Kidnapped Princess C41

Chapter 41 

“Of course. I came because I completed the task you entrusted to me.”

The request I had given to Lilith: to find the traitor on the inside.

It made sense that the Hero could slay monsters and demons with the Holy Sword. I could accept that much.

But they had crossed the Poison Marsh, broken through the forest, and even found the labyrinth. And today, Elvin had reported that the Hero’s party had located the weapons and equipment hidden within the labyrinth—as if someone had told them exactly where the treasure was.

There’s someone near the Hero who knows the Demon Realm’s geography.

From the moment I heard about the breach into the labyrinth, I’d expected it. What mattered was whether the demon at their side was one who had once stood by mine, or one I had cast out.

Either way, it was troublesome and needed to be resolved quickly.

And I still remembered well what happened when Luminas had been kidnapped—

A magus wielding holy power.

If there truly was a demon beside the Hero, it likely wasn’t unrelated.

“So? What’s the conclusion?”

“To put it simply: such a person exists.”

“Inside? Outside?”

“Inside.”

Lilith smiled as she answered. My expression hardened.

Inside, then. My first instinct was to drag that demon out and interrogate them immediately…

“Luminas, return to your room for now.”

What followed would be a serious discussion. And I did not want to stir the memories of her childhood abduction.

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

Surprisingly, Luminas left without resistance. I prepared to ask Lilith who it was—

“…Come to me in my dreams later.”

Thinking it over, this wasn’t a conversation we should have here. Even if no sound could leak from this office, one could never be too careful. There was a traitor, after all. And the moment they realized they’d been discovered, things could get complicated. I still needed answers—what their goal was, how they manipulated the prophecy, and what they had done to the god.

“Day words have birds to hear them, and night words have rats to hear them. We don’t know who might be listening.”

If the traitor knew we’d found them, we would lose the advantage. There was too much to uncover.

“So dreams are safest. No one else can invade your domain.”

She was a succubus—one who could enter dreams and drain life essence.

“Of course. No one can trespass in a realm I control. But… Demon King, are you going to be alright?”

“What do you mean? It’s the safest method.”

She hummed softly, then suddenly smiled as though she’d found something amusing. I had no idea what thought entertained her like that.

“I object. Who knows what Lady Lilith might do to the Demon King inside a dream?!”

Elvin practically shouted, voice tense.

Ah. So that’s what this was about. That explained her odd smile too.

“If you do anything funny in my dream, I won’t forgive you.”

“Naturally. It’s difficult enough to seize control from you as it is. I only wanted to warn you that the aftermath won’t fall on me—but on you.”

“What aftermath?”

“You’ll see.”

Her laughter filled the office—long, ringing, and unsettling. As she laughed, I found myself frowning deeper. Elvin did as well.

“Then I’ll go see the bride now.”

“Why?”

“Because I should.”

Her tone shifted. Gone was the playful air—replaced by a somber voice and eyes that looked toward the door like she was gazing at a pitiful lamb.

It was the same look I had once seen.

“Lilith, what are you—”

“I’ll take my leave.”

She lifted her skirt in a graceful bow and vanished.

A shadowed room. Lilith descended lightly and found her at once.

Collapsed on the bed, clutching the sheets—no, him.

Click, click—her heels tapped as she approached. She brushed a hand down the trembling back.

“Princess, how foolish. If your condition is failing, you should simply stay put.”

She had noticed long ago that Luminas was at his limit. There was no way she wouldn’t recognize the expression of someone approaching their beloved with a motive—she was an expert in such things.

His love for Suhyeon was pure and absolute. The one who had saved him as a child and given him purpose.

His gaze even held obsession now, though the Demon King failed to see it, blinded by affection.

Luminas didn’t answer. Rage flickered in his eyes when he turned, but his lips only parted to release ragged breaths.

“Don’t look at me like that. The Demon King asked something of me. I cannot ignore his orders. I would have come sooner otherwise. Fortunately Lenya isn’t here—you wouldn’t want anyone seeing you like this.”

As she spoke, the side effects intensified. He needed the medicine to stop his body’s growth, but Lilith was in no hurry.

If he died from this… so be it.

Luminas trembled, clutching his chest in pain. His cheeks were flushed red, hair damp with sweat, breath uneven.

With such delicate limbs and a frame still small and slender, he resembled a fragile beauty rather than a man—someone one would instinctively want to protect.

Lilith undid the scarf around his neck. Beneath it, the Adam’s apple was the only thing revealing his sex.

She brushed her fingertip across it—an undeniable mark. Growth could be delayed, but certain features could not be hidden forever.

And the delay itself could not continue indefinitely. Despite suppressing it, his body was steadily maturing.

He had hidden it well until now.

“You know you can’t hide for much longer.”

He couldn’t reply. Bones cracked as if his suppressed growth burst forth at once; thin whimpers filled the room.

The slender limbs, the soft figure—shaped through sheer effort. All to remain cherished. All to remain by his side.

If this was not pure devotion, what was?

“You should take your medicine.”

The pain of forcing his body small again would be extreme.

“Give it, now…”

Cold sweat drenched his brow. Lilith held out the bottle but spoke first.

“You asked for a stronger dose. The side effects will worsen. Will you still take it?”

His voice did not tremble.

“I don’t care.”

He reached out, demanding the pill. Lilith smiled.

Such effort and relentless will—he was truly tempting prey.

“If not for the Demon King, I might have devoured you myself.”

She set the pill bottle in his hand. Luminas swallowed one immediately.

“Kh…!”

His throat burned like fire as if flames raced down his esophagus. Soon, the Adam’s apple vanished.

“Excellent effect.”

Even she was impressed by the clean result. She reached to touch his throat, but Luminas slapped her hand away.

He checked his body—relieved to see it small again.

Not yet. It wasn’t time yet.

Lilith’ tone hardened.

“Don’t forget the side effects. You believe you can endure it, but your body—your heart—may not. Shock death, I believe humans call it?”

She recited the words calmly, almost cheerfully.

“I recommend telling him the truth. You cannot stop this forever.”

It had been over seven years since Luminas arrived. No one knew his exact age then, but by human growth patterns, the pains should have begun long ago.

“No secret lasts forever.”

Lilith smiled.

She had known Luminas was male from the moment he arrived.

“Tell the Demon King. Among demons, gender—”

“Isn’t important, is that what you were going to say?”

“Yes.”

“And if you’re wrong? Every demon who intruded on his bed was female. If he rejects me the moment he learns I’m male—how will you take responsibility?”

Luminas now looked like the predator, not the prey—eyes like a beast guarding its claim.

She retreated slightly; holy power was unpleasant to her. It wouldn’t kill her instantly, but it would hurt.

“…Then let’s say I never spoke.”

Luminas closed his eyes and stood motionless. When he opened them again, the princess façade had returned.

“Don’t overstep again.”

He smiled sweetly—issuing a threat like royalty addressing a servant. He resembled someone.

“Yes. Of course. I wish only for your bright future.”

Luminas touched his throat, ensuring the Adam’s apple had indeed vanished.