“Sorry, I interrupted the flow of the meeting a bit.”
Void, who had closed his eyes again, sat back down while maintaining a faint smile.
Then, resting his chin on one hand, he asked a meaningful question.
“So, everyone, which do you prefer: kidnapping and killing, or killing on the spot?”
At that eerie question, the other demon lords all turned their gazes toward Void.
One demon lord was sweating nervously, while another was silently praying that the metaphorical arrow wouldn’t be aimed at them.
Seeing their reactions, Void spoke again.
“Was that question a bit too difficult?”
“Then, what do you think makes a good baby gift?”
What connection could there possibly be between the previous question and this one?
“W-What connection…”
One demon lord, summoning their courage, began to speak.
With a single breath from Void,
Bang!!!
Thud.
“!!!”
“?!?”
“Ahhhh!!!”
That demon lord’s head flew off.
Their purple blood splattered onto the other demon lords, staining their clothes, but no one dared to say a word.
No, they couldn’t.
As the situation unfolded, Void chuckled in satisfaction before suddenly stopping his laughter.
“…Fools.”
The sudden shift in atmosphere left the meeting room icy cold.
“You just need to answer the question.”
“Why do you hesitate?”
Void said this while opening one eye, glaring at the other demon lords.
“Well?”
“Don’t you agree?”
Meeting Void’s unfocused gaze, the other demon lords nodded their heads furiously, as if they were about to snap their necks.
“Guess I’ll decide the gift myself.”
“Good work.”
Void then stood up and strode confidently toward the exit.
Just before opening the door to leave, he turned around.
“I used to hesitate about waging war against humans.”
“But now, my position has changed.”
His eyes, seemingly warm, carried a smile.
But his twisted, hollow grin told a different story.
Void continued, wearing those two conflicting smiles.
“War. I’m in favor.”
This marked the first time Void, who had remained neutral until now, shifted toward the radical faction.
Anuket Grandma and I walked through the corridor, her footsteps echoing with a sharp “tap, tap.”
It felt like my footsteps should squeak with a “squeak, squeak,” but thanks to Grandma Anuket, the sound of tapping dominated, so I didn’t really mind.
The reason I was walking now was simple: I had asked for it.
“Grandma.”
“Yes?”
“I want to walk.”
“Oh, I see~ But you don’t have any shoes, do you?””Ah.”
“I’ll make you some.”
With a single gesture, Grandma Anuket conjured up a beautiful pair of shoes.
“They’re so pretty~”
“Hehe.”
The shoes were not only pretty but also made with such fascinating magic that I smiled in amazement.
“Alright, hold my hand and let’s walk again~”
So, hand in hand with Grandma Anuket, I walked to find Mom.
Dad said he was busy in the office during the day, and while Mom was usually busy too, she was currently taking it easy to rest.
I hope Dad finishes work early too.
“Grandma.”
“Yes?”
“When will Dad finish work?”
“His Majesty will probably work until tonight, I’d think.”
Oh.
So he won’t be able to come today.
Well, that happens sometimes.
Even in my previous life, there were days when my sister couldn’t visit me until after I’d fallen asleep.
But I remember how she would still check on me in the middle of the night.
Whenever I woke up sick, she was always by my side.
I miss her.
“Princess?”
“Yes?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Grandma Anuket asked with a deeply concerned expression and summoned a magical water mirror.
“You don’t look well.”
Ah.
In the mirror, my face looked utterly miserable, like I’d lost an entire kingdom.
I can’t keep looking like this.
“I’m fine. I just feel sad that I won’t see Dad…”
Cough!
At my words, Grandma Anuket coughed up blood.
Is she sick?
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes! I’m fine.”
She smiled again while taking my hand.
“Let’s go!”
Drip.
I wish she’d at least wiped the nosebleed before saying that.
Anuket Grandma, on her way to Mom’s room, kept mumbling to herself.
“…El and Alby are so lucky. I wish I had a daughter like this.”
We walked endlessly down the long corridor.
The walls were adorned with dazzling gemstones, white marble statues, and deep red curtains adding a striking contrast.
Everything gave off an expensive, luxurious vibe.
While I marveled at the opulent castle, we eventually arrived in front of a massive door.
“Wowwww…”
“Impressive, isn’t it? Now, let’s knock,” Grandma said, stepping closer to the door.
The moment she raised her hand to knock, I stopped her instinctively.
“Wa-wait! I think a surprise would be better.”
Wouldn’t Mom be happier if we just showed up without notice? Sure, it might be rude, but I couldn’t help it.
I love surprises.
‘Ta-da!’
‘What’s this?!’
‘I hit #1 in the rankings. Cool, right?’
‘Weren’t you going to quit?’
‘How could I quit when I’ve been talking about this all day?’
I suddenly recalled the look on my sister’s face when she surprised me after reaching the top of the rankings in a game she pretended to quit.
I hope she’s doing well.
But that’s not important right now.
“A surprise sounds good, right?”
“Hehe.”
“Then, Princess, why don’t you open the door?”
“Why me?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to?”
I’ll admit, I felt a little dismissed earlier when I said I couldn’t open it.
“I’ll do it!!”
“Well, then, give it a try!”
I stammered slightly, and Grandma tried to hold back her laughter.
