Kidnapped Princess C16

Chapter 16

It must have been tough for a child to clean such a large room on her own. There were surely places she couldn’t even reach. And what was this about “repayment”? When I pulled the blanket aside and got out of bed, I found the floor gleaming as if it had been polished.

“Did Luminas… do this?”

Renya nodded quietly. The ragged, filthy piece of cloth Luminas was clutching in both hands was, apparently, the dress Renya had prepared for her to wear. So she had used that to scrub the floor.

“I see… So Luminas cleaned the room. Then why is Elvin crying like that?”

“His Majesty’s morning greeting and room cleaning are, in his words, his ‘exclusive privileges.’ He is… heartbroken that someone else has taken his place.”

“…Ha.”

I couldn’t help pinching the bridge of my nose.

All right, let’s organize this mess.

Luminas didn’t sleep and cleaned my room. Elvin is devastated because she greeted me first and cleaned the room before he could.

Reading my face, Renya gave Elvin a look that said she found him just as pitiful as I did.

“You haven’t changed at all, have you?” I said.

“Silence! You wouldn’t understand!”

“What even is this disaster? Stop crying! You’re making it worse!”

I shouted at him, but Elvin only cried louder.

“Your Majesty! How can you say such cruel words! For three hundred years, greeting you each morning and cleaning your chambers were the highlights of my life! How could I not feel hollow now that my purpose has been stolen?!”

“How would I know!” I snapped.

I snatched the ruined cloth from Luminas’s hands and burned it to ashes. Her shoulders drooped, eyes downcast. I knelt to meet her gaze.

“This isn’t your job,” I said softly.

“Then… what should I do? You said you needed me, but I can’t do anything…”

“All I need from you is to grow up healthy. You don’t owe me anything.”

She tilted her head slightly, as if she didn’t quite understand—but that was fine. She would, in time.

“Renya, has Luminas eaten yet?”

“Not yet, Your Majesty.”

“Then let’s go eat.”

Anything to get away from this headache of a scene.

When we reached the dining hall, servants began setting the table with the usual spread of lavish dishes. Luminas still wasn’t good with utensils, so I sat her on my lap.

I couldn’t have her burning her hands again like last time, shoveling food barehanded in a hurry.

Her eyes shone as she stared at the food, drool practically forming. She reached out instinctively but hesitated, remembering how I’d panicked yesterday, and quickly placed her hands neatly in her lap again.

At least she learned fast.

Elvin handed over a small spoon designed for children, decorated with cute little drawings. For all his eccentricities, he really was a capable butler. Luminas stared curiously at the spoon.

Time to teach her how to use it.

“Here, like this,” I said, demonstrating the proper grip. She mimicked me perfectly, and I couldn’t help but smile at how she mirrored my movements like a child copying a parent.

“Good, right?”

“Mhm!”

“Let’s try this next,” I said, levitating a plate of meatballs closer to her. Her eyes sparkled in awe at the sight of the floating dish.

I was about to show her how to use a fork but decided against it. She looked determined to do it herself, and that was worth encouraging.

Unfortunately, meatballs were round and slippery. Each time she tried to scoop one, it rolled away, and she grunted in frustration.

She was so used to fending for herself that she rarely asked for help—even now, she was struggling rather than giving up.

Her insistence on “repaying” me, her scrubbing the floor, her anxiety about being abandoned—all of it echoed in my mind. She was trying to prove she was useful so I wouldn’t discard her.

The thought weighed heavily on me.

How could I help her feel truly safe here?

“Look! I did it!”

“Huh?”

She beamed proudly, holding up the spoon with a perfectly captured meatball.

I reached out and ruffled her hair. “Good job.”

Until she could let go of her fear, I’d stay by her side.

“Hehe.”

Just as she was about to take a bite, the meatball slipped off the spoon and plopped onto the floor.

“Ah…”

Her face crumpled like the world had ended. I almost laughed.

“That’s all right,” I said, handing her a fork. “Try with this—it’s easier.”

She perked up instantly, stabbing the meatball and happily eating it with a wide grin.

Now that’s healing.

