Chapter 14: The Demon King’s Pastries and a Knight’s Dilemma

…😦

…😨?

…😰??

Wade Nairt fell into deep thought.

He pondered the current situation, ruminated on his grandfather’s advice, and even wondered how the Big Bang could have possibly spawned a creature like Lamia Talia.

‘I’m supposed to make her the happiest wife…?’

‘No, why should I? She made me sleep on the floor last night! That was *my* bed!’

‘My back still aches! Can I claim worker’s compensation for this demonic act?’

‘And if we really have seventy or eighty children later, who’s going to pay for their formula? Will they even get guaranteed admission to the Royal Academy…!’

These, however, were just his internal grievances, likely fueled by the fact that he had indeed spent an entire night on the floor.

After all, it was *his* bed. Lamia Talia had usurped it, insisted on sleeping there, and even kicked him off.

“…But, ah, um… no, Grandfather, then, what exactly should I do…?”

Yet, after much deliberation, he conceded that his grandfather must have his own reasons.

Moreover, the plan wasn’t entirely baseless; if the Demon King herself had gone through with it, then, in theory, it had to be effective.

Naturally, it wouldn’t work on *him*!

He was the White Knight, a man of unwavering resolve, impervious to the allure of any so-called ‘tender trap.’

“I don’t know.”

“…”

However, his grandfather’s reply made Wade’s eyebrows twist into a contorted knot, resembling tangled armpit hair.

“You… don’t know?”

“Haha, indeed. I’m not clear, I don’t know. I’ve never married in my life, dedicating everything to the Church’s cause. How could I possibly know how to make your wife the happiest wife?”

As his grandfather spoke, he revealed the relieved smile of an elder who had seen much.

He seemed incredibly broad-minded, utterly unconcerned with the solitude that had marked his entire life.

“Haha.”

Wade also chuckled, though it was purely out of exasperation with the old man.

This old man was the revered former Pope, the benefactor who had bailed him out of trouble. His moral compass was incredibly sound; he was known in court as a prominent “dove,” constantly yearning for peace and stability rather than centuries of inconclusive warfare.

Upon closer reflection, it seemed his grandfather likely viewed Wade as a diplomatic tool—a tool delivered directly to the bedchamber, no less. What difference was there between this and a direct political marriage?

‘But… was this right…?’

Wade opened his mouth, yet found himself at a loss for words, unsure of what to do or even what to say. The two of them, one a young bachelor and the other an old one, simply sat in the Church room, staring blankly at each other.

Wade couldn’t even recall how he’d eventually made it to the Knights’ Order. Fortunately, as a member of the leadership, he wasn’t required to clock in, or he surely would have forgotten.

He, the Grand Commander, and the Vice Commander shared a tripartite office, yet each also maintained their own private workspace.

When the leadership needed to convene for discussions or collaborate on a task, they would gather in the shared office. However, for individual work or when they simply needed to rest, they would retreat to their personal offices.

****

– How to make Lamia Talia the happiest wife?

This was a topic certainly worthy of deep consideration. He ought to summon those two married men—one newlywed, the other a new father—and consult them; it would be the most suitable approach.

Yet, upon reaching the upper floor of the Knights’ Order, neither of the two men was present in the tripartite office, nor were they in their individual workspaces. He scratched his head and returned to his own office, initially intending to loosen his tie.

However, remembering he would have to straighten it again when heading downstairs, his raised hand fell back to rest on his lap.

His chair was a swivel chair, chosen by him personally.

Compared to chairs with fixed heights and positions, he preferred one that could be adjusted and moved at will. Sometimes, when he was too lazy to stand, he could simply push off with his feet and glide out on the chair, which was far more entertaining than walking.

Wade was a High Paladin, and concurrently, the White Knight who protected peace.

Perhaps in some works of literature, such a knight would be portrayed as calm, even somewhat aloof.

But Wade was different.

He enjoyed playing on his swivel chair, had a penchant for sweets, loved muttering about trivial nonsense in his head, and harbored a slight pettiness.

The Demon King making him sleep on the floor? He’d likely remember that for a lifetime. If they truly had seventy or eighty children in the future, he’d recount the story for seventy or eighty years, ensuring every single one of them knew how he’d been kicked off his bed by the Demon King and forced to sleep on the floor, thus revealing her wickedness.

Wade also possessed a subtle sense of humor, one that stemmed from a feeling that ‘everyone else around me is strange, and I’m the only normal one.’

The Grand Commander, a grown man, would let out doting squeals over his children, while the Vice Commander, still immersed in newlywed bliss, would occasionally display affection so saccharine it gave others goosebumps.

His household steward was a young man whose fast pace even he, the master of the house, struggled to keep up with. The surrounding servants were also quite young, and some of the trends they followed were difficult for him to grasp, making him feel as though he was already out of touch with the times at just twenty-seven.

His grandfather was a perpetually cheerful old man who took everything in stride, always happily enjoying life no matter what. And his wife was…

‘Sigh… I don’t even want to comment.’

‘Could it be that *I’m* the abnormal one…?’

Due to the quiet within the room, the downstairs area seemed exceptionally noisy. Wade wished to concentrate, but the clamor from below incessantly broke his train of thought.

He idly spun in his swivel chair, glancing up at the ceiling—a beautiful ceiling, though the lamp seemed to have gathered some dust.

Then he looked down at the ground outside. Was that a familiar figure? Could it be Lamia Talia?

“…”

“…?!!”

It *was* Lamia Talia?!

After clearly recognizing the figure downstairs, Wade bolted upright from his chair, peering through the window at the long purple-haired woman below.

She appeared cheerful, holding a small basket in her hand.

