77 My punishment

~

"Now, what is the bad news. Don't tell me you can't even commit the things that I told you guys to do?"

"No Ma'am, someone manages to intercepts our task. By the time, we have arrived at the location, all of the nobles that stayed within the Henson Kingdom have been eliminated including the soldiers and those commoner that is living within the kingdom. We tracked the culprit and found out that the holy alliance has sent a company of platoon to raid the kingdoms. There aren't any survivors, the female either tortured or **** until death and those that are ugly were forced to be part of experimentation conducted by their priest."

Tayuki pauses his report and glance at Aria and me while awaiting for any kind of reactions from us.

'Experiment? What the f*ck? What kind of priest is that?'

"Continue on."

"Yes, ma'am. Sara opts to chase those culprits and end their lives. She decided to engage the enemy passively during the night and using the power of my fog..."

"Too long, what's the result?"

".....Failed Ma'am."

"Reason?"

Tayuki unconsciously glances towards Kraunt. He tried to immediately turn his attention away, but Aria already found it out. She then continued to glare at Kraunt until he replies.

"My fault..."

"I already know that. Tell me the reason behind it."

"I wasn't able to control my patience and decided to engage the enemy."

If anyone even if the demon king were to talk to him this way, Kraunt wouldn't even care to answer and usually walked away by snorting but this time it is his first time being cornered by Aria personally. He somehow felt really disappointed in himself for failing on the job when it is the request from someone he loves.

At the same time, he knows that Aria is so much powerful than him thus he does not have the guts to do anything rude. Usually, Aria doesn't react from his actions and the words that he is saying but this time he has mixed feelings. He felt happy seeing a new kind of expression appearing on the face of the person that he loves. The sad thing is that the man beside her is the reason for all the changes that is happening towards Aria.

"So where is that succubus now?"

"She should be arriving any minute now."

"..... SHANA!"

"Eh? ...Here, why are you shouting?"

"...Apology, find Sara, she should probably be in the main illusion room."

"Right away..."

"Shana, halt your action."

"Yes, master."

"Is something wrong master?"

Aria tilts her head as she didn't think I would interrupt.

"Aria what is your instructions for them?"

"To eliminate the nobles that are corrupted and gather any living being within the Henson Kingdom to be part of our manpower for the farming labor jobs."

"Tayuki, Kraunt. What the reason why you are delayed from reaching the location?"

"Sara, master."

"Krrrr… She is too slow, force us to wait for her mana to be replenished."

"It is partly due of the fact that she does not have any souls to use."

Aria shows her expressionless face, indirectly saying that she won't believe such excuses.

"Then I guess, it's partly my fault. Aria if you need to punish them. Punish me too."

"M-Master… What are you saying?"

"I told Sara to not suck any innocent souls hence affecting her duties to be fulfilled."

There is a sudden silence as I await the reply from Aria.

"Kraunt. Tayuki. You can go now. I will call for you if there are any more tasks."

Both of them immediately nodded their head without hesitation and immediately walked out of the room. Aria frowns her eyebrow while she glances at me.

"Eh? You are going to punish me alone?"

"No master...….Wait. Yes, I will give you a form of punishment."

I was kidding about being punished, but I didn't expect that Aria intends to punish her own master. I wonder what kind of punishment will await for me.

"W-What kind?"

"...."

"Eh? A-Aria? What's wrong!?"

Aria face started to blush red, and she immediately walked off from the room without answering my question.

Oh yeah, today Emelia told me to join her for lunch at her room in within the palace.

~

"Hello is anyone here?"

"....My love, why are you so late!"

"Er…Did we somehow get our plans mixed? I thought we are going to have lunch together. Why are you half naked? Aren't you cold?"

"I AM COLD! It is because of you! Now, come! Warm me up by sitting beside me. Even the food is cold."

"Shana."

"Yes, Master."

As Shana when inside the room, her body posture suddenly shook upon having eye contact with Emelia. She quickly turns around to face me. It was too obvious that Shana is trying to avoid making any contact with Emelia.

"Please reheat the food."

"Yes, master."

Well, at least nothing happens between as far as I know off. There wasn't any violence involve as the maid around is really good at spreading the news. These maids within the palace don't have any much entertainment other than talking with other. Thus, every interesting thing that happen within their workplace they would tend to say it out so that they have something to say when meeting up with other maids and at the same time it becomes sort of their reputation. They are proud of their findings and will brag about it unless it involves the people of the royalty member.

They could get killed if they wrongly say anything about them.

"Come on Emelia, dress up."

"Is this the way you treat me after knowing that I am useless and becoming a burden to you? Huh?"

"Emelia, don't be so depressed you will get your turn. Furthermore, you are my personal knight, why didn't you accompany me today?"

".... No point following you around, nobody would dare to attack you. In the case of emergency, there will be sirens sounded to every part of the kingdom if the room detects any intruder entering the illusion room."

"Eh? There is? How did you come to know of this?"

"Amanda told me. At the same time, she said I should take this time to rest while it is peaceful. Kind of irritates me though."

"....But it's kind of boring following me around when I am not doing anything interesting. I can't even have the time to leisurely talk to you like this anyway. Might a well, but I need you to be present for tomorrow."

"Oh… I heard you are allowing the citizen of the Henson Kingdom into the illusion room."

"Well those that have decided to join us will be announced as the citizen of the Gwendal Kingdom. Especially the royals of the Henson Kingdom and the summoned heroes if they are interested in joining us. In case if Takashi, the summoned hero of the Henson Kingdom wants to create problems for me, I need you to protect me."

"Sure… But."

"Hmm?"

"I won't last long, as that guy is that dangerous."

"Then run. I rather we both live than sacrificing each other."

".... You are too optimistic about my love. Let's not worry about it anymore."

Knock*

"May I enter, master?"

Huh? That's something I never heard in a long time, what's up with her? She usually just barge in the room without even asking for permission. Did something happen today or it is because Emelia is here with me?

"Enter."

There's another maid beside Shana to open the door for her, Shana immediately put down the tray that she is carrying on the dining table right in front of me and after giving me a slight bow she walked out from the room.

I heard mutters coming from outside of the room, but I am unable to capture anything that I can understand.

"Emelia, did you do something to Shana?"

"Nothing much… "

"Really? Give me some examples."

"Discipline her on how to walk, talk to you my love and most importantly to not get close to you unless you order her to."

Are you the head maid!? I retorted unconsciously. I am lucky to not spill out those words.

"Did something happen between the both of you?"

"Glad you ask, my love. I found out that you have slept with Shana. Don't you remember?"

"Eh? Did I? ....Ah! But isn't that Kiri fault."

Well I did force Shana to sleep with me as punishment for working during Friday once, I hope she doesn't find out about that.

"..... No matter whose fault is it, it is ban! She must receive her part of punishment for being that careless."

"Oh, alright. Let's eat up and.."

"Love..."

"Hmm?"

"Let's make love tonight."

"But tomorrow morning..."

"Muuu… Just for a while."

I nod my head while giving a short laugh. Emelia started gobbling up her food, and before long she started to approach me even before I finished my food.

"Emelia, at least let me finish my food."

"Continue eating my love. I won't disrupt you from finishing it. I'll just be right beside you.

"...Okay, then stop touching me."

"Ehh? I can't..."

"Pfff…. Y-Yes you can."

"Dear..."

Emelia facial expression show as if the world is ending when I told her to stop touching me and I couldn't help but laugh.