42 Aria
~
"Raul are you alright?"
"Cough* I am fine. Cough*"
"You don't look fine at all? Your mouth is all red… Eh? A patch of fingerprint?"
"Cough* D-Don't worry about that. Anyway, is there news from outside?"
"Yes, Mike has finished whatever he was doing and will be helping out."
"… Mike?"
"He sent a messenger bird saying that he is already on his way."
Oh no… If any of the heroes knew about me, they might kill…
"A-Amanda you need to help me, create an illusion room inside the orphanage house as soon as possible."
"Fueh!?"
It was sudden for Amanda as I grab both of her shoulders.
"Raul? Did you know already?"
"Know what?"
"I had already made preparations to put magic circles inside your orphanage house as the crusader has been dispatch from the leading human church."
"… N-No."
What crusader!?
One after another…
"I go pack my stuff. Thanks a lot, of making those preparations."
"Wait, Raul!"
"...Hm?"
"You are part of the nobles, let those maids do their job. You need to retain your image."
"… You mean it's been decided?"
Amanda nodded her head.
"Pleasure to meet you, dear."
"N-Nice to meet you… But Amanda."
"I know Raul. You have yet to love me as a woman."
"…Now that you say it this way, I felt like a piece of shit."
"D-Dear you shouldn't say that to yourself."
Even though I like to read novels that have a harem tag, I didn't think it would have such a problem when I fall into one. One thing for sure is how I need to take care of each of their feelings equally? Damn, looking at Amanda expression, its crushing my heart.
Its fun and games previously but seeing how Amanda readily accept the offer to be my bride shows how much loyalty she has for her kingdom. I don't even know if she accepts it because of her situation or she loves me. Pfft, what am I talking about? What love? I am now suddenly branded as a gay demon king.
"Dear?"
"Thank you… Really. Thank you, Amanda."
"…"
"I am not sure how long it's going to take in loving you. I am unable to call you anything but your name for now. I really don't want to play with your feelings."
"I-I understand dear."
Amanda look indifferent, does she know about my feelings? She probably has anticipated such an event. It is becoming awkward if I am to stay and keep staring at her.
"I'll go to the orphanage first, see you around."
Amanda nodded her head. As I walked off, she didn't follow, instead just stood there and watched me as I slowly go out from the illusion room. I felt as if pressure was lifted from me as I step out of the room but something else interrupt my thoughts.
Sounds of stomach grumbling*
Ah, I forgot about how the food doesn't register no matter how much I eat inside the illusion room. I wonder where Shana went off to after chasing that friend of hers.
Though now that she is missing, it's kind of weird going somewhere without someone accompanying me.
I brought something like a carrier and went to the kitchen. There wasn't much except some dried food like jerky while there's a lot of fruits and vegetable. Didn't think the royal kitchen would feel this empty. Oh well, anything is fine if it fills my stomach.
As I was walking to the orphanage building, my aura doesn't leak out as Amanda had created magic circles that goes straight to my building. She thinks a lot about me, not sure if it wouldn't trouble me or to protect the kingdom against my aura or both.
Sigh*
I keep thinking about Amanda now, this is weird. Oh well, in any case, I should get to my building as soon as possible.
~
As I open the door, what greets me is silence. Did all the maids fell asleep? They never lock the door though. Runaway? Fired? Not my problem, I quickly try to find…
No idea where it is. I forgot to ask Amanda where it is.
It's already dark. I don't think the maid will mind if I sleep in one of these beds. I open one of the doors randomly, woah the coolness hit me.
Amanda is awesome. No mosquito would survive this.
"Who is it?"
"…"
"Master."
"Hmm…."
"It's Aria, master."
"Ah, yes. I apologize for forgetting about your name."
"Do you need any help master?"
Aria that was wearing her nightgown looks erotic, but she appears to be indifferent about it. Her eye iris is yellow though.
"Do you have any spare room for me to sleep?"
"Please follow me, master."
"Alright."
Aria walked slowly while guiding me to the nearest empty room. It's kind of weird how she is not embarrassed when she is wearing that kind of attire while guiding me. It's because I am her master? That doesn't make any sense.
It's not like I mind.
"It's here master."
"Thanks, good night Aria."
"Good night to you too master."
She doesn't seem to show any emotions, kind of scary. Is that the reason why she becomes the leading caretaker though?
Yawn*
I am getting too tired to care.
~
"Master please wake up."
"Hmm? What's the time?"
"Time? It's already in the afternoon master. You need to get up. You have waste the breakfast that the maids have given you. At the same time, you are taking the space of another maid."
"…? This is not the guest room? I thought you had guided me…"
"It was taking too long to reach, and I am too lazy to bring you to the next floor."
Lazy?
She is blunt.
"Master you were walking so slow."
Very blunt.
Fine, I'll get up, so where's breakfast?
"What are you searching for master?"
"Breakfast?"
"It has been thrown away."
"Huh? Why?"
"… It's unhealthy, master."
"You were the one that said do not waste food."
"It doesn't mean you need to eat after it has gone bad. You were at fault for not waking up early."
"You are blaming me now? Why don't you just leave it there and do something else."
"There's no children remember?"
"…"
Ah… I forgot about our situation. Oh, then I could start…
"Never mind I have a change of mind. Do you know where Amanda created the illusion room? Can you lead me to it?"
"The evil witch? Sure, only after you have finished your meal."
Evil Witch?
Why is she calling Amanda that?
Wait a minute…
"Aria…"
"Yes, master?"
"Are you a demon?"
"…Hmm, did something give me away?"
Aria started looking at herself in the mirror. After a while, she turns to me as if she just remembers about my existence.
"I didn't accidentally transform. Why did you accuse me of being a demon?"
"Too late for that isn't?"
"… Should I silence you, master?"
Why the hell are you calling me master and still want to silence me?
"I reject your offer Aria."
"Will you tell anyone master?"
"I won't, though do you have something in mind Aria? Why are you working as a maid in the royal palace?"
"I want to enjoy human company at the same time escape from my fate of finding the demon king that was told that he had been summoned."
"In other words, you have no intention in serving the demon king?"
"Affirmative…"
Sorry Aria, it seems your fate has been decided. You have already been hired by me, a so-called demon king that do not have any attack or defense power. I can only support from afar by creating weapons and armor so that they won't lose.
Though I am not exactly planning to give away the weapons anymore. It seems that my life is getting out of hand as the demon has branded me as a demon king.
"Why?"
"Huh? What, why?"
"You are not running or trying to kill me?"
"Hmm… I can apply the same question to you isn't? As a demon, should you deliberately kill me after I manage to find out you are one?"
"…Then tell me how you knew that I am one?"
"It's because of how you called Amanda the evil witch."
"Is that not allowed?"
"All the demons that I know called Amanda an evil witch."
"You have met a demon before master?"
"Ah… Well, they decided to talk to me."
"WHO? I WANT TO KNOW!"
"Ehh!? R-Relax."
"Apologizes, master."
"A shadow name Weno and a demon that have large wings and long slim tail. I didn't manage to get her name. She didn't introduce herself."
"Weno and Sara…"
"OH, you know her?"
"Don't lie to me master, Sara is not the type to let a human go."
"Eh? We made an exchange of goods I think?"
"What kind?"
"Food."
"Food? What kind of food?"
"Here let me show you, firstly you need to lead me to the illusion room."
"Okay."
"Finally."
"Master wait…"
"What?"
"Finish your lunch first master."
"…Couldn't I just bring it together to the illusion room?"
"Rejected, eat now."
