CH 18

Chapter 18: the Demon King and the Love Affair

——The rainy season has finally ended, and early summer has arrived.

I decided to go see the newly bloomed flowers today, as I promised the Demon King.

However, it appears that the flowers only bloom at night, so the Demon King visited me at night.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes!”

The light blue flowers looked lovely in the moonlight. the Demon King said something to me while I was looking at the flowers.

“Does it seem ridiculous to think that the Demon King enjoys tinkering in the dirt?”

“No.”

I think it’s a wonderful hobby. I’m not sure why he thinks that way.

“Sofia said Yulin’s fiancé also told her it was a little ridiculous.”

The person who said it may not remember much, but the person who was told does. But still, a fiancée, huh. I never gave it much thought, but Yulin is a high-born demon, just like the Demon King. ——Garen is the fifth prince, or perhaps he is the fifth prince because he lacks one.

“…What’s His Majesty’s fiancée like?”

What should I do? It wouldn’t be good if she discovered I was walking with the Demon King. Her fiancée is out late at night with an unknown woman. If I were her, I would be furious. “

“I don’t have any.”

the Demon King chuckled, but it was no laughing matter. I’m surprised. He’s the king of a country.

“When a man comes of age in this country, he chooses who his mate will be—only then is he considered an adult, but the war had only just begun, so everything was hazy.”

I understand.

“But, to be honest, I’m relieved—because I’ve never been more in love than I am with this flower. The name of this flower is lovestruck.”

The light blue flower is called lovestruck, and legend has it that it was created from the tears of a girl who was madly in love with a man.

“Has the Shrine Maiden ever been in love?”

When the Demon King asks, I’m at a loss for words because it’s a very timely topic for me because I’ve recently fallen out of love with Garen, and I feel so much lighter, but it also means that there’s a void in my heart now.

“…Yes, there was.”

“Well… I’m sure the Shrine Maiden had a wonderful love affair.”

the Demon King looks at me enviously.

I’m not sure. When I first fell in love with Garen, I was happy because the person I love is always there for me. But since Garen abandoned me, I’ve been in pain. I kept asking myself—why, why, why. I couldn’t feel happy at all.

“——I wish that were true—I’m sure you can do it, your majesty.”

the Demon King is cool, and more importantly, he’s kind. I don’t think you need to be concerned about him, because he’ll be in high demand.

“Your Majesty, by the way. I’d like to ask you a question. “

“What is it?”

“Why don’t you look me in the eyes?”

When I asked Sarah about it, she told me that in this country, it’s not disrespectful to look at someone’s face when talking to someone of higher rank, but it is disrespectful to not look them in the eye properly. Yulin looks me in the eye, but I can count the number of times I’ve made eye contact with the Demon King on one hand.

“I’m sorry. When I see you, I get palpitations—It’s especially bad when you smile.”

It could be a heart disease; the golden rule is early detection and treatment.

“Have you noticed similar symptoms in anyone else?”

“No, it’s only with the Shrine Maiden that it happens.”

I almost thought I had a Shrine Maiden component in my body that only affected the Demon King, but then I remembered that Shrine Maidens are the Demon King’s destiny. I’ve always wondered why the generations of the Demon King and the Shrine Maiden marry, but I’m sure that the Shrine Maiden’s mysterious ingredient causes the Demon King to have palpitations, and the Demon King, thinking the palpitations are love, falls in love with the Shrine Maiden. That must be it.

“But it’s impolite of me—I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“No, let’s keep it like that.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. But, if you notice such symptoms in someone other than me, could you please notify Yulin?”

“Yulin? Okay.”

I don’t know if I’ll still be alive then, and most importantly, I’m still heartbroken, so I’m afraid I can’t help the Demon King much, even though he’s always been good to me.

“It’s getting windy. That’s enough for tonight.”

I thank the Demon King and say goodnight before walking into my room.

“Love, huh?”

This time, I want to be able to confidently state that I had a wonderful love.