(TN: Mephistopheles is usually male in fiction. That’s why I assumed so. But Mephistopheles has taken on the look of a little girl for a while now. I decided I’ll go with “she” from now on because of the current appearance.)
***
Responsibility is heavy.
Expectations are overwhelming.
Lobelia’s life had always been burdened by both.
She didn’t resent it. After all, it was a path she had chosen herself.
What weighed on her most was her own dissatisfaction. She was lacking. Desperate.
Maybe that’s why…
– No matter what anyone else says, if you aren’t satisfied, it’s meaningless. So I’m not going to try to stop you. I just wanted you to know there’s another way. Maybe a better one.
Johan’s words struck a chord with her.
Because he wasn’t expecting much from her.
Advice that comes with no strings attached, “take it or leave it” is often meaningless.
But this wasn’t light or careless.
Because it reflected his own experience, Lobelia could tell this wasn’t something he said lightly.
And through Johan, Lobelia came to a realization.
The imperial family is often called monstrous by the public and they accepted that title as a given.
They were powerful, after all.
And with such power, cruelty and coldness were considered natural.
Even Lobelia, when called a monster, would merely scoff rather than deny it.
Deep down, she believed herself to be different from others.
But through Johan, an ordinary boy ruled by fear who always prioritized running away… she learned something.
The gap between a normal person and imperial family wasn’t as vast as she thought.
And that comforted her.
It meant that even someone as hardened and numb as herself… was still human.
“Haa…”
Lobelia exhaled softly as she hugged the teddy bear close.
She allowed herself to reveal the weakness she could show to no one.
She, who always had to be unbreakable, took a moment to rest while drawing warmth from the little bear.
Just for a little while.
She wanted to set down the weight of expectation and responsibility and simply be… a normal person.
And after savoring that brief moment of peace, the moment she opened her eyes again…
“Hehee.”
“……”
Lobelia found herself face-to-face with the grinning child.
Black hair, red eyes. Clothes that were little more than rags.
And a pair of puppy ears poking up from her head, hinting at a painful past.
The child Johan had brought with him.
“Um… that…”
She had been caught, showing her vulnerable side.
Even Johan hadn’t noticed and she’d managed to shake him off, so how had she failed to sense this child’s presence?
She had only wanted a moment to put down the weight of expectations and responsibilities. To just be a normal person for a while.
And the moment she opened her eyes after enjoying that brief pause—
“Heehee.”
“……”
There was the child grinning up at her.
Lobelia was too stunned to even begin thinking.
All she could feel was confusion.
“Little lady?”
“Little lady? Ha! Clearly, you’re still not ready for proper conversation.”
A formidable opponent.
From that short exchange alone, Lobelia knew this wasn’t going to be easy.
“Do you take me for a mere child?”
“…Then, what should I call you?”
“Address me as the Great Demon.”
“Yes, Great Demon.”
Still manageable, at least.
Lobelia let out a small sigh of relief as she looked at the puffed-up child before her.
Surely, she had just overreacted. A child is still just a child.
Believing oneself to possess great power is just a phase every kid goes through.
Seen that way… she was actually kind of cute.
“Good. Now it seems you’re finally ready for a proper conversation.”
“Chirp!”
At some point, a little bluebird had perched atop the child’s head.
And for some reason, the moment Lobelia saw that bird, her heart softened.
Was it because of the cuteness? She felt the wall in her heart toward the child thinning even more.
“So, what can you offer me in exchange for keeping what you just saw a secret?”
A giggle that made her want to smack the kid.
Lobelia felt lightheaded.
The child knew.
She clearly understood what she had seen and now, she was trying to bargain with it.
No… It’s fine. She’s still just a kid. Nothing to worry about.
Lobelia forced herself to stay calm, though her heart was more shaken than usual, and replied:
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“In that case, I’ll just go tell Johan. I wonder what kind of face he’ll make when I tell him that the proud princess was hugging the gift he gave her like some girl hopelessly in love.”
This can’t happen.
She had no choice but to surrender.
Raising her head in defiance was no longer an option.
Lobelia had to admit. This opponent was far tougher than she had imagined.
But she was an imperial member.
The Third Princess of the Grand Miltonia Empire.
She could not, and must not show weakness.
Feigning composure, Lobelia spoke.
“Alright, Great Demon. What is it you want?”
“Do you not know unless I spell it out for you? And here I thought you were an imperial member. Incompetent, aren’t you? You’re supposed to figure things like this out on your own.”
“……”
“Do you ask your subordinates what kind of punishment they want too?”
Seriously, Lobelia wanted nothing more than to punch her.
But this child clearly had a painful past.
Clenching her fists behind her back, Lobelia forced a smile.
You must endure.
“Wh-What about a doll? It’s soft and cute.”
“Do you take me for a child? Please. How ridiculous.”
“Ah…”
Lobelia was… slightly wounded.
Was her secret hobby so childish that even a child would scoff at it?
Lobelia who had thought that anyone would love such a cute doll couldn’t hide her inner shock.
The mental strength she had regained through Johan’s advice was now violently shaken.
“Ha, how disappointing. Third Princess. Was this all you amounted to? Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. I’ll give you special guidance. You amateur!”
“……Yes, thank you.”
“To keep my mouth shut……”
At the child’s words, Lobelia instinctively shut her eyes tight.
