Chapter 10: A Demon King’s Lullaby and a Knight’s Vigil

Lamia Talia lay on his bed, leaving the warmed spot beside her for him.

She must have just taken a bath. Now that he had calmed down and moved closer, Wade could detect the faint scent of her shower gel.

“Rest is crucial, so why don’t we get some good rest together?”

Lamia Talia’s face still held a gentle smile. Her thoughts mirrored her words; she genuinely seemed to intend on resting.

She was quite considerate of Wade, a human. She mused that humans differed from demons; demons could dispel fatigue with magic, but humans required genuine rest. As a perfect wife, how could she keep her husband up all night if she wished for his happiness?

Wade, however, had no idea what the Demon King’s intentions were, nor what she truly sought. Yet, since the charade had progressed this far, he decided to continue.

If the Demon King truly intended to infiltrate human society as his wife, their act would need to endure for a long time. This was a protracted battle, and he had to persevere.

Therefore, Wade could only acquiesce to Lamia Talia’s wishes. He sat on the edge of the bed, and after a moment of hesitation under her expectant gaze, he finally lay down.

Seeing Wade lie down beside her, Lamia Talia quickly snuggled closer. She shifted her body, pressing against Wade’s side, and then wrapped her arms around his, much like an adorable girlfriend in a classic romance manga.

“…”

Wade gazed at Lamia Talia lying beside him. Her long hair fanned out, some strands falling over her shoulders to cling to her lightly perspiring chest, while others draped across her waist. Illuminated by the cool moonlight, her slender waist, promising a different kind of warmth, was starkly outlined.

He could hear every one of her breaths. Despite their intimate posture, her breathing was as steady as a lullaby hummed softly after the lights went out.

“Goodnight, husband. Make sure to get some good rest.”

She smiled at him, then closed her eyes first.

Wade could see her eyes darting beneath her eyelids, betraying her wakefulness. In the quiet moonlight, he could clearly hear her inner thoughts.

[‘It’s time to rest. Humans certainly have regular routines. If this were the Demon King’s Castle, night would be the time for activity… Haaah—I miss Fendyr’s feasts. Those liquors brewed from magic tree roots are so much better than whatever “red wine” humans drink. With this bland taste, what exactly are they consuming?’]

[‘And the food… My head chef’s sliced magic ore is definitely superior. It has a good texture when you bite into it, and it replenishes magic… Ugh… Human food is so soft and mushy. Even if we ancient demons, centuries old, had no teeth, we wouldn’t stoop to eating this.’]

Wade had expected to hear Lamia Talia’s reflections on her mission at the end of the day. He himself would engage in such introspection, his mind reviewing what he had accomplished, how well it was done, what needed improvement, and what his plans for tomorrow were.

He assumed that a formidable Demon King would likewise organize her thoughts on the day’s events and strategize for the next. Wade intended to use this opportunity to uncover her schemes, but to his surprise, her mind was entirely preoccupied with food.

Lying beside the Demon King, even though she currently appeared as a beautiful woman, Wade still felt as if he were on a bed of needles. He could not relax, his focus intently fixed on reading Lamia Talia’s thoughts.

Finally, Lamia Talia’s thoughts drifted to:

[‘Phew… Although the food is strange, my expressions toward those human chefs shouldn’t have revealed anything. Today’s disguise was quite successful; becoming the White Knight’s wife is the most crucial first step to the plan’s success. Next, all I need to do is—’]

As Lamia Talia finally seemed to be turning her thoughts to her plans, Wade immediately sharpened his senses. Earlier, her mental ramblings about the Demon King’s Castle had been filled with nostalgic musings, almost lulling Wade to sleep like a bedtime story. But now, hearing her approach the crucial points, he became instantly alert, holding his breath anxiously, determined to uncover the Demon King’s wicked scheme.

[‘Tomorrow… hmm… first… hmm…’]

‘Yes, yes, what about tomorrow?’

[‘Hmm… *sigh*…’]

‘Speak, Demon King, what about tomorrow!’

[‘…’]

‘…Huh…?’

[‘…’]

‘…?…’

‘No more sounds?’

For the first time, Wade’s mind grew utterly silent, so quiet that he experienced a momentary ringing in his ears.

Ever since encountering this Demon King’s avatar, his mind had been filled with her thoughts. She was a creature of intense internal activity, and throughout the day, Wade’s head had been incredibly noisy. When she went to bathe and was no longer beside him, it had grown noticeably quieter. Now, under the serene moonlight, his mind was even more profoundly still.

‘…She fell asleep?’

He gently turned his head, looking at Lamia Talia, whose thoughts had ceased.

The eyes beneath her eyelids were no longer darting, and the hand gripping his arm had relaxed considerably.

She had simply fallen asleep, completely defenseless, right beside the White Knight.

‘—Now is a good chance to kill her.’

In an instant, that thought flashed through Wade’s mind.

She was asleep, and there were no special defensive measures around her.

If he drew his knight’s sword, he might be able to simply sever her head.

If he killed her, would it be possible to completely eradicate the demons?

If he only killed her, if only…

“…”

Wade’s other hand had already formed a grip as if holding a sword. While he did possess a knight’s sword, he more frequently used the magical blade he could conjure with his power.

So now, if he made up his mind, the sword capable of slaying the Demon King could be wielded in his hand, and with a forceful strike, he could sever her head.

‘However—’

‘—No, she might be feigning it to trick me!’

The next second, in the span of a single breath, Wade clenched his fist. The faint magic he had hesitantly gathered was instantly crushed, dissipating into specks of light in the air.

‘No… let me consider this from another angle…’

‘How could the Demon King possibly lie defenseless beside me? Perhaps this is part of her scheme; if I were to act, I might fall right into her trap.’

‘Although, although I don’t know what the plot is, it must be something like this, right?’

‘It couldn’t possibly be that I’ve gone soft—just because of half a day’s acquaintance? Just because of that strange, nonsensical thought that inexplicably surfaced in her mind: “I want to make him the happiest husband?”’

‘That’s right, I can’t possibly believe such a lie! I’m merely trying to prevent an even greater conspiracy lurking behind this!’

‘Wade, Wade… you mustn’t fall into the Demon King’s snare!’

‘You must—stay vigilant!’

As he thought this, Wade glanced again at the Demon King lying beside him. If she neither spoke aloud nor thought internally, she truly resembled a gentle, lovely maiden. If he could genuinely marry such a woman as his wife—

‘Argh—Wade! What are you thinking!’

‘Get a grip!’