The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 83: The first step to change is to stop running away

Chapter 83: The first step to change is to stop running away

After a quick wash-up and changing my nightshirt into something more appropriate, I followed Natha down, to meet the demons talking to him earlier.

Apparently, aside from giving him a morning report, Natha also tasked them with something, namely: becoming my tour guide.

"We weren’t planning it the first time since you’re supposed to be here for a night only," Natha explained while I was changing. "But since your stay was getting extended, you might as well get more familiar with the castle’s setting."

By that, he meant I should explore the castle ground, and at least knew some important places aside from the private headquarters and the greenhouse.

Although, I also had an inkling that he didn’t want me spending my day just tinkering with the failed products that got him jealous last night.

Anyway, so here I was, having another breakfast with demons session. Perhaps because I was fine with Arta and Opti yesterday, Natha invited two of his vassals here this morning.

One of them felt familiar, and after looking at his pointed ears, dark skin, and black sclera, as well as his face, I knew exactly why. He looked almost identical to Dhuarta—only with a calmer gaze. "Ah...the other twin..." I blurted out unconsciously, before pressing my lips together.

The demon widened his eyes slightly, before bowing with a smile on his lips. "Lesta, at your service."

His voice sounded as cool and calm as he looked. Right after, the other vassal, someone almost as tall as Natha, stepped forward and lowered his body too. He had this gentle and scholarly look, especially with his super pale complexion that made it seem as if he never stepped out of the library or something.

"And this one is Eruha, Young Master. It’s nice to finally be in your presence," this one had a tender and smooth voice that reminded me of my psychiatrist back in the day.

La Lesta and Dur Eruha—I remembered their name from the list of ’friendly’ demons Natha gave me. One was Dhuarta’s twin brother, and the other was Natha’s strategist. The other two demons, apparently, were newly appointed as my guards. Selected from the Lord’s own protection order, they were called Mohan and Laheer, and acted just like any of Natha’s usual subordinates—stoic, serious, and avoiding my eyes as much as possible, just like Heraz and the other servants in the private quarters.

At first, it made me think that they were uncomfortable with my presence. But later on, I found out that it was considered rude to gaze at the Lord and his spouse’s eyes, because it could be interpreted as an intimate gesture. So they were just avoiding getting fired, apparently.

Whew—what a dangerous world this place is.

Sitting at the breakfast table, Natha started to deliberate on today’s event. "You don’t have to scour the whole castle ground, but since you’re here, you might as well look around the place. Lesta and Eruha will help you with that."

I looked at the table while listening to him. It seemed like the others were already having their breakfast, since I was the only one eating.

So he did wait for me to wake up.

"We can take a look at places that you might need, Young Master," Eruha told me, the smile was still on his face, as if it would never go away. "I heard you like hanging around the library, or...some secret passages."

Oh...I looked up in reflex at that, suddenly feeling a rising excitement.

"You should also know where the guard’s station was and the emergency path, although I doubt you’ll really need it," Lesta added. "Why don’t we show you how to reach His Lordship’s office from here while at it?"

Oh...they were good. This was the first time we truly met, but they already knew what might catch my attention. I looked at Natha, who was smiling with expectation.

Well, strolling around in a fantasy castle sounded fun, but...

"Umm...am I going like this?" I asked cautiously, looking at my hand, and the reflection of my face on the cup’s surface.

It wouldn’t be my first time walking among demons, but...I never did it while in this human form.

And without Natha to boot.

I felt Natha’s cold hand on my cheek then, and when I looked at him, he asked me calmly. "Do you want to use a disguise?"

Well, I was kind of on the fence about this. I mean...I knew it would be more comfortable for me to do it while being disguised as a demon or a full druid, but...

I felt like it would beat the objective of the experiment of having me stay here.

"Or if you prefer to just stay here..." Natha observed my face carefully, seemingly reading my silence as apprehension. I bit my lips and fiddled with my fork before replying.

"No, it’s alright," I finally managed a reply. "If I’m going to stay here, I need to get used to it."

To get used to other demons’ presence, and not only the friendly ones. To get used to this place, so I wouldn’t just spend my days cooped up in Natha’s private quarters. Also, I couldn’t just wait for Natha or for the path to be cleared of demons every time I wanted to go to the greenhouse.

