Not What I Expected (4)

It became quite emotional with the shield bearer hero, Haru looking like he wanted to cry too.

Liliath took in a few breaths to calm down, using a handkerchief she brought, wiped the tears away. She took a sip of tea and.. showed a smile, as if it never happened.

Wha..

"Let's not dwell on it. I may not be able to forgive you for failing to investigate the most suspicious location to recover me from that hell, but that's in the past. How is father and my mother?"

Kyoshi rubbed his forehead a few more times, "They're alright, but with the kingdom divided into two, it's been chaos for father. He's being worn down every day."

"As for my mother?"

"She has rarely been seen loitering outside the inner courtyard since the day you disappeared.. Liliath. I'm truly sorry.. you're absolutely right. It is our fault for not considering the most suspicious location.. if only we were able to see past his kind words and.."

"Kind words? That demon is able to spit out poison honey? Deplorable.." Liliath scathed in anger.

"Yes. I would agree.." He showed a guilty expression, not daring to met Liliath's gaze. "Your fiance. Nice to meet you, thank you for saving my sister. In this case, I want to know what happened in between. Were you the one to save her from the predicament?"

Liliath merrily nudged me with her head.

"Me?"

"I thank you for saving her," he bowed to me, "Please, I would like to hear it in your own words– or would you prefer Liliath to speak in your stead? That would put you lower than her wouldn't it?"

It was so uncomfortable, the flow and direction of the conversation. I feel like emotions are shown or kept hidden like cards being dished out in poker matches.

"Dear, you can do it," Liliath whipshered.

"Alright.. where should I start um.. Liliath, it's alright if.. I revealed some of what happened before you were summoned?"

"I trust you."

Okay.

"On the day Liliath was to be executed, I summoned her to my world.

I guess I'll..

"The modern world."

===

Liliath was born in Toren Kingdom. At the age of 5, her horns revealed themselves. Those in the Royal Family realized that Liliath was among the chosen ones picked out by the Demon God, otherwise known as the God of War, Ares.

Knowing this, the royal family decided to keep her existence a secret.

Liliath grew up with an unusual perspective in life. Naturally her family would think it had to do with her constitution as a demon lord. But as I see it, it felt like she was suffering from minor autism. Her focus towards trying to 'survive' was too odd to make sense of. At the age of 11, she reached an unbelievable Zenith in magic– creative casting. She had gotten to the point where most Grand Sages would dream of at such a young age.

At the age of 13, she caught wind of an existing demon lord that annexed a territory towards the Eastern side of the continent. By then, she had matured enough to know enough about herself and what she was. The persecution of demon lords and the pressure of being damned, it was something I'm sure many demon lords have sought to resolve. An impossible wish, their fate.

Liliath understood her responsibilities as one of the princesses in her kingdom albeit the lack of a public appearance. She wanted peace, she knew it was possible, but she also knew it would be a treacherous road. Thus she decided against her family's advice and went to meet the demon lord next door– Javiel.

That being their first visit, she was treated with courtesy and respect. Javiel also readily consented with her idea. If they could decide on a marriage, they would be able to join both forces and tie them together to form a larger coalition. It would begin the first step of finally ridding the world of the demon lord's damnation.

But it all crumbled when the royal family staged a 'trap', which LIliath had conveniently led Javiel into. They didn't trust the demon lords, fear warped their understanding. Even as I tell you this, I think that things wouldn't have turned out this way if only they discussed their thoughts.

Liliath was thrown into the kingdom dungeon, Javiel became the slave of the kingdom. The reason for the latter was unknown, but in that regard, Javiel managed to escape his position by some unknown back door connection. He tricked Liliath to escape from the dungeon, and there.. she was brought into his own.

And for the remainder of the seasons until Liliath reached 15, she was abused and tortured.

How exactly was it that Javiel became a savage, how was it that Javiel found joy in seeing others suffer..

I had no idea.

No. I had an idea.

This stinking notion of revenge.

The theme of this isekai universe.

