Chapter 108: Truth They Knew

To think the stakes in this gamble to survive were my very life. What a comedy.

Still, I’m satisfied that things turned out as calculated—I was satisfied.

That is, until the Emperor tried to upset the delicate balance he had barely achieved.

‘Yes, he held out for a while. I knew this situation would come eventually. But…’

I didn’t expect him to confront me so directly.

This isn’t a question I can answer immediately. The Emperor seemed to understand this as he removed his hand from my shoulder, took a step back, and said magnanimously,

“It must be sudden, so I’ll give you time to think. Consider your answer carefully.”

“…Thank you for your consideration.”

“Indeed. I won’t stay long this time.”

It needs to be fair, after all.

Whether he informs the Demon King of these actions or not is irrelevant. Given what I know of the Demon King, he’ll realize it soon enough even without Deon Hart explicitly telling him.

He probably won’t be displeased that the stakes have been raised; rather, he’ll likely use it as an opportunity to further urge and tempt Deon Hart.

What has the Demon King given him, and what can he give? What better things can I offer him right now?

“…In recognition of your efforts, I shall promote you to Honorary Marquis. The paperwork should be finalized by tomorrow.”

“……”

There were no questions about it being sudden, whether the nobles would strongly oppose it, or if this was the right time given the current state of affairs. He didn’t even receive a thank you, but the Emperor brushed it off.

It was only natural. There was no reason to thank him for such a transparently motivated gesture, nor could he expect it. He simply added,

“Let me remind you once more. You are human.”

The Emperor waved his hand, signaling Deon to leave. Deon turned to go, watching the Emperor’s retreating back.

Then, he paused.

“…What happened to Esperance?”

“A natural fortress, they said. It wasn’t an exaggeration.”

So, it was a failure. Realizing once again that Rememver didn’t lie, Deon resumed walking.

***

I made a mistake. The Princess nervously gnawed on her well-manicured nails.

Given the widely known rumors of her affection for Deon Hart, she should have offered him a ribbon before the hunting competition began. At the very least, she should have given him a handkerchief.

‘Of all the crucial moments…’

How could she have forgotten such a thing?

The Emperor, her uncle, had taken him away. Even without knowing all the details, her extraordinary ‘intuition’ told her what was happening.

They were trying to firmly tie down someone who seemed to drift without settling anywhere. Given her uncle’s personality, a gentle persuasion would be difficult. Even if he pretended to be gentle, his firm and sharp nature would soon emerge.

‘I could have been of help.’

Her uncle was closer to a tyrant than a wise ruler, and even more so to an overlord than a tyrant. Not a friendly and approachable monarch, but a strict and charismatic one.

Such a person’s persuasion or attempts to win someone over would yield extreme results. If accepted, he would gain a loyal subject, but if rejected, he would create a staunch enemy.

The peaceful way to keep him here was marriage. Though old-fashioned, it was still an effective method, making it the most worthwhile to attempt…

Arriving late at the outdoor banquet hall, the Princess reached for a wine glass to quench her parched throat.

‘No point in dwelling on meaningless hypotheticals.’

She had learned to think about how to fix things instead of looking back at what was done.

The war, worries about her uncle, internal affairs, concerns about her brother… there were many excuses, but what did it matter now?

She had to secure Deon Hart in a way that wouldn’t negatively impact her uncle, using gentle methods.

‘I’ve already laid the groundwork…’

If she pressed forward, she could somehow get past the suspicions surrounding this matter.

Spotting Deon walking between the trees, she rushed over to him.

“Count!”

“Your Highness the Princess.”

“Oh my, Count, I heard something happened at the hunting competition? Are you hurt? I…”

“Thank you for your concern. I hesitate to ask this as our conversation might be lengthy, but would you mind if we moved to another location?”

“…?”

Was it intentional? He subtly cut her off before she could openly express her feelings.

But if he thought she would give up so easily, he was sorely mistaken. The Princess smiled brightly and replied loudly,

“Anywhere alone with you would be delightful!”

“…Thank you for your gracious agreement.”

He had brought up her potentially aching feet from her shoes, so she couldn’t take back her words now.

She scored a point. The fleeting look of dismay on his face seemed to prove his humanity, and she smiled with satisfaction, taking a step.

–She knew the Deon Hart before her wasn’t the usual Deon Hart.

Avoiding the occasional suggestive moans from the bushes, they walked until they reached a charming garden where flowers were in full bloom.

The Princess sat lightly on a bench and looked up at Deon Hart. He stood a step away, turned slightly to the side, seemingly to avoid being impolite.

She waited patiently without speaking, then smiled brightly when his gaze flickered towards her.

“It’s even nicer being alone with you. What did you want to say?”

“…I moved locations to better hear Your Highness’s words.”

“Ah, that’s right! Where were we?”

“At the hunting competition, I…”

“Oh right! You weren’t hurt, were you? I felt awful about not giving you a ribbon, and then to hear you were attacked, I was so worried…!”

“I am unharmed.”

