Kidnapped Princess C12

Chapter 12

“Are they fighting… because of me?”

“No.”

Sitting on my lap, Luminas anxiously darted her eyes around as the tense exchange took place above her head.

Having grown up in an environment where she survived by reading the room, she immediately sensed that the argument somehow involved her—even if her name hadn’t been mentioned.

“I’m going to leave you in someone else’s care for a while, Luminas. I’ve just thought of the perfect person. Like Lilith said, we need to see how much control you have over your power.”

I ruffled her hair gently to reassure her. When I smiled, the nervous tension in her eyes melted away, replaced by her usual bright grin.

The child wasn’t dangerous. It was only her overflowing divine energy that made her a potential threat. What she needed was someone who could teach her how to control that power—and a certain someone came to mind immediately.

Lilith, ever sharp, seemed to guess whom I was thinking of.

“Ah, yes. There is someone quite suitable within the Demon King’s Castle. How unfortunate.”

That shameless woman—

I was sure she’d known about him all along. She just hadn’t mentioned it because she’d wanted to take the position herself.

“When I can’t be around, he’s the best one to look after her. You’re disqualified as her tutor, so go on—off you go.”

No matter how I looked at it, he was the most appropriate choice. At least for now.

Shooing her away, I waved my hand like I was chasing off a pest before she could start influencing Luminas with her nonsense. Lilith’s eyes twitched slightly in irritation.

“I’m not exactly idle, you know.”

She vanished right after saying that, her magia fading completely.

“Good riddance.”

“Ed… education? I can’t stay with Uncle anymore?”

She’d caught on to our conversation, and when she realized she was going to be left with someone else, her eyes trembled. Thinking I was about to abandon her, she bit her lip hard.

“You don’t need me anymore…? You’re giving me away?”

“N-no! That’s not it at all. Uncle’s just busy, so I can’t always stay by your side. I’m just asking someone to look after you for a little while.”

“But I like Uncle…”

Her big, tear-filled eyes looked up at me, pleading. My heart wavered—but as much as I wanted to keep her close, the reality of being Demon King didn’t allow such luxuries.

“Do not trouble His Majesty!” Elvin barked. “He is the ruler of demons! He doesn’t have time for—”

Luminas flinched violently at his raised voice.

“Elvin, don’t shout! I’m sorry, Luminas. You’ll just be with someone else for a short while, okay?”

She nodded hesitantly, but her little mouth jutted out in a pout. I tapped her lips lightly until she pulled them back in.

I needed someone trustworthy—someone kind, reliable, and capable of handling divine power without being harmed by it. Someone who wouldn’t hurt her or be frightened by what she was.

Someone lazy, harmless… and probably sleeping right now.

Since I, a demon, couldn’t teach her how to wield divine energy, there was only one choice.

“Elvin, where’s Nyx?”

“Likely asleep in the library, Your Majesty.”

“Figures. That lazy glutton.”

Just picturing him made me shake my head. His chronic laziness might rub off on Luminas, but I could always check in regularly to make sure things stayed under control.

“Let’s go meet the man who’ll be keeping you company, Luminas.”

I opened the door leading to the grand library.

“Wow…”

Her small gasp echoed through the high-ceilinged room. A massive chandelier glittered overhead, casting light over rows upon rows of tall bookshelves. The place radiated a warm, gentle atmosphere, made even cozier by the white feathers scattered across the floor.

The library held countless stolen tomes from the human world—books that demons had secretly acquired, unable to resist their insatiable curiosity. Unlike humans, whose histories were distorted by time, demons lived long enough to record events accurately. As such, many of the books here contained truths lost to the human world.

The shelves stretched so high that even with my reach, I couldn’t touch the top.

“How is it?” I asked.

“It’s amazing!”

“You can read any book you like here. You have my permission to come and go freely.”

The door itself only opened for those granted access, and powerful wards ensured that no intruder could enter uninvited.

“Y-your Majesty!” Elvin fretted. “There are forbidden grimoires here that no human should ever read!”

“She’ll be fine. Now—where’s Nyx?”

The library was quiet, but the stray feathers on the ground told me he was nearby. Then, one floated down right in front of my eyes.

Looking up, I saw him—sprawled out across the top of a tall shelf, half-asleep.

“Nyx!”

