The Demon King’s castle fell into silence, no sound stirring as moonlight spilled over the tranquil lakeside.
Accompanied only by faint insect chirps, it was practically the perfect spot for murder and plunder.
Only Sieg wore a serious expression while thinking such things, walking ahead on his own, hands behind his back, standing tall. He shamelessly displayed his masculine charm, occasionally reaching out to adjust his trajectory, seemingly indifferent to the silver-haired girl closely following behind him, though his peripheral vision never left her.
As for why, part of it was worry for his beloved, and another part was an inexplicable sense of discomfort deep inside.
Unconsciously, Gerald couldn’t help but mutter to herself, apparently dissatisfied with the pace of absorption—just like before, it was too slow to draw in power, making it even harder than killing her.
“…What a nuisance, absorbing so slowly.”
Barefoot, she took tiny steps as she quietly followed behind the man. It wasn’t that she refused to wear shoes or had any special fetish, she simply couldn’t find any.
She had been transported here in her sleep by those meddlesome gods… Sigh, there was no point in saying more, her fate was truly bitter. But for Emilia, for her forgiveness, everything was worth it.
Soon, her heart filled once again with courage and the resolve to face Hakimi.
Her silver-white hair fluttered gently in the night breeze, and with slender, delicate hands, she carefully controlled its movement, fearing any sound that might shatter the subtle yet safe atmosphere.
Her delicate toes tiptoed carefully around dried branches on the ground; each step light and catlike, afraid of disturbing the figure ahead. Her fingers curled slightly, seeming to want to reach out, only to pull back at the last moment.
She dared only keep a distance, letting the moonlight fill the gap between them.
After all, she was still shaken by what had just happened. Any misstep now could reveal a flaw and ruin everything.
Whenever Sieg slowed his pace, she immediately held her breath, lowering her lashes to pretend she was watching the shimmering lake surface, softly humming an imperial tune.
But the moment his shadow moved forward again, she lifted her skirt and quietly continued to draw power, even if only a little—pitifully little—but something was better than nothing.
“Alright, what are you planning to do? Emilia, your mysterious behavior is really weird. Actually, you’ve been acting strange since earlier. Just say what’s on your mind. This makes me uncomfortable too.”
Now he no longer doubted her. Too much suspicion only bred paranoia and made people unbearable. After all, no one liked a nervous wreck. Sieg knew this all too well, in every possible way.
“I want to…”
No matter how much Gerald resembled the original, she was not the real person.
She couldn’t replicate everything down to the last detail, so naturally she chose to avoid speaking—too many words meant more chances to slip up.
But avoiding questions was impossible when in close contact with Sieg. Especially intimate contact.
For her, it was torture layered upon torture, a double torment that wore her down mentally and physically, yet she had no choice but to endure.
In short, it was painful yet somehow bittersweet. The gods could only step in to assist a bit; otherwise, she would plunge into crisis again. They were somewhat despairing over Gerald—her intelligence and reactions left much to be desired—but they had to rely on each other to regain power.
【Alright, Gerald, just follow what Hakimi says, don’t panic, don’t say anything foolish. Just go with the flow, and when it’s reasonable, close the distance. There’s still time to absorb more power—the opportunity won’t come again.】
“I understand.”
Without an opinion of her own, Gerald responded inwardly. She likely had no better choice. Even if the gods were not entirely trustworthy, trying wouldn’t kill her.
Returning to the present, the girl hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly and clearly, her rosy lips parting word by word.
“It’s nothing. I just missed you, Sieg.”
It was clear she was forcing the words out, aware of what to say anyway—it was just about going along with him, like petting a cat to smooth its fur.
Afterwards, she gave an awkward smile, clearly feeling embarrassed.
“Oh? Really? Alright then, let’s hurry back. Since you’re so eager, I won’t refuse. Being outdoors can’t compare to the bed, in terms of comfort or otherwise. You know that, right? Besides, it’s not safe here. If you get hurt in excitement, I’ll probably blame myself for a long time.”
Obviously, Sieg misunderstood something. Or maybe he didn’t. Either way, this was the closest fitting understanding he could have.
Silently, he took her slender hand in his, still gentle, watching his “beloved” under the moonlight.
His steps quickened noticeably, clearly eager to demonstrate his masculine prowess.
Soon, the two of them moved swiftly through the forest beneath the moon, steadily closing in on their final destination—the central tent of the Demon King’s castle.
As a former man, Gerald couldn’t not understand the implication.
No matter how dull, she wasn’t some naive fool.
Her frail body was continuously pulled forward; her delicate hand never stopped absorbing power.
There was no chance to resist, and the distance to Emilia grew closer and closer.
Though meeting Emilia in person was a dream come true, she didn’t want to appear like this—it was too strange. She hoped to meet her properly and honorably.
Meanwhile, the gods in her mind were counting down the time, the pressure mounting unbearably.
“Um… too fast. I need to rest a bit, Sieg. There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
Her pale blue eyes stared at the tent so close it seemed like the end of life itself.
She knew she couldn’t approach even half a step closer. Nearing it was almost certain death.
No longer hesitating, she drew a breath and feigned urgency and unease in her voice.
Sieg, who cared deeply for his beloved, immediately stopped in his tracks.
He looked back at her with concern, afraid something was wrong.
“What is it? Did something happen? Is it serious?”
“It’s nothing important. Don’t think too much about it. I’m just a little flustered… and I need to use the bathroom.”
Her long legs tightened awkwardly, her toes nervously scraping the ground back and forth.
Her cheeks flushed warm, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the skirt, making tiny wrinkles in the fabric.
Not only was it an excuse, but she really did need to go.
She was quite unhappy with this passive, girlish pose—like muscle memory had taken over, leaving no trace of the man she once was.
“Alright then, be careful. Call me if you need anything.”
Surprisingly, Sieg said no more. He nodded, knowing people needed boundaries and privacy.
There was no need to pry into everything, even between lovers as close as they were.
Unexpectedly, she never returned…