The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 566: What’s friends if they’re not teasing you right after giving you advice

Chapter 566: What’s friends if they’re not teasing you right after giving you advice

After sorting out the gifts and finishing the transfusion, we had a tour of the nursery for a bit before the two energetic guests chanted play, play, play, and we ended up visiting the Amusement Park after luncheon.

"It’s good to show that Young Master is fine," Eruha provided a rare support. "The party last time only showed the high society, and they were more focused on the recording than Young Master’s presence.

"Letting the citizens see that Young Master is fine enough to play around will become the final announcement that our realm is thriving and secure," Lesta drove the nail deeper.

And me staring at Natha pitifully was the hammer.

With the very reasonable argument that the vassals provided, Natha let me go with Caba and Haikal to guard us. Wow.

I rarely go out to the city unless for a special event, and even when I casually did, I had to wear a disguise. This would be the first time I was out and about as myself, and even though my two friends had to guise themselves instead, it still felt...special.

"Call me if anything happens," Natha gave me a soft goodbye kiss.

"You can just come with us," I clung to his hands, swaying them childishly.

"There’s a line a husband should not cross," he said while glancing at my friends, who were tilting their heads at him. "And that includes barging in their spouse’s day out with friends. You won’t be able to gossip about me if I’m there."

Pfft--I couldn’t help but laugh and kiss him some more. "Gosh, I love you so much."

And with that, we left for the Amusement Park. It was an impromptu trip, somewhat, so there was no security protocol in place except for the Lord’s Hound and the Castle’s Chief Guards. Oh, and Arta also came because there was no way she would stay put when we were going to play--although she used ’babysitting Sir Jade’ as a justification to come.

Well, since Natha would not let me carry Jade around anyway...

That being said, the Castle staff had already come earlier to give an announcement so the citizens wouldn’t get surprised or crowded me. I doubt they would do that with Caba and Haikal flanking us, but it was nice to know we could play with ease.

"Whoaa..."

Zarfa and Aina, disguised as unknown high-class demon ladies, exclaimed at the view of the rides. Don’t be fooled, though...

"Oh! How to make this going--wait, is this how they function? But can it be done with this composition?"

"Hmm...how much money should I pour to have this at home? Ah, I should consider the patent cost too--wait, would it be better to just treat this like a franchise? Maybe I could just pay for the operating license and let Doc’s company do the rest..."

Yeah...they were more excited about the tech and the economic aspect of the place, even though they were the ones who said play, play play earlier. Their ooh and ahh only lasted a second before they started muttering business. I knew they were already familiar with the concept, but still...

Jade and Arta blinked in confusion, and I just sighed before clasping my hands loudly. "Hey, you told me you want to play!"

"Oops!" Zarfa giggled and hugged my arm apologetically. "Sorry, sorry--it’s a habit. It’s that...what’s that called again?"

"Occupational hazard," Aina replied, still making notes in her little book.

Zarfa snapped her fingers. "That!"

"So, are you going to do market research or play?"

"Why not both?" Zarfa laughed and after dragging Aina, we joined the queue for the rollercoaster.

The staff and other citizens told us to go ahead, but I vehemently refused and chose to get in the queue. While they were looking at us in admiration, my decision had nothing to do with being a good citizen or giving a good example. I was just...simply wanted to be in a queue.

I mean...when I came here for the first time, the place was practically open only to me. Be it the rides or the food stall, I would always be the priority. That was wonderful and all, but I also wanted the experience of a regular visitor. Queuing with friends wasn’t something I could experienced in my previous life, after all.

Zarfa hugged my arm and whispered. "Another one on your bucket list?"

"Mm," I nodded, a big smile dancing on my lips. "It’s no longer a bucket list though."

"Oh?"

"It’s just a list of something I’ll definitely do in this life."

She laughed and nodded in agreement. This life--yes, this time, we would live for a long, long time.

* * *

Going on a ride after luncheon, turned out, was a bad idea. We gave up after two rides and ended up leaning against each other on a picnic blanket in the big garden inside the amusement park, sipping on a mulled wine to chase away the nausea.

"Ugh...I kind of forget I used to avoid spinning rides..." Zarfa groaned.

"Shouldn’t...ate all those meats..."

I fared much better thanks to my natural rejuvenation--which was slower than usual, but still helped me a lot. So I could at least laugh it off. "It’s also nice just sitting like this watching people going around."

"You did enjoy people-watching," Zarfa chuckled while patting my head.

Well, it was the only thing I could do from my hospital room’s window. I used to imagine where those people came from, or what were they doing before coming to the hospital. When Ceci joined me, we would act like those detectives on television shows and make all kinds of silly deductions.

This time too, I watched the demons going around the park happily with their friends and family. Winter did not deter them from going out and playing, thanks to the temperature control magic put inside the park. Snow would fall on the city, but not around this park.

Was that why the place was even more popular in winter? Most tourist sites were closed in this session after all.

Seeing the big smiles on the visitors’ faces put a smile on mine too. There was something gratifying to know a place built for me brought happiness to a lot of people. It felt way better than having the whole place for myself as Natha initially offered.

The garden, which was provided for the visitors to rest like we did, was also filled with picnic blankets. Most of them were families; parents and their excited children. A small playground in the center became a melting pot for those children, including Jade, who had no concept of nausea like us.

"One day..." I muttered softly to no one, but Zarfa hugged me from the side and grinned.

"Well, one will be here shortly anyway," she poked my cheek. "You’ll be able to come in a few years, won’t you?"

"Yeah," I pressed my lips to avoid grinning widely like a fool.

But I couldn’t help the image that came automatically. I saw us in the park, having a family picnic. I saw us walking on the pavement, being dragged by Shwa from ride to ride. I saw Natha with a cute animal headband around his horns and two cotton candies in his hands for Shwa and Jade.

It was a blissful scene I couldn’t even dare to imagine in my past life. I didn’t even have the confidence of living past adulthood, so how could I dare to imagine having a family?

But hiding beneath the blissful feeling was an inevitable insecurity.

"Honestly, I don’t know if I can be a good parent," I said quietly. "You know my family’s circumstances."

"Hmm...because you don’t have good parents?" Zarfa leaned her head on my shoulder. I just shrugged weakly and she held my arm slightly tighter. "Personally, I don’t think you need to have good parents to be one, and some people still turn out to be bad parents even though they have good parents."

"...you think so?"

Zharfa shrugged. "I mean...my parents were good parents for me, even though my big family was crap."

Ah, she was talking about her previous life too.

"But...do you think I’ll be a good one?" I bit my lips.

"I think so," she raised her head and poked my cheek. "Because you’re a good person."

"That doesn’t mean--"

"No," Zarfa let go of my arm and shook her head, but there was still a confident smile on her face. "But a good person will at least try to be a good parent--at least, that’s what I think."

She squeezed my cheeks and chuckled when I just blinked slowly at her. "And I know very well you will try your best, seeing how you’re already worrying about it like this. Besides," she glanced at the playground, where Jade was climbing on a large swing with four other children. "You’re already rising one well."

"And you won’t do it alone, will you?" Aina chimed in from my other side. "You will have a lot of people to ask advice from, and more importantly..."

"You have that dear husband of yours~"

Suddenly, the conversation shifted and they started to tease me about Natha and whatnot, but that was fine. It was a cheap price for the confidence I gained when we returned to the Lord Castle.