The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 516: It’s hard to see a dirty stone in a pile of gravels

Chapter 516: It’s hard to see a dirty stone in a pile of gravels

"You’re right; something is happening at the Castle," someone spoke in a dimly lit room on the outskirts of the Realm of Greed. ’Outskirt’ was generous though; the place was only a stone’s throw away from the empty region.

The people the person spoke to click their tongue under their cloak. "We know that much," they sounded annoyed. "It’s obvious with so much security and secrecy that something is happening."

"What we want to know is what."

The person who spoke the first time--a demon--grunted under their breath. "Do you think it’s easy going past Ra Natha?"

"Don’t speak that name!" a voice that sounded like a cross between a hiss and a roar came from the darkest corner. The agitation did not come from fear, but anger and disgust.

But the first demon just rolled their eyes in response. "This is why you can’t do anything for decades. How can we take down someone without mentioning their name? How ridiculous."

"You--"

"Enough!" the cloaked person slammed the table in front of them. "Ocla, stop being cheeky and tell me what you find. I’m sure you didn’t make such a long journey just to spout useless stuff."

"This is why you need to have patience," the demon called Ocla clicked their tongue. "I don’t know exactly what that Nightmare is fussing about, but it for sure has something to do with that new husband of his."

"What? The Druid Prince?"

Someone around the table in the corner flinched slightly, and another one beside them scoffed. "What prince? There’s no kingdom or throne for no prince."

"What does it matter what we call him? Anyway, it’s that half-druid," Ocla continued. "That person has been in a strange condition. According to my source, he was bedridden for quite some time."

"He’s sick?" the cloaked person tilted their head.

"That’s the weird part; no one knows," Ocla shrugged. "There’s no purchase of medicine or elixir of any kind. Instead, there’s a high increase in mana stones and precious food ingredients."

The people in the dimly lit room got even more confused. "Food? Nor ingredients for potions?"

Ocla shook their head. "Whatever it is for, that stuff is not purchased with the Castle fund, but the Nightmare’s money. Obviously, he’s only ever that generous to that half-druid."

"Hah!"

"Hmm...perhaps it’s a condition exclusive to druid?" the cloaked person tapped their long fingers against the table’s surface. "What’s important is whether we can use it or not."

The room went quiet for a while until someone opened their mouth. "Isn’t it easy? We just have to make sure to block the Castle from obtaining mana stones or precious ingredients."

"You think we have the money to do that?" someone clicked their tongue.

"Who told you to buy them?" the one who proposed the idea shrugged. "There are two places that need a lot of mana stones right now. We just need to make them need even more mana stones."

"That Nightmare can just buy those stones at a higher price," someone argued.

"Then just spread rumors saying the Lord chooses to indulge his spouse more than caring about the demons."

The people in the room stirred; one by one, the lips beneath their hoods curled into smirks. And then, Ocla spoke again.

"Oh, there’s also been a lot of constructions in the Lord Castle."

"For what?" the cloaked person raised their brow. "Is it that half-druid again?"

Ocla snapped his fingers. "My source tells me they are making new rooms in the Lord’s Quarter, and just after the wedding, they build something inside the forest at the back."

"Building what?"

"No idea," again, Ocla just provided a vague information. "But they seemed to be putting a lot of guards in the forest afterward."

"Huh..."

The people looked at each other. There had been almost nothing interesting happening in the Lord Castle before, but suddenly the Nightmare brought his bride and a lot of things were happening. And yet, they still had no idea what really happened due to the tight security.

But Ocla was not done with their information. "And it seems like the Nightmare and the half-druid visit the place often."

"Treasure?"

"Definitely a treasure right?"

"At least, it should be something precious."

Their eyes glinted sinisterly in the darkness, and the one residing in the darkest corner snarled. "Then we should get them."

"Naturally," the cloaked person nodded, curling their lips and eyes. "The best method to take down a Lord of Greed is by robbing their most precious treasure."

* * *

These days, I caught Natha sighing a lot, if not frowning. Most of the time, he tried to do it when he thought I wasn’t looking, so I decided to not say anything to respect his effort.

