Chapter 65: A Demon King’s Slumber

When it comes to comforting someone, time is often the most effective healer.

Wade simply pulled Lamia into his embrace. For roughly ten minutes, they remained like that, doing nothing more than holding each other close.

Honestly, Lamia felt quite good to hold—in every conceivable way.

Initially, Wade had his arm around her shoulders, then shifted to supporting her back. Now, as Lamia gradually sank lower, they were practically lying on the reception room sofa. Lamia was nestled against his chest, while Wade held her by the waist.

Despite being a Demon King, her body was remarkably soft, her waist slender, and her skin incredibly delicate. Her hair even carried a faint, fresh scent. ‘Wait,’ he mused, ‘is she using my shampoo?’

Wade had been so preoccupied with subtly mocking Orlan that he hadn’t noticed this earlier. They were so close, yet only now did he realize she carried his own scent.

That sounded rather odd.

First, bearing his surname, and now, using the same scented shampoo as him…

‘No, Wade, calm down. If that succubus ever found out, she would just give him those peculiar looks again.’

And with Lamia currently resting in his arms, he couldn’t let his thoughts wander too far, lest she detect anything strange.

Lamia, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought, her unusual quietness making Wade feel a little uneasy.

He even worried that Orlan might have angered Lamia into a stupor, given her complete lack of movement. Yet, pressed so closely, he could still feel the steady rhythm of her breathing.

“…”

“Lamia…?”

Finally, Wade could no longer resist. He softly called Lamia’s name, gently patting her back twice.

“Mm…?”

A soft hum followed. Lamia rubbed her head against him, the rustle of her hair against the fabric of her clothes filling the quiet.

“…?”

Wade paused, watching as a groggy Lamia opened her eyes and lifted her head from his embrace. Her pair of red eyes held a hazy languor, and her flushed, sleep-warmed cheeks were inexplicably adorable.

“…You fell asleep?”

“Just for a little while.”

…

Wade pursed his lips. ‘Only ten minutes, and she’s already been asleep? Just how sleep-deprived is she?’ he wondered.

Considering Orlan’s demeanor earlier, he clearly wasn’t an easy person to deal with. He seemed like the type of old man who would nitpick every little thing. Working with him probably left no time for rest.

“My apologies… You can go back to sleep.”

Feeling a pang of guilt for disturbing Lamia’s slumber, Wade didn’t even consider having her change position or find another spot. Instead, he simply patted her back again, a comforting gesture akin to what one might offer a young child.

Besides… sleeping like this wasn’t so bad. Holding Lamia was, after all, quite comfortable.

“I’m not sleepy anymore.”

Lamia instinctively rubbed her head against Wade’s chest, much like one might instinctively ‘attack’ a pillow upon waking.

“I’m fully awake now.”

—Or so she claimed.

A hint of languor still lingered in Lamia’s voice. Amidst their hazy conversation, the clearest sensation was the warmth of her breath against Wade’s skin.

“If you’re tired, just sleep.”

“I’m not tired.”

[‘Hah… how did I fall asleep? Didn’t I wake up naturally yesterday? Could it be because I got used to being held last night…? No, I can’t be lazy! Lamia!’]

It seemed Lamia’s sleep was also an unconscious act—perhaps this small embrace reminded her of the reassuring hold from the previous night.

Indeed, for a Demon King—especially one capable of going years without sleep—a sense of security was the most potent sedative.

[‘As a mighty Demon King, how could I casually fall asleep in someone else’s arms? I should be the one in control!’]

[‘Hah… well, lying on Wade counts as being on top… and it’s warm…’]

[‘Hah…’]

Even as Lamia’s inner thoughts snored with drowsiness, the stubborn Demon King herself refused to concede. She furrowed her brows, forcing her eyes open.

“Wade.”

With a feigned clear voice, Lamia called Wade’s name, her chin resting lightly on his chest.

“Hmm? What is it?”

Wade lowered his chin, gazing at Lamia.

“Say something to wake me up.”

“…No, if you’re tired, just sleep…”

Wade found it rather amusing to see Lamia trying so hard to keep her eyes open. Her gaze was almost unfocused, yet she stubbornly maintained the pretense of ‘I’m not tired yet.’

“I’m not tired!”

“…Oh, dear…”

[‘This bit of tiredness is nothing! Back in the Demon King’s Castle, no matter how exhausted I was, I never had a chance to sleep, so I can completely endure this!’]

Upon hearing her thoughts, Wade knew that demons and humans possessed different capabilities. Still, he mused, ‘Don’t say it with such pride. That’s hardly something to boast about.’

“Say something, Wade.”

Seeing that Wade remained silent, Lamia nudged his leg with her small foot, prompting him to respond quickly.

“Alright, alright… Hmm…”

Helpless, knowing the Demon King’s stubborn nature, Wade sighed and mumbled a random topic.

“You don’t particularly like your uncle, do you?”

Well, it wasn’t an entirely random topic. He’d had that feeling ever since they entered the room.

Forget Lamia; even he disliked that old man.

“…He’s alright.”

“Hmm?”

To his surprise, Lamia gave Wade a neutral answer, perhaps even a moderately positive one.

“Why?”

Without a second thought, Wade immediately posed the question.

“Hmm.”

[‘How should I put it? Should I say Orlan manages the demon race with perfect order? That he’s been the guide for successive Demon Kings? That he’s my teacher, who has always guided me? That I’m merely an apprentice following in his footsteps…?’]

Lamia hesitated, while Wade listened to her inner thoughts.

A guide? A teacher? Guidance?

What did he guide you to do? To go years without sleep? To stress yourself out like this?

‘Come on, Lamia, you’re a Demon King, after all! Show me that assertive side you usually display!’

Yet, as he thought this and saw the ‘assertive Demon King’ currently slumped softly in his arms, Wade began to doubt if she truly was such a formidable character.

“He… he always manages the family well.”

After much thought, Lamia settled on this answer.

However, this answer had a flaw. Wade might press further on this so-called ‘family,’ which would certainly not be a good response for a Demon King in disguise.

Fortunately, Wade wouldn’t ask about such matters.

Instead, he felt a certain displeasure, as if he detected a sense of ‘trust,’ ‘respect,’ or even an inexplicable ‘admiration’ for that old man in Lamia’s words.

Displeasure, genuine displeasure.

Just seeing Orlan had annoyed him, and Lamia’s reaction only served to further irritate him.

“—If that’s the only reason, then you don’t need to look to him anymore.”

As Wade spoke, he found a sudden surge of courage, reaching out to gently pinch Lamia’s cheek.

“I can manage our home just as well. So, all you need to do is look at me.”