To piece together what Kyoshi added. Javiel, probably after Liliath's disappearance, went at once to find her. He made derogatory pleas to play the victim, using Liliath's disappearance as leverage to bring up talks of cooperation. He built up influence in Toren Kingdom, and thus began the pro demon lord movement. He sent forth operations to find his 'wife'.

Kyoshi was also part of this operation, which was why he visited every kingdom, acting in the position of an ambassador. It's true purpose wasn't to obtain information about the people's viewpoint on this cycle's demon lord peace declaration, but to find Liliath.

"I'm sorry.." Kyoshi lamented. The line between which side of the torn kingdom he was on became blurred.

Liliath however, wasn't anywhere in this world.. until now.

She had been summoned to my world. To the modern world. We stayed there for 2 season, 6 months, before returning here.

"Can I ask a question.." Reina, of the Pigeon Pipe party asked.

"What is it?"

"If you're summoned from the modern world.. why are you a demon lord? That means.. the Demon God granted you these abilities?"

"No."

"He's the creator of the Gods," Liliath boasted.

"Not quite, I'm not the creator of this world. But I hold authority above all the Gods.. so to speak. The hierarchy is complicated."

"I don't get it.." Haru said.

"What do you mean authority above all Gods.. are you saying you're the reason why our sensei, failed in his previous life?"

"I didn't exist in his previous life."

"Wait, wait. Let me get this straight. You summoned Her Highness Liliath to your world, and then summoned back to this world. You were an ex-human now demon lord and hold authority above the Gods? How?" Sakurai Reina tried to summarize.

"My dear is the creator of this world. This world is fictional," Liliath said.

"It's not ficational, everyone here is as real as I am, Liliath."

"It's an indisputable truth that I shouldn't exist, no?"

"Fictional.. hey, Ishida-san, what's going on. I thought this was supposed to be your typical isekai where you have to kill the demon lord. Why do things seem so complicated," Haru asked.

"I don't know.. who is in the right? Sensei or.. aren't we playing into the hands of fate here? Sensei said that we're going to go to war against the demons.. so why.."

"Ugh.. it's so confusing. Where did you send sensei to? Your Highness."

Liliath shrugged, "He deserves to be killed, no?"

"B-But.."

"Haru-san, Sakurai-san. Things may be more complicated than we anticipated. I would like to hear your decision. Are you against the demons or.. are you starting to doubt their threat?"

"The demons can further be divided into two factions," Kyoshi interrupted, "My sister's faction, and Javiel-san's faction. A light note to be aware of the difference between the two."

"You're right."

"So.. Her Highness' faction didn't exist in our past life?"

"I guess so," I replied to Reina's question.

"It's so confusing," Haru looked like he had lost his soul.

"Erudite Kingdom is set on going against the demons, everyone is aware of this fact correct?" Ishida said.

"Yes, we are aware."

"What do you intend to do now? If His Majesty finds out that you're conspiring with the demons, or that we're conspiring with the demons.."

"Her Royal Highness Siesta had been a conspirier since a long time ago, hasn't she?" Kyoshi turned to me.

I nodded. I wonder if Siesta told him about us… more like, about Liliath.

"Kyoshi-niisan, I'll once again ask you. Which side are you on?"

Liliath asked with an intense stare.

"Dear sister," a smile curled on his face, "Is that supposed to be a trick question? I've decided. I'll be neither," he said resolutely, "I'll instead make my bets on a third faction."

Third faction.. our faction.

"Thank you," Liliath said.

"Noel-sama, thank you for bringing my sister back safe and sound, you have my utmost gratitude," Kyoshi got off his seat.

"Eh.. no, you don't need to.."

"Let him atone for his sins," Liliath sipped her tea as if nobody's business.

"No.. I can't."

Either way, I stopped Kyoshi.. who tried to 'seiza' on the hard rocky ground.

"Take care of my sister. You have my graces, brother-in-law."

Ah shit. I didn't expect he'd drop such a big bomb all of a sudden.

"Y-Yeah.. thank you.."

Things were progressing. The gears of fate were turning..

Maybe our story will start accelerating from here onwards.

I can't help but be concerned about Liliath's change.