Kidnapped Princess C51

Chapter 51

After that morning’s commotion finally settled, we moved to the dining hall.

“Luminas, eat this too. You need to grow properly.”

I piled this and that onto Luminas’ plate. On top of that, I’d ordered the lower-ranked demons to bring plenty of foods known for putting weight on a body.

It felt like the very first days when Luminas arrived at the Demon Castle. Back then too, my goal had been to feed her as much as possible.

But Luminas hesitated, unable to readily accept the food I offered. Still avoiding it. I immediately scolded her firmly.

“I told you already. I like you exactly as you are. There’s no need to force yourself to hide.”

“…But I don’t want to grow.”

“Why?”

As if waiting for me to ask, Luminas’ eyes softened, and she smiled as she began speaking.

“I like being held in Your Majesty’s arms. I like when you bend slightly to accommodate me. I like looking up and seeing your gaze on me. When you hold me, I feel like I belong to you. I love that feeling.”

“…I-I see. I mean, that’s… understandable.”

Her sweet confessions, her completely sincere tone—my chest felt strangely ticklish. I’m not the type who can speak so shamelessly; I cleared my throat and offered another option.

“Luminas, then… you can hold me instead.”

If she was male and had begun growing, it was natural she’d eventually surpass me in height. The thought that someday I might be the one held—rather than the one holding—felt ironically humorous.

Judging by the widening of Luminas’ eyes, she hadn’t considered that possibility.

“Then… I can hug you?”

“Do as you like.”

After all, I’d picked her up plenty of times when she was younger—though once adolescence hit, I’d kept a bit of distance, thinking she was a girl.

Wait… so Luminas was a boy all along? What about her clothes?

I looked at her again. Even in a dress, nothing looked out of place. Even knowing now, the sight wasn’t jarring. But still—I’d have to replace her wardrobe.

Luminas, satisfied with my answer, began eating comfortably. I thought her stomach might be small from eating so little these past years, so we’d have to increase gradually—but she devoured everything without hesitation.

Ah. Growth spurt hunger…

Watching her eat so heartily after years of near-starvation twisted something in my chest. I abandoned my own plate to keep serving her.

“Luminas, eat lots. Eat well and grow quickly.”

“Yes. I’ll grow very big.”

Her tone flipped completely like turning a hand.

By the end, the plates beside her were stacked like a small mountain. I could only stare between the plates and Luminas with a conflicted look.

“It seems some beggar spirit has taken up residence in Her Highness’ stomach.”

Any other day, she would have scolded me for such a remark, but today I could only accept it.

“Luminas, shall we go out?”

“Why? Do you have business to attend to?”

“No, we need to buy you new clothes.”

“That’s fine.”

“…Fine?”

Honestly, I expected her to immediately reject dresses and want new outfits.

“These are the clothes I’ve always worn. And I like it better this way—since you like them.”

So my assumption was wrong. Luminas had worn dresses since childhood; naturally, they weren’t uncomfortable for her.

Still, as a fellow man, making her continue wearing dresses felt…

“…We’ll still buy some new ones.”

Once her body changed, these dresses wouldn’t fit. I’d have to throw them all out and buy new ones. I hadn’t even gotten to see her in all the dresses yet…

Was this how mothers feel when they put a cute skirt on their little boy? Understanding emotions I never wanted to understand.

Luminas walked back to her room with light steps. But once she shut the door, she leaned against it and slowly slid down to the floor.

“It’s done…”

Her clasped hands shook as if in prayer. The smile she’d worn before was gone, replaced with a stiff, cold expression.

She had thought long and hard. Should she tremble in fear forever, or reveal the truth?

She couldn’t hide anymore. No matter how many potions she took, they couldn’t stop her body’s growth forever.

So she revealed it: that she was male.

When Suhyeon left after hearing the truth, she felt the world collapse. In that moment, she regretted everything—thought she never should have told him, that hiding was better.

But Suhyeon came back.

He told her she was precious for who she was, regardless of gender.

“In the end, you always save me…”

Luminas inhaled deeply and whispered:

“I told you. I won’t be abandoned like you.”

The words weren’t for Suhyeon, but for herself. A mantra against the nightmare that haunted her—one where she was left alone, driven mad by isolation.

She stood.

The reflection in the mirror wavered, as if shifting into the version of herself she always saw in her dreams.

Whenever she closed her eyes, it was vivid.

If only I had met you sooner…

Another version of herself—different face, different voice—but unquestionably her. And always beside that dream-self, someone familiar.

The one she loved now. She would never mistake him.

Her lips moved, but the dream version’s voice never reached her ears.

The dreams always ended that way. As a child, she thought they were glimpses of the future—so painful she often ran to Suhyeon’s room afterward.

Sometimes she remembered everything. Sometimes she remembered nothing but woke in tears.

“A dream is just a dream.”

Whatever its ending, she refused to die like the dream-self did.

“Your Majesty, you are surprisingly calm.”

“Lilith, why are you here all of a sudden?”

“You found out your bride is male.”

“There’s something I want to say to you. You knew!”

Elvin wasn’t the lying type. But Lilith? Lilith enjoyed chaos like a pastime.

Thinking back, she had been hinting. Subtle nudges, knowing smirks—never saying it outright, but always dancing around the truth.

“My, I certainly mentioned it many times.”

“You never said it clearly!”

She had stolen human essence before; she must have known Luminas’ true gender. The two of them must have bonded over the shared secret.

Lilith giggled languidly.

“You should have noticed the gender of the spouse you brought home.”

“Oh sure. Because who would have guessed she wasn’t a princess?!”

“So what will you do now?”

“…Do about what?”

A sinister little smile curled her lips.

“Is Luminas still your bride?”

My eyebrow twitched. Luminas’ voice echoed in my head—I am still the princess. A vow to never relinquish the place by my side.

I tapped the table irritably.

“My head already hurts. He knew he was male. And he still wants to be my bride? Does he not like women at all?”

Then my gaze drifted to Lilith. Considering most nearby “women” were like her… I could understand why he’d have no interest.

I had once considered finding a charming man for her… now apparently I needed a lovely woman for him. Ridiculous.

But that raised another problem.

“Is there a woman prettier than Luminas?”

“…Your Majesty is truly a lost cause.”

“What nonsense—wait. I just remembered. Didn’t you say you were going to teach Luminas bedroom techniques?”

“Yes. I did.”

“…What exactly did you teach?”

Sex education differs between men and women. And now he turned out to be male. This was terrifying.

“If you want to know, you’ll have to experience it yourself. I taught quite thorough—”

“Lilith. Be honest—did you eat him?”

Her eyes flew wide.

Yes, why hadn’t I suspected sooner? Lilith had accepted Luminas far too easily. And Luminas was exactly her type—beautiful bait. Lilith wasn’t like the lesser succubi—she was a veteran.

“Tempting as he is, I know my limits. Once I recognize something is impossible to obtain, I give up quickly.”

“Right. Sure.”

“Truly. I only came to give advice, yet here I am treated like this…”

A chill crept up my spine.

And my instincts were correct.

“Your Majesty might not be familiar with relations between men, so I came to warn you. I have a feeling you will be the… receiving side. Pleasure is better than pain, isn’t it? And it seems your bride is very eager to devour you soon. In intimacy, effort from both sides is key—”

From the midpoint, my mind simply shut down.

…Relations between men? Me as the one receiving? What? My brain buzzed. I hurled the nearest object at her.

“Get out! OUT!”

“If you ever need guidance, do call. Everyone around you is hopelessly innocent. You need advice from someone experienced.”

“Leave!!”

I clutched my head.

There is absolutely NO way that will ever happen! No way. Never!