Side Story 1. Chloe

Riel’s night market had a lot to see.

Even though I’ve officially ascended as the Demon King of the Demon Kingdom.

Frankly speaking, the difference between the Empire and the Demon Kingdom’s culture and living standards was quite significant.

So, based on the Imperial Capital, where commercialization and urbanization had progressed on a large scale.

Not only Riel but even Yekares, the former capital of the Demon Kingdom, looked like a rural town and wasn’t much to see.

“But Riel is rapidly developing in a short period.”

It was worthy of being called a city that never sleeps.

Even late at night, the streets were brightly lit with various colored lights.

Of course, young people with boiling blood couldn’t resist this festive atmosphere.

The night market was full of young male and female demons.

Unlike before, human men and women could also be found in Riel.

Post-war reconstruction. And the Itern Merchant Guild had revitalized commerce in Riel, so many humans had come over from the Empire.

“The Itern Plains… Trade groups and merchants come and go every day through the Yulian Boulevard there. Riel is definitely developing as the new capital, even if other regions of the Demon Kingdom aren’t.”

She had a unique personality.

But as a merchant, Chloe was so outstanding that even Duke Gerard recognized her as his successor.

‘I’m grateful that Chloe is in Riel.’

So, watching the developing Riel as the Demon King was a new feeling every day.

“The beautiful young lady’s footsteps~ are no different from the spring breeze~!”

And in various parts of the night market, I could often see minstrels playing instruments and singing.

It wasn’t a surprising sight.

The name of the capital, Riel, itself was taken from the name of the legendary minstrel Riel, who was famous throughout Isrand.

And that Riel was another hidden identity of my father, Lucifiel.

I looked at Chloe.

I saw many couples watching the minstrel’s song.

Holding her hand, I also stood in front of a minstrel and watched the song.

“Sometimes, performances by street minstrels like this aren’t bad either, instead of orchestras.”

“Yes… I think so too.”

Chloe was quieter than I thought.

But before I knew it, Chloe tightly intertwined her fingers with the hand I was holding.

‘Quiet Chloe, huh.’

If it were her usual personality.

She would be showing off her knowledge, comparing the skills of the continent’s best orchestra, sponsored by Itern, with those of the minstrel, acting all high and mighty.

But surprisingly, even that villainous young lady Chloe seemed to be soaked in the night atmosphere of Riel today.

When I thought about it, Chloe wasn’t that old yet.

She was twenty last year.

Now she’s barely twenty-one.

She and I were probably younger than most of the young men and women here.

So, a normal date like this was more fitting for our age.

I sat side by side with her on a stone bench near the night market fountain.

The song the minstrel was singing was changing from a lively tune to a romantic song that suited the night’s atmosphere.

“……”

Then the atmosphere around the fountain plaza changed.

The young men and women who had gathered in large numbers.

They naturally got closer to their partners.

“Oh my…”

And at the scene that followed, Chloe let out an exclamation that wasn’t like her.

The lovers gathered in the plaza hugged each other.

Some of them were even kissing to the sweet song.

“Oh my… How embarrassing… How can they do that… like that… in such an open place…”

It wasn’t a line Chloe would ever say.

But Chloe’s embarrassed appearance suddenly felt cute.

‘Chloe also has an unexpectedly shy side.’

Before I knew it, she and I, who were sitting side by side on the stone bench, were close to each other.

When I turned my head, I met Chloe’s eyes.

A pure white and beautiful face, as if it were the standard of a beautiful noble young lady.

Her beautiful crimson eyes, dyed in the lights of the night market, were sparkling like jewels.

“Chloe. You’re still beautiful today.”

I told Chloe with those honest feelings.

“Wh… what are you talking about! H… How embarrassing…”

Chloe hurriedly blushed and lowered her head.

But as expected, I inherited my father’s blood when it came to handling women.

I didn’t feel awkward at all even while spouting embarrassing lines.

I pulled her into my arms.

“Isn’t it okay to be a little more honest? There’s no one else here to bother you and me. If there’s anything you want. It means you can do anything without worrying about what others think.”

“Y… Yes?! Th… That’s…”

In an unusually romantic atmosphere, Chloe’s neck turned bright red.

She couldn’t meet my eyes easily.

But, she snuggled into my arms and naturally hugged me, getting even closer.

“Time is short.”

At those words, Chloe raised her head as if she had made up her mind.

She smoothed her flowing silver hair.

And said to me in a trembling voice.

“Then… please… kiss me too.”

I didn’t answer those words.

Faster than an answer, I sealed my lips with hers.

---

Chloe felt like she was floating on clouds.

She couldn’t get out of her dazed state.

‘What on earth… Why… Why am I like this?’

The two left the fountain plaza.

