Chapter 32: I Want Your Head

When we returned to the temple, I simply made spaghetti and had dinner with Jahy.

Was it because I moved too much during the day?I started feeling muscle soreness in my thighs.

This frail, frail body reacted immediately to excessive movement.

Edwyn, who had been following behind, returned from the main gate. He too must have snacked on various foods while following, as his face bloomed with happiness.

I wondered if it wasn’t dereliction of duty, but Edwyn also endured hardships following us, so perhaps that much deviation should be allowed.

Though I could roughly guess Lilac’s reaction if she found out…

“Hoo… This body really has terrible stamina.”

Sighing, I entered the room and climbed onto the bed. Leaning against the bed, frowning, I massaged my thighs and legs, and Jahy ran over eagerly, her eyes sparkling.

“Mommy, can I massage you instead?!”

Narrowing my eyes, wondering why she made such a request, Jahy flinched and avoided my gaze.

“N-no. Just… I thought Mommy might be tired, so I wanted to do it instead… It’s a child’s duty, naturally.”

Somehow, Jahy’s language skills seemed to improve day by day.

What Jahy said wasn’t wrong… but did she want to do it so much her eyes sparkled…?

I quickly changed my narrowed eyes to playful ones. Then, lifting one corner of my mouth diagonally, I provoked her with a teasing tone.

“Really? Then if you don’t do it properly as a child, you’ll be punished.”

After laying down the threat, Jahy’s reply was.

“Great! No loss for me!”

A very positive reaction. Why on earth would it not be a loss?

“I love being scolded by Mommy too!”

My raised lips fell. Staring at Jahy dumbfounded, Jahy smiled brightly and met my eyes.

“Wh… where on earth did you learn such words. Never mind…”

Where could Jahy possibly be learning such things? Something is seriously wrong here, and it needs correction.

“Jahy.”

“Hm?”

“Getting scolded is scary and difficult, do you like that?”

Jahy blinked her round eyes twice and spoke as if it were obvious.

“Of course. It’s being scolded by Mommy, after all. Even an angry Mommy seems super cute!”

The back of my head tingled. It felt like Jahy was becoming more and more like Lilac.

At this rate, I might forsake the Three Bonds and Five Relationships and even end up under Jahy…

Surely not…?

Shaking my head left and right, I forcefully pushed away the negative future. I sincerely hope Jahy doesn’t harbor such feelings.

If, after all efforts, I fail to change Jahy’s inclination, well… like with Lilac, I’ll probably end up underneath Jahy…

Being pinned down by my daughter seems like a rather big problem.

“Jahy? Uh… Thank you for calling Mommy cute. But considering Mommy’s age-.”

However, my words couldn’t continue. Jahy’s rebuttal came in.

“You’re 19?”

Had I told her my age? Come to think of it, I might have mentioned it during our miscellaneous chats.

“St-still. Anyway, the point is-.”

Trying to reply with an excuse(?), Jahy cut me off again.

“Can’t family members even say things like that? Mommy always called me cute?”

Looking into Jahy’s somewhat crazed eyes made my knees weak.

At this rate, I really will end up pinned under Jahy later. But I had absolutely no desire to force her.

If I forcibly push Jahy away, she might get hurt…

Just letting it be, I sighed and went along with Jahy.

“Do as you please…”

“Heehee.”

Watching Jahy move on with a mischievous laugh, a slight fear arose.

The fear of a second Lilac emerging.

Eventually, Jahy approached and placed her hands on my thighs and legs.

“Starting now?”

“Okay. Be gentle.”

I said it because my skin was delicate. Why Jahy’s face turned red was a mystery.

And so began Jahy’s massage. Jahy, who was the Demon Lord, could still use that strength.

So if she massaged strongly… an unimaginable scene would unfold.

“Mommy, it’s really tight here. How did you even walk?”

Receiving Jahy’s massage, eyes closed, steeped in fatigue, I suddenly lifted my head at Jahy’s words to check.

“It must have hurt… Why didn’t you say anything.”

Smiling at the worried voice, I stroked Jahy’s head and spoke.

“As long as Jahy could have fun, that’s all that matters. My legs are like this every other day anyway.”

A lie.

Until now, with Butler and Lilac’s help, I rarely had to walk much.

However, Jahy’s reaction was quite unusual.

“Damn it. Then we shouldn’t have gone out. Sorry…”

Feeling guilty, Jahy’s eyes watered, and she frowned. Yet, seeing her hands still fiddling with my thighs made me laugh out loud.

“Pffft! You don’t have to apologize for something like that. Mommy had fun going out with Jahy too!”

“Really! Then let’s go out again next time!”

“…Playing with Mommy like this.”

Pok.

I gave Jahy, who smiled brightly as if she hadn’t been teary just moments ago, a light flick on the forehead.
Though my own fist hurt more from hitting her.

Still, I was glad Jahy seemed happy.

Time passed, and the clock’s hour hand pointed to 11.

