The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 457: You don’t need to know someone to be happy for their happiness

Chapter 457: You don’t need to know someone to be happy for their happiness

[Nightmare, that’s a bad word!] A turquoise wing with colorful tips smacked the Demon Lord’s neck. [Papa say Jade can’t say that word!]

Oh, good job! Papa raised you well, Jade!

"I’m sorry," Natha replied without missing a bit, taking my hands to his lips. "But how can you keep getting prettier each day, sweetheart?"

"Don’t exaggerate!"

"I’m not," Natha kissed my hand again, and embarrassingly, I could hear the sounds of agreement from behind.

Ignoring the voices so I wouldn’t turn into a boiled shrimp, I shifted my gaze toward Jade, who was perching on Natha’s shoulder. My familiar was no longer the cute, plump bird we used to, but the elegant elemental bird. Well...it was still a lot smaller compared to adult elemental birds, though.

"You’re taking this form?" I reached out my arm so Jade could hop on it.

[Nightmare say Jade need to show off!] The bird--not so little now, so sad--said cheerfully. It was rather weird hearing Jade’s innocent child-like voice in the body of a bird as big as a falcon. [Also, also, Jade’s necklace will look clearer!]

"I see...showing off, huh?" I laughed and stroked the green head, that immediately nuzzled my palm while giggling. Well, Jade was still Jade no matter what shape.

"Looking good, right?" Natha chuckled and kissed my temple this time. "Since your outfit this time also uses plain color."

Right; Druids always used soft colors, and the fabric they gave me was in soft green color, like a sprout--like Valmeier’s name. With the robe and the crown, not to mention the elemental bird on my arm, I truly looked like someone whisked from the realm of nature.

I wondered if there were still people who thought Natha kidnapped me, and came all the way here just to see if it was true.

That would be interesting, wouldn’t it?

On the other hand, Natha wore something resembling his formal Lord uniform in black and gold, like the demon realm’s currency. Since it was a parade, Arta made it look as formal as possible, as if we were about to attend a summit meeting or something.

"Well then, my beautiful husband," Natha spread his arm toward the carriage. "Shall we depart?"

Judging from Arta’s anxious scowling, yes--yes, we should depart as soon as possible.

Holding Natha’s hand, I climbed the open carriage, which was one of the most beautiful things I ever laid my eyes upon. It looked luxurious, but not gaudy, with a velvet couch and golden ornament hugging the highest quality dark timber frame. But most importantly, it was very comfortable to sit on; soft, plush, and completed with an anti-shock array that wouldn’t make my butt sore even through turbulent road.

Which was essential since we would be in this carriage for hours.

Naturally, it wouldn’t be just us. Haikal and Caba would follow us around as guards, while Lesta would sit with the coachman to make sure our journey was smooth sailing and on time with the schedule.

"Remind me again what I should do," I whispered to Natha as the carriage approached the Castle gate.

"Smile and wave."

"Smile and wave...smile and wave..." I repeated and nodded. Alright, easy enough.

Natha held my hand and stroked it with his thumb. "Don’t worry, sweetheart; you’re a natural at this."

Am I? I feel like my lips are stiffening right now!

"Ah, here we go," he warned me, and the Castle guards opened the gate in one swift, smooth movement.

Immediately, I could hear the sound of loud cheer blasting like a spring storm. My senses were filled with the sounds of people and a sea of faces. I had ridden in an open carriage before, surrounded by crowds too. But this...this was different.

In front of the Castle gate, there should be a big plaza and wide roads. But I couldn’t see any of those. The pavement and the gravel were covered by a sea of people of all sizes and colors. Demons of all kinds had gathered, waving handkerchiefs, flags, and even throwing flower petals.

[Oh! Oh! So many people!] Jade looked around enthusiastically from my side. [Lots of flowers and ribbons! The road is beautiful, Papa!]

Indeed; the usually posh and elegant neighborhood was filled with a festive mood. Tents and banners and garlands decorated the buildings, while lanterns, balloons, and flying carriages scattered in the sky. It was a festival, and it seemed that everyone in the realm of greed had come to the Capital.

[Oh--oh! Papa, look at that! oh, look at that too!]