Since they had met at a social gathering, and their whirlwind marriage had become the biggest gossip within the Knights’ Order, almost everyone recognized Wade’s beautiful wife. Each person respectfully greeted her, and Lamia Talia, in turn, took something from her basket and handed it to the knight who saluted her.

‘…What is that? It looks like… some kind of pastry?’

‘But that’s food! No! How can anyone just eat something given by the Demon King? What if it’s poisoned? The entire Knights’ Order would be wiped out!’

‘No… the third floor is too high. I can’t hear Lamia Talia’s voice from this distance. I have to go down!’

Without a second thought, Wade leaped directly from the third-floor window while no one was looking. Executing a perfect cat-landing, he stabilized himself before swiftly rushing to Lamia Talia’s side.

[Hmm? This aura… is it the White Knight?]

Before Wade could even approach, he heard Lamia Talia’s inner voice.

He had intended to approach stealthily to assess the situation, but to his surprise, Lamia Talia detected him the moment he landed. Startled, Wade quickly sniffed his clothes, wondering if he carried any particular scent.

“Lamia Talia, why are you here?”

Thinking he had already been exposed, Wade dropped the pretense. He emerged from the grassy planter and walked over to Lamia Talia’s side.

“Oh? Husband, you’re here~”

Her voice and tone were utterly different from moments ago. The inner voice had been highly vigilant, but now, it was incredibly sweet.

Hearing Lamia Talia use such a tone so openly in public, Wade instantly felt a flush of embarrassment. Still, he cleared his throat and calmly inquired:

“What is this? What are you doing?”

“Oh, Miss Lamia Talia is bringing us pastries!”

Before Lamia Talia could reply, the Vice Commander, standing beside her, suddenly spoke up to explain. Wade looked over, realizing that both the Grand Commander and Vice Commander, whom he hadn’t found earlier, were now standing right next to Lamia Talia.

‘…Ha, is this the Demon King’s tactic? To win over my colleagues so quickly.’

“Pastries?”

Wade tilted his head, glancing at the basket in Lamia Talia’s hand. She must have distributed quite a few, as only two seemed to remain inside.

“Yes, pastries I made myself. As your new wife, this is a welcoming gift for everyone in the Knights’ Order. Here, you try some, too?”

“…”

Lamia Talia offered the pastry to Wade, but he hesitated. He tried to discern any hidden scheme within the pastry by listening to her inner voice, only to find her thoughts almost entirely blank. She was simply, genuinely, offering pastries.

With the arrival of the main subject of their gossip, the surrounding gazes now fell upon Wade. Refusing would have been truly awkward, so he reluctantly accepted it. Under the curious eyes of everyone present, he took a tentative bite.

‘…Mmm…?’

He chewed twice, and the taste of blueberry jam blossomed on his tongue.

The cake was perfectly soft, and the sweet-and-sour jam enhanced its texture. After carefully savoring its contents, he detected no unusual magical reactions. Could this truly be a well-made pastry?

‘This Demon King… was she really just here to offer a welcoming gift?’

“Ah, bother.”

While Wade was still pondering, Lamia Talia’s voice once again reached his ears. He looked over, seeing her hold a single pastry with a troubled expression.

“There’s only one cake left, and two gentlemen here. What ever shall I do…”

Lamia Talia’s face showed her dilemma. She then turned and approached Wade, placing the pastry directly into his hand.

“Only this one remains, Wade. Who do you think would be best to give it to?”

[It’s better to leave this ‘bad deed’ to Wade~ I won’t do it~]

‘…A bad deed?’

Hearing Lamia Talia’s inner thoughts, Wade instantly grew wary. He glanced at the cake in his hand, then at the Grand Commander and Vice Commander standing before him.

These two were the pillars of the Knights’ Order. Could it be that the Demon King’s encounter with them here wasn’t a coincidence? Was it a conspiracy?

‘What did she mean by ‘bad deed’? Did this cake have a trick to it? Was the one I just ate merely a diversion?’

‘Poisoning either of them would cause immense trouble. Had the Demon King truly planned this far ahead—?’

‘If I were to personally feed it to them, the impact might be even worse! That detestable Demon King!’

Facing the expectant gazes of the Grand Commander and Vice Commander, Wade took a deep breath, adopting a look of grim resolve.

If it truly contained poison or a curse, his own body could withstand it. As for their eager anticipation—

“—!”

—Under the hopeful eyes of his two trusted comrades, Wade opened his mouth and shoved the last piece, along with the one he had just received, into his mouth.

‘Hey, it’s actually quite tasty 😋.’

“—Whoa! Brother Wade! Leave some for us! That’s Sister-in-law’s thoughtful gesture!”

“Hey, you stingy fellow, you really can eat a lot, can’t you!”

“Mmph-mmph—I’m taste-testing for you! Taste-testing!”

Wade, while fending off the two men who had stepped forward to demand an explanation, mumbled his defense through a mouthful of pastries. Perhaps it was truly delicious, for even as he ate, he couldn’t help but reveal a blissful, smiling expression, which only made the Grand Commander and Vice Commander tease him further.

[Oh, he actually ate it himself? I thought he’d be troubled, not knowing who to give it to. I originally wanted him to do that ‘biased bad deed’ of giving it to just one person, but he shoved it all into his own mouth… Hehe, are my cakes really that delicious~? Didn’t expect that, did you? This King has already easily conquered your taste buds~]

‘…What… the ‘bad deed’ was just *this*?!’

‘I fell for it…! I thought it was poison…!’

‘But what are these two doing?! Stop pinching my back…!’

‘One of them brings heart-shaped omurice every day, and the other constantly shows off his adorable human offspring. What’s wrong with *me* eating some cake made by *my* wife—!’