Kidnapped Princess C11

Chapter 11

“No, not at all. Anyway, I need you to sway public opinion a little. If word spreads that I plan to ‘rule the world,’ they’ll all love it, won’t they?”

“So you intend to protect the princess from the other demons. Some will surely oppose it.”

“And others will support it. The ones who despise humans and the ones who see her as a tool for world domination will fight among themselves. That’s exactly what I need.”

It was impossible to please everyone with one decision.

“The Demon Realm will be in turmoil,” Elvin said quietly.

“Human lives are fleeting. It won’t matter much to them.”

“Ah, yes. To blink once is to live and die in their brief lifetimes.”

Humans grow fast and die faster. When I stopped being human, a single year lost its value. Time stretched endlessly, and with it came the boredom.

Maybe that’s why all those “Demon Kings” in fairy tales kidnapped princesses or declared world domination—they were just trying to escape the crushing monotony and loneliness.

There had even been one who went insane from it.

I won’t end up like that, I promised myself.

Still, things were getting more interesting this year. A war with humans was brewing, and I had a new guest in my home. I hated war, but the princess—she was adorable and full of life.

Lilith once told me that demons are a race that like to keep what they desire close.

“Guess that applies to me too, huh?” I muttered.

“What do you mean, Your Majesty? You’re the Demon King—who else could possibly be?”

“I meant it’s good to have you around, Elvin.”

He nagged constantly, and his worship could be exhausting, but he had been with me ever since I fell into this world. Servant, friend, and occasional voice of reason—because of him, I wasn’t alone.

“Y-your words honor me, my lord!”

He was nearly crying when the freshly washed princess suddenly appeared before us.

“Your Majesty, as commanded, I tended to the princess with utmost care and made sure she was thoroughly cleansed.”

I blinked in surprise at the sight of her.

“Oh, how adorable,” murmured Lilith, of all people—someone who had seen every form of beauty imaginable.

Her golden hair, scrubbed clean and glimmering like silk threads, framed her pale, porcelain face. The grime was gone, revealing soft, milky skin.

Her round features and gentle cheeks gave her the look of a doll—like a little mochi come to life. The tattered rags were gone, replaced by a frilly yellow dress that complemented her bright hair perfectly. For the first time, she looked like a real princess.

To think they left such a beautiful child rotting in a corner of the palace…!

The girl fidgeted, tugging at the hem of her dress, her eyes flicking up toward me.

“I-is it… okay?” she asked timidly.

“You look absolutely adorable.”

“Hehe…”

Her laughter made my chest feel light. Unable to resist, I pressed a finger into her cheek. She tilted her head curiously but didn’t pull away.

“Uncle?”

“Forget about life in the castle,” I said softly. “Just live happily with me from now on.”

I hugged her tightly, rubbing my cheek against hers. My heart felt… clean.

Yes—this must be what I’d been missing. My heart had gone dry in this desolate place.

Then, as if struck by inspiration, a word flashed in my mind.

“I’ve got it. Luminas.”

“…?”

“I promised to give you a name, remember? How about Luminas? It means ‘light.’ It’s beautiful—just like you.”

It suited her perfectly. A shining name for a shining child.

“The bride of the demon who symbolizes darkness, named after light… how delightfully ironic,” Lilith quipped, waving her fan.

Her opinion didn’t matter. I only waited for the girl’s reaction.

“Luminas…” she whispered, testing the word.

“Do you like it?”

She beamed. “Mm-hmm!”

Her bright smile filled the room, and even Elvin—hovering awkwardly nearby—cleared his throat and gestured for her to use honorifics when speaking to me.

First things first: I needed to put some weight on her. She was far too light—like holding a feather.

“All right, let’s eat.”

“Eat?”

“It means we’re going to have food.”

Luminas reached out her arms instinctively, already used to being carried, and I lifted her. We made our way to the dining hall, where a lavish spread awaited us.

Did I order this?

A quick glance at Elvin’s proud expression answered that question.

Luminas’s eyes went wide at the sight of the feast laid out before her. I helped her onto a chair.

