Kidnapped Princess C42

Chapter 42

“You’ve come.”

At last, the one I had been waiting for arrived.

“The Demon King’s dreams are always so dull.”

“We’re only here to talk. This much is enough.”

Even if it was a dream, it was nothing more than a meeting place to speak with Lilith—so a single table and a pair of chairs sitting in a pristine white void were sufficient. Still, she couldn’t help but shake her head at the stark emptiness.

I gestured for her to sit and lifted my teacup. “So, what did you find?”

Lilith sat gracefully across from me.

“There is a traitor among the Elder Council.”

My brow twitched. The Elder Council held power second only to mine in the Demon Realm. For one of them to have turned their back on me…

“Tch. Those old fools… They hid well. So who is it?”

Even at the best of times, most Elders nagged about what I should or shouldn’t do, hoping I’d step down. My opinion of them has always been… limited.

“To be precise, it is his child. The Elder noticed his son exchanging peculiar letters. Investigation confirmed the truth. Arachne’s spiders saw it clearly.”

“So that’s a relief… in a way.”

If it had been the Elder himself, the damage could’ve been significantly worse. The son no doubt held access to information—but not nearly as much as his father.

“Is he in contact with the Hero?”

“That, we don’t know. The Hero despises demons.”

“The Hero’s party has a Saintess, doesn’t it? There’s no way she wouldn’t recognize a demon. Unless that demon can disguise himself as well as Dylan.”

“That’s not the case.”

“Then they must be passing information indirectly. Suspicious as it is, people burdened by responsibility will believe any lifeline offered.”

“The labyrinth’s location, equipment, and arms… all handed to them. They would trust such a benefactor.”

“Fools. Nothing in this world comes without a price.”

“That is humanity’s flaw—limitlessly naïve and pitiful. At any rate, Arachne’s spiders are observing. We have proof. Shall I apprehend him?”

“No.”

For humans—fragile, grasping creatures—it may seem safer to arm the Hero party directly. But that also carried risk. Why do it anyway? Testing, perhaps.

Yes. A test. The labyrinth itself exists to test demons.

“We’ll watch longer. If they’re bold enough to act, there’s more to uncover. And humans scrambling benefits us for now.”

“Planning to use them thoroughly, I see.”

Lilith sipped her tea, clearly amused.

Prolonged war breaks a nation from the bottom up. Ordinary elves, beastkin, and humans shoulder the cost—not royals nor nobles in their fortified capitals.

Taxes, conscription, poverty, hunger. Whispered rumors spread easily when bellies rumble.

And when low-ranked demons stealthily whispered, “The monsters cross the border because of the Hero’s recklessness”… humans needed little encouragement to grow resentful.

“Hatred changes targets easily.”

And we truly never invaded. We stayed to our own lands. It was humans who chose this battlefield.

“Human society collapsing isn’t ideal,” I murmured.

“Because of the Princess?”

“Well, yes. She needs somewhere to run if—by some chance—she cannot stay with me.”

Luminas ages. That is good—she grows. But the difference between human and demon lifespans… that is the one fear I cannot shake.

“Princess will never leave your side.”

“Future’s unpredictable.”

“You suggested showing her the human world for that reason, didn’t you?”

“You heard?”

Lilith smiled thinly.

“Before that, there’s something else. Luminas is hiding something. You know what it is, don’t you? You’ve met her often enough.”

Silence settled. Lilith placed her cup down and folded her hands atop the table.

“As it concerns Your Majesty yourself, I may speak.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know how many men I have conquered. All I did was offer her lessons on how to properly seduce you. She requests further tutoring often. Impatient little thing… Shall I include Your Majesty in the lesson? If I understand your tastes more clearly—”

“No thanks!”

I cut her off quickly, feeling heat creep up my neck.

Of course Luminas would worry. Of course she would overthink it. She has always been earnest, always desperate to hold onto me.

I sighed. “Just keep watching. The one who kidnapped Luminas may be linked. They could use holy power—be careful.”

“You mean that human-turned-demon? I’ve only heard the story, but Arachne’s spiders saw the same. It must exist somewhere. Perhaps they’re experimenting. Humans do proliferate wild rumors about demons ravaging their capital.”

“Experiments or not, they’re stirring chaos. Snatching humans, forcing demonization, unleashing maddened fiends in the capital… stirring hatred. Simple but effective.”

We never commanded it. Yet humans swear demons attack their streets.

“I’m going down to human territory soon. To clean up—and to settle other business.”

Lilith examined a cookie. “Pretty. Princess Luminas made these?”

“Yes. Good, right? She’s talented.”

I boasted as if presenting a beloved daughter.

The dream-space trembled—an intruder. Then, instantly, reverted to stillness. They’d been repelled.

“Who was that?”

“Plenty of demons still chase Your Majesty’s affection.”

“You handle it. That’s your department.”

“Why would I crush tender young lovers striving for your heart? Once you marry, they’ll all give up.”

I clicked my tongue. Lilith rose. The white space began to crack like breaking glass.

She vanished—leaving only silence.

I jolted awake. My ceiling greeted me; it was a quiet night.

“Lilith… leaving without—”

“Lilith?”

“Luminas?”

Not Lilith after all. Luminas stood there, blue eyes trembling with heat and something… darker. The residue of magic hung in the air—someone else had indeed tried to intrude.

“Why are you here? And—did a demon come just now?”

“Was someone supposed to?”

Her expression soured. Strange… and unsettling. Why was she here in the dead of night?

“A bad dream?”

Once, she would clutch a pillow and ask to stay beside me, terrified of nightmares.

She didn’t respond immediately. Her gaze gleamed feverishly. Her eyes were rimmed faintly red.

“Luminas?”

At last she moved—leaning forward until she toppled into my arms. Her face pressed to my chest, burning hot.

“Yes. I dreamed a terrible dream. Of you abandoning me and leaving.”

“Me?”

She refused to elaborate, as though merely speaking the idea tasted bitter.

“That was a foolish dream.”

“Yes. Just a dream. But… I was afraid.”

I stroked her hair gently.

“Then… why did you call for Lady Lilith? Was she with you?”

“Hmm?”

Her voice was low and dangerous—like a lover catching betrayal mid-whisper.

“Just something in a dream. We had to speak.”

“I learned succubi only visit dreams for… intimate purposes.”

“…Excuse me?”

I choked. This was definitely not a joke. Her voice held jealousy sharp enough to cut.

Lilith once said a jealous woman is terrifying. She was right.

Luminas’s gaze slid to the window, icy and possessive.

“It’s strange. Each time I reach out, you drift far away again. I won’t let anything take you. Tonight, too—someone tried…”

Someone had indeed come.

“Don’t tell me… you drove them off?”