Chapter 162

Chapter 162

I Proposed While Drunk and Now the Princesses are Obsessed.

Episode 162: 0th Princess, Reunion, Forced Marriage (37)

An incredibly luxurious bathing area.

Exquisite statues spouted warm water, and the bath was so large it could almost be called a swimming pool. The space was filled with mist heavy with moisture.

An opaque screen was set up in the bath, behind which the near-perfect form of a woman’s back was visible. One could easily call the screen a work of art.

Step. Step. Step.

At that moment, heavy footsteps approached the screen. The energy surrounding him was unsettling, almost as if death itself was walking.

“Akne, it’s me.”

There was no immediate response.

Only the sound of water pouring into the bath could be heard from within, and it wasn’t until some time later that a response came.

“Are you the Grim Reaper?”

“Yes.”

Bandages wrapped around every part of his face except for his eyes, a hood covering him from head to toe, and a long scythe draped over his shoulder.

The visitor was none other than the Grim Reaper.

“Ugh…!”

Suddenly, someone fell beside him, and the sound of something spilling heavily followed. Servants carrying cosmetics, cleaning products, and body lotions had dropped everything in shock after seeing the Grim Reaper.

“G-G-Grim Reaper…”

“What is happening here…?”

It was understandable why they trembled so much.

While it was common for demons in the Demon Realm to be replaced, the Grim Reaper was an exception. He was the only demon who had been replaced just once.

In simpler terms, his power was on a completely different scale.

“Leave.”

At the Grim Reaper’s command, the servants hurriedly fled. He then spoke toward the screen again.

“Spider Goddess, I have something to say. Show yourself.”

“That’s not going to happen. My body only belongs to my husband; I won’t show my naked form to someone like you.”

Swoosh!

The Grim Reaper immediately tore through the screen with his scythe, also slicing through the web-like protective barrier.

Whoosh!

The steam from inside the bath burst out. The distinctive floral scent of a woman using luxurious bath products made the Grim Reaper frown.

Finally, the Spider Goddess and the Grim Reaper stood face to face.

However, Spider Goddess Akne was not naked. She was fully clothed, her damp hair being neatly twisted and tied up.

“I’m glad I’m wearing clothes. If any male other than my husband saw my body… well, it wouldn’t just end with having their eyes gouged out.”

“I have no interest in your body.”

“That’s a good thing for both of us. I only seek my husband’s attention, not yours.”

The Grim Reaper sighed, as if Akne were beneath him.

“Recently, you’ve been throwing your duties as a demon aside and soaking in baths all day. What’s your deal?”

“Oh? Have you come to lecture me?”

“Lecture? No, I’m questioning your responsibilities.”

“I’ve promised to unite with my husband. The moment I give him my virginity is approaching, and no matter how many times I bathe, it’s not enough. I must be fragrant and clean for him.”

“Now, it seems even your thoughts have turned to those of a prostitute.”

As the Grim Reaper fiddled with the scythe’s handle, Akne placed her finger on a few strands of translucent spider silk.

Although they appeared to be casually conversing, neither was letting down their guard.

The Grim Reaper was the one to break the silence again.

“Spider Goddess, don’t get too immersed in a mere human.”

“That warning is a bit arrogant, isn’t it?”

“Arrogant? You should actually be thankful. The moment you lose your qualification as a demon, I’ll chop you up and kill you. Understand that this is a warning for you.”

Order is needed even among demons.

The Grim Reaper was the one who controlled and punished demons by law. While demons were united, the Grim Reaper was technically one step above.

Despite that, Akne remained calm.

“Sure. If you can, try.”

Meanwhile, the servants were carefully grooming Akne. They applied powder to her face and painted her nails to make her pale hands shine even more.

Just as the brush, dipped in paint, touched her nails…

“I asked for black, not red, today.”

“Uh, uh? Such a mistake…! My lord, please spare my life!”

The servant trembled in fear, but Akne simply gave a small smile.

“Just repaint it. Don’t be so scared.”

“Ah? Huh…?”

The demon servant looked stunned at the unexpected reaction.

The Grim Reaper found the scene amusing.

“Is it that wonderful to unite with your husband? You even spared the servants you used to kill like insects?”

“Did I? I don’t quite remember.”

Akne, still letting the servants finish her grooming, turned her attention to the Grim Reaper.

“So, what is it you want?”

“We decided to exclude you from the next demon meeting. You are under house arrest. Don’t leave your city.”

“Hehehehehehe.”