“Go ahead, eat as much as you like.”

“All of it?”

“Of course. It’s all for you.”

I couldn’t hide my grin as excitement bubbled in my chest.

After a hesitant pause, Luminas reached for a soft roll of bread. She took a small bite—then her cheeks flushed pink as she chewed happily. Watching her eat warmed me to the core, and I picked up my spoon with a smile.

Then came a sound—shlop, slurp, gulp.

I turned my head. Luminas, completely ignoring the utensils, was eating with her bare hands. Some of the food was even steaming hot.

I froze. Then lunged.

“W-wait!”

“Hmm?”

She turned toward me, confused, a piece of meat clutched in her little hand.

“It’s great that you’re eating well, but don’t rush. You’ll choke. And you’re supposed to use these—spoons and forks.”

I’d already set them beside her, assuming she’d at least seen them before. But then it hit me.

Oh. She used to eat grass.

Of course she didn’t know how to use utensils.

She looked guilty, glancing from me to the food, before shyly nibbling again. Her tiny hands and the way she tore at the meat reminded me of a small animal. Her dress was already stained with sauce, and her clean hands were a mess again.

“Okay, put that down for now.”

She looked disappointed but obeyed. I handed the messy plate to Elvin and lifted her onto my lap, gently wiping her hands with a napkin.

“You’ll get a stomachache if you eat that fast. I’ll teach you how to use utensils later. For now, just watch how I do it.”

Her stomach growled again as her eyes locked onto the food. I chuckled softly and began feeding her myself, one bite at a time.

She accepted each morsel eagerly, like a baby bird waiting to be fed.

“Is it good?”

“It’s really good!”

“Good. You earned it for being so brave during your bath.”

Watching her eat was enough to fill me with joy.

Demons, unlike humans, didn’t need food. Some species absorbed energy or magic instead. I only ate because old habits from my human life lingered.

When Luminas finally leaned back, patting her round little stomach, her satisfied smile was contagious.

“Your Majesty,” Elvin said after a moment, “it’s time for your duties. Who should watch over your bride in your absence? She must learn proper conduct if she’s to stay here.”

He wasn’t wrong. The girl would need education—not just about the Demon Realm, but basic literacy and social etiquette too.

“There’s no one I trust more than you,” I said.

“M-my lord…”

Ignoring his teary-eyed look of devotion, I thought for a moment.

“I did say I’d care for her,” came a sultry voice from behind.

“Still here?” I sighed. “You don’t even eat meals.”

“I drink wine,” Lilith replied breezily, appearing from thin air with a glass in hand.

I rolled my eyes, ready to dismiss her—but then her gaze flickered dangerously.

In a flash, I covered Luminas’s eyes with my hand and grabbed Lilith’s shoulder. “Enough. No games.”

She smiled coyly. “I only meant to confirm something, Your Majesty. Would you kindly remove your hand?”

Behind her calm tone, she had just attempted to enthrall Luminas with her pheromones. Classic succubus behavior.

“You think I wouldn’t notice your pheromone magic? Why?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Then, softly:

“She carries the Hero’s blood. As you said, she’s deeply loved by the gods. I needed to see how much power she holds.”

“She’s still a child.”

“That may be, but she’s dangerous—to us. Unlike dragons or elves, we demons survived only by fleeing to this land steeped in toxic energy. Had we not, we’d have been wiped out long ago.”

Her voice had changed—calm, but grave.

Lilith might act frivolous, but she was old. Wise. She’d been there when I became Demon King, after all.

So that’s why she offered to care for Luminas, I realized. Not for fun—for security.

She wasn’t trying to harm the child; she was trying to make sure Luminas wouldn’t grow up to destroy them.

“I’ll take responsibility for her,” I said firmly.

Lilith studied me for a moment, then sighed and shrugged.

“…If that’s your decision, so be it. I had only intended to place a compulsion—a safeguard ensuring she could never turn against us.”

“You were serious?!”

So she had planned to brainwash the child. I clenched my fists.

No way am I ever leaving Luminas in your care.