At my shout, a pair of white wings twitched—and then promptly slipped off balance.

“Waaah—!”

He crashed down with a thud.

“I fell because you startled me!” he yelled.

“Who told you to sleep up there in the first place?”

“My feet can’t touch the ground! It feels weird when they do!”

Still yawning, he leaned his entire weight on me. His huge, soft white wings might’ve looked ethereal, but they were heavy. And Luminas was standing right in front of me.

“You’re heavy. Get off.”

“Harsh. You said they were soft and nice before!”

“The feathers, Nyx. I meant the feathers. You’re just a supplier. Those feathers are essential—you know that.”

Elvin, ever the diligent one, was already collecting the fallen feathers. Angel feathers were warm and silky—perfect for making pillows and blankets.

I only let Nyx nap in the library so I could gather those feathers afterward. They were a vital resource for my bedding. Actually, now that I thought of it, I should make a pillow and blanket for Luminas too.

“You came here just for feathers?” he grumbled. “You know I don’t mind, as long as you don’t pluck them out…”

“That, and I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor—wait, huh?”

Luminas had bitten Nyx’s leg.

I gawked. The quiet, polite girl was now growling like a tiny kitten.

“Luminas! No, bad! Let go!”

Biting someone’s dusty clothes—why?!

I pried her off and patted her puffed-up cheeks. Thankfully, Nyx wasn’t physically hurt, but the shock on his face was another matter entirely.

“T-this… this cursed energy?!” he stammered.

“Knew you’d notice right away. She’s full of divine love—the kind you used to adore.”

“I renounced that damn god ages ago!”

Nyx had once served directly under the divine. A high-ranking celestial attendant—until he got fed up with God’s whims and quit.

His wings were still pure white, but the black halo hovering above his head marked him as a fallen angel.

He trembled, glaring at Luminas as though she were something dangerous. I’d never heard the full story, but from my own experiences with that meddling, unpredictable god, I could imagine how unbearable it must have been.

Serving that being for hundreds of years? I would’ve quit too.

Nyx eyed Luminas curiously.

“She’s practically soaked in divine grace. And that’s hero’s blood running through her veins too, isn’t it? So why’s a kid like this here? You kidnap her?”

“N-no! It’s mutual. She came willingly.”

“Uh-huh. Not my problem, then. I’m going back to sleep—”

Before he could move, I grabbed his shoulder.

“Going somewhere?” I smiled sweetly. “You’re going to look after Luminas.”

“Why me?!”

“I let you stay here, gave you a place to sleep, even fed you. Doesn’t it feel right to return the favor?”

“You take my feathers!”

“Feathers that fall off naturally! You’d have to clean them up anyway.”

“T-that’s…!”

“See? She’s adorable, isn’t she? Don’t you want to teach her? She’ll grow into a fine student—maybe even surpass you one day! Look at her—bright, golden, full of potential. And I can’t teach her about divine power. If I try, I’ll get purified.”

I beamed, pushing Luminas gently toward him. Nyx recoiled a step, clearly overwhelmed.

“Ugh! You saw her bite me, right?!”

“That was… a sign of affection.”

I looked away. Honestly, I didn’t know why she’d taken an instant dislike to him. But among demons, biting was a common gesture of bonding. Maybe she’d just copied what she’d seen.

“Children bite sometimes,” I added.

“Demon children!” Nyx snapped. “She’s human!”

“Anyway, I’m counting on you. You used to serve God Himself—you can handle looking after one little kid, can’t you?”

At that moment, Luminas tugged at my trouser leg. I knelt down, meeting her eyes.

“You’re really leaving?” she whispered.

Leaving her alone tugged painfully at my chest, but bringing her along into a realm full of hostile demons would be reckless.

I’d have to formally introduce her to the others later—once I’d laid the groundwork. The last thing I needed was idiots misunderstanding my intentions.

And there were many idiots.

I stroked her hair. “If you behave and stay here, I’ll bring you chocolate later.”

“Chocolate?”

“That brown square you ate earlier. Sweet, right? If you wait patiently, you’ll get more as a reward.”

She still looked unhappy—clearly preferring my company over candy—but at least she nodded.

So this is what parents must feel when they send their kids off to school, I thought as I patted her head again.

Behind me, Nyx was squawking, insisting he’d never agreed to “babysit.” I ignored him completely.