Chapter 196

Chapter 196

I Proposed While Drunk and Now the Princesses are Obsessed.

Episode 196: Secret Meeting (2)

“…”

Jaekiel quietly swallowed his dry saliva.

“Akne, first, listen to me.”

She didn’t.

One look at her eyes made it clear.

While repaying Jaekiel was one goal, Akne’s own desire was just as intense.

“…Once you feel it, you’ll be surprised.”

Akne said with a smile.

Squeeze.

Akne’s spider silk tightened around Jaekiel’s body.

Inside the silent office, deep breathing sounds began to spread.

Just as their noses were about to touch…

Bang!

The office door exploded open with a thunderous crash.

Rather than “opened,” “smashed” was more accurate.

Akne’s head snapped around.

In the sudden silence, a tall woman stood with golden eyes blazing from across the room.

The Empire’s 1st Princess, Ether.

“…”

Her lofty gaze looked down coldly at Akne.

Jaekiel and Akne were dragged helplessly into the princesses’ council chamber. Naturally, it was Ether who took the lead.

Ether crossed her arms and looked down at Akne with disapproval, and only after a long moment did she finally speak.

“This is why I loathe demons.”

Ether moved her lips.

“You don’t know your place.”

Her silver hair resembled a wolf’s mane.

Even just standing there with her arms crossed, she gave off no hint of vulnerability—truly a formidable woman.

Akne also calmly gazed at Ether.

Her eyes showed no intent to back down.

Ordinary people would’ve trembled just meeting Ether’s gaze, but Akne’s eyes instead held a trace of contempt.

Tension crackled in the air—it felt like a fight would erupt at the slightest move.

‘This is dangerous.’

Jaekiel thought to himself.

Persuading the princesses about Akne’s position was something he would have had to do eventually.

But the timing was awful.

Anyone could see Akne was about to pounce on him, and Ether had walked in on it?

How the hell was he supposed to explain that?

“Ruining the mood… how annoying.”

Akne muttered softly, just loud enough for Jaekiel to hear.

She had every right to be pissed. And Jaekiel? He was stuck between them, doomed either way.

As Jaekiel moved to intervene…

Something unexpected happened.

“It’s an honor to meet the 1st Princess of the Empire.”

Thud.

Akne dropped one knee to the ground.

Shockingly, Akne was being properly respectful to Ether.

Both Jaekiel and Ether were surprised. A fight seemed more likely than this.

“I heard a lot about you from Jaekiel. He only spoke in praise, so I was curious what kind of person you were.”

“…”

The 1st Princess narrowed her brow.

She gave Akne a suspicious look, clearly wary of this sudden flattery.

After a pause, she spoke.

“…What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I heard you hold Jaekiel very dear. But I was saved by him personally, so I was hoping for a bit of kindness…”

“So you’re saying you want to be treasured as well?”

“I’m not asking to be pampered. But if you’d grant me just a small opportunity, I’d be very grateful.”

The 1st Princess’s brow furrowed deeper.

“I’d love to hear what kind of ‘opportunity’ you mean.”

“Let me repay Jaekiel for saving me. If I become a nuisance, I trust I’ll die by your hand anyway.”

“Unbelievable. I saw what you were doing.”

The 1st Princess scoffed.

“You had him tied up in spider silk, and you call that gratitude?”

“Spiders communicate with silk, after all.”

Despite her words, Akne’s tone and manner were remarkably polite—enough to even shock Jaekiel.

Ether slowly tilted her head.

“You’re not just any demon. You rose to the rank of Demon God. How can we trust you won’t betray us?”

“The Demon Lord herself put a hole through me. I’m nothing in the Demon Realm anymore. All I have left is the duty to serve my husband.”

“Don’t call him ‘husband.’ Or I’ll kill you.”

“…So I’m not allowed to call my husband… husband? Hmm.”

Akne muttered deliberately loud enough for Ether to hear.

It was openly defiant.

In a situation like this—and against the First Princess no less—it was outrageous.

The room tensed up once more.

It was then that Jaekiel spoke up.

“First, both of you, calm down.”

