“What kind of joke is this?”
That was Felyn’s first reaction.
“Miss Daiyi, just because I forgot to make dinner for you a few days ago, does it really mean you have to sacrifice me?”
That’s the Demon King’s daughter we’re talking about!
She doesn’t even count as human anymore!
How are you supposed to seduce someone like that over?
Daiyi rubbed her forehead, thinking about how to explain it so Felyn could accept it.
She pushed the teacup on the table toward him and gestured for him to sit.
“There’s no need for me to explain the nature of the Royal Capital District in Seiwa. Everyone already knows.”
“Yeah, in the Royal Capital, divine affinity increases rapidly, so you can use high-level divine arts faster. The better your relationship with the gods, the more powerful divine power you can wield. The Siveshus Empire was founded through the Treaty of the Siveshus Empire, led by the Three Major Divine Churches.”
“But now, the balance of power among the three churches is unstable.”
“So one of the churches is making a move on the empire?”
Felyn sipped his tea. The temperature was perfect.
“Exactly. The Three Major Divine Churches represent Truth, Order, and Reincarnation. The Truth Divine Church currently lacks a Divine Child, so they can’t initiate large-scale wars.”
Without a Divine Child’s guidance, the Truth Divine Church could only manage daily functions and basic security.
And as for why the Truth Divine Church didn’t have a Divine Child anymore, that was something only Daiyi could answer.
Ever since Daiyi lost her qualification as a Divine Child candidate, The other candidates had never received divine recognition.
“There have been far too many church invasions in the Royal Capital lately. The royal family has already sensed the hostility from surrounding churches. Without the protection of the Three Major Churches, the Siveshus Empire would struggle to survive amid the fierce competition among religious factions.”
“So the royal family needs a powerful force to protect the empire, they need the Demon King Siveshus’s support.”
Daiyi pulled out a letter stamped with the imperial princess’s seal.
“The royal family had a way to communicate with the Demon King Siveshus, but the results weren’t good. He wasn’t interested at all. Human squabbles mean nothing to him.”
“But the Demon King has a daughter, the witch Eitani. She’s curious about the human world. If we can win Eitani over, then maybe the Demon King would be willing to listen to the royal family. So the princess asked me to find someone. If Eitani could develop feelings for this person, and those feelings extended to Seiwa, maybe she’d plead with her father on their behalf.”
Daiyi poured Felyn more tea and continued, “Right now, the Siveshus Empire really is in crisis. The royal family is also trying other options. But if this plan succeeds, it’d be the most cost-effective way to fend off an invasion.”
Felyn stared into the reflection in his teacup.
To think the task of saving a nation had fallen to someone who was just playing with a pretty girl’s feet moments ago. It all seemed a little too careless.
No wonder the princess likes Zervanie… She’s the kind of person who comes up with childlike ideas like this.
If you can make her like you, obsess over you like the other girls do, then it’ll all work out, right?
“I don’t mind my boyfriend having another lover. You’ve already got plenty of girls around you—what’s one more?”
“Thanks, Miss Daiyi. You’re already assuming I can seduce Eitani, even though I don't have that kind of confidence.”
Eitani sounded like the kind of person who’d tie you up and whip you.
Maybe she’d even lock you in her castle, make you stare at pitch-black walls all day, waiting for some brave knight to come save you.
“She’s the Demon King’s daughter, after all. If she falls for you, you could strut through the human world like a god.”
“Assuming I’m still in the human world.”
Felyn rolled his shoulder, then asked, “So how did the princess end up asking you?”
“I guess we’re on decent terms. At least she hasn’t distanced herself from me.”
Daiyi got up and drew the curtains, making the conversation more private.
“So? What do you think of the proposal? It’s your chance to save the world, isn’t that every boy’s dream?”
“That’s a little boy’s dream. When you grow up, you stop dreaming. Saving yourself is hard enough. And if this country actually needs me to save it, then maybe it’s already beyond saving. If I say no, the princess won’t be angry, right?”
“She won’t. She’s just offering a possibility, and I haven’t told her your name either.”
Daiyi didn’t seem surprised by his refusal. She probably saw it coming.
“Good. Then forgive me for saying no. She’s the Demon King’s daughter. Who knows how she views humans? For all we know, she thinks we’re just food.”
What if one day, after getting close to her, she stands before the princess and says,
‘I love Felyn so much, I want to eat him. If I eat him, I can protect your country.’
Then he’d end up tied to the railroad tracks, waiting for the royals to make a classic trolley dilemma decision.
Sacrifice him to save the empire? Or respect his life and let Eitani down?
No matter how you think about it, he’d be the one sacrificed.
Felyn wasn’t the kind of person who could do something so noble.
He wasn’t that great.
“Well, it’s fine either way. There’s no rush for this proposal. The Siveshus Empire can hold on for a little longer. And preparing for war takes time anyway.”
Daiyi didn’t try to persuade him.
She just quietly put the princess’s letter away.
Felyn would agree—just not yet.
Even if he tried to avoid conflict, conflict would still come for him.
One day, he’d find that the things he wanted to protect were growing more and more. And then… he’d accept that contract, in exchange for something in return.
That’s just how the world works.
Who in this world can really live without any desire?
Besides, he underestimated himself.
Eitani may be the Demon King’s daughter, but she had no experience with the opposite sex, and she was really curious about the human world.
For Felyn, She was basically the perfect client.
If they met, and he unleashed his powerful, sweet charm, she might fall for him on the first day.
Besides, rumor had it Eitani had a great personality, totally unlike the typical image of a demon.
Looks like I’ve got another competitor now, Daiyi thought, laughing to herself.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my room first.”
Felyn cleaned up the dishes on the table and walked toward the kitchen.
“Wait, Felyn, I actually do have something I want to talk to you about. It’s… a personal matter.”
Daiyi twirled a strand of her hair with her fingertip, a hesitant look on her face.
“You’re not going to confess to me, are you?”
“Of course not!”
Seeing Daiyi flustered and defensive made Felyn secretly proud.
She had teased him like this before, now it was finally his turn to get even.
“My father is coming.
So… I need you to go to the Royal Capital District with me.”
Felyn’s heart skipped a beat.
Already meeting the parents?
Never mind Daiyi and her father, didn’t Adeline also say she was heading to the Capital?
If they ran into each other there… what would she think?
She’d probably think I turned her down just to secretly follow her.
Wouldn’t that cement my reputation as a tsundere?
(End of Chapter)