So, it meant that some time had passed since Yulian and I had kissed.

But she still couldn’t forget the taste of that sweet kiss that remained on her lips and tongue.

‘Like an idiot… Why are you doing this. It’s not like you’re a virgin… And you’re not even trying to act like a clumsy woman…’

As that thought suggested.

She had already experienced not only a deep kiss with Yulian, but also a deeper relationship as a man and woman.

But the kiss just now was different.

It was as if we had returned to the fresh couple at the beginning of our relationship.

A kiss full of affection for each other.

A sweetness different from the intense kisses on the bed seemed to melt her head.

‘I feel so strange… My heart… It’s tickling… I can’t stand it.’

She intertwined her fingers more tightly with Yulian’s hand, who was walking side by side with her.

She loved the feeling of his manly, large hand so much.

But on the other hand, she was very nervous that her hand might be sweating.

‘Sweat is unclean… What if Yulian-nim thinks I’m weird…’

Even having these thoughts felt awkward.

Already, when the two were mingling their bodies.

Yulian had even licked Chloe’s armpits with his tongue.

But now, even a small skinship with Yulian made her heart pound as if it would burst.

‘I’m too… conscious of Yulian-nim.’

A normal lover’s date.

The date that existed in Chloe’s mind was different from the real date.

Not a commoner with a low status, but a duke’s daughter.

She was even a high-ranking noble with the title of countess.

As such, she was ashamed of herself for being excited like an ordinary woman on such a trivial date.

But on the other hand, she also had the thought that this short date time.

She wished it would never end.

‘Yulian-nim… isn’t my man alone.’

Just as she was about to feel depressed at that thought.

Yulian stopped in front of a food cart on the street of the night market.

“There are a lot of things that look delicious. Shall we buy something to eat?”

“Really? But someone as noble as Yulian-nim… eating street food like this…”

For the commoners of the Imperial Capital, it was a very special day.

The experience of visiting a luxurious restaurant, which would happen once in a lifetime.

For Chloe, it was just an ordinary meal.

So, she had never eaten street food, which was a common snack for those commoners, in her life.

‘That’s the same for Yulian-nim, who was the successor of the Frontier Count…’

But Yulian casually bought several kinds of street food.

“This kind of food has its own taste. It’s better than you think?”

And he handed Chloe some snacks. Chloe took a bite of a fruit dessert.

“It’s… delicious.”

“See. It’s better than you think.”

Yulian also tasted various kinds of street food as if it were really delicious.

‘That kind of thing… is amazing.’

When I thought about it, the reason why he gained overwhelming support from the rank-and-file soldiers on the battlefield was also because.

Even in the midst of the war, Yulian would sit on the floor with the soldiers and share the notoriously bad combat rations.

‘Really… Is that what it means to have the qualities to be a ruler?’

Not fake, but sincere. He did that every meal.

He couldn’t have done it if he didn’t sincerely think about his soldiers.

Even as a high-ranking noble, it was absolutely impossible for Chloe.

“……”

Sometimes he was like a high-class nobleman who couldn’t be compared to anyone else in Isrand.

But now he was showing a very easygoing commoner-like appearance.

A man who couldn’t be easily described as any one thing.

So, Chloe could be sure now.

If you become a member of the Dragon Lord’s harem, the women in that group will not be able to feel any romantic feelings for other men.

The new instinct engraved through the relationship with the Dragon Lord.

It would fundamentally reject the bodies of other men.

But, even if Yulian wasn’t such a Dragon Lord.

Chloe would definitely not have felt any romantic feelings for any other men other than Yulian.

‘I like… Yulian-nim.’

It was strange today.

Even though she was with Yulian, she kept thinking only about him and wanting him more.

While hiding those embarrassing feelings and eating street food, they walked for a while.

Before she knew it, the two were strolling through a small park on the outskirts of the night market.

“There are a lot of people even though it’s late at night.”

At Yulian’s words, Chloe finally came to her senses.

The park at night wasn’t very brightly lit.

Because there were bushes and shrubs growing everywhere.

At first glance, the appearances of the other people here weren’t visible in detail.

But still, she could feel the presence of people in various places in the bushes.

And, she could tell through the conversations that were carried on the night air.

That many of the people who visited this place were couples.

Also, this park was a very good place for couples to enjoy secret meetings.

“……”

The moment she became aware of that fact, Chloe became even more embarrassed.

‘But… what if Yulian-nim brought me here on purpose?’

Suddenly, her face became hot at that thought.

And if that thought was correct.

Yulian might also be wanting her even more now.

Chloe said to Yulian in a shy voice that she would never say in her usual self.

“Um… I’m a little tired from walking a lot at night. So, shall we rest a little in this park?”