Ch.76The Correlation Between the Demon Lord and the Hero – 3

Laura was walking through the imperial palace corridor. She was returning after having a brief conversation with her father, the Emperor of the Empire.

There was no special reason for their meeting. It was simply an ordinary conversation between father and daughter, with no ulterior motives from either of them.

As Laura was heading back to her room after finishing their conversation—not as Emperor and Crown Princess, but as father and daughter—she stopped in her tracks when she spotted someone approaching from a distance.

The other person seemed to have noticed Laura as well and offered a friendly greeting.

“Hey, it’s been a while!”

With golden hair that contrasted with Laura’s black hair, a height that was easily a head taller than her, a body covered in well-defined muscles, and looks that ninety-nine out of a hundred would consider handsome.

It was Igor Erkarentia, Laura’s older brother and the former Crown Prince.

Of course, that was no longer the case. He had long since been stripped of his title after losing the power struggle against Laura.

That made his presence all the more strange. Laura couldn’t understand how someone who had even been stripped of his name—the symbol of imperial bloodline—could be walking freely in the palace corridors.

“How have you been, little sister?”

“I see no reason why you should call me your sister. Show proper respect to the Crown Princess. Right now.”

Laura irritably brushed off the arm that was naturally trying to drape over her shoulder and folded her arms, glaring fiercely. However, Igor calmly withstood her gaze.

“My, my. You really don’t hold back with your big brother. If you keep acting so cold, you won’t have any friends, you know? Try to be a little more flexible, will you?”

“Your behavior is too frivolous to tolerate. Have you finally gone mad, Igor Erkarentia?”

Laura found this extremely unpleasant—the very fact that this person was trying to act as her equal.

After losing the power struggle, he couldn’t even look her in the eye properly. What had happened in the meantime to make him act with such confidence?

“I’m perfectly sane, little sister. And by the way, why are you omitting what should come after my name?”

“You have no right to claim the Bellium bloodline. Let me warn you, Igor Erkarentia. Know your place. I will not tolerate any further disrespect.”

“That’s not even funny. Little sister, although I was defeated by you and driven away, the Bellium blood flowing in my veins hasn’t disappeared. You shouldn’t forget that.”

“Must I spell it out for a loser to understand how to behave like one? Surely you made a promise when you fled. That as long as your head remained attached to your neck, you would never set foot in the imperial palace again.”

“Oh, that?”

Igor grinned. It was the smile that had charmed countless women, but to Laura, it only evoked irritation and disgust.

“I’ve been feeling more confident lately.”

“Are you on drugs in broad daylight?”

Laura snorted at his words.

This was a man who had been practically exiled to the frontier after losing the power struggle. Meanwhile, Laura herself had been recognized by the Emperor as the legitimate and proper successor.

Moreover, if Laura so much as gestured, she could have him charged with crimes and beheaded at any moment.

In this situation, supporting Igor instead of Laura? One might as well have no political sense whatsoever. No noble with a properly functioning mind would ever make such a choice.

“I’ll let it slide this time, so get out of here. Be grateful for my mercy in not calling the Royal Guard to behead you on the spot.”

“Hey now. Just hear me out, little sister. I’m being serious—”

“I clearly told you to remove that filthy hand.”

—SLAP!

Laura struck the back of Igor’s hand.

Looking down at his instantly reddened hand, Igor seemed about to get angry, but quickly changed his expression to a sly smile and raised both hands near his head.

“Alright, alright. I’m going. I didn’t come here to fight with you anyway. You might end up catching someone at this rate.”

“I actually could. Remember that your head is still attached only thanks to His Majesty the Emperor’s grace.”

In truth, Laura had sincerely wanted to remove the heads of her blood relatives. There was nothing more unsettling than leaving defeated royal family members alive.

It was only because the current Emperor—their father—had made a request bordering on a threat, saying he didn’t want to see bloodshed among his children at least while he was alive.

Laura, sensing the hidden meaning behind those words, had readily agreed. It meant she could do as she pleased—kill them or not—after she ascended to the throne.

“Yes, yes. Of course.”

“Also, you should be careful with your choice of words. The term ‘fight’ doesn’t apply to our relationship. A fight implies a conflict between two equal parties.”

Igor didn’t respond but continued to smile slyly as he passed by Laura.

“How long do you think you can keep it hidden?”

As he brushed past her, he whispered softly.

“Hidden? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

It was obviously an attempt to probe her thoughts while pretending to know something. The tactic was too transparent to fall for.

“Heh, is that so? Think what you want. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Igor waved his hand nonchalantly until the end and departed down the corridor. Near the corner, he began flirting with a maid.

Laura watched this display with great displeasure before turning away sharply.

“What a waste of time.”