Still, when he did it unconsciously while reading a report one day, I used the chance to confront him.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, keeping my tone lighthearted as if it was just a passing curiosity. I crawled to his side on the couch and latched myself to him so he couldn’t run away. Looking at him from below, I did my best to make doe eyes as I pushed him. "Tell me?"

He paused for a bit when he looked down at me, and then swallowed slightly. But he immediately closed his eyes and shook his head as if getting rid of some thoughts.

"Nothing much," he said, and then added when I pressed myself to his arms. "Just...it’s getting harder to get mana stones."

"Oh?"

"But don’t worry," Natha continued quickly. "We’ve been trying to acquire more from the other realm, so you don’t have to lessen your portion or anything."

Honestly, he looked more worried than me, but I held back my chuckle because it was a serious matter for him. "Alright," I smiled and nodded. "I trust you."

He seemed to be relieved by my reaction, so I was glad. Later, I found out from Arta that this scarcity was mainly caused by the heightening war. A lot of magicians on the human side came out to attack, so more mana stones were needed for the anti-magic shield. It would be good if the Wrath stopped their advance then, but it wasn’t in their nature to stop a fight that had started until one side truly lost, so...

"The Realm of Pride also having a grand competition this winter, so they are buying more mana stones in preparation," Arta added. She too, was sighing a lot recently, unlike her usual self. "We can’t really ask to be prioritized without divulging your condition, so it’s been a little frustrating."

"Oh...I’m sorry..."

"No--no!" Arta shook her head and grabbed my hands. "I didn’t mean it like that, I’m not blaming you," she sighed again. "It’s just annoying that a lot of stuff is happening at the same time--annoying because I know we can easily take thrice the supply in normal time."

I scratched my neck awkwardly. Indeed, it was such an unfortunate timing.

Meanwhile, Arta continued to grumble. "Why does the war have to happen now? Why is there competition in the freaking winter?" she huffed and punched the cushion in annoyance. "It’s as if--"

Abruptly, she stopped talking and frowning. As I looked at her curiously, she suddenly shook her head. But her brows still furrowed, as if she was in a deep contemplation.

"Arta?"

She flinched slightly and stood up. "I’m sorry, Young Master! There’s something I need to look up! I’ll see you later!"

And then she ran out like a storm, almost stumbling against Natha on her way out. "What..." he looked at Arta in bewilderment, before looking at me inquisitively.

But all I could do was shrug. "I don’t know," I glanced at Natha’s hands, which were holding a stack of reports and a box of recording devices. "I’m more interested in what you bring."

"This?"

Natha was hesitating for a while, but he told me in the end, that it was the recording of the war situation that Lesta sent. After coaxing him for a bit, he relented to my request to watch the recording with him.

Honestly, more than finding out about the development of the war itself, I was more interested to see his expression. As I thought, he made a troubled expression; especially the way he grimaced every time the Wrath generals shouted an order.

I knew what he was thinking; Lesta might be there as his proxy, and Eruha could always offer some strategy. But there was no use of them if the Lord did not listen, and from what Lesta said before, it seemed that Natha had to involve himself directly.

I took a deep breath and poked his cheek. "Nat, just go."

He turned his head sharply, but I poked his furrowed brows next, opening my mouth before he could. "Isn’t it faster if you go yourself?" I looked straight into his eyes. "At this point, isn’t it better to conclude things faster? You just have to go there once if you’re so worried."

"Sweetheart..."

"Look," I clasped his cheek and tried to speak with a firmer tone. "Maybe by going there once, you can fasten this whole process for weeks, or even months. Isn’t it worth the journey, then?"

He frowned deeper, but his slightly shaking eyes told me he was contemplating it.

"If you’re so worried, you just need to go in the morning, and come back before nightfall," I added with a shrug. "I don’t think anything will happen during daylight. All I do is stay here anyway."

He stared at me hard for almost a minute, before closing his eyes. Yup--that meant he finally accepted it.

"I’ll make some preparation," he said weakly. I nodded and smiled, playfully patting his head.

Oh...how I wished I kept my greed for his company at that time.