“Still, my conscience isn’t clear. It’s not like there was a good reason, I just simply forgot…”

“Again, I assure you, I am fine. It’s understandable to forget.”

She had only said it to express the Princess’s airheaded cheerfulness, but Deon Hart subtly quirked one corner of his lips as if she had hit on something.

The Princess froze at his smile. It felt like a bug made of chills was crawling up her body from below.

What was the meaning of that smile? Jealousy? Disappointment?

‘That can’t be it.’

She swallowed the chuckle that threatened to escape. She wasn’t so foolish as to interpret that smile as related to romantic feelings.

It clearly held the shape of mockery.

“Forgetting is only natural.”

He smiled. This time, a normal smile with both corners of his lips lifted.

—No, could that even be called a normal smile?

It wasn’t a pure smile that felt innocent. His smile conveyed the meaning of his words. *You are intelligent, Your Highness. Surely, you can understand this as well.*

[Forgetting is only natural.]

Before interpreting the meaning, the Princess had to ensure her facade was intact.

[Your Highness.]

[Does not.]

[Like me.]

‘…He knew.’

Her face flushed, but it was fleeting.

Hiding emotions and responding with audacity were fundamental skills for royalty who had to deal with sly nobles. Therefore,

‘So what?’

Be confident.

Since the fact that the Princess had feelings for Deon Hart was widely known, his chances of marriage to anyone else were effectively blocked.

So, don’t panic and push forward calmly. If subtle tactics don’t work, go for a head-on approach.

“Honorary Count Deon Hart.”

“…….”

“Marrying me, what are your th….”

“Your Highness the Princess.”

Ah.

The moment the words calling her name left his lips, the Princess sensed failure.

As expected, he gave her a polite but clear refusal, as if daring her to continue.

“Please do not waste your noble life on someone like me.”

You only have one life.

….

The Princess couldn’t say a word until Deon Hart turned his back and disappeared.

He must have known that was her last offer. Yet, his refusal was so decisive.

It was so clean and firm that she didn’t even feel like being persistent. In the current Imperial Family, where familial bonds were strong, rejecting the Princess’s proposal meant he intended to remain single for life, didn’t it?

‘…Come to think of it, his relationships with women have been unusually bland.’

No way.

An unexpected hypothesis surfaced, and the Princess’s face hardened.

Resolving to live alone without women. Unusually bland relationships with women. Perhaps the very premise of the ‘Princess’ trying to entice him was wrong from the start.

“…Does he like men?”

The Princess had a fairly open mind.

***

I actually survived and returned to the banquet hall! It’s a miracle!

I was so nervous and out of it that I don’t remember everything, but I definitely remember the most important thing.

The Emperor….

‘Do I really have to remember this?’

…gave me more time. He probably allowed me to go to the Demon Realm even though I hadn’t been back long.

Even if I don’t know the specifics, I know I’ll have to go to the Demon Realm again soon. It seems like the time I spend in either the Demon Realm or the Human Realm will become extremely short.

As for the rest of the conversation and what happened… well… I’d rather not recall it, so let’s bury it in the depths of my memory.

‘But why are they staring at me like that?’

The gazes feel different from the glances I received at the previous banquet. It sounds like they’re whispering about something too….

“Having personal conversations with the Imperial Family one after another….”

“I think I know what the conversation with Her Highness the Princess was about….”

“…a bloodthirsty killer, but still a hero….”

“More than that, he’s so handsome….”

“…what on earth did he talk about with His Majesty….”

Her Highness the Princess? Why is the Princess’s name coming up while they’re looking at me?

I don’t know what’s going on, but the stares directed at me are piercing. I’m not sure if I can go home yet, so it’s best to just hide for now.

Fortunately, like the indoor banquet, some parts of the building were open. Actually, there was a smaller banquet with everything it needed inside as well.

It seemed nobles who found the noisy atmosphere outside overwhelming came inside to rest or have business-related discussions.

‘There are fewer people inside, so the attention is less… well…’

It’s just as intense, so it doesn’t really matter.

The moment I stepped inside, gazes instantly turned towards me, and I paused briefly. I tried my best to act nonchalant as I grabbed some food and stealthily retreated to the terrace.

Only after meticulously closing the curtains did the tension completely leave me, and I slumped into a nearby chair. Then, as if finally noticing, my stomach, which had been subtly hinting, loudly declared its hunger. I absentmindedly ate the food I had brought, lost in thought.

‘I’m tired.’

I ran a hand under my eyes, which had already started to darken again so soon after returning, and let out a silent sigh.

The Emperor, the Demon King, I won’t think about any of them for now. I need to rest.

Lost in thought, munching on snacks, a loud voice suddenly startled me.

“—So, are you suggesting we kill them all!”

Ah, geez! Startled, I almost dropped the cookie I was holding, catching it just before it hit the floor.

Who in the world is that? And why are they fighting? I put the rescued cookie in my mouth and turned my head towards the sound. The voice seemed to be coming from somewhere close outside the terrace, in the outdoor garden.