The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 284: Being spoiled and being sheltered are different things

Chapter 284: Being spoiled and being sheltered are different things

The first thing I did when I met Natha for luncheon was ask him about the Lust situation.

"Nat! Is it true that Aleena is now--haa..." I paused to breathe because I was running to meet him halfway in the garden.

"Calm down, take a breath," he patted my back. "Why are you running?" he asked me first, before glancing at my back and repeated. "Why are you running? It’s dangerous."

I heard the clunk of the guards’ armor as they straightened their backs in dread. I grasped his sleeve and grinned sheepishly. "Because I want to see you quickly," I told him before he glared at my attendants more. "Anyway, the Lord! Is Aleena the Lord now?"

"So Zidoa told you?" Natha smiled and took my hand to lead me toward the greenhouse where we would have our lunch.

"Yeah, so..." I peered at his face; I knew he would have received the report right away yesterday, so it was not weird that he knew. But I have a strong feeling that he didn’t just ’know’. "Did you... plan all this?"

His lips stretched easily, but he didn’t answer my question. Instead, he threw me a test like Eruha always did. "Why do you think so?"

Oh, well--I could humor him. "Because Zia said your bank and the merchant association support Aleena," I said. "The merchant association probably doing it because the bank did, but the bank wouldn’t be able to do it without your endorsement."

His smile stretched a bit more, which told me I was right about it. "Also, Zia said Aleena started gathering support after she came back from here, after the banquet," I added.

I looked down at the ground hardened by the cold in contemplation. There was another thing, but...it was kind of embarrassing saying it out loud.

"Go on," Natha nudged me with a gentle gaze that told me my opinion was safe here; that I wouldn’t be mocked even if it sounded silly and conceited.

"...umm," I rolled my tongue inside my mouth as I gathered my wit. "Did you...did you do it because of what Zir’Kal did?"

For a second, I could feel the cold increase around us, and I thought he was getting offended because I was too confident and self-centered with my thoughts. But he held my hand tighter and, with his other hand, rubbed my lips.

"Don’t dirty your mouth with his name," he almost hissed, saying it in a voice as low as the temperature.

"...okay?" I blinked at the sudden display of aggression. "So...it was true?"

Natha hummed and we resumed our walk to the greenhouse. "I gave them a month; I told them I needed the names of the people instigating that bastard," he said with apparent indignation.

"I assumed they did not comply?"

Natha scoffed, which told me enough. "I went as far as to warn them that I’ll raze their castle," he clicked his tongue. "Do they think I’m a pushover?"

I looked up carefully while swallowing. "Would you really...?"

"I told her I’ll give her my support. But if she still failed even after that..."

Natha did not continue, but it was clear what he was implying. I was reminded now, how petty my Demon Lord was. Didn’t they know the most dangerous people in this world were people who were petty AND rich? Wasn’t he the one who drew the Specters out of the realm of Lust? And they still thought they could just ignore his request?

"Well...serves them right," I muttered, remembering that those people behind Zir’Kal was the one who ordered him to seduce and defile me. Hmph.

Nope. No pity.

Natha caressed my head in response, and I could see his silver eyes soften at my words. Well, it didn’t matter anymore since Aleena succeded. I had no idea what happened to Zir’Kal and those supporting him, but I didn’t care either way. It’d be good if he could stop and learn through this fumble.

"But why didn’t you tell me? At least about Zia!" I tugged on his hand, pouting slightly. What if something were to happen to her over there and I wouldn’t know anything about it?

"She told me not to tell you," he said, smiling apologetically. "She knew you would only get worried during our visit to Gluttony; she said you just need to hear the good thing."

I bit my lower lip and sighed. "I don’t like it," I said, gripping his hand. "I don’t like being treated like something fragile."

"That’s not what she meant," Natha said softly, rubbing his thumb on my hand, caressing me gently. "She knows--I know, that you’re strong, that you’re not fragile,"

We stopped in the middle of the bridge leading to the greenhouse, and he turned to look at me. Cupping my cheeks, he told me in a nice, soft voice. "It’s not that we underestimated you, sweetheart. It’s because for us, for me, you are precious. We only want the best for you, including the things you hear."

