The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 164: Would it be worse to be antagonized or being taken advantage of?

Chapter 164: Would it be worse to be antagonized or being taken advantage of?

Huh?

Huuhh??

What the hell was this situation? I didn’t even know this old demon would come to the site, but even then, why did the one who had been actively ignoring my presence suddenly here?

And not just here; the Elder casually took a seat across from me. I could only watch as he clutched the backrest with one hand and his cane with the other.

[Master, why rude Grandpa here?]

Right? I had no idea too, my child! Could someone please explain this situation to me?!

As he took a seat and looked at me with an impassive but observing gaze, I roused up my vigilance. But I didn’t want to look so obviously guarded, so I still tried to relax my facial muscle as much as I could.

"Good evening," the old demon said after he settled on his seat, cane placed between his legs as he looked at me.

"...Good evening."

I decided to be graceful and returned his greeting, but not more. Perhaps because I was excitedly expecting Natha earlier, having someone who clearly wasn’t friendly in front of me just made me annoyed. So I just drank my herbal drink, zoning out of the stifling silence.

"Thank you for your effort," the Elder suddenly said, almost making me choke on my drink.

Thankfully, I didn’t. Because how embarrassing would it be if I sprayed the liquid all over his face?

Wait--wouldn’t it be fun, instead?

No--come to your senses, Val! You couldn’t let him talk bad about you by accusing you of being rude!

So I replied shortly. "It’s nothing."

Was that too dry? Eh--at least I responded with something. He kept looking at me with those sharp eyes, observing me. It was annoying, but I didn’t feel any malicious thoughts, so I just keep zoning out, inhaling the drink, and stroking Jade.

"Yes. Well, good night."

And after saying that, the old demon got out of the carriage without any more fuss, and I only managed to return the words after two seconds of delay, right before he opened the carriage door.

"Yes, good night."

I watched the man disappear behind the closed door and digested the silence that followed.

I blinked dumbfoundedly, shaking my head to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. But Jade’s commentary told me that the old man, as weird as it sounded, was indeed in this place a few moments ago.

[Weird Grandpa]

Yeah, totally. Like...what was that? Was he here just to greet me? And...and...was I dreaming or was he really thanked me?

As I drowned in my own confusion, I suddenly heard voices from outside, right beside the carriage. The voice I longed for so much right now, which was why I was hyper-conscious of it.

"Your Lordship," the old demon said, announcing Natha’s presence for the listener--me.

"What are you doing in my bride’s carriage?" Natha sounded cold, and I scooted closer to the side of the carriage where the conversation was happening, clutching the coat around me tightly.

"I see that you cherished him so much if you’re not even bothered hiding your anger," the old man said calmly, and I could somehow picture a smile on his stoic face.

"Isn’t that obvious?" there was a sneer in Natha’s voice. "Do you think I court him for convenience?"

"I was merely...expressing my gratitude,"

"It will be more appropriate if you express it somewhere where my bride is not alone," Natha’s response came in a swift snap. He truly didn’t hide how displeased he was at this situation.

Well, considering what happened the last time a stranger came to me when I was alone...who could blame him?

"Then mayhaps you should put stricter security around him," the old man replied brazenly, and I could feel a blast of coldness that seeped even through the carriage wall. "He’s too...special to be left alone."

A silence followed that statement, and undulating coldness permeated the air as if translating the waves of Natha’s fury. It got strong and then weaken, showing that he tried hard to suppress it.

"I’ll heed your advice," Natha finally spoke after the cold receded. I wondered how hard the old demon had to grip his cane to not get toppled down by the pressure. "Although I certainly don’t need your involvement pertaining to his security."

Was he perhaps referring to the ’rat’ that the Elder sent to spy on me?

"I’ll...keep that in mind,"

The Elder’s reply came in a slightly shaking voice. I heard the sound of him walking away, and then, after a while, the carriage door was opened.

This time, it was truly Natha.

He looked at me, who was huddling in the corner while clutching his coat, with a slight surprise. "Sweetheart--"

"Hug me," I reached out my arms, and jutted out my lower lips because I felt like I wanted to be spoiled.

He wasted no time closing the carriage door and held me in his arms, tight around my back and enveloping me with a coldness that felt warmer than a dash of Amrita. "I’m sorry," he whispered gently with his lips against my temple.