Unlike its elegant shape, the elemental bird’s head was busy turning around here and there. Unfortunately, I couldn’t feel the same enthusiasm. The number of people who greeted us in front of the gate was so overwhelming that I found myself stiffening. I wanted to smile and wave just as Natha told me to, but I couldn’t move a single muscle--not even the one in my face.

At that point, a soothing voice came into my ear. "Sweetheart," Natha held my chin and turned my face toward him. "They are your people now, just like how they are mine. You are my husband, my proxy, the other half of me, and with that, you are a part of this society."

He smiled and rubbed my lips. "I am their father, and you are now too. You can just think about it like that."

[Papa, those kids throw flowers too! Like Jade!]

I looked in the direction that Jade’s wing pointed; a group of children sitting on their parents’ shoulders so they could look at us without obstruction. They smiled widely and, just as Jade said, were throwing flowers in the air. The same kind of smile could be seen on the adults around them; bright, and full of joy.

"Look, they are happy for you--for us," Natha whispered more behind my ears. "Just like our friends and family yesterday, no?"

Oh...he was right. They were happy; they were happy for our happiness. How...weird was that? They didn’t know me personally, and our wedding might not affect their daily life, but...they were happy to celebrate it.

How...how weird and fascinating and...wonderful.

"It’s our Lords!" one of the children screamed while laughing.

"My Lords!"

"Congratulations, my Lord!"

It was only cheering before, but then it became a series of congratulations that didn’t stop as the carriage continued to move through the planned road. I looked at their bright smile and genuine delight for our special day and...

Oh, I couldn’t help it. My lips stretched unconsciously, and before I knew it, my hand had raised and waved at the children. More people were waving and I returned their wave. On my side, Jade also waved its colorful wings and, as if didn’t want to lose, conjured flower petals all over us.

[Oh, Jade want to give them candy too...]

Sorry, Jade, we would need a whole confectionary store for that, and we hadn’t prepared it.

"Why is this br--Jade talking about candy all of a sudden?"

I pressed my lips to hold back my laughter from the way Natha avoided making any scene. No teasing above the open carriage, it seemed.

"Jade wants to distribute some candies to the children," I told him.

"Oh, don’t worry about that," he said while stroking the bird’s green head. "I made sure to put enough sweet things in the provision bag for households with children."

As a part of this celebration, Natha had prepared provision bags--or rather, provision crates since it was that big--filled with fresh groceries, grains, fabrics for clothes, and all sorts of things a household might need. Procuring them from local merchants, he distributed the crates to all citizens--of course, using his own money, not the realm’s coffers. Even the festivals were held with his money, including free food and some incentives for the businesses that got obstructed because of our wedding.

No wonder he was so busy preparing all of that.

"You hear that? Natha already gave them candy, Jade!"

The bird turned to look at Natha--even in this form, the flabbergasted look was palpable. [Whoa...Nightmare is so nice these days...]

"It’s because I’m happy," he smiled and put his arm around my shoulder. "And people act nice easily when they are happy."

[Oh! Jade understand!] The not-so-little bird nodded enthusiastically before continuing to wave toward the crowd, which seemed to like this ’attraction’ of the beautiful colorful bird greeting them with so much vigor.

"What about you, sweetheart?" Natha rubbed my shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"Are you happy?"

"Well--oh!" a familiar cry of a wyvern made me look up. Above the lanterns and flying carriages, I could see the sparkling emerald scales reflecting the sunlight, and the majestic span of wings eclipsing it.

[It’s Vrida!] Jade perked up and flew up, leaving several colorful plumes behind. Putting mana in my eyes, I could spot Zarfa and Aina up there, and--what do you know? Neel was there too! Along with the flying-reluctant Ignis who I had asked to guard them.

I waved at them, and they made a fuss behind the binoculars. Cheekily, Vrida circled the area as if showing off too, and the people down here couldn’t help but look up, exclaiming in amazement.

As most gazes were directed up there, I cupped Natha’s face and pulled him into a kiss. "Yeah, I’m happy," I whispered against his lips. "I don’t think anyone else could be as happy as I am right now."

"You’re wrong about that," Natha held my nape and I was lost in his mesmerizing silver gaze for a while. "Because right now, I’m the happiest of them all."

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