"But--" I opened my mouth, and then closed it again when I realized I got agitated. I looked down to manage my emotions and thoughts better. "Alright, I get what you’re saying, and I appreciate it, but..." I let out a sigh and looked up into the silver eyes.

"Natha, I want to live my life here; a precious life I acquire for the second time. I’d like to know and experience not only the good things but also the bad things, the worrying things, the bitter things. It’s how I’ll come to appreciate the good things more; it’s how I would learn more about how to live a life as a normal, healthy person."

I could see his eyes widen, and he blinked as I continued quietly. "Do you have any idea how sweet it was when you came into my life after all the bitterness I experienced before?"

Yes, I knew they had my well-being in their mind when they sheltered me from anything bad; the assassination attempt, the dangerous mission, the usage of my ability. It warmed my heart how much they loved me, how much they treasured me.

But did you know, my Lord, that dessert tasted better eaten with coffee? It was because I had bathed in bitterness that I could appreciate all the good things coming in my life, however small it was. A warm smile, a simple conversation; those things mattered more to me because I couldn’t have them before.

"Showering me with only good things wouldn’t make me grow," I told him, holding his hands which still cupped my face. "And I’m afraid that I’ll become conceited, taking everything for granted. I don’t..." I took a deep breath and shook my head. "I don’t want to be that kind of person. To take everything--to take you for granted,"

Carefully, I stood on my toes and kissed him softly on the lips. "I don’t want to take us for granted."

For a while, Natha did not say anything, just looking at me with those eyes that resembled a pair of moonlight. I could see my reflection there since they were widening. "I..." Natha opened his mouth, but he paused for another minute as I looked at him confusedly.

In the end, those lips found their way to my forehead without saying anything. When he pulled away, he looked at me with a sigh and muttered quietly. "I almost want to say my wedding vow here..."

This time, I was the one who paused; my eyes were the ones that widened.

"... you already have a wedding vow?"

* * *

"You’re promise?"

I stared hard at him as he chuckled and lowered himself between my legs, kneeling on the ground while holding my hands. "I promise I won’t hide things from my sweetheart, even if it contains bad news."

"Good," I crossed my arms and nodded, just as the servants came inside the greenhouse to serve our lunch. Natha, however, did not get back to his seat, still kneeling despite the presence of other people.

"Do you forgive me now?" he asked.

"It’s not like...I’m mad at you or anything," I replied quietly in embarrassment. Yeah, I wasn’t angry; I was just a bit upset about how much they babied me.

And if I had to be honest, I was upset because it felt like they did not trust me enough with important information, and it hurt my pride a little bit.

"Truly? You’re not angry?"

"No," I shook my head. "I’m not angry at Zia either, just..."

"Disappointed?" he smiled, and after a few seconds, I reluctantly nodded.

"Does it seem childish?" I whispered, feeling rather embarrassed now that I felt better.

"No," Natha finally stood up and planted another forehead kiss. "It seems like you’re alive and enjoying life."

I grinned sheepishly as Natha sat down and the servants started to serve our lunch. Despite eating a lot of snacks in the research room earlier, I found myself to be hungry already. Huh, it seemed like the ’blessing’ D’Ara gave me had taken effect already.

"Right--I told the others about D’Ara; that she’ll come to our...umm, wedding."

Ugh--why did it still feel embarrassing even after telling everyone about it? What would I become during the real thing?

"I heard," Natha smiled--no, smirked. "You sent everyone into a panic, sweetheart. Good job."

"Why do you look happy about it?" I shook my head.

"It’s always nice seeing other people in a frenzy," he smiled deeply, sipping on a wine while looking delighted at the whole situation. "And why wouldn’t I feel happy when it’s also about our wedding."

Unlike me, he spelled it clearly, loudly, as if he wanted everyone to know--as if the servants hadn’t heard it already. Mara had been giving me teasing smiles, okay?

Fortunately, before I could get even more flustered, Panne came inside with a small tray bearing my stationery. When Natha eyed the tray curiously, I told him; "I’m going to write a letter to Amerein after lunch," I said with a smile, remembering what we talked about before.

It was time to inquire about my great-grandmother’s conception.

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