The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 123: Forgiveness is something to be earned, not given

Chapter 123: Forgiveness is something to be earned, not given

The duel--or rather, sparing--didn’t end with the Chief Guard.

After that, the event continued with the elite soldiers, with the human facing several demons at once. Again, there was always a worried expression on his face, but the fluidity of his movement was nothing but veteran material.

For the soldiers of greed that never actually brought their skill to war before, it was an eye-opening experience. Though they hadn’t completely gotten rid of their fear and apprehension toward the sacred weapon, they grew to respect the one wielding such a deadly tool. Especially when they recalled how the human scolded that scary weapon like he would a child.

It was fascinating because when they glimpse upon his visage as he walked through the castle hall these few days, the man looked so innocent and harmless. Especially when he was accompanied by other demons, who were towering above him. Even with the force of nature and the Lord’s mana enveloping him, the human looked as if he couldn’t hurt a fly--which actually wasn’t a reach considering he was also a druid.

But just like everything that belonged to the Lord, the human bore similar trait; never looked as it seemed.

With a weapon in his hands, they were reminded once again who this man was; a war hero, forgotten he might be.

Even those who only watched from below couldn’t help but get excited and watched with rapt attention to pick a lesson or two from the sparing. So focused they were that they didn’t realize their Lord had graced the training ground with his presence until a crisp hand-clapping could be heard from the side.

It was right after the last bout, and the sun had risen to its peak. The day that should be filled with joint training between divisions became free sparing with the Lord’s future spouse. Which, in itself, was miles better than the original schedule.

The human, who had been shedding his outer coat at the third spar, turned to look toward the source of the sound. Immediately, the soldiers kneeled on the ground in the presence of their Lord, as the human walked down the arena with the sentient Spear hovering behind him.

"You did a great job, sweetheart," the Lord smiled and gazed warmly at the human, something that the other demons had never received from him, even the trusted vassals. "Let’s take a break and have lunch before you check on the--"

"Jade," the human, unexpectedly, walked past the Lord while calling out to the little bird who flew toward him with a key medallion in its beak. Wordlessly, he opened the deep green door and stepped inside the chamber, before locking it again.

Blinking in surprise, the Lord turned to stare at the closing door with raised brows. It was a minute later before he asked his vassals. "He’s mad, isn’t he?"

"Of course, he would," the Chief Secretary answered without hesitation. "Because Young Master is smart, he realized the ruse the moment he heard the soldiers were inside."

"Hmm..."

"He also knew about the shadows we sent," Malta added while looking up to observe the Lord.

"Ah," a proud smile was carved on the Lord’s lips. "My sweetheart is truly exceptional."

Malta tilted her head. To be honest, she was expecting the Lord to be rather sad or panic because of this, but the Lord was full of a smile instead, as if he was happy about the human getting angry at him.

"Why do you seem to be happy, my Liege?"

The Lord smiled even deeper, the silver eyes still hadn’t left the green door since the human went through it.

"I’m glad," the Lord said. "It’s his second time getting mad at me."

Malta narrowed her eyes. She couldn’t really understand that line of thinking, and by the confused gaze in Haikal’s eyes, neither did the Chief Guard.

"He’s someone that’s too used to face everything alone, to keep his thought and emotions to himself, let alone desire," the Lord told them with a voice so soft they could feel his deep affection. "He never asks for anything, never demanded anything, never raged over anything. It’s only lately that he started to be more vocal about his thought, to be more honest, more...selfish, as he calls it."

The Lord turned his face suddenly then, staring at his two vassals. "I would like to see more of that."

His gaze, which was firm but also filled with soft feelings, told them that the Lord asked them, his trusted vassals, to make sure it kept happening in the future.

"By your command," the Chief Guard, who had just grown his adoration toward the human, answered readily.

Malta, however, stared first at the Lord, who made a face she had rarely seen. "You really are head over heels, aren’t you, my Liege?"

"Is that a question?" the Lord replied with a smirk, before walking away after looking at the green door for the last time.

* * *

Was I...being too immature earlier?

I had to admit I was mad, I was pissed and annoyed, feeling like I was being used for something that I still didn’t even know what. I wasn’t so pissed before, probably because my mind was preoccupied with the duel...sparing, whatever.

But when I saw Natha there, smiling brightly, clapping his hands, I just...

I just felt angry.

I recalled how I was in so much confusion earlier, the panic about the unexpected soldiers there. I didn’t even know what he actually use my presence for, and it made me feel even more bitter.

So much that I didn’t want to look at him. Didn’t he say he would be in a conference or whatever anyway?

