ITSM 10

Chapter 10

…The question of “Where is the person here?” had risen to my throat.

“Ah, yes. Then please tell me.”

Half giving up, I leaned in to listen to Bael’s explanation.

“First, Miss Liliana is the duke’s assistant, but she won’t be working directly alongside the duke.”
“What kind of assistant is that?”

Even though I had heard a hint from Roan yesterday, hearing it again was absurd.

“That’s what an assistant is in Winsphere.”
“…No, when you explained before, I was told that I’d have to eat meals with the duke, go shopping, basically be attached to him all day long.”
“Hmm, that’s not important, so let’s move on.”

No, how is that not important!

Bael’s following explanation didn’t reach my ears.

Suddenly, I snapped back to my senses and timidly asked him.

It seemed that what Roan said yesterday wasn’t a joke.

“So, Bael, you’re saying that from now on I’ll only be working with Roan?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“W-why?”
“Usually, they don’t want subordinates to work alongside them directly.”

Hey! He’s right next to me—at least spit out a lie or something!

I glared, but Bael shrugged without concern. He had the air of someone who thought what was decided wouldn’t change.

“I was expecting to work with the duke.”
“Oh my. You have unique tastes.”

I had to grit my teeth at the irritating Bael, who chuckled lightly. A few steps away, the demons were smiling smugly, clearly enjoying the scene.

Startled by their excessive attention, I turned my head. There was Roan, their king, staring straight at me.

Curiously, he tapped my pen, which was tucked behind my ear. I shook my head irritably and glared at Roan.

He seemed pleased that I was looking at him and spoke, his voice light and cheerful.

“I really enjoy working alone with you, Ria.”

The problem was that, despite the lightness of his tone, his words carried no lightness at all.

“Ah… yes.”
“Not Ria?”

Roan subtly asked for my opinion. I responded, cautiously hopeful.

“I prefer working alone.”
“But just now, you said you wanted to work with the duke…”
“Oh, did I say that?”

Roan smiled, as if I couldn’t even remember what I had just said.

“You have a loose tongue.”
“Kind of cute, though.”

I heard Roan mutter quietly, but I pretended not to. Although the other demons’ eyes sparkled at his words, I hadn’t heard a thing.

“Hmm?”
“You didn’t hear it, and that’s fine. That’s not the important part. What matters is that it’s just the two of us working together.”
“Nothing will change, right?”
“Of course not.”
“Yes…”

My shoulders sagged.

I struggled to swallow the sigh that threatened to escape.

Liliana trudged along, looking forlorn.

Behind her, Roan followed, smiling faintly with a polished expression. Truly the demeanor of a demon king.

The demons present remained silent for a while, opening their mouths occasionally. Some even brushed their arms and held the hands of nearby demons, urging them to look at my goosebumps.

“Is this some new game?”
“No way. The king, who used to avoid contact with humans to avoid angels, wouldn’t go to such lengths for a new game.”

Everyone seemed to agree.

“Then maybe it’s that? He fell in love at first sight and wants to stay close, but his status as king is high.”
“Right?”
“Humans care too much about appearances, so he hides it to avoid making her uncomfortable!”

That seemed a plausible theory, and everyone nodded.

Ammon, who had been listening nearby, also nodded in agreement. From yesterday, Roan’s inexplicable behavior suddenly made sense.

“Reasonable.”

Someone replied sulkily to the serious nod.

When Ammon turned his head with a sigh, there was Vasago, with very short hair.

He seemed displeased with the situation, roughly shaking his red hair.

“Why bother? Just kidnap her and charm her a bit, isn’t that enough?”
“Vasago, I told you not to speak like a demon.”
“No, we’re demons. If we don’t speak like demons, what else are we supposed to do?”

Barin his sharp teeth, Vasago growled, and Ammon spoke toward him:

“You take the king’s words lightly. Your head must be filled with rocks.”
“Huh?”
“Xion. Take that guy with you.”
“Hey! I’m third in rank, and you want me to take someone below me…”
“Vasago, if you think about it, I’m still below you.”

Vasago’s jaw dropped at Ammon’s words.

Bael favored him so much that he had forgotten—yet in terms of strength, Ammon clearly outmatched him.

He shuddered in shock. In that moment, Xion muttered a spell to bind him.

“Ammon! Xion! You’re not letting go?”

Xion covered Vasago’s mouth as he yelled.

“Quiet now. Hey, if the king refuses to step outside because of you, will you take responsibility?”
“Wah… wah!!!”
“Ranks don’t matter anymore.”

Xion, annoyed, followed Ammon. Vasago floated in the air, bound, being dragged behind them.

The place they left behind fell into silence.

…For a brief moment only.

The demons resumed gathering in groups, exchanging opinions.

“Does our king have a first love now?”
“Surely he’s not doing this to worry about us discriminating against her.”
“Are we crazy enough to do that?”
“Our king is more delicate than we thought; maybe he worried about that.”
“Ridiculous.”

They busied themselves discussing the newly arrived Liliana.

Then, one of them remembered Bael’s strict warning from yesterday and asked.

“I thought we’d just hide that she’s a demon, but apparently not. How long do we have to keep her secret?”
“Until the king says otherwise?”
“…Even if we hide it, can we really avoid being found out?”

Everyone froze.

It wasn’t the hiding itself—they feared what would happen if she discovered it.

Pale-faced, they continued debating how best to proceed until dusk.

“How long are you going to follow me?”

I asked Roan, who matched my steps.

“Bael said today, just greetings would be enough.”

Perhaps it was the tiring encounter with the demons. I wanted a break.

I smiled faintly, preparing to speak, and resolved: whatever he suggests, I will firmly refuse.

“Aren’t you curious about Winsphere?”
“Uh…”
“It’s not well-known outside, so there are plenty of fascinating places.”

Roan began tempting me with suggestions tailored to my tastes.

“In particular, the library has many rare old books.”

Being able to see precious books while working was my only pleasure. Did he know that?

“The gardens have many flowers that bloom only in the south. Ah, Gremory manages them, and I believe he also handles some plant-related documents. If you come, you could see that too.”

I loved books about plants above all.

“So, I…”
“Also, there’s a large river near the Winsphere villa, where many small animals roam.”

I almost fell for it. Did he know I was crazy about small, cute animals?

I steadied myself and cleared my throat.

“Roan, I think I’d like to rest a bit, so I should return to my room.”

I forced an awkward smile and distanced myself from him.

“If you’re curious later, I can tell you more…”

He tilted his head at me, as if asking if I could really refuse him.

“Do you know the Angel Flower, said to be as legendary as a myth?”