Chapter 27: A Demon Lord’s Peculiar Rest

Unexpectedly, nothing out of the ordinary occurred within the carriage.

‘What on earth? Why would I even be surprised by something like this?’

Wade snapped back to reality, realizing his thoughts had strayed. He couldn’t shake the feeling that concepts like ‘normalcy’ and ‘ordinary stability’ were steadily drifting further away from him, a direct consequence of his interactions with Lamia.

True, his identity as the White Knight was hardly commonplace, far removed from the word ‘ordinary.’ Yet, as Wade Nairt, he considered himself a perfectly normal individual.

This was only, strictly speaking, the second day of their marriage. Or perhaps even the first, if one discounted the official registration from yesterday.

Typically, after obtaining a marriage certificate, and assuming no pressing engagements, couples would immediately begin to savor their newlywed life.

But what was this? Where was the enjoyment? Where was their married life?

When Wade fixed his gaze, the only person filling his vision was the Dark Overlord.

She wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she leaned back quietly against the seat, her fingers delicately lifting the sun-blocking drape.

Through the narrow slit in the curtain, she observed the human world passing by outside the carriage.

[A dessert shop… a clothing store… a coffee shop… So many different shops, utterly unlike the Demon Lord’s Castle.]

As the carriage continued its journey, Lamia’s gaze flitted across the ever-changing scenery outside the window. A dizzying array of shops, each with a distinct style, captivated her attention.

The Demon Lord’s Castle certainly didn’t boast such variety.

Clothing? No, demons had no need for such trivialities. They possessed no inherent form to adorn, focusing solely on cultivating their power.

Why would they bother with dressing up?

Their eating habits were equally peculiar. They subsisted on spirit herbs and spirit veins, treating demon ore as if it were mere peanuts.

With such a diet, there was no place for street-side eateries. Lower-ranking demons could simply grab a handful of dirt to sate their hunger, while high-ranking demons like the Demon Lord feasted on geomantic energy or engaged in high-level hunts.

‘…Such barbaric creatures, refusing to enjoy our chef’s culinary creations. Truly tasteless.’

For now, a quiet Demon Lord was a good Demon Lord. Without the usual cacophony of her thoughts or her excessively outlandish actions, Lamia seemed almost endearing.

She silently recited the names and signs of each shop she encountered. Since there were no major emotional fluctuations, this newfound tranquility made Wade feel less harassed by her presence.

For him, this was a rare moment of peace. At last, he, who had been constantly busy for the past two days, could finally rest for a while.

It seemed the sights outside the carriage window had captured Lamia’s full attention, making the journey remarkably smooth.

This should have been a perfectly normal aspect of life. Yet, after the sheer volume of impactful events over the last two days, this simple, ordinary stability now brought Wade a sense of heavenly peace.

‘…Can the task Grandpa gave me truly be accomplished?’

He had considered fostering a good relationship with the Dark Overlord, or even making her develop feelings for him. But was that even possible?

‘Could the Dark Overlord truly harbor any affection for me?’

They had been fierce rivals for years, and she was well aware of his identity as the White Knight. Even from another perspective, it was impossible for *him* to fall for the Dark Overlord, let alone for this creature who didn’t even comprehend emotions.

‘To make a demon who has never known family, never experienced affection, understand the taste of human love… Grandpa, this is a monumental, life-threatening challenge.’

[—Hmm? Is he looking at me?]