I might have taken her on a whim, but she was part of my household now.

The humans who’d neglected her had wounded her deeply—but I’d heal that. And even if they came demanding her return, I’d never hand her back.

After breakfast, she clung to the hem of my robe when she realized I was about to leave. I felt guilty for leaving her alone, but there was no helping it.

“Do I have to stay alone again today?” she asked softly.

“Of course,” Elvin said curtly. “His Majesty doesn’t have the luxury of lazing around like you.”

Still salty from this morning, he was taking it out on her. I kicked him lightly in the shin and crouched to meet Luminas’s eyes.

“I wish I could stay with you all day,” I said, smiling. “But I can’t. And you won’t really be alone. Renya will be with you. And that person with the white wings from yesterday—Nyx. You can stay with them, right?”

“…Okay.”

“Renya, take her to Nyx. He’s supposed to be teaching her, but keep an eye on him too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Luminas still looked dejected, but she didn’t throw a tantrum. Watching her small back as she walked away with Renya, I found myself murmuring,

“She’ll need friends, won’t she?”

For a child’s emotional growth, companionship was essential.

Maybe I should introduce her to someone around her age. A girl would be better—demon boys could be… rowdy. Though, considering Luminas’s looks, even that might not save me from trouble.

What if a demon child fell for her? Or worse—what if she liked her friends so much she stopped wanting to play with me?

The thought made my chest tighten unexpectedly.

Still… she really would need a friend. Someone gentle. Someone safe.

Just as I was lost in thought, I noticed a swarm of messenger bats circling outside.

“Looks like I’ll have plenty of visitors today.”

Judging by their number, the news had spread far and wide. And I was right.

On the way to the audience chamber, a demon came running, breathless.

“Y-your Majesty! We’re in trouble! Lord Dylan—he’s already here!”

“So soon? I suppose yesterday’s news did shock him.”

The humans’ rash interpretation of the divine prophecy had led to their declaration of war just yesterday.

In the process, they’d also learned that I’d “kidnapped” the princess. Not surprising—I’d gone straight to their castle and claimed her in front of their knights.

Most demons within my castle followed my word without question, so I’d managed to avoid any uproar internally. But today would be different.

Today, the nobles—the ones who didn’t live within the Demon Castle walls—would come.

Even as Demon King, I couldn’t simply rule by decree. Balance and unity mattered.

“Show some respect in His Majesty’s presence!” Elvin barked. “Running in the royal corridors—do you intend to stain our lord’s reputation with your rudeness?”

The flustered demon quickly bowed. “I-I’m sorry!”

“That’s enough,” I said. “Raise your head. I expected Dylan’s arrival.”

The mere mention of his name made me sigh. Dylan—of course. He’d be the first to come storming in.

There were five of us who had once sealed Halstel together: myself, Elvin, Dylan, Renya, and Rain. Dylan had always been the “prince” of the group.

Among demons, nobles existed, and Dylan’s family had remained in the top five houses for centuries. He now held the headship himself.

He was quiet, calculating, and stubborn. Once he made a decision, nothing could sway him.

And to be fair, his confidence was earned—he had both the talent and the willpower to see things through. Arrogant, yes, but not without reason. And he truly cared for the Demon Realm.

That’s probably why he and I had clashed so often in the past. But disagreements among leaders were natural—I’d never taken it personally. Neither did he.

“Doh Suhyeon.”

The moment I stepped into the audience chamber, I heard his low voice calling my name.

I hadn’t heard anyone use that in a long time.

He sat there, glaring daggers at me. Just the fact that he’d used my name meant he was genuinely angry.

He wouldn’t leave until I gave him an explanation he found satisfactory.

He sat like a general, arms crossed, commanding the air.

I chuckled faintly. Honestly, if it weren’t for me, he probably would’ve been crowned Demon King instead. His charisma and power both surpassed mine.

So why had the throne fallen to me? Who knew.

Without replying, I walked to the center of the chamber. Upon the raised dais stood an enormous crimson throne—one only the Demon King could sit upon.

I took my seat, meeting his gaze.

“All right,” I said calmly. “Go ahead.”