Not tired at all, Jahy still kneaded my thighs. She was quite diligent at first, but now she was just playing around.

Anyway, my muscles were quite relaxed, and feeling drowsy, it seemed time to sleep.

“Jahy. Shall we sleep soon?”

Feeling languid, I whispered, and Jahy flinched, then turned her head and nodded.

“Sweet dreams, Princess.”

“Heehee. Mommy too!”

‘Being young (the protagonist?) must be nice.’

Seeing she still had energy left.

Before my eyes closed, I quickly recalled tomorrow’s plans.

First, when Lilac returns, we go back to the Duchy estate as planned.

However, the Imperial family wouldn’t let us go easily.

Should I go see the situation? Or wait until Lilac returns?

Such worries got stuck in my head and wouldn’t disappear.

An undeniable discomfort even as I felt my eyes closing. Truly an uncomfortable bed.

“This way, please. Your Grace.”

The Imperial Palace I had admired and longed to visit since childhood.

Now, it evoked no emotion.

Soon, the Imperial knight standing before the enormous doors opened his mouth and announced loudly.

“Her Grace, Duchess Lilac, enters!”

I hadn’t even gone through the proper succession procedure for the title of Duchess, nor had the news spread.

This darn Imperial family knew everything.

Their information network truly had to be acknowledged.

Rumble rumble.

The doors of the audience chamber opened with a heavy grinding sound.

Beyond them, the people of the Imperial Palace.

Thud thud.

I took a few steps forward.

Then the heavy doors behind me closed and ‘locked’.

“Ha.”

The intention was so obvious a dry laugh escaped.

Incidents caused by incompetent leadership despite excellent information were surprisingly common.

Though I didn’t expect the Emperor to be included.

Just arrived from the Demon Realm, wanting to rest with Sia. Why are these beasts in human skin so eager to devour me?

Looking straight ahead, I saw an old man sitting on the throne, exuding charisma befitting an emperor, despite his appearance.

And below him, Butler, covered in blood.

And even Diana.

“…You have crossed the line quite severely, Your Majesty.”

A low resonance spread through the audience chamber, and a fierce silence consumed the surroundings.

My eyes went to the collapsed and bound Butler and Diana.

Fortunately, their lives weren’t in immediate danger yet.

They must have put up quite a fight, as signs of battle remained here and there.

Assessing the atmosphere, glancing around.

“Why such sad words. On a day like today, when we should be raising a toast.”

The Emperor’s voice, heavy with pressure, tore through the surrounding silence.

“Heh.”

Another dry laugh escaped.

The meaning behind ‘toast’.

Sounded like words intending to kill me.

“I express sincere gratitude for the Demon Lord subjugation. Perhaps, is there anything you desire, Duchess?”

I glared at him with emotionless eyes.

At that, the two princes beside him slightly shielded the Emperor, as if protecting him.

“Yes. There is.”

There is.

At that single phrase, interest flickered in the Emperor’s eyes.

His inability to endure curiosity flared up.

Since the Emperor is like this, the information network is naturally that good.

I shifted my gaze to the two princes protecting the Emperor.

Both had the same golden hair.

But the difference was one had curly hair, the other straight.

Among them, the curly-haired prince opened his mouth and grinned slyly.

“Duchess? Aren’t you going to speak? If you wish to form ties with the Imperial family, I am willing to listen.”

Ignoring the 2nd Prince’s words, which blatantly scanned my body, I frowned and replied.

“Unfortunately. I wish to remain estranged from the Imperial family.”

At those words, the 2nd Prince scowled and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. Tasteless wench.”

Heh.

How many people had ever said such things to me?

Probably countless, but I remember Master taking care of them.

Suddenly, I wondered about Master’s current situation. Master should also be living in the Imperial Palace.

‘I should visit once this is over.’

“Duchess. Won’t you speak soon? I am very curious what you request.”

The Crown Prince. The 1st Prince sneered, looking directly at me.

I was about to speak anyway.

“Will you grant everything I desire?”

To which the Emperor nodded and replied listlessly.

“Yes. Your achievement was too great to be honored with just one reward.”

“Then I shall speak without hesitation.”

“Mm.”

Lowering my eyes, I looked at the fallen Butler. One of the few people who saw me as human.

Beside him, I looked at Diana. I still owed Sia a life debt that hadn’t been repaid.

Raising my head again, I addressed the repulsive, disgusting Emperor.

“I.”

“Speak.”

The moment the words fell, I enveloped my entire body with Aura and Mana.

Starlight mana dominated the space, also enveloping Butler and Diana.

The Imperial Knight Order hastily drew their weapons.

However.

“I will take your head.”

Humans standing before a transcendent were too slow.

Roaring thus, I raised my sword and aimed for the Emperor’s neck.

What they overlooked.

That I was not human like them.

As I thrust the sword forward.

For some reason today, I strongly felt like seeing Sia.

“Wonder what she’s doing right now.”

Haven’t seen her for just one day.

But I already miss her like crazy.