The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 346: So it’s true that brides have to go into diet...

Chapter 346: So it’s true that brides have to go into diet...

I gasped.

Well, for a second. I did feel it because even Angwi often pinched my cheeks these days, and Natha’s hands liked to linger around my waist, rubbing my tummy. And Jade...liked to lay on my stomach, saying it felt like jelly.

"Is it bad?" I asked her worriedly.

"No, no--" Arta shook her head and stood up to approach me--who still had to be the part of lemannequin. "It’s a sign that you become healthier, Young Master, and I like that. But--"

"...but?"

Arta stood in front of me, pulling on the hem of the half-made outfit to the front. "But it’ll be difficult for the seamstresses if we have to constantly alter the sizing."

"Oh, that’s right..."

"So, I would need you to stay within your current weight until the wedding--can you do that?" Arta grasped my cheek and looked keenly into my eyes. She looked so stern that all I could do was nod wordlessly. "Good--Miss Bridesmaid!"

"Y-yes?" Zia stood up and straightened her back like a soldier.

"Please make sure our dear bride maintains his weight from now on, just until the wedding," she said most firmly, like a sergeant giving a mission. "It’s fine if he fluctuates juuust a little bit, but don’t make him change shape again."

"Yes, Ma’am!"

She enjoyed this, huh?

And then Arta turned to me again. "Now, you don’t have to restrict your diet, Young Master. But make sure to move about and exercise if you have a big meal."

"Okay!" I gave her a salute while at it--for the mood.

Well...I did realize I hadn’t exercised much these days. I used to train with the soldiers and Alveitya, moving my body to perfect the Spear Art that I received from the scroll. But I stopped doing it right after Natha’s proposal, because of the trial and how protective Natha had become.

Sure, I walked around the lake and the garden, but that was hardly sufficient with my increasing appetite it seemed. After all, giving away my mana to Schwa and purifying the mana to feed Jade always left me hungry.

"Good!" she patted my cheeks gently, even pinching them. "You can plump up again after the wedding," she said, before adding in a whisper. "I know His Lordship like that--oh! Please do refrain from snacking on sweets too much for a while."

This time, I gasped longer. Jade gasped even louder than me. [No candy?!] the little bird lamented in a long depressed chirp.

"Oh, it’s only for Young Master, Sir Jade."

[Oh! Yaay!] the little bird chirped energetically then, before gasping again. [Oh, but poor Master!]

Damn--never thought I would be pitied by a bird. "Don’y worry Jade, I won’t die because of it."

Jade flew to my shoulder and patted--or rather poked--my cheek. [Master, Jade will eat less candy!]

"Oh, you don’t have to."

[Jade will do it with Master!] the little bird was insistent. [But...but Jade will still eat small candy...just a bit...]

I patted the green head and kissed it. "What a good child you are."

"And for such a good...bird, there’s a present for you," Arta leveled her eyes with Jade, and took what looked like a ring with a small blue jewel and runes carved all over it.

"Huh? What is that?" I tilted my head, and so did Jade.

"It’s what Young Master requested before," she smiled and put the ring on my palm. "The clothing artifact."

I gasped. "Oh! The one who will automatically conjure an outfit?"

"Precisely."

"My, how interesting," Amarein leaned forward with eyes gleaming in interest.

The seamstress took the garment away from me and I hurried to the couch while Arta explained the artifact further. "It can turn bigger or smaller, depending on where you want to put it. Just let Sir Jade pour mana inside, and it will bind itself."

"Jade, Jade, come and touch this," I put the little bird on top of the backrest, and showed the ring. "Pour your mana here."

[Here? Why? What is that Master?]

"It’s your clothes! For when you turn into a boy--hurry, hurry!"

[For Jade?] the little bird gasped and swiftly placed its wings over the ring, pouring out its mana. The rune around the metal frame glowed to mark that it was a success. [But Master...Jade can only wear one type of clothes?]

"Oh, don’t worry. This is for when you turn in public, so you don’t come out naked," I explained. "You can still wear other clothes if you want."

[Oh, okay!]

