Kidnapped Princess C46

Chapter 46

Luminas’ tone was so vicious that I wondered if I had misheard her earlier. But given that the caster of the charm was right before her, there was nothing odd about her fury.

Normally, she would have stepped forward to forgive, but this time the line had clearly been crossed.

“That demon didn’t just target His Majesty—he also peeped into my dreams.”

Her presence was so commanding she felt more like a general than a saint. I was the one startled. It looked as if the first demon in history to die from being hit by a pillow might be born.

“Well well, I came because my child caused some trouble…”

Lilith emerged from thin air. Why hadn’t I called her sooner? She represented both succubi and incubi; if anyone knew how to reverse charm magic, it would be her. I welcomed her more warmly than usual.

“Good timing! See if you can undo the charm on Luminas.”

Lilith observed Luminas carefully, then shook her head.

“It’s impossible. More accurately—I could seize control of the charm. But the problem is, that would put me under it, and my condition would become even worse. Once, a human rejected me despite my charm… and they became a fool afterward.”

This was undoubtedly her personal experience; she didn’t sound like she was lying. She also possessed a Devil’s Eye, and in some ways she was even more dangerous than that incubus.

“It’s that severe?”

“A human cannot deny me… yet that one insisted, and their brain… rotted. Before I immigrated here, I consumed many humans. They are a delightful species—fertile, and faithful to desire.”

“Ah… really.”

“Well, nowadays most demons never even meet humans, so many don’t know.”

The Demon Realm and Human Realm were strictly separated, and especially since I became king, harming humans was forbidden.

So that was how it used to be… even I hadn’t known that.

“Annoying as it feels, the solution is simple. You don’t even need to do it in reality—you can do it in a dream. I could do it.”

“Are you joking?”

I clenched my teeth as I spoke. Lilith merely shrugged, as though she had no better ideas herself.

I nervously glanced at Luminas.

“Is there another way? Has anyone ever resisted and overcome charm in their right mind… obviously not.”

A demon never lets go of prey once chosen—especially if that prey is human.

If only he had targeted me instead…

The problem was simply that he had used the Devil’s Eye on Luminas, who was human and still young—her body still developing.

“Should I kill him?”

I murmured quietly as I looked down at the demon kneeling on the floor.

I was too furious. The incubus trembled violently, as if he knew his life could end any second. He lifted his head, perhaps realizing he could not simply sit still, and met my gaze.

“If you plan to beg for your life, don’t bother. It will only irritate me.”

“Your Majesty, killing me won’t improve Her Highness’ condition.”

“I know that. But it will at least serve as an example.”

I hated bloodying my hands, but if I let this slide, other demons might dare to approach Luminas. And any demon capable of infiltrating the Demon King’s castle wouldn’t perish permanently from one death anyway.

“But Your Majesty… what happened to your neck?”

My neck, marred by Luminas’ bite marks, still oozed faint blood. They looked at me, silently asking who could have done such a thing.

Hmm… if I say Luminas did it, all hell will break loose.

It was obvious.

I hadn’t expected the wounds to remain. It seemed because Luminas had divine blessing and wielded holy power, her bite marks didn’t heal as quickly. Elvin exploded in anger at Lilith’s words.

“Which bastard dared to harm His Majesty!”

Their gazes shifted toward Luminas even though I hadn’t spoken.

Of course—it wasn’t as if I let just anyone sink their teeth into me. And only Luminas had been in the room. I waved my hand vaguely.

Lilith smiled with amusement, while Elvin’s expression crumpled.

“It doesn’t hurt, really. Luminas wasn’t in her right mind.”

If giving my neck helped her recover, it was worth it.

“It will improve with time. Three days, perhaps? But nobody knows what the side effects will be. She could even become a fool, like that human I mentioned.”

She spoke casually, but the time frame was alarming. Luminas kept insisting she was fine, but clearly she wasn’t. Her usual clear sky-like eyes were nothing like normal.

“All we can do is wait for the antidote Nyx is making.”

“You plan to feed her the antidote?”

“I’ll try anything we can.”

Soon after, Nyx appeared holding a vial.

“You came quickly.”

“If I came late, you would’ve yelled at me to hurry up anyway.”

Not wrong. I absolutely would have.

“I brought an antidote… sort of. It’s just a charm-dispelling draught. I don’t actually know how to undo incubus charm. But I did throw in herbs related to it… should work somehow.”

So he improvised using whatever anti-aphrodisiac herbs he had.

“Oh, don’t worry—the plants from the Demon Realm are poisonous, so I diluted it to fit a human body. Better than doing nothing.”

I snatched the antidote and offered it to Luminas. Lilith leaned in to examine it.

“You diluted it… did you use Hedera herb by chance?”

“It’s the standard.”

“Hm.”

I thought the question odd, but there was no time to dwell. Luminas’ recovery mattered first.

“Luminas, Nyx made this. If you drink it, you’ll get better.”

“Your Majesty, may I speak with you briefly?”

“I’m busy. If it’s about sparing that demon—”

“No need. You may kill him.”

Lilith cut in, merciless and sharp.

She whispered something into Luminas’ ear. Luminas’ eyes widened as she glanced at me and the antidote.

Lilith then seized the incubus by the scruff like a lioness grabbing a cub.

“I’ll take this child. I told you never to touch the Bride, didn’t I?”

The incubus, dangling in her grasp, went still like prey.

“Do as you wish.”

I had no time to spare on him.

Lilith would teach him the proper consequences. Besides, she cared for Luminas in her own way.

“Come on, drink it. It will help. If not, we’ll find another way. Don’t worry.”

Sweat dripped from Luminas’ forehead, yet she did not take the antidote. She didn’t even reassure me as before—she only stared downward, eyes hollow.

“Luminas?”

“I’ll go. Call if something happens.”

Nyx vanished.

“It’s strange, but Nyx knows what he’s doing. You know that. You don’t need to be scared.”

“…”

“This is the Demon King’s antidote. Drink it. Or would you rather die?”

“Elvin.”

“I just don’t understand why she’s being so stubborn.”

Elvin sighed dramatically. I studied Luminas closely. Her lips parted and she whispered faint fragments:

“Anyway… I couldn’t… hide forever…”

Her voice broke like her breath—fragmented and weak. I assumed fear was clawing at her.

“I will stay by your side.”

“…!”

There is no lonelier pain than suffering alone. Luminas’ head shot up, startled.

Was that so surprising?

She opened and closed her lips several times before saying:

“Sir Elvin, please leave.”

“What? His Majesty cannot stay with you always. This is an urgent—”

“Elvin, handle the urgent paperwork.”

“But—”

One look from me, and he reluctantly vanished, looking displeased.

“Your Majesty said there was nothing hideous about me. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

I had no idea why she brought that up now, but I answered anyway. It wasn’t as if drinking the antidote would turn her into a monster.

Luminas lifted the vial like someone accepting poison, then swallowed. She clutched her chest.

“I truly never meant to be found out like this. Or… maybe part of me did want to be discovered…”

She muttered things I could not comprehend. Her voice was as forlorn as autumn leaves falling. She lay on the bed silently. She did not grab my hand, though earlier she had begged me not to leave.

As though giving me permission to walk away.

So instead, I held her hand first.

“Sleep. When you wake, you will feel much better.”

Luminas’ lips trembled before she whispered:

“…Yes.”