Kidnapped Princess C25

Chapter 25

“Luminas, I’m sorry. Are you hurt anywhere? Were you scared?”

I ran my hands gently over her, checking every inch for even the smallest scratch.

“I wasn’t scared… I can’t cry over something like this…”

Her lips trembled as she bit them tight, fighting back tears. Though her legs were shaking uncontrollably, she stood her ground like the brave child she was.

“…You’re courageous,” I murmured.

She hadn’t leaned into me, but the moment I pulled her into my arms, her resistance melted. She wrapped her small arms around my neck, trembling as I softly patted her back.

“Urgh…”

I turned my gaze to the bastard sprawled on the ground, groaning. With a sharp kick, I nudged him.

“Why did you kidnap Luminas?”

My voice came out cold and edged. There was no need for courtesy toward the one who’d dared lay hands on her.

I cast a glance at Luminas. She was safe this time, but had the kidnapper been any more ruthless, he could have killed her in an instant. The thought alone made my fingers twitch with anger.

“Grkk… you degenerate…”

“Me?”

“Yes, you! A Demon King who dreams of coexisting with humans? Ridiculous! Humans are our prey—pathetic, crawling creatures meant to serve beneath us!”

“…You do realize you’re insulting yourself, don’t you? You were human.”

“I shed that pitiful shell! I’ve been reborn!”

I listened in silence to the arrogant rambling. Only demons could turn humans into maein—half-demons, born of corruption. Long ago, demons tempted dark-hearted humans, granting them twisted power in exchange for their souls.

Most maein ended up broken—mentally and physically—used like pawns and discarded. Those who retained their minds were often betrayed anyway. A human who betrayed his own kind could just as easily betray demons.

This one looked newly made. No way he could’ve infiltrated the capital alone.

“I’ll ask one more time. Why did you take Luminas?”

“Do you think we’d accept a human as the Demon King’s bride? You’ve shamed our kind! You’ve trampled on our pride! That’s why he plans to kill you!”

He.

So it wasn’t just a random act—it was a message.

“I was saved by him,” the maein continued feverishly. “He gave us strength! Freed us from weakness! That’s the true Demon King—the one who’ll slaughter every last human without hesitation! Not you, a king dulled by peace!”

“Peace is good,” I said coolly. “You’d be surprised how hard it is to live without needless fighting. If your so-called savior wants my throne, he can come and try. I’m not stepping down, and I’m not planning to kill all humans either. Some of them are actually useful, if you look closely.”

The maein sneered.

“Did you hear that, princess? The Demon King only keeps you close to use you! He’s not soft—he’s calculating! He’s pretending to love you so he can use you and toss you aside! Do you really think someone like him would ever make a human his bride?”

“Luminas,” I asked, glancing down, “what did he say to you?”

“I told her the truth,” the maein spat. “He’ll use you, then discard you. Whatever scheme he’s plotting, it won’t matter once he makes his move. You’d better step down from your throne, Demon King, before it’s too late.”

“So you’re his follower,” I said dryly.

No point listening anymore. The idiot didn’t even realize how self-contradictory he sounded.

If I’d truly brought Luminas here as a pawn, that would mean I had some hidden plan against the humans—something the maein’s master clearly believed. But war against humanity would only prove the opposite of what I stood for.

In short, his words were nothing but an attempt to shake Luminas’s faith.

Well, that tells me something.

There were demons who’d fled to the human realm, plotting in the shadows. They wanted to test whether Luminas could be used against me.

Pathetic.

“You’re coming with me.”

“What?”

“I’ll throw you to Dylan. He’ll dig out everything you know about your precious master. Consider yourself lucky—I’m letting you live a little longer.”

I’d planned to kill him, but information was worth more than blood. And besides, I wouldn’t have Luminas watch me end a life.

He clearly mistook my calm tone for mockery. His face turned red with fury.

“Don’t you dare underestimate me!”

“I wasn’t, actually…”

The maein sprang up like a coiled spring, charging at me. Murderous energy rippled from his body—a surge of corrupted mana. I frowned. Something about it felt… wrong. Off.

