The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 517: The wicked always have the worst timing

Chapter 517: The wicked always have the worst timing

Natha’s ’preparation’ before he left took a few days, even though he should only gone for half a day.

But well...as long as he got his peace of mind.

He was busy arranging so many things; he called all the servants and made them recite all of my needs, as well as checking my warehouse--the special one dedicated to my necessities--to check the remaining mana stones and ingredients.

He also checked the progress of distribution for the next batch, even though the ones in the warehouse still sufficed for at least two weeks--unless something drastic happened and my mana was drained again.

No! No jinx!

His biggest pull, however, was adding an entire brigade to guard the Lord Quarters--or rather to guard me. He had a long briefing with them, telling them to protect me without making me uncomfortable and such.

Even then, he was still fussy in the morning before he was scheduled to go. "Maybe we should call your Aunt..."

"No," I shook my head strongly. "Let’s reserve that option until we don’t have any choice."

I truly did not want to imagine what the druids would do if they knew my condition; what kind of fuss would they kick. I didn’t even allow him to tell Zia, because I didn’t want more people crying and panicking over my condition.

Looking up, I grasped his worried face and squeezed his cheeks. "You’re going to be back tonight anyway," I laughed and kissed his lips. "You’ll be back before the letter reaches them."

Natha tilted his head for a few seconds, before nodding in agreement. "You’re right," his eyes flashed in conviction. "Play inside and take a nap, and I’ll be here before you know it."

"Yup!" I nodded, grinning, and sent him off lightheartedly.

But the grin was lost on my lips just a few hours later. Perhaps because I had been used to Natha’s presence, along with his secretaries and the vassals that kept coming and going, their absence made the large Lord Quarter feel desolate and empty. The voice of construction had also stopped, because Natha didn’t want to risk anyone in the Quarter while he was away, except for the servants and the guards.

It was a bit lonely--a lot lonely, and after reading a few Chapters of my book, a sigh escaped my lips.

[Papa?] Jade poked my dazed cheek.

"I’m bored, Jade..." I looked at the ceiling in a daze. For a few seconds, I was tempted to go and visit Shwa.

For some reason, I really really missed Shwa today. Well, it had been weeks since I saw my little flower, so it was a feeling that was bound to surface. Usually, Natha would visit Shwa and tell me about it so I didn’t feel left out, even making a recording. But now...

No--I shook my head and quelled my desire. You can hold on for a day, Val!

The boredom and the desire to see Shwa made me feel restless, and I kept fidgeting for an invisible itch I couldn’t scratch. It got worse as time passed, and after lunch, I retreated to my bedroom.

"Are you okay, Young Master?" Mara and Panne asked me anxiously.

"I don’t know, I’m...I feel restless and...lonely?" I crouched on my armchair. "I miss Shwa..."

[Papa...]

"You can’t go," Ignis warned me.

"I know," I pursed my lips, hugging a cushion tightly. "That’s why I’m here, so I won’t go anywhere again until Natha comes back."

Panne and Mara looked at each other before facing me again. "Would you like us to accompany you, Young Master?"

I opened my lips, almost blurted out yes. Honestly, I was kind of scared of being alone after getting used to everyone’s company. But...

In the end, I shook my head. "No, it’s alright," I said, taking a deep breath. I would just be moping around feeling sad and wasting their time anyway. "Just...can you put my stationery and books on the table?"

"Right away, Young Master," Panne nodded readily and moved to my chest in the corner.

Meanwhile, Mara stroked my arm gently. "Shall I send your tea and snack here, then?" when I nodded wordlessly, she continued. "Is there anything you’d like to have today, Young Master?"

Hmm...to be honest, there wasn’t much I could pick. There was just so much you could make from the ingredients strictly assigned to my mana-rich diet, especially when it came to snacks and desserts.

Perhaps seeing my apprehension, Mara leaned closer and whispered. "Just for today, shall we have something nice, instead?"

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Shall we have some of your favorites?"

"Can...can we do that?" I asked hesitatingly, swallowing.

