'I am the jealous one—at first, it was just a feeling... the desire to fight with him. Yet now, I cannot stop thinking about him or the future.'
She turned around and entered the cave, quietly closing the door. She walked back to the sleeping Asmodeus, who had a slight grin on his face as if he was dreaming a pleasant dream.
'How did this happen?'
Vinea sat down next to him, reaching out and stroking his messy hair, which had become slightly tangled from the sweat and passionate evening with Yumiko beside him. Her fingertips began to clear the tangled tips while caressing his cheek. "When did I fall for you, was it from the moment we met? Or the day you let me stab you to save my life?"
She remembered her first meeting with him, watching him hidden from within the shadows, angry due to him being close to Liana or maybe tricking her. Only his voice, which sounded as if the man had an endless desire to please the women in his life, could be heard. His deep and soothing voice echoed in her ears.
'Surrounded by so many women, and the only ones you've fully touched are Liana, Yumiko and Erika... Princess Ciela seems to be close to winning your heart too, but what about me? How do I turn your eyes to me?'
Vinea frowned and moved the hand touching Asmodeus to her breasts and stomach, recalling the few during training when they came into close combat and fought without swords. Or when his body came close to her body while making love to the fox beastwoman. After a few moments, she stopped the mischief and brushed against his lips with her middle and index finger.
'Ah...' the next moment, she kissed them, with her cheeks turning a deeper red. She shook her head, 'What a lewd woman I've become. If only it were the kiss of a beautiful maiden that could awaken the sleeping prince.'
Vinea rested her head on his chest and remained there, enjoying the sound of his two hearts beating with a powerful thump.
Meanwhile...
'What should I do... Vinea just made me touch her breasts and body... it felt so good that my brother has woken up....' Asmodeus couldn't help but pretend to sleep. He felt her touch his lips and could sense her actions using his mana vision, which allowed him to see everything within ten metres around him, even with his eyes closed.
'I guess I've been avoiding her a little because I only just accepted Liana...'
Asmodeus had given his all to the women in his life, a vow he had made after his experience with his mother and seeing how much she loved his father, and he loved her. He could not say that he loved her yet. That's why he didn't take advantage of her, knowing she would let him sleep with her at any moment.
'I want to know more about you, Vinea... the things you like, that make you smile, what you dislike. You are not Linea, so I want to know about you because you are not some sacrifice for me.'
"Mmm..." He realised Vinea had fallen asleep while hugging his chest, her breathing now even and relaxed.
'Let's wait till they both wake up and head to the village.'
***
Four hours later, Yumiko looked horrible, her body stiff as she limped towards the small fire, cooking something for breakfast. Her eyes were heavy, yet her skin seemed glossy, like a newly cleaned piece of jade.
Vinea was already awake—her hair was damp, and she wore a large robe, smelling of the same perfume that Asmodeus used, and instead of her normal heavy armour, she used a light cloth armour. However, Vinea needed a special bra and panties to make sure her breasts didn't fall out, and her tail and buttocks were comfortable.
An embarrassing event happened at the inn before they left, where she split her shorts, and it caused Vinea to become complex about her huge ass.
'How did she shower and return before I awoke?'
"You're awake, Asmodeus," Vinea's voice rang out in the cave as she flipped the pan with monster meat that was identical to bacon from pigs. It was his favourite to eat in the morning with the eggs from a huge monster bird with golden yolk.
"Yeah... something kept tickling me this morning, but I feel great. Make sure to wash your faces in the stream, we're riding for the village after breakfast."
"Asmodeus... you were too rough last night, I think you've bruised me..." Yumiko whimpered as she approached him and removed the thin clothing covering her chest.
Her body looked amazing with a mixture of bruises, kiss marks, and darker hickies, but she still looked perfect to him. Asmodeus turned his head and grinned, "Then don't hold back and bite me too."
"Hmph.... it's hard to walk, so don't expect me to fight today~ fufu."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Vinea spoke. Her tone was cold and distant, but her words were not rude, only formal.
"The same," Yumiko greeted, but her eyes were full of curiosity as she looked at the family and then the children hiding behind the woman.
"So, what is the situation here?" Asmodeus didn't like the treatment he received, but he wouldn't be pathetic about it. He was to be a king in the future, and Serena and Alice constantly taught him etiquette and other training.
"My boy, I'm sorry. This is not the way a lord treats his guests, but I can no longer afford to waste any coin. My wife and I have tried to offer our bodies to anyone in hopes that they will spare the lives of my daughter and this village. We are powerless, Sir Asmodeus."
"Is it because of the Murks that linger on the beach?"
"That's right. Those beasts have driven us from the water for months. Our fishing boats are not suitable for fighting those monsters."
"And the river and woods?"
"We have the best hunters, but they are not strong enough to fight monsters in the forest either... alas, the Blood Moon Lily will only bloom once a year and from the centre of that island off the coast..."
"How long will it take for the flowers to bloom? I believe that it might take a while to clear all obstacles for your festival." Asmodeus's voice was cold and slightly harsh, which made the old man's heart feel heavy.
"A-about three days... the festival itself only lasts for a week, but we need to make sure they grow properly and can be picked. Each petal will grant our village protection for a month and lasts until the tenth month with only two to survive before next year's festival... Normally we save enough to put a request for adventurers to stay in the village for two months but this year...
the Murks have caused so much damage we are hopeless!"
"So you would have me and my companions take care of the monsters? Anything else?"
"Sir Asmodeus, we have nothing to pay you. There is no reward we can offer but good meals during the festival. Please, if you can get us the flowers, we will be most grateful."
"Please, help us... my father and my uncle..." A cute girl asked, she must have been only thirteen but the showings of a village beauty were clear.
"Is this the maiden who dances the festival?" Asmodeus looked at the girl and felt pity that a child had to endure this situation.
"She is..." The mother looked at her daughter with a proud smile, but it was obvious she was scared that her daughter would die before her.
'Well, let's wipe out the murks and enjoy the festival... since Yumiko and Vinea came, I have no issues.'
"Alright, we will take a rest today and start clearing them in the morning."
"Thank you, sir Asmodeus," the man's voice was weak, and his wife could not even stand up. The weight on their shoulders was too heavy, and it showed on their faces.
"Please, leave them to us." Yumiko stroked the girl's hair and gave her a candy while the man who was rude to them, Rolf, seemed to be the girl's father, and now Asmodeus understood.
He was just worried about his daughter.
Thus, the Demon King forgave the human who was rude and gave a warm, handsome smile.
"Then~ I'll prepare a few rooms for you." The wife giggled, her eyes bright from the smile of a handsome young man.
However, Vinea cut in. "We only need one, we sleep together..." Her red skin turned a deeper shade as the room finally seemed to notice her.
"Ah~ the pretty older sister has red skin and horns, how beautiful." The young girls seemed to admire her beauty, while their grandmother seemed to be embarrassed and looked at the three of them with a gentle smile.
"Understood, and once again thank you."