Akne couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

“The Demon Realm really has no affection. Just because I love my husband, they treat me as a traitor? I knew they’d despise me, but house arrest? Really.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to. The dimensional gates have been operating quite busily recently. Where did all the slaves from Han Shin’s city go?”

“Well, do I really have to report every little thing?”

“No need to report it. I can clearly tell what you’re up to. It’s the Demon Lord’s orders, so don’t break house arrest.”

Then the Grim Reaper took a scroll from his cloak. Akne immediately recognized it—it was a scroll containing the minutes of the demon meeting.

“We’ve already had a meeting excluding you. It was originally kept secret from you, but… should I tell you the content?”

“No need. I’d rather you just leave.”

“Really? It’s about your husband.”

“…About my husband?”

Akne, who had been glaring at the Grim Reaper with disdain, finally furrowed her brows. She was getting annoyed.

“Say it now.”

“The Demon Lord is going to meet the Snow Ghost with all the demons. It’s to hold him in the Demon Realm.”

“What? Why?”

“Wasn’t it that your body, or the crude temptations you pride yourself on, weren’t enough to keep the Snow Ghost? That’s why the Demon Lord is moving herself.”

The Grim Reaper continued calmly.

“First, they will offer the Snow Ghost conditions to stay in the Demon Realm for life, and offer him various treasures to negotiate.”

“He probably won’t be interested.”

“You’re right. I think so, too.”

The Grim Reaper nodded.

“Next, they will need power. They’ll force the Snow Ghost to stay in the Demon Realm. Such a being is too valuable to let go.”

“Power?”

“They could cut off his limbs and bind him, or take his soul and keep it. There are many ways, but we’ll see what they choose.”

He suddenly laughed while gripping his scythe.

“If they can’t even do that, they’ve decided to kill him. If they can’t have him, they’ll just break him.”

“If you do something like that—”

“Spider Goddess, understand that this house arrest is for your own good. It’s a measure to save you.”

The Grim Reaper sharply interrupted Akne.

“If you protect the Snow Ghost, I’ll have to kill you too. Considering your outstanding abilities and all your contributions to the Demon Realm… This is the Demon Lord’s mercy. Do you understand?”

He pressed the sharp edge of the scythe against Akne’s throat.

“…If you understand, behave yourself. You filthy prostitute. If it weren’t for the Demon Lord’s command, I would have torn you apart already. You filthy insect with a human origin.”

“…”

Shortly after, the Grim Reaper disappeared without a trace, leaving behind Akne with a somewhat twisted expression.

“Heh…”

She let out a scoff after a long moment.

This was the way of the Demon Realm.

They allowed a marriage to a human man to bring Akne down, and when his abilities improved, they committed ugly acts to monopolize him.

Incredibly selfish, they discard others when they no longer need them.

Being treated like this wasn’t all that unpleasant.

To be exact, it was familiar. Akne had never truly belonged to the Demon Realm or the continent.

It became clear.

Her salvation could only come from Jaekiel.

“Heheheheheh… heheheheheh…!”

Akne, finished with her grooming, stood up.

“I think I should leave now.”

“Eh?”

“It’s not a difficult request, is it? Keep the fortress well.”

“Y-You’re leaving? But the house arrest…”

“Shh.”

Akne placed her finger on the servant’s lips.

“A woman’s footsteps move like the wind. And right now, that’s how it is. Who could stop me?”

“But…”

Akne’s sunset-colored eyes burned brightly as she turned her back on the stunned servants.

Step, step, step.

Feet that never stop moving.

“I’m getting tired of this. The Demon Realm… the continent… living like this is nauseating. If I could just give my husband a little happiness…”

It was a tragic life, and she hadn’t received proper compensation yet. But right now, Akne was certain of what she wanted to do.

There was someone who cared enough to save her. She wondered if she could do anything to make his desperate wish come true.

“All the demons are going to my husband.”

In other words, the entire city’s surveillance would be gone.

Akne desperately suppressed her overwhelming desire to go to Jaekiel immediately.

She firmly believed Jaekiel would protect himself, and she had to complete the task she had been given.

“Union…”

Union—she had been promised if things went well.

The woman suddenly burst into laughter.

Yes, it would be wonderful if that happened.

In this world, there were wishes so desperately desired that they led to resignation. Happiness was like that for Akne.

She wondered if such fortunate days would come to her.

Even if they did, would they be something she deserved…?

She still didn’t know.

Step, step, step.

Akne moved toward the Demon Realm’s cities, where the demons were absent, to rescue the slaves.