Her hand unconsciously went to the necklace at her neck. Perhaps because she had been active in a perfect male form after so long, it felt somewhat awkward.

If only living as a woman would help alleviate her embarrassment, as that old man had advised.

Laura resumed walking, thinking that when she returned to the academy, she should summon Mira after such a long time. The only way to confirm the effects of her special training would be to meet face to face.

She had asked Beatrice to clean the mansion and also conveyed that she wouldn’t need anyone to attend to them.

This was only natural. Not only did she need to hide the fact that the Demon King was visiting, but it was also essential for conversations that could only be shared between vessels.

After all, she couldn’t reveal everything about possession even to Beatrice.

“Hello, young master’s friends. I am Beatrice. I have come to attend to you all.”

“Ah, hello. I am Nika Yustera. I have also come to attend to you all…?”

However, she never imagined that Nika would come here in person.

Elysier, who had been happily eating cake, suddenly looked away, averting her gaze. Rosaria also seemed quite flustered, worried that her identity as the Demon King might be discovered.

Priscilla was the only one who appeared calm.

“…”

Meanwhile, the former succubus Nika, now living as a human named Nika Yustera, also seemed quite surprised.

Of course, her surprise wasn’t directed at me but at Elysier. She seemed to have recognized who the purple-haired woman sitting before her was.

“Hic!”

Nika, who had been constantly checking the Demon King’s reactions, let out a small hiccup. Beatrice glared at Nika upon hearing the sound, but quickly returned to her normal expression, probably because we were present.

“I told you not to come. I also said I didn’t need anyone to attend to us.”

“Both the head of the household and the mistress have permitted it, so please rest assured.”

“…Both of them gave permission? Why?”

“Young master, you always say everything is fine. This time too, you must have inconveniences while staying with your friends, but they didn’t want you to endure those alone. I feel the same way.”

Even when I was young, no matter how much I insisted I wasn’t in pain, that I was fine, that I was okay, she never believed me. This situation seemed to be an extension of that. I sighed inwardly and approached Beatrice.

“Beatrice.”

“Yes, young master. Please tell me.”

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

I signaled with my hand for the three behind me to wait, then hoisted Beatrice onto one shoulder.

I chose not to carry her in a princess hold because I felt like I might have to do the same for others later.

“Kyaa?!”

Even Beatrice, a veteran maid who had been through thick and thin, seemed to be experiencing this for the first time, letting out a rather cute moan.

“Y-young master?! What is this so suddenly?!”

“Stay still.”

I tightened my grip around her waist. Beatrice immediately became docile. Using physical enhancement, I left the mansion. A shrill scream echoed beside me.

Upon reaching the forest, I set Beatrice down. After catching her breath with a few “hoo, hoo” sounds, she immediately straightened her clothes and returned to her usual demeanor as soon as our eyes met.

“What did you wish to discuss, young master?”

I approached Beatrice with a slightly hardened expression. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Beatrice began to retreat hesitantly. Thud—her back hit a tree behind her.

I placed my hand just above her head and bent my elbow. My body naturally leaned forward as my elbow touched the tree. Our foreheads nearly touched.

It was the position commonly known as a “wall slam,” but in a more intimate version. In that state, I placed my other hand next to Beatrice’s shoulder.

“Beatrice.”

“Yes, young master…”

“What did I say before I came here?”

“That… you didn’t need anyone to attend to you…”

“Right. So why did you come?”

“B-but young master—”

I leaned in closer. When not only our foreheads but also our noses nearly touched, Beatrice let out a cute “hic!” hiccup. Perhaps she caught it from Nika.

“Do I still look sickly to you? Really?”

“T-that is…”

“Didn’t you hear that I ranked first in the academy’s midterm exams? I’m sure I sent word home. Didn’t my parents tell you?”

“I did hear…”

“If you heard, then why are you doing this?”

I deliberately pressured Beatrice to the point where it might feel a bit intimidating. It was necessary.

If I had been alone, I would have just let it go whether she came or not. After living together for 18 years, I had grown quite attached to her, and the entire household had worried about me more than once or twice.

Compared to before, her behavior had improved significantly.

But now the situation was different. I had detected her presence early and cast a spell on Elysier just in time, but it could have been very difficult to handle otherwise.

“Beatrice.”

So, I needed to make things clear here.

“Y-yes… young master…”

“Let me be clear. When I say I’m fine, I really am fine. Understood?”

“But young master…”

“Answer me.”

I leaned in even closer. As our noses barely touched and our fields of vision were filled with each other’s faces, the trembling Beatrice closed her eyes completely.

It was a method Rosaria had taught me before, and judging by Beatrice’s reaction, it seemed quite effective.

“Eek?!”

As I waited for Beatrice to answer, a sound came from an unexpected direction. I turned my head.

Nika was standing there, trembling as she watched us.