Chapter 2: Do I Really Need to Escape?

The Demon King wants to turn me into her kin?

That means falling completely, becoming a demon who obeys the Demon King without question, a toy for her to play with as she pleases!

Gabriella’s face turned ashen as she suddenly remembered the defeat scenario she was about to face.

What else could she do now?

Obviously, run away!

At the very least, she absolutely could not face the Demon King tonight!

In this world, the Demon King was the strongest existence of all.

Just mentioning the word “Demon King” in a ministerial meeting was enough to turn many faces pale with terror, some even fainting on the spot.

Many who heard of the Demon King’s existence would immediately drop their weapons. 

Even if it meant becoming hostages, they refused to fight this supreme being.

Demon King Isabellathe most powerful adversary in all of human history.

“What’s wrong, my dear wife~?”

Isabella blinked, placing Gabriella’s hand on her own knee and squeezing it tightly, as if she had noticed the tiny movements and thoughts her wife was trying to hide.

“Why are you so nervous? You used to be the one taking the initiative.”

“Ugh…”

Gabriella’s heart suddenly clenched.

During those years of brainwashing and remodeling, she really had been the gentle, considerate little maid.

Not only had she harbored no thought of rebellion, she had constantly thought of the Demon King, comforting her even in her most depraved moments.

Perhaps that was exactly why she had won the Demon King’s heart.

“Don’t worry. Forget about the difference in our statuses. Without Gabriella, there would be no me as I am now. You are the most important person in my life. I love you.” 

Suddenly, the Demon King tilted her head. 

“Could it be… my wife isn’t ready yet?”

Hearing the perfect excuse handed to her, Gabriella immediately nodded. 

“That’s right! II’m really not ready! I’ve never prepared myself for… that kind of thing. To me, it’s just too… strange…”

“Is that so~?”

The Demon King showed a surprised yet playful expression. 

Their exchange felt almost like flirting.

“Then tonight you’ll just owe me. All I want is one kiss, okay?”

“A… kiss…?”

“Mhm, just the most ordinary kind of kiss.”

The Demon King leaned against her shoulder.

“You won’t refuse me, will you, Gabriella?”

“Well… that should be fine…”

After hesitating for a long time, Gabriella finally nodded and agreed.

It was just a kiss with a perverted female Demon King. 

It hardly counted as part of the defeat scenario!

As long as she could get through tonight and find a chance to escape, everything would be alright!

“N-no problem, Demon King-sama.”

“As expected, my wife is so good to me.” 

With those words, Isabella wrapped her arms around her.

The mood had already reached this point; Gabriella could only go along with it.

Better a short pain than a long one.

It was just a kiss, right?

Gabriella only felt something warm blocking her lips.

She had imagined it would be a mere dragonfly’s touch… yet unexpectedly, something soft suddenly invaded her mouth.

Hold on… wuuwuu!

When they finally parted, tears welled in the corners of Gabriella’s eyes. 

Her face was flushed crimson, and her mouth felt sticky and wet.

Her whole body was burning hot, as though her racing heartbeat and overwhelming excitement had caused it.

Somehow, this didn’t feel like a normal kiss at all.

Sharing the same blanket with the Demon King, Gabriella pretended to close her eyes and sleep, but in truth she was already planning her escape.

The girl before her had delicate, adorable features. If she weren’t the Demon King, by human standards she would be the most beautiful girl Gabriella had ever seen.

But she was the Demon King.

Aside from an appearance somewhat similar to humans, they had nothing in common.

With that thought, Gabriella slowly sat up.

Her nightshirt slipped off one shoulder, revealing snowy-white skin that seemed ready to spill out.

Yet she suddenly noticed something wasn’t right.

Lowering her head slightly, she discovered a soft, black heart-shaped tail inside the blanket; and that very tail was wrapped tightly around her waist!

Did the Demon King realize I was trying to escape?

Gabriella’s face went pale, her heart pounding wildly.

Calm down… calm down…

She leaned over, gently placing a hand on her own slender waist and stroking the peach-shaped tip of the soft tail wrapped around it.

With her other hand, she crept up the Demon King’s back, lightly caressing every inch of her skin.

This wasn’t because she wanted to lull the already-sleeping Demon King.

Several years ago, a rebellion had broken out among the demons.

That day, rebels had attacked the Demon King.

She had been gravely wounded and would have died in the unguarded castle.

But at the critical moment, Gabriella arrived in time and saved her.

Ever since then, the Demon King often suffered nightmares.

When the nightmares came, her tail would cling desperately to something, her body curling up tightly.

She would tremble with fear and sometimes even talk in her sleep.

Like a pitiful little beast shivering in the freezing winter.

Back then, the brainwashed Gabriella would comfort the Demon King in exactly this way.

Years later, the condition had improved somewhat; now only the tail refused to behave!

Memories of those days suddenly returned. 

Even though she had been brainwashed, those recollections hadn’t been completely erased.

“I like… Gabriella…” the Demon King mumbled.

Gabriella jumped in fright.

For a moment she thought the Demon King had woken up, but then she saw the other girl’s eyes were still closed and her breathing steady.

It was just sleep-talking.

“Stupid Demon King.”

She continued soothing Isabella like this for more than ten minutes before the tail finally began to loosen its hold on her.

Do I really need to escape?

Gabriella’s body grew hotter and hotter. Could that kiss really have caused some kind of problem?

She felt a ball of fire burning in her chest; yet the sensation wasn’t painful; it was more like a warm hand-warmer pressed against her heart.

The moment Isabella’s tail released her, she immediately got out of bed and changed into a black dress that allowed easy movement, pulling on a fresh pair of black thigh-high socks.

She didn’t have any luggage to pack.

She grabbed some food that could barely stave off hunger, stuffed everything into a small cross-body bag, and set off.

Gabriella left the bedroom. While going downstairs she happened to pass the kitchen.

She couldn’t help glancing inside.

The huge kitchen was filled with all kinds of utensils. 

The high-end oven still held lingering warmth from burning coals.

On the table, small cake molds were neatly arranged, and beside them sat a perfectly mixed chocolate cake batter.

Ah, now she remembered.

Yesterday’s Gabriella had been making cupcakes for the Demon King.

But then the Demon King suddenly whisked her away to choose wedding clothes, after which the maids dragged her off to trim her hair; and she ended up attending this sudden “surprise” wedding.

So the batter had been temporarily preserved with preservation magic.

The Demon King loved sweets; these chocolate cupcakes were her absolute favorite.

Demons didn’t have chocolate at all.

Gabriella had traveled all the way to a human city just to buy it and make these for the Demon King.

The Demon King had never tasted such fragrant desserts before. 

Though she was an immortal demon, she was still young and had spent nearly all her time fighting humans, with almost no chance to enjoy life.

Now that the war was over, she could finally eat the sweets Gabriella made with her own hands.

“Demon King-sama loves these the most…”

Gabriella’s gaze grew distant as she murmured to herself.

Her chest felt so hot.