Chapter 10 – Have You Never Read a Romance Novel?

“What’s so amusing?” I asked, irritated by the Demon King’s persistent grinning.

–Oh, nothing. Just a… pleasant dream.–

“Ghosts dream?” I raised an eyebrow.

–If you’re curious, feel free to join me.– She grinned again, a cryptic response that could be either a joke or a threat. I doubted she was serious, but with her, it was hard to tell. She was like a massive, mist-shrouded tree, seemingly visible yet fundamentally unreachable. Revealing everything, yet disclosing nothing of substance. Unfair, perhaps, but then again, expecting fairness from a Demon King was foolish. By this point, I was starting to question my own sanity.

–The Demon Lord once said my fondness for… schadenfreude… could lead to… unpleasant predilections.–

“And?”

–I narrowly avoided becoming the Demon King of Ecstasy, or perhaps Obsession. A chilling thought, though… a rather tempting one, if I’m honest.–

I stared at her. I knew she wasn’t entirely sane, but sometimes… I wondered just how warped her mind truly was.

They say geniuses are eccentric… but she’s on another level entirely.

Still, compared to her usual listlessness, this… morbid enthusiasm was almost… refreshing.

Or perhaps that’s a bad sign. A motivated Demon King… what fresh hell would that unleash?

–Consider it a testament to your… resolve. A blessing and a curse, all rolled into one.–

“What are you talking about?”

–Melineos. Her… precognitive abilities. Their activation suggests you’ve become a… person of interest. A potential threat.– She wasn’t pushing me in any particular direction, but… the thought of us all tearing each other apart, a grand, tragic spectacle of mutual destruction… it did have a certain appeal.

–A possibility, of course. Not a certainty. Which is… rather disappointing.– She didn’t think I was prone to… corruption. Not without some serious provocation. A failure, perhaps. A broken, empty shell. But a vengeful demon, fueled by rage and hatred? Unlikely.

Unless, of course, I nudge him in the right direction.

“Stop muttering to yourself and explain things clearly.”

–Why would I? You think you’re entitled to my explanations, little bird?–

“……”

–Consider my… forbearance… a testament to my boundless mercy.–

She was right. She had achieved her goal. And I was trying to understand what that goal was. My recent library visits weren’t for leisure; they were research. Trying to piece together the puzzle of the Demon King’s intentions, her purpose, and the lasting impact of her actions on the world.

With the second-quarter exams over, the atmosphere at the academy was more relaxed. Though… not for everyone.

“Cariel! Posture!”

“……” Another pointless swordsmanship lesson. I went through the motions, my heart not in it. The instructor, of course, noticed.

“Losing your patience, Cariel? You used to at least pretend to care. What’s with this lackluster performance?”

“……”

“What? Giving up on becoming a knight? Think you can coast through on your father’s reputation and your barely-passing grades?”

I sighed.

“A sigh? Are you—”

“My apologies,” I interrupted, bowing my head. “I’m feeling… unwell.”

“If you’re unwell, you should have said something before disrupting the lesson.”

“My apologies.” I bowed again, a strategic retreat. I was excused from participating, allowed to observe instead. Pointless. This training was pointless. It only reinforced bad habits, ingrained flawed techniques. How could I possibly find motivation in something that actively hindered my progress?

–You’re wasting your time. Developing the wrong muscles, the wrong instincts.– The Demon King, floating above me, chuckled.

I sat on the sidelines, watching the others spar, the time stretching out before me, empty and meaningless. Even Elhermina, watching me for a moment, quickly lost interest.

====

Arrows. Hundreds of them, filling the sky. I raised my shield, bracing myself. I advanced, the force of the impacts knocking me back, sending me sprawling. I discarded the broken shield, scrambling for another. Cracked. Useless. The arrows found their mark, piercing my flesh.

I died. And revived. And died again. Dozens, hundreds of times. Finally, I managed to advance twenty steps. A pathetically small victory.

–Two outcomes, little bird. Kill them all, or die trying.–

“Aaaaagh!”

–And this time…–

Armored cavalry. Hundreds of them, charging towards me, lances lowered. The ground trembled beneath their hooves. The impact was like a tidal wave, crushing, suffocating. Even if I avoided the lances, the horses themselves were deadly weapons, their hooves trampling me into the dirt.

I woke to another volley of arrows. Twenty steps. Twenty-six, this time, before the inevitable. And then… the cavalry again.

“A little consistency, please!” I shouted, but the words were lost in the thunder of hooves. A lance pierced my arm, the pain blinding. And then… darkness. Trampled, crushed, broken.

“How is this training?!” I raged, upon reviving yet again. This wasn’t training; it was a massacre. Throwing a child into a den of wolves and expecting them to survive.

But regardless of my protests, the cycle continued. Death and rebirth, an endless loop of pain and frustration.

“Ugh…” Back in the real world, I woke with a gasp, nausea rising in my throat. I clamped a hand over my mouth, fighting the urge to vomit.

–Reality is unforgiving, little bird. No one will cater to your weaknesses.–

“Haah… haah…”

–If you want to survive… you have to adapt. The weak are always preyed upon.– She grinned, a mischievous little devil perched on my shoulder. She was supposed to be my… ideal… but the more I saw her, the more I loathed her.

“Cariel! Are you alright?!”

I looked up. Seras.

“……”

“You look terrible…”

“I asked for some time alone,” I reminded her, my voice still rough.

“I’m not here for… that. I didn’t come to the library for a… social call.” She frowned, and I realized I had snapped at her.

“My apologies,” I mumbled.

“It’s… fine.” She sighed, a mixture of relief and frustration. “So… do you need more time? You’re not actually going to talk to your parents about this, are you?”

“……”

–Oh, this is getting good.–

Interesting? What did she see?

–This… pertains to me, as well.–

That voice…

Seras stiffened, her tone suddenly sharp, hostile. “Elhermina. What are you doing here?”

“Seras. I’m allowed in the library, am I not?”

“Of course, Your Highness. But to come personally…”

“I’m not here for the books. I came to see you, Seras.” She looked at me, her blue eyes piercing. “Cariel. The engagement ceremony is in a month. You’ve been informed, I presume?”

“……” No, I haven’t.

–A catfight. How… delightful.–

What is she talking about?

“Perhaps I should excuse myself,” I said, standing up. “You two clearly have… business to discuss.”

Seras stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch my chin. “Cariel… are you really alright?” She peered at me, her brow furrowed with concern.

Elhermina watched us, her expression unreadable. A sudden chill ran down my spine. Why is it so cold?

Seras, as if realizing how close she was, quickly stepped back.

“Well…”

“Such indifference towards your fiancée is rather rude, don’t you think?” Seras pressed, stepping into the space between us again.

“We’re not engaged yet. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“Seras. There’s no need for formalities here.”

“If you insist.”

–Ooh, this is getting spicy.– I ignored the Demon King’s commentary, turning to leave.

–I’m staying. No way I’m missing this.–

Do as you please. I practically ran down the hallway, eager to escape before they could call me back. This… was getting complicated.