Not even in the face of the Emperor had she ever closed her eyes in fear,
But the presence before her was simply terrifying.
What in the world was she going to demand?
“A year’s supply of the sweets I had earlier!”
“……”
“If that’s too much, you can make up for it with other sweets. But the unit price must match.”
Lately, Mephistopheles’ only joy in life was gourmet food.
Johan wouldn’t form a contract; his treatment toward her was the worst. In this bitter life, the only sweet thing left was sweets.
Creating a sense of taste had been the best decision Mephistopheles made.
But even so, Mephistopheles couldn’t help but reflect.
There must be so many tastier foods in the world.
Johan was a miser.
He would never buy her expensive sweets.
In fact, he barely even gave her candy.
It was unbearably unfair.
Unless she proved her worth, this bitter situation wasn’t going to change.
What caught Mephistopheles’ eye was the imperial princess, Lobelia.
She couldn’t afford to miss this chance.
Still, Mephistopheles was a demon who had lived for ages.
She quickly realized that Lobelia now stood at a crossroads.
Of course, it was still too early to say that Lobelia liked Johan.
At best, the seed of affection had just begun to sprout.
But a sprout. That was enough.
– If things go well, I’ll give you a third of the sweets, Mastema.
– Chirp!
Because nurturing that sprout was something Mastema could do.
Mephistopheles handed over the imperial princess’s cookie that was secured in advance to Mastema in the form of crumbs.
There was no need for many words. Not that words worked between them anyway.
Taste.
With that alone, the two succeeded in a form of communication that transcended species.
“Then make the preparations.”
“Chirp…”
Mephistopheles, for the first time in a while, managed to bring Lobelia to her knees while demonstrating the dignity of a great demon.
***
Lobelia was always too much.
That girl is a real monster. I mean, seriously, how can a person be like that?
She didn’t even hit me like she was trying to catch me. It felt more like a playful tap, but the impact traveled through my skin, muscle, and bone….right down to my organs.
A sudden wave of breathlessness.
I sat on the floor for a long time, gasping and wheezing, trying to endure the pain.
Wow, I really thought I was going to die.
I figured I’d built up enough endurance lately, but I guess royalty is still royalty.
What kind of insane human weapon is she…?
“Johan.”
Just as I was finally catching my breath, still groaning in pain, Lobelia came back.
I asked with frustration bubbling over,
“Your Highness. Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Make sure you raise your children properly.”
“???”
Out of nowhere, a scolding. I was the victim, but somehow I was the one who had to apologize.
She was an imperial member, so I couldn’t even argue back. It was so unfair, I almost cried.
***
Despite everything, we decided to rest for now.
We were each shown to our rooms and told to take it easy. Since almost every city we’d passed through had been devastated by war, we hadn’t had a proper place to stay in a while. So this gesture was honestly appreciated.
Yuna and I, at least, were shown to decent rooms since we were friends.
Theseus and Immun?
For some reason, they were naturally led into a cell.
But honestly… even I have to admit, that might have been the best choice.
One of them was the First Prince. A figure so unpredictable that even his very existence was supposed to be a secret.
The other was a walking time bomb, completely unaware of his own potential.
The best solution was to keep them as far from others as possible.
“It would’ve been nice if we had the same room.”
Yuna who had been shown to a private room looked at me with a sly expression.
“Planning to stay up all night?”
Not funny.
Even if that kind of situation actually came up, she’d just sit there doing nothing until morning.
I don’t expect anything anymore.
All talk, yet holding hands is the most she can manage.
“No, I’m not.”
“No? Then what can you do? Go on, say it.”
“……”
I take that back.
She’s not even all talk.
Now that we’re actually dating, she’s just completely clueless.
“Go to sleep.”
“W-Wait!”
Yuna grabbed me urgently just as I was about to head into my room. Has she finally made up her mind? Is it finally time to expect something?
“Good night…”
“You too.”
Nope, nothing. But still, seeing her shyly holding my hand so tightly makes me smile.
One way or another, her feelings come through loud and clear.
Yeah, let’s take it slow.
There’s no need to rush. We’re going to be together for life. What’s the hurry?
In the cold of winter, I went to bed with a faint ticklish feeling in my chest.
***
A cold winter.
Mephistopheles’s heart was colder still.
She was always starving. Not for food, but for results, for glory.
“Hehee.”
On a Moonlit night, Mephistopheles grinned as she looked down at the half-destroyed city from atop a tall building.
“After tonight, Johan Damus will finally understand how exceptional I truly am.”
She was confident.
Wasn’t today already proof of that?
She had brought the imperial princess Lobelia to her knees and stood above her.
The very princess Johan had feared so much.
The title she’d given herself made her grin uncontrollably.
But as mentioned before, Mephistopheles was someone who was always hungry.
Because of the deal with Lobelia, she couldn’t even brag about this achievement to Johan.
In that case, she just needed another achievement. Simple as that.
“Found you.”
In the stillness of night, with only the moonlight casting its pale glow over the world, Mephistopheles locked onto her next target.
“If I catch you, Johan Damus will have no choice but to acknowledge me.”
A creature draining the blood of civilians as it moved through the alleys—
The one known to the public as a vampire.
Mephistopheles spread her wings and glided silently toward Strigan, also known as Worm Gear, a high-ranking officer of Ex Machina.
It was the moment a great demon descended into the heart of a chaotic city.
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