Chapter 26: The Grand Captain’s Misunderstanding

Wade was already reluctant to recall his experiences at the Knight Order that morning. Wait, had it only been half a day?

He sat in the swaying carriage, the rhythmic crunch of its wheels over pebbles filling his ears.

Across from him sat Lamia, who seemed utterly devoid of any remorse. Then again, what did she have to regret? She probably didn’t even understand what she was doing.

Becoming human before even grasping human customs felt incredibly rushed, as if those in the Demon King’s Castle were desperate to send her out. Could there be internal strife among them?

Ha! That would be ideal. The fiercer the struggle within the Demon King’s Castle, the better. Perhaps some insubordinate rogue would suddenly appear one day and stab this woman through the heart, saving him hundreds of rounds of overt and covert battles.

****

Only half a day had passed, yet Jeffrey had already witnessed the peculiar dynamic between Wade and Lamia. Later, when Wade delivered materials to Jeffrey, the Grand Captain wore an expression that clearly said, ‘I perfectly understand you.’

Jeffrey, in his kindness, granted Wade half a day off. Wade was about to offer an explanation when the Grand Captain simply said: “It’s alright, I was like that in my youth. I understand, haha.”

Jeffrey’s smile was indeed hearty and approachable, but… wait, had the Grand Captain truly experienced such things in his younger days? His wife must have been quite formidable! ‘This is a misunderstanding, it can’t be real. Grand Captain, you’re not actually serious, are you?’ Wade thought.

However, Wade neither asked nor said anything. Given the situation, he found it impossible to elaborate further. He simply accepted the leave slip Jeffrey handed him and swiftly retreated to his office.

This time, mercifully, Lamia was obediently seated on the sofa. Yet, her posture was far from demure.

Accustomed to her throne, she reclined casually, propping her face with a hand and crossing her legs in a rather arrogant manner. A closer look would reveal the contortion of her body, but at first glance, her audacious pose undeniably brought to mind a Demon King upon a throne.

‘Was this sitting posture a form of royal intimidation?’ Wade wondered. ‘Perhaps. In her current maidenly form, she possessed little menace, but if she were in her black-armored Demon King guise, it would indeed be quite terrifying.’

After receiving the leave slip, Wade did not linger at the Knight Order. Once he tidied up the desk Lamia had disarrayed, he took her and departed.

Upon her arrival, she had distributed numerous cakes from the entrance, and her feigned gentle and benevolent demeanor had earned her considerable favor among the younger knights. Now, with the rumor spreading that this woman was the wife of the Grand Captain’s assistant, her standing within the Knight Order had elevated even further.

As Wade escorted Lamia toward the main gate, they were met with a chorus of respectful farewells from the surrounding knights.

As a Demon King, Lamia naturally understood the importance of winning over the populace. Thus, when she saw the knights greeting her, she cooperatively extended a hand to wave, gracing them with a radiant smile.

Throughout the entire Knight Order, perhaps only Wade remained unmoved by Lamia’s exquisite beauty.

Her long, pale purple hair, streaked with white highlights, framed crimson eyes and fair skin. A light-colored gown draped beautifully upon her, and though somewhat loose, the gentle fabric subtly outlined Lamia’s graceful form as she moved, stirred by the breeze.

‘Anyone would envy a man with such a beautiful and gentle wife,’ Wade mused, a hint of irony in his thoughts.

‘Hee hee… I knew this outfit would make me look absolutely captivating to humans. Just look at these young humans, staring fixedly at me—’

“…Hm?”

Just as Lamia was reveling in her successful display of beauty, Wade, casting aside all concern for his image within the Knight Order, reached out and directly wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him.

Her head, which had been turned away, involuntarily swiveled back towards Wade.

‘—😠—’

For some inexplicable reason, upon hearing Lamia’s thoughts, Wade felt a surge of irritation.

Seeing his ‘wife’ present such a gentle and beautiful facade to others, and observing the gazes of the surrounding knights—’Ah, yes, this feels incredibly unpleasant!’ he fumed.

‘This must be a protective instinct, right? Absolutely, it’s to protect these young knights around me… I can’t let this abominable Demon King corrupt them!’

‘…Angry again?’ Lamia thought, observing Wade’s furrowed brows with a touch of bewilderment.

‘Earlier, under the table, he was angry because I struck his weak point, exposing it and hitting him again. But what’s it about now?’

‘Human minds are truly complex… Perhaps—I should just use mind-reading on him. At least then I’d know what he wants…’

‘—!’

Upon hearing Lamia’s inner thoughts, Wade instantly forgot his previous displeasure. He whipped his head around, staring intently at Lamia.

‘What? Mind-reading? This Demon King is going to use mind-reading?!’

‘This absolutely cannot happen!’

‘If she reads my mind, won’t she realize that I’ve been reading hers all along?!’

He yearned to retort that it would be simpler to just be honest, but—’There’s no way I can be honest!’

‘I’m still pretending ignorance to keep the Demon King stable. If she finds out I know her true identity… No! I need to think of something else!’

“What’s wrong, darling?”

Lamia seemed even more puzzled as Wade abruptly turned his head to look at her.

‘Should I find an opportunity to peek into his thoughts later—’

“W-wife…!”

Hearing Lamia’s inner voice, Wade quickly brainstormed, then blurted out to her: “I don’t like it when those knights constantly crowd around you…! Haven’t I told you? You only need to look at me…!”

Having run out of options, Wade, his face flushed, repeated the rather cloying words. His immediate priority was to embody the image of a husband utterly captivated by her; this should dispel her suspicions!

‘Ah, so he’s just being possessive,’ Lamia thought.

‘—I am not!’ Wade mentally roared. ‘How could I be possessive of *you*?!’

‘Heh heh, I knew it… With my beauty, the White Knight was bound to fall within a year. See? He’s already getting jealous~’

‘—No! I just don’t want you to harm anyone else!’

“Haha, alright, darling,” Lamia said, intimately extending a hand to encircle Wade’s waist.

“Don’t worry, I am already your wife. I will only belong to you alone, you know.”

…

Even though Wade knew this was part of Lamia’s scheme, a line she had rehearsed countless times, he couldn’t help but avert his gaze at her coquettish words. He swiftly guided Lamia into the carriage for their journey home.

Inside the carriage, Lamia still sat across from Wade.

The carriage swayed, and Lamia’s swaying form across from him made Wade feel dizzy.

Adding to Wade’s chagrin was Lamia’s triumphant smile.

‘Hmph hmph hmph… White Knight~ You’ve definitely fallen for me, haven’t you!’

‘—No, I haven’t, I absolutely haven’t!’

Wade pursed his lips, glaring at the smiling Lamia before him.

‘I truly… wish you would just die already! You detestable Demon King!’