Embarrassed, I grabbed the golden door handle tightly with my soft little hands.
“Hngh!!”
“Ooooh!”
Screeeech.
Holding my breath and putting all my strength into it, I managed to pull the door open.
“W-What?!”
I heard Mom’s surprised voice from inside.
“Alright, go on in~ I have something to take care of,” Grandma said.
As she stepped away, the floor under her feet turned into water.
W-What is happening?!
Before I could process it, Grandma winked at me and disappeared into the watery floor.
“Wh-Who is it?”
Mom’s voice called out from inside, but she didn’t seem to come to the door, probably because she wasn’t feeling well.
Setting aside the strange magic I just witnessed, I quietly tiptoed into the room, trying not to make a sound.
But then—
“My daughter?!”
As soon as I entered, the bed came into view, and I was caught immediately.
“Ah.”
“My daughter!!”
Mom opened her arms wide, motioning for a hug, and my feet began moving again.
Hop!
I leapt onto the bed.
“My daughter!”
“Mom!”
Snuggled in Mom’s arms, I looked up at her, and she gave me a warm, loving smile.
Pat, pat.
“Hehe.”
“My daughter has such beautiful hair.”
Mom gently stroked my hair over and over. I started feeling sleepy.
“Oh, is my baby getting sleepy?”
“…Yeah.”
“Mommy’s sleepy too~~”
Not at all!
She’s smiling so brightly.
Mom, who had placed me on her stomach earlier, suddenly lifted me up.
“Alright, let’s sleep next to Mommy now.”
She patted my belly softly as she spoke.
“Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
“…But it’s still daytime.”
Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be just a nap?
“Baby dragons need to sleep for half the day~”
…Wait, what?
“…Huh?”
“That way, they’ll grow up nice and strong~~”
Mom kept talking to me after that, but I didn’t quite catch what she was saying.
When I woke up, this was the sight before me:
“Wooooaaaah!!!”
“Princess!!!”
“Please look this way just once!!!!”
“Kyaa!!!”
Dragons soared through the skies, while countless people below were cheering and looking up at me.
“Oh my, you’re awake?”
“…Wait, what’s going on?”
“Sweetie, you’re so late. You could’ve waited just a little longer,” Dad grumbled.
“Alby? A king pouting over something like that—what are we to do with you?” Mom teased.
“What’s the problem? No one can see my face anyway,” Dad replied casually.
Huh?
Noticing my confusion, Mom began to explain the situation.
“From now on, we’re holding a ceremony to announce to the world that our princess has been born.”
“You just need to go up on the platform and say, ‘Hello~~’ and then come back down. It’s a simple task.”
“It’s just to let everyone know that you’re a princess! So don’t worry!”
…What?!
You’re asking a 30-year-old in spirit to go, ‘Heehee, I’m a princess~~’ in front of a whole kingdom?
In front of a massive crowd?
I just woke up, and this is the disaster that awaits me?
I wanted to run away.
The thought spiraled through my mind endlessly.
Even if I’m a woman now, this is too much.
“Alright, sweetie! Show them that you’re my proud daughter!”
“Mommy will be cheering for you!”
Mom and Dad sparkled with anticipation behind me.
“…O-Okay, I’ll go.”
Bowing deeply.
“Kyaaa~~~”
“Ack, she’s so cute!”
Dad clutched his chest dramatically, while Mom screamed and smacked his shoulder.
Am I really that devastatingly adorable?
With a bit of newfound confidence, I stepped forward to the edge of the platform.
Where I stood was the largest, open balcony of our castle—a place meant for proclaiming important announcements.
They said even the coronation ceremony would be held here because, as dragons, we perform such events close to the skies.
“Then why not just fly?” I muttered to myself.
Anyway, with everyone’s expectations weighing on me, I bravely stepped up to the railing.
“I-I’m Minho Laskaris! P-Please take care of me!”
Bow.
I may have stumbled over the pronunciation, but it wasn’t too bad.
“Sweetie! You need to say you’re a princess!”
Mom’s scolding reached me from behind.
I raised my head slightly again and added, “Oh, and I’m a princess!”
Then I quickly lowered my head again.
Ahhh, so embarrassing.
The crowd seemed pleased, though, as they erupted into cheers.
“Princess! Princess! Princess!”
“Princess Minho!!!”
P-Please stop!
At that moment, a notification window popped up in my vision.
[Title: The Emperor’s Child has detected a hostile presence.]
[Title: The Emperor’s Child has used the skill: Charm.]
What?!
[Skill: Charm has been applied to entity: Void.]
[The King is smiling with satisfaction.]
Fwoosh!!!
Before I could fully process the messages, a black mist surged toward me and enveloped my body.
W-What is this?!
“Princess!!”
My vision grew darker and darker.
“You bastard!!”
I barely caught sight of the elders casting spells frantically, but it seemed to be too late.
“Hehehe. Hi there, little one.”
“W-Who are you?”
“I’m your demon lord big sister.”
When I opened my eyes, I saw a tall, curvaceous woman with long white hair standing in front of me.
But why are her eyes closed?
[The King is utterly flustered by an obsessive stalker.]
“Do you want this? Do you like jelly?”
“…Gimme.”
I’m hungry.
turns of events
Even a dragon gets caught by the candy truck😔