"There’s no reason why you can’t have both kinds in your tray?" she shrugged. "Perhaps some of the sweet ones will be eaten by Sir Jade."

My little bird tilted its head. [Jade only want jellies and chocolate!]

"Sush, Jade. Just say yes," Ignis said.

[Yes?]

"Yes, like that."

Pfft--I couldn’t help but laugh at their conversation; especially how Ignis was willing to compromise and allowed Mara’s tricks. I giggled and nodded at her suggestion, and for a while, it elevated my mood.

Especially when the tea time came, and every single one of my favorite pastries, cakes, and cookies was there. It had been months since I had them, so there wouldn’t be any in the pantry. This meant the cooks were making those desserts from scratch for me, even though Natha had made a strict guideline for my diet.

This kind of care for them truly warmed my heart, and each bite made me happier and happier.

At least, until Natha called me in the evening.

[I’d be a bit late, sweetheart] he already sounded upset, but it was also followed by a series of curses that made me cover Jade’s ears immediately.

Naturally, the curses weren’t directed at me, and I could hear loud noises in the background; yells, shouts, explosions...it was clear that he was near the battlefield.

"Umm...okay," I fiddled with the base of the communication orb, trying to not whine. "But...you’ll still come home tonight, right?"

[Of course!] he replied sharply. [I’ll go to the frontline myself if I have to--]

"Don’t," I pursed my lips. "Don’t do that..."

Valmeier’s memories of war were still vividly etched in the back of my mind, and young Natha’s war recollection in his journal was right there in the bedside drawer, easily reachable. I didn’t want him to throw himself into the action, even though he already mastered how to block others’ thoughts.

I forced my mind to make a rationalization--Natha needed to solve whatever problem over there and take control of the Lord of Wrath to make sure the war wouldn’t be as long as the last one. If he did it half-heartedly because of me--like going back in the middle of a fierce battle--it would be hard for him to assert his authority next time, especially to that young and arrogant Lord.

"Just..." I took a deep breath. "Just make sure you solve things nicely there."

[Sweetheart...]

"I’m alright," I told him, curling my lips. I knew he couldn’t see me, but talking while smiling made my voice sound lighter and nicer. "Everyone’s taking care of me well, don’t you know that?"

Be it the servants or the guards, they were handpicked by him after all.

[...I’ll make sure to wrap this as best and fast as I can] his dejected voice could be felt across the realm.

"Okay--just be careful, yeah?" I tapped the communication orb. Statistically speaking, he was in a more dangerous place than I did. I mean...I had a dozen guards inside the Lord’s Quarter alone, and probably more outside--I had no idea; it had been a while since I stepped out of the Lord’s Quarter. "I’m going to have my dinner and go to bed, so you’ll be there when I open my eyes."

[Yeah, you do that] Natha whispered softly into the communication orb, and I hugged the crystal ball as his proxy. [I love you, sweetheart]

"I love you too," I whispered back and kissed the orb.

*chirp! chirp chirp!*

[What’s this kid say?]

I giggled and patted Jade’s head. "Just bragging about sleeping with me tonight."

Natha scoffed on the other side, but I could hear a soft chuckle before he ended the call. Only after the communication orb was no longer glowing red did I let out the heavy sigh that I had been holding back the whole call.

[Papa?]

I patted the concerned little bird. "Let’s have dinner and watch Shwa’s recording before sleep, what do you say?"

"Let’s do that."

[Do that!]

With that vigor, I ate diligently, washed up diligently, and let my body relax while fiddling with the viewing crystal. There was a canopy above the bed, and I used that as a substitute for a screen. I watched the recording from when Shwa was only on the first bloom, all the way until the third bloom.

Ah...at least my longing could be soothed for a bit. Sometimes, Jade would get recorded in the background, and the little bird would chirp excitedly. We giggled and sighed until we got drowsier and drowsier. I vaguely remembered Panne fixing my blanket and dimming the light in the bedroom before I completely fell asleep.

That was, until I woke up gasping and hacking, and three fairies were tugging on my clothes in panic.