But now that I felt calmer, after all the adrenaline from the fight and the euphoria from experiencing my training chamber--which was so large and really felt like a dungeon--I started to think that maybe I acted childishly.

I mean...I could just talk to him and told him that I felt angry and disappointed rather than acting sulky and ignoring him completely...right?

Haa...yeah, I should have done that instead, like a mature person should.

The worse part was, when I came out, my guards and Panne were still there, waiting for me. They didn’t even get lunch because I wasn’t eating too, and I completely forgot to tell them they didn’t have to wait for me.

Gosh--I felt so ashamed. How could I get mad at Natha when I was this irresponsible of my own people--err, demons?

In the end, it just made me feel more miserable when I arrived at the private quarters. You know how it was akward to start talking again at someone you purposefully ignored and mad at earlier? Despite seeing Natha in the living room, I immediately ran upstairs and locked myself in the bathroom.

Well, to be fair, it was also because I felt sweaty and I didn’t want to look messy in front of him...I think?

It was when I changed my clothes in my new, spacious dressing room that I heard a knocking on the door. It was the connecting door that led to Natha’s dressing room, so I knew it was him.

"May I come in?"

I bit my lips while pulling the rest of the shirt down to cover my body before answering with a humm. Oh, I felt so awkward, but at least he was smiling when he came inside. There was a part of me that thought Natha would feel annoyed by my childish act or getting pissed at how I ignored him twice.

But he was smiling, and he took my hands softly, kissing them. "I’m sorry. I owe you an apology."

Oh...he wasn’t mad that I was mad.

He took me to sit on the chaise and rubbed the back of my hands as he kneeled in front me, face gentle and gaze never left my face. "Do I have your forgiveness?"

I bit my lips as I stared into the silver orbs. I knew he was sincere with it, but I also didn’t want to only hear an apology. I wanted an explanation. So, even though I was no longer angry, I didn’t tell him that yet. "Explain," I said, and pressed my lips afterward.

Honestly, there would be nothing I could do if he told me he couldn’t tell me that, although I would probably go to bed feeling miffed. He was the Lord, he had the right to do anything in his castle. He had the right over me. But I wanted to feel that I was more important than that to him, and fortunately, he answered me without hesitation.

"I’m trying to find the hidden enemy," he told me.

"...like...spies?" I replied with raised brows. I knew he was trying to emulate something by sending me to the training ground, but...it wasn’t just to see if the soldiers could accept me?

Natha smiled deeply as he answered, a different kind that the gentle one he gave me a second before. "Spies...and those who still think they can get rid of you."

Again, I raised my brows, and he immediately added. "Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything."

Later on, I would find out that there was still a faction that did not approve of me being the Lord’s bride--especially from the Elders Council side. And they used a lot of reason for it, apart from me being ’just’ a human. Some reasoned that I could be dangerous, some said I wasn’t worthy, and some just straight up wanted to get rid of me just because. Each of those had their minions in the guard troops, because soldiers were the ones who could be almost anywhere without arousing suspicions.

"And I also don’t want any demons who couldn’t bring themselves to protect you because of fear or apprehension to be my soldiers," he added, once again kissing my knuckles while at it.

Looking at him kneeling in front of me, with a tender gaze and gentle smile, there was no way I could keep being angry, especially after I knew he did it for me. But...

"I don’t like it," I told him, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don’t like being tricked. I don’t like being...used."

At my words, I could see he suddenly froze, the silver eyes paused as they widen.

"It’s fine if you want to use me, in fact...I would be happy if you ask for my help. But..."

I pressed my lips, recalling Valmeier’s bitter life as everyone was using him. Recalling every kind of trick my relatives used to make me handed the inheritance.

"Tricking me...using me like that without telling me anything..." ah, I felt pathetic, but I couldn’t help it when a drop of tears fell from my eyes. "I don’t like it..."

Especially him. I didn’t want to feel this way because of him. I trusted him, I believed that he was the safest place for me in this world, and I didn’t want that to change. I didn’t want it to be damaged.

"Oh, sweetheart, I’m so so sorry," almost with a gasp, he swiped the tears with a gentle stroke on my cheek, and kissed the wet patch there, soft but deep, for a long time.

When he pulled back slightly to gaze at me, there was a tremble in his eyes. I knew his apology was sincere before, but this time, he looked like he regretted every life choice he made in his life. "I won’t do something like that again," he kissed my hands again, putting them against his forehead. A sign of oath. "I promise."

Well...I felt like it was safe to say he earned the forgiveness.

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