Not long after, the ring stopped glowing, and I told Jade to stop pouring more mana. "Where do you want to wear it, Jade? Your ankle?"

[Yes!] Jade readily plopped down and raised its small leg. The ring automatically adjusted itself to the little bird’s little ankle. [Can Jade try it now? Can Jade try it now?]

"Sure," I nodded. "But do you have enough energy?"

[Master gave Jade a big yummy ball yesterday, so Jade can turn again!]

"Alright then, go on," I nodded and stepped back, standing in front of the couch with my heart pounding in excitement.

Zia, Arta, and Amarein joined beside me, watching the little bird keenly. Even some of the seamstresses and Arta’s assistants--who weren’t busy putting the garment back into the chest--looked toward the couch for the spectacle.

And indeed, it was a spectacle. The scattering lights were as beautiful as ever, forming the figure of a boy. But I could see another set of light, blue in color this time, wrapping around the boy. The silhouette was slightly different too--I could make out the shape of a cape and shoes, before the light finally disappeared and Jade came out energetically as usual, jumping on the couch.

"Tadaa!"

Now, instead of bare-skinned, Jade came out wearing a full set of clothes in indigo, complete with a cape and a pair of boots. There was even a ribbon fitted around his collar, and a deep green jewel brooch in the center. The ring itself had turned into an anklet, as Jade said it, wiggling his foot to feel it behind his boot.

"Oh, so cute!" Zia grabbed Jade in her arms and twirled him again, just like the first time, giggling together around the room.

Similar--but quieter--exclaims also came from the seamstresses and the assistants. I could hear Amarein let out a fond sigh, smiling so softly as she looked at Jade. She glanced at me and caressed my cheek, speaking gently. "I wished I could be there when you were a child."

"Oh, don’t worry," I shrugged and grinned. "They spoiled me so much that sometimes I feel like a child again."

She laughed and caressed my hair, and Arta patted my shoulder then. "I don’t know if this is count as spoiling, but..."

Curiously, I watched her take out a box with a pair of earrings inside. One of them had a blue gem, and one of them was white. "Is this also..."

"Didn’t you request for one too?’ Arta smiled. "Although, His Lordship decided to make two."

I blinked and took the box, rubbing the earrings. They looked simple, just a pair of studs, but with intricate carving around the gem that could only be seen if one looked at it keenly. Truly Natha’s style, which I liked very much. It wouldn’t look too grand even if wore it every day, with daily clothes and pajamas.

"The blue one is for the clothes that are similar to what Sir Jade wearing now--I reckoned you would want it to be a pair," Arta explained further.

"Huh? Master will be same as Jade?" the little boy yelled loudly in full excitement, running toward me and jumping to peek inside the box. Amarein laughed and carried Jade in her arms so he could look at the box in my hand clearly.

"And the white one?" I asked.

Arta’s voice turned a bit more serious. "That one has more defensive function," she said. "Rather than clothes, it contained armor."

Armor? Armor like...what the soldiers wore? Like what Valmeier wore in the war? My eyes widened, and Arta continued. "His Lordship thought that there might be a time when you have to morph in the middle of a battle, or to run away from something. In that case, it’ll be better to activate this one, so you’ll have a better defense," she said, before adding quickly. "I’m not saying it’ll happen, Young Master, but just--you know...for precaution?"

I looked at the earrings, rubbing the gems with my thumb. Knowing that Natha ordered it with my protection in mind made it all even sweeter.

"Ah, this is pretty useful," Amarein gave her endorsement. "Once your proficiency in druid magic reaches a high level, you will be able to conjure up emergency clothing from mana."

"The key being high-level,"

"Yes, so it’s useful in this stage," she chuckled. "Especially the armor one. The clothes you conjure from mana are also temporary, depending on your energy level, so it’s always good to have extra insurance, no?"

"True,"

She laughed and pinched my cheek again. "Seemed like it’s true that you’re being spoiled."

I couldn’t help but giggle happily hearing her words, looking at the earrings again. That being said...

"But, Arta--" I looked at the demon, feeling rather troubled. "My ears are not pierced..."

"...oh, right."