Episode 9
After that day, I started seeing the young Demon King more often.
He usually spent his time at a table set up in the courtyard. Most of the time he read books there, or looked at Estelle’s strange tree creations and admired them.
I put down the rag I was using to clean the windows and walked over to him.
“What book are you reading?”
He was so absorbed that he jumped when he noticed me.
“…What’s it to you?”
As expected, because of our bad first meeting, he was hostile.
“Not ‘you.’ It’s Illy. It doesn’t matter what you’re reading, I’m just curious.”
I wasn’t actually curious.
But since he was the young Demon King, I thought maybe he knew something about the Demon King, so I tried to act friendly.
“So? What book is it?”
He hesitated, then answered in a small voice.
“The History of War… sir.”
He added polite speech awkwardly.
I lightly messed up his hair and walked away to continue cleaning.
Maybe that was the reason.
After that, the young Demon King started hovering around me.
When I asked, “What is it?” he would get startled and run away.
“Why is he like that?”
Today again, he was circling me.
I tried to ignore him, but his stare was too obvious.
Peter looked at him, then smiled softly while cutting his meat.
“It must be the first time someone told Lord Daiban to speak politely. Maybe he liked that.”
“I see.”
If I had known he would follow me around like this, I wouldn’t have said anything.
The bread today was well baked. Crispy and fragrant.
I ignored the young Demon King’s stare and spread butter on my bread.
“I’ll give you more butter.”
“No, that’s fin—”
Too late.
Freddy tripped again and threw the butter in his hand straight at me.
***
“Hahahaha!”
After hearing the story, Recht laughed loudly in the tower.
“You find that so funny?”
“Very.”
Even when I glared at him, he kept laughing.
Annoyed, I let go of his hand.
“Don’t laugh. I’m upset.”
After the butter melted into my clothes, I had gone straight to Peter and glared at him.
Let’s fire Freddy immediately.
Peter had looked shocked at my butter-covered appearance, then shook his head.
“That’s not possible, Miss Illy…”
“Why not? Just fire him.”
“The food tastes good though. If we fire Freddy, Estelle might have to cook…”
The memory of Estelle’s green potato soup came back.
I had tried one spoon out of pity and my stomach flipped over.
There must have been poisonous herbs in it.
I could not argue anymore.
I even had to comfort Peter, who had lived alone with Estelle before Freddy came.
Do I have to coexist with Freddy?
Still better than Estelle cooking.
At least Freddy, as foolish as he is, can be controlled.
Just then—
Something sharp poked the top of my head.
“So that’s why you smell so delicious today.”
Recht had come up behind me and buried his nose in my hair.
“Do I smell? I washed again before coming.”
“Mm. A good smell. Makes me want to eat you.”
Eat me?
Is that something you say to another human?
Sometimes he did not act like a prince at all.
“Why are you so close?”
“If you’re hungry, eat potatoes.”
I pushed him away and straightened the blanket.
“Anyway, that man is a hero?”
“Isn’t that like an assassin becoming a hero?”
“Do not put him and me in the same category.”
“Hmm. That was my mistake. I apologize.”
He apologized too easily.
“Then will you come every day now?”
“No. It’s clean.”
Today I had only straightened the bed and talked with him.
Then he suddenly flipped the blanket I had just fixed.
“If I do this?”
What is he, a child?
I fixed it again.
He flipped it again.
I fixed it again.
When he tried once more, I quickly said,
“If you do that again, I won’t come.”
His hand stopped.
“I won’t talk with you either.”
…
“I won’t bring food.”
…
“And I won’t hold your hand anymore.”
He quietly put the blanket down.
“Smooth the wrinkles too.”
He reluctantly ran his big hand over the fabric, smoothing it carefully.
Despite his large body and grumpy face, his hands were precise.
“Illy.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t get too close to other people. I’ll get jealous.”
Jealous?
I stepped back.
“We’re not close. So don’t say that.”
“Why? Does it bother you?”
“Stop saying that word. Did you eat something strange?”
Maybe someone messed with his food.
“You might get close later. Say you won’t.”
He seemed determined to keep asking.
“Fine. I won’t get close.”
After this is over, I’ll never see them again anyway.
“I’ll remember that.”
Who does he think he is, remembering my promise?
Someone definitely tampered with his food.
***
After that, I paid even more attention to his meals.
If someone poisoned him, he could die.
If he died, the king would declare war, the Demon King would rage, and I would have to repeat everything.
Starting over wasn’t hard.
Repeating the same life was what felt hopeless.
So I must live this one properly.
Preparing meals for picky Recht was not easy.
With Freddy’s help, I tested different dishes.
Freddy was clumsy, but his cooking knowledge was decent.
But when I started spending more time with Freddy, Recht complained immediately.
“I told you not to get close to the cook.”
Persistent.
He really acted like a child afraid of losing a friend.
“Even the young Demon King doesn’t act like this.”
“I don’t have a problem. You do.”
Unbelievable.
“Maybe you should get close to them instead.”
“Me? With them?”
“Yes.”
He looked shocked.
His expression turned serious.
And I had no idea that this would lead to trouble later.
***
I went to the demon guild again at the market.
The deadline had passed.
“We couldn’t make contact…”
“Are you incompetent?”
The leader trembled.
“The address doesn’t exist!”
“At the merchant group too?”
“Yes. They said the vice leader has been gone for days.”
Where did Leo go?
I left him in charge while I was gone.
He’s not irresponsible.
Did something happen?
“Keep trying.”
“Yes.”
“And this is the payment. And the money I borrowed.”
“You didn’t borrow it, you took it—”
“Hmm?”
“T-Thank you…”
“And another request.”
I handed him a torn piece of paper Freddy and I had written.
“Buy this. Within thirty minutes.”