The prospect of walking through a crowd of demons without any disguise was unnerving, but I had decided not to run away easily anymore. It would be weird if I was to hide away in a place that should be my future home, right?

"Well...I’ll try anyway," I looked at Natha and smiled sheepishly.

If it turned out that I couldn’t get used to it, well...I’d just stay in the private quarters and the Lair.

With a gentle laugh, Natha leaned over and kissed my cheek softly. "Good," he stood up then, and I almost pursed my lips as I realized he was going. Natha looked at the other demons, who instantly stood up following the Lord. "I leave him in your hand," he said, as if I was a child in need of babysitting.

"By your command," they answered in unison—pretty impressive scenery during breakfast, I must say.

He told me to have my breakfast instead of seeing him off like yesterday, and it made me a bit lonely, to be honest. But I had these four demons to be mindful of, so I held myself back from showing disappointment.

The guards went to standby near the window and the door, while the two vassals return to their seats at the dining table. It was quite awkward having them there while I was the only one eating, and they were not the energetic and talkative type like Opti and Arta.

"Umm..." I glanced at them, who seemed to be keen on observing me. "I’m sorry, you must have your own job to do, but you have to accompany me like this..."

Just as I finished saying that, the smile on Eruha’s lips changed. If it was a nice and gentle smile before, now it was rather stern and cold, and made me flinch for a bit.

"Young Master, you shouldn’t apologize like that," he said, in a soft tone that felt heavy rather than comforting, and made me remember my homeschool teacher when I made a mistake. "His Lordship asked for our help. Your apology is insinuating that this task is a burden to us, and that His Lordship did something wrong by giving us this role,"

I stiffened at his words and fell into contemplation. I...didn’t think like that, of course, and merely trying to be polite. But hearing his explanation made me think that I conveyed it wrongly. Perhaps I was too used to being scolded and needed to apologize, too used to hearing people say that taking care of me was annoying.

"I’m so—" I pressed my lips before I could say it again, and I saw a gleam in Eruha’s eyes. "Thank you...for keeping me company today..?"

I knew it was weird to put it like a question, but I wasn’t sure I made the right choice. Me remembering my teacher made me feel like it was an exam.

But Eruha’s smile turned back to his gentle one, so I guessed I did well?

"Yes, that is more appropriate," he said, nodding in satisfaction. "And you’re welcome, Young Master. It’s a delight for us to be able to know you better."

Just then, Lesta who sat on my left side laughed. "Why are you picking on him, Eru?"

"I’m not," Eruha replied calmly, but then paused for a bit before looking at me. "Was I too harsh, Young Master?"

"...a little bit?" rather than his words, it was more the cold smile that he wore while saying it that gave me dread. "Ah, but I don’t mind. Thank you for...correcting me."

His smile grew slightly wider at that, as he muttered quietly. "Yes, truly a quality of His Lordship’s bride..."

"Huh?"

"Now, now, why don’t you stop probing him, huh?" Lesta chuckled at my confused face. "Please forgive him, Young Master. Eruha can be a little too much sometimes. I hoped you don’t take his teasing too seriously."

"Huh?" again, I dumbly replied, before narrowing his eyes. "Were you testing me?"

"See, you make him upset, Eru..."

"I’m not!" I responded immediately, but then saw the smile on their face and realized I was being teased.

Ugh—these demons! Their cool and gentle face was a total scam! They were as mischievous as Opti!

I leaned back and crossed my arms then, pursing my lips in annoyance, which only prompted Lesta to laugh again.

"Yes, it’s better for you to act casually with us, Young Master," he said with that calm smile of his. "Please don’t feel like you have to watch how you act in front of us."

Ah... were they actually teasing me because of how awkward I was before? Realizing that made me feel embarrassed suddenly. Ugh—I had no idea I was this easy to provoke.

"We’re His Lordship’s loyal vassals, Young Master. Please rest assured and be more relaxed," Eruha added, eyes curled with a playful glint.

"Well, I don’t know. I feel like you’ll just tease me to no end," I turned my face away in defiance to get back at them, but it only made them chuckle in delight.

When I narrowed my eyes at them, Lesta smiled apologetically and leaned forward to the table. "Forgive me, Young Master. Should I tell you stories about His Lordship in his younger days as an apology?"

Wow...they really knew me well.