“You, Teacher—stand by.”

“Husband, just relax.”

Both women shut him down at the same time.

They were determined to settle this themselves.

‘…I’m so screwed.’

Cold sweat trickled down Jaekiel’s spine.

And with good reason—he had technically married Akne.

If Ether found out about that…

Or if Akne found out about that night with Ether…

…Either way, he was completely and utterly doomed.

As Jaekiel’s thoughts spiraled…

“…A cursed being, unwanted in both the Demon Realm and on the continent… Please, let me at least repay this kindness. I hope you’ll understand that.”

Akne spoke again.

Her voice had lost all its earlier defiance.

Only desperation and longing remained.

She looked like a pitiful deer kneeling on one knee, looking up at Ether.

Jaekiel had never seen her make an expression like that.

But then…

A sharp voice cut through.

“Don’t fall for it. Crocodile tears.”

A noble voice followed as another princess arrived.

It felt as if a jet-black dragon had descended.

Standing beside kneeling Akne, 2nd Princess Hedera stood tall, her draconic blood aura flaring.

Her intent was clear.

If Akne made even a single false move, she’d tear her apart on the spot.

“Not even blinking as she lies.”

Hedera said coldly.

She was the Empire’s 2nd Princess, and the head of the Imperial Tower.

Even if she killed Akne right now, no one would dare stop her.

The Emperor was away, and the princesses were the highest authority present.

In fact, the Emperor had never even ordered Akne to be saved.

If anything, he probably preferred her dead.

“I heard the news. He saved you from death, and within a day, you tried to kill the Auditor?”

“Tried to kill him?”

Akne replied as if genuinely confused.

“I just wanted to please him.”

“…”

Akne was being sincere in her own way.

But to Hedera and Ether, it sounded like straight-up provocation.

Which made sense—she had cocooned Jaekiel in spider silk.

Ether and Hedera were now emanating overwhelming force.

The princesses radiated such dominance that it was suffocating.

‘If Jaekiel wasn’t here, you’d already be dead,’ that was the unspoken message.

Jaekiel held his throbbing head.

He hadn’t expected the 2nd Princess to arrive this fast, before he’d even finished talking to the first one.

And now, the 1st Princess spoke again.

“Repaying a favor is only a valid statement… if you’re actually useful. And as far as I know, you’re not.”

“My usefulness? Oh, I’m full of uses. If I don’t have any, I’ll make them if it means I can stay by my husband’s side.”

“…”

Even though she spoke politely, Hedera and Ether’s expressions twisted with rage.

The cause, of course, was the word “husband.”

Just one word was enough to flip both princesses inside out.

“You wretch. I told you not to use that word…”

“Okay, okay. I won’t use it.”

Akne smirked crookedly.

Did she heed their warning?

“Yes~ I simply meant I’d do anything to stay by Jaekiel’s side, even as his personal whore.”

“…”

“Hmm~ Maybe the meaning’s unclear on the continent? You might prefer the term ‘personal toilet’.”

“Your Highness, feel free to pick whichever suits your taste. I’ll accommodate.”

“……”

Immediately, veins bulged on both princesses’ foreheads.

Jaekiel had no choice but to jump in.

“Wait, all of you… This is–”

“Auditor, be quiet.”

“I said, stay out of this.”

But they ignored him completely.

Blinded by Akne’s raw provocation, they acted as if Jaekiel wasn’t even there.

“…So that’s why you were pretending to be polite. You’re mocking us.”

Ether summoned her lightblade.

It gleamed sharper than ever.

Even Jaekiel wouldn’t survive a hit from that.

And so…

FWOOOOOSH!

Jaekiel unleashed a massive wave of cold in an instant.

He froze everyone’s ankles to stop them cold.

“Enough. Everyone calm down.”

Finally, all eyes turned to Jaekiel.

“…Let’s talk. Akne is the Imperial Family’s 0th Princess.”

He hadn’t planned to reveal it like this, but he had no choice.

To stop the bloodbath.

But the very next moment…

Their responses were… unexpected.

“And?”

“So?”

“Why does that matter?”