“Y-Your Majesty…” Luminas whispered.

“It’s fine. I’m not going to die. Just close your eyes if it gets scary.”

As he gathered his mana, I gathered mine—a glowing orb of violet energy formed in my palm. Maybe too strong, but whatever. The sphere launched toward him in an instant.

“Ha! That slow thing won’t—”

“Bye.”

I grinned and waved Luminas’s hand playfully.

The maein screamed as the orb swallowed him whole. If my guess was right, Dylan would be getting a very confused new guest soon. He’d be mad I sent him another “delivery,” but he’d live.

The maein thrashed wildly, trying to escape.

“You bastard—!”

“You’re loud,” I said flatly. “Did you actually think you could beat me?”

Just as his body began to vanish into the vortex, he fired several spears of black mana straight at me. Normally, I could’ve deflected them with a flick of my wrist—

“…What?”

They passed through me. No, more accurately—my mana vanished entirely.

That’s… odd.

I spread my wings instinctively to block, but—

“Don’t!” Luminas cried out.

A brilliant light exploded, flooding the alley with blinding radiance. The mana spears dissolved into nothing. Both the maein and I froze in shock.

Luminas stared up at me, equally startled, then managed a shaky smile.

“…Ha-ha, at least now I know it worked!” the maein wheezed. But the rest of him was sucked away, his scream fading into silence.

“Are you okay? Did it hurt? You’re not dying, right?” Luminas asked frantically.

“Hmm… No, that wouldn’t have killed me,” I said. “Maybe a few holes in my wings at most.”

Her worried eyes stayed fixed on me. It had been a long, long time since anyone had looked at me like that. Elvin would throw a fit if he saw this.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “You saved me.”

Her face lit up with pure joy.

Still… what was that? Why couldn’t I block that attack? Something about the maein’s mana was off.

That strange energy again. I can’t take Dylan’s warnings lightly anymore.

It was the same sensation I’d felt when the gods first summoned me to this world—foreign, invasive, wrong.

But Luminas was safe. That was enough for now.

When we returned to the boutique, Arachne was kneeling on the floor, head bowed low.

“Your Majesty,” she said evenly. “Through my reckless judgment, I put the bride in danger. I’ll accept any punishment you see fit.”

She didn’t even consider the possibility that I could’ve been harmed. Still, she was right—letting Luminas fall into danger was inexcusable.

“Luminas,” I said, “what do you want to do?”

It was her choice to make. As expected, she shook her head.

“It happened because I’m weak. I’m the one who’s sorry… because of me, the spiders…”

Too kind for her own good. In times like this, she really needed to learn to be selfish.

“The children will rest easier knowing you’re safe, my lady,” Arachne said quietly.

“You can repay them by getting stronger,” I added. “Just like how you protected me earlier.”

“Yes… I’ll do that.”

I’d heard from Nyx that she’d begun learning to control her holy power, but I hadn’t expected her abilities to manifest so soon.

“What about the dresses?” I asked.

“I’ll send them to the castle,” Arachne said. “That will be my punishment.”

“Fine.”

The interruption had ruined what was supposed to be our first proper outing. The thought left a sour taste. I ruffled Luminas’s hair gently.

Thank goodness she was safe. She must’ve been terrified, yet she’d fought back—biting, struggling, refusing to give up. When I’d found her, she hadn’t cowered; she’d resisted.

Still, I wished she wouldn’t try to shoulder everything alone.

“Let’s go home,” I said quietly.

Back at the Demon King’s Castle, I informed Renya of the kidnapping, ensuring she checked Luminas thoroughly for any injury and tightened security throughout the grounds. I also told her to store the soon-to-arrive dresses safely in the dressing room.

After escorting the exhausted girl to her room, I returned to my office to finish the day’s paperwork. That was when Elvin burst in, panting.

“Your Majesty! I heard what happened! Are you unharmed?”

“I’m fine,” I said. “It was Luminas who was kidnapped. What about you? Weren’t you supposed to be handling the humans?”

“Of course,” he said, chest puffed proudly. “All handled. There won’t be any human incursions for quite some time.”