I shook my head frantically and tightened my arms around his shoulder. "No, I’m sorry," I buried my face in his neck. "You’re right, I shouldn’t make people worry."

Natha pulled away so we could see each other’s faces and shook his head slightly. "That’s not quite right,"

I blinked and worked my brain, and Natha used the time to settle himself on the couch with me embraced on his lap. "Uh...I shouldn’t...treat my body haphazardly?" I managed to say with a squeaking sound, looking up at him carefully while he fixed a new blanket over me.

"That’s right," he nodded and patted my head, before proceeding to caress my hair and sighed in satisfaction.

"Okay..." I laid my head on his shoulder again, still clutching his shoulder like I was afraid he was going to leave me again. "Okay, I’ll remember that from now on. I don’t like--"

I paused, feeling the words stuck in my throat. I gripped the fabric of his clothes as I buried my face in his shoulder.

"Yes?" Natha patiently ask, caressing my hair softly while pulling me even closer, as if he wanted to make sure we were stuck to each other.

"I don’t like it...when we’re at odds with each other," I said quietly, trying to make my voice sound less shaky.

"Oh sweetheart, me too," he replied swiftly with a hard kiss on my temple. His hands on my nape and back felt firm yet gentle at the same time.

"Yeah?"

"Of course," he pulled my head back and kissed my cheek--cheeks, forehead, my slightly wet eyelids--before pulling me into another tight hug. "I hate raising my voice at you, I’m sorry."

I shook my head again, biting my lips as I snuggled into his embrace. It was true that I didn’t like it when he raised his voice at me, but I knew I needed that sometimes to realize how wrong I was. And knowing that it was something that Natha avoided doing shooter all those stinging sensations in my chest, replacing them with delightful tingling.

Jade, perhaps feeling my emotional need for Natha right now, was being considerate and calmly settled down on the cushion across, so I took advantage of it and fully laid myself on top of Natha, being supported by his sturdy hands as I pressed my face on the crook of his neck.

The carriage started to move as I snuggled against Natha. Between the rocking motion and the seeping exhaustion, I almost closed my eyes and fell asleep when Natha suddenly called my name.

"Val,"

"Y-yeah?" I stuttered out of drowsiness.

"It’s not that I don’t like you doing stuff. I know how it is, feeling like you’re finally finding something useful that you can do, and you feel like you have to do your best because it’s something that only you can do," he said, stroking my back gently as he did.

"yeah..."

"But I should hate it if it makes you put everyone ahead of yourself,"

I made a groaning sound out of embarrassment.

"I promised you I won’t sense your thought anymore, so I wouldn’t know if you feel hurt or tired unless you show it, unless you say it," I could hear his sigh from below, and he added. "So you can’t keep those things to yourself, okay?"

I nodded, fiddling with his necklace while replying firmly. "Okay."

He tucked me inside the blanket better, kissing the top of my head like he always did before we go to bed. But I suddenly recalled something and the drowsiness was getting delayed.

"Natha..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you not like it when that Elder talks to me?" I asked, remembering how pissed he sounded when he confronted the old demon earlier.

"Ah..." he stopped stroking my back then, just resting his hand on my waist. "It’s fine if he just...talk. I just don’t want him to think he can use you. That he can take advantage of your power."

I raised my head to stare at his face. "But...isn’t that still better than being hated?"

"You can still take advantage of someone while hating them," he returned my inquisitive gaze and said seriously. "It’s just a matter of whether you can hide that hatred or not."

"I see..."

So when they thought I was just a useless--probably dangerous--baggage, they would treat me like I was a nuisance. But when they thought I had something to contribute, they would just hide the malicious thought so they could manipulate me to their liking...

Was that what Natha was afraid of?

"Can’t you...sense his thoughts?" I tilted my head.

"No," Natha frowned in annoyance. "The direct lineage of the Di clan has the ability to shield their mind from mental attack, including probing."

"Ah..." well, darn--when it was finally useful instead. "That’s too bad..."

"It’s okay," Natha moved his hand again, and patted me gently as his lips stretched into a smile. "I’ll make sure to protect you all the same."

"Mm,"

"So help me, sweetheart,"

Huh? I was about to lay my head on his shoulder again, but had to pause as he stared at me keenly, prompting me to swallow nervously because he looked like he wanted to scold me again.

"Protect yourself from your carelessness,"

"Uhh...hehe..."

All I could do at that point was giggle as I snuggled to his chest again.

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