as if she didn’t need him, but when he thought about her staying here, he felt unbearably satisfied.
He let out a short breath and said,
“You can stay here, you.”
Beryl opened her eyes wide. She seemed surprised by the voice that came out so softly that even she was surprised.
Belled’s lips came down on her lovely, slightly parted ones.
The moment their breaths mixed, Beryl realized that his breathing was also somewhat rough as if he had been running fast.
As if he was excited or... nervous. It was the same for her.
“...”
Belled’s arms, which had been hugging her waist, wrapped around her a little more tightly.
Her head was slightly lifted by the other hand, and he dug in a little deeper.
It was like that night. No, even more, he was approaching her more gently.
My dark green hair swayed pleasantly as it fell onto the bed.
“In particular, the fact that you made such a bet to be here, to adapt to this place...”
Belled narrowed his eyes.
He realized that this dizzying feeling coming from deep inside his head was both familiar and unfamiliar to him. It was a feeling that he had easily gained in his long life, but had never gained on such a grand scale.
It was satisfaction.
The fact that she wanted to stay here, that she was even making an effort to do so, gave him an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Strangely enough, his lips twisted.
“You said you wanted to stay here?”
You could stay without doing that. I could make it happen.
He was dissatisfied with her trying to be independent as if she didn’t need him, but when he thought about her staying here, he felt unbearably satisfied.
He let out a short breath and said,
“You can stay here, you.”
Beryl opened her eyes wide. She seemed surprised by the voice that came out so softly that even she was surprised.
Belled’s lips came down on her lovely, slightly parted ones.
The moment their breaths mixed, Beryl realized that his breathing was also somewhat rough as if he had been running fast.
As if he was excited or... nervous. It was the same for her.
“...”
Belled’s arms, which had been hugging her waist, wrapped around her a little more tightly.
Her head was slightly lifted by the other hand, and he dug in a little deeper.
It was like that night. No, even more, he was approaching her more gently.
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