In the bathroom of the residential palace, a white bathing pool spanning over a hundred square meters stood in the very center of the room.
Hot-spring steam rose in clouds, filling the warm and humid space, while the girl’s fair and alluring body appeared and disappeared beneath the water.
Gabriella shielded her chest with her arms, half her face submerged in the water.
Her burning, crimson cheeks were impossible to tell whether they came from the hot spring’s vapor or from recalling those several kisses.
“Grr… that annoying Isabella.”
Gabriella’s mutterings in the water went unheard by anyone—including Isabella, who was right beside her.
Isabella’s figure was slightly taller than Gabriella’s, her golden hair drifting smoothly in the water, still enviably lustrous.
Both of them were soaking in the spring, yet there was no conversation at all.
Though the bathroom was filled with swirling mist, the atmosphere felt awkwardly chilly.
Isabella stayed curled up in the same posture, occasionally stealing cautious glances at Gabriella, then lowering her head again, lost in thought.
Everything below her ample breasts was hidden beneath the water, stirring the imagination.
Gabriella naturally understood the Demon King’s feelings.
She felt very sorry.
After the two returned to the Demon King’s Castle and escaped the sight of Tina and the other demons, they immediately went back to the residential palace, tidied up the bedroom, and settled things.
After finishing the human matters—cooking for the two imprisoned human knights and the Demon King—Gabriella had taken the initiative to invite the Demon King to the bath to talk, intending to discuss today’s events before they slept together tonight.
Yet Isabella was clearly terrified—afraid that Gabriella would blame her for something.
She seemed fully prepared to apologize and thus hadn’t spoken first.
Gabriella suddenly scooted closer, pressing herself against Isabella’s shoulder.
The blush on her face deepened even further.
“Lady Isabella, give me a massage. Consider it your compensation.”
“Wife… you’re willing to forgive me?”
“There’s no helping it. It wasn’t really Your Majesty’s fault—I just didn’t explain things clearly beforehand.”
“Wife~”
A relieved smile bloomed on Isabella’s face; warmth filled her heart.
She carefully watched Gabriella’s expression, then, feeling something was slightly off, drew her body closer still.
As Gabriella had asked, she lifted her into an embrace—one hand gently massaging Gabriella’s shoulders and neck, the other kneading her soft waist, pulling her right up against her chest.
Lady Isabella’s breasts were exceedingly full and plush.
Still, Gabriella herself possessed an equally perfect figure…
The Demon King’s desire for her seemed to far surpass Gabriella’s mere appreciation of the Demon King.
It was definitely just appreciation, nothing more.
Suddenly, Gabriella felt something was wrong with herself—she was once again sinking into the Demon King’s world. Could accepting too many [Gifts] really be affecting her mind?
That wretched Demon King.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Gabriella gave a tiny shake of her head, instantly banishing those impure thoughts and getting to the point.
“Lady Isabella, have you been worrying about something? You seemed really out of sorts today.”
“…”
After a brief silence, Isabella spoke.
“Gabriella… only the old you could display swordsmanship that powerful, right?”
Gabriella’s delicate body trembled.
Indeed, she had used far too much power in that battle—no wonder the Demon King had noticed.
She had originally intended to gloss over it vaguely, but then Isabella placed both hands on her beloved waist and gently massaged, turning Gabriella’s face an even deeper shade of red.
If she lied here and got caught, her “affection points” would drop!
The Demon King had lifted her memory seal not long ago; trying to brush this off by claiming she still hadn’t recovered her memories would be going too far.
“Have you really remembered nothing?”
Seeing that Gabriella still said nothing, Isabella grew extremely agitated. Her heartbeat quickened, and the breath she exhaled brushed warmly against the nape of Gabriella’s neck.
Of course Gabriella remembered—remembered it all too clearly.
Back then she had been bound in the underground chamber, surrounded by all manner of devices meant to punish her.
Those memories alone were enough to make her involuntarily let out sounds of submission and softness… yet every one of those punishments had been personally carried out by Isabella.
She even felt a little glad.
Compared to the Demon King who was fated to defile (meow~) her someday, there was no one else she could ever accept.
She really hated the Demon King.
Yet from Isabella’s own perspective, the choices she made back then had not been wrong.
Forcing the Demon King to admit fault would only be using possessiveness to please herself.
Gabriella’s goal was neither revenge nor bullying the Demon King.
She wanted to control the Demon King.
All she needed now was to continue nurturing their feelings and gaining her trust.
“Lady Isabella~ How much of my memory do you think I’ve recovered?”
Gabriella turned slightly, gently caressing the Demon King’s soft cheek.
Such an overstep was something only a wife like her could do—and perfect, the Demon King was already becoming very obedient.
“I…”
At this point Isabella was so flustered she couldn’t speak.
Her eyes darted about as she racked her brain, watching Gabriella’s face yet unsure what to say.
That adorable reaction convinced Gabriella that her plan was proceeding splendidly.
She shifted sideways, cupped the Demon King’s cheeks, and softly kissed her lips.
“Nn… mm…”
“Ha… Gabriella…”
Gabriella neither knew what the Demon King was thinking nor intended to answer—talking too much would only lead to mistakes.
A kiss was both a hint and an answer; she hoped to muddle through this way.
It’s not like she liked her or anything.
…
When she woke up, it was three in the morning.
Isabella lay in the blankets, soundly asleep while hugging one of Gabriella’s arms.
It seemed even the health-preserving hot spring couldn’t be enjoyed for too long at a time.
Normally, they would hold each other close, perhaps accidentally brushing against each other’s ample curves…
Tonight Isabella slept very deeply.
She had no nightmares.
Although many things had happened today, she slept peacefully, as if she had finally understood something.
It was much better than the past few days when she often woke from bad dreams.
Yet Gabriella could no longer fall asleep.
Curled up under the blankets, she watched the sun rise outside the window, her mind feeling rather heavy.
Seeing that the Demon King still hadn’t stirred, Gabriella decided to wash up in the room’s bathroom first, then change into her maid uniform and begin the day’s work.
The human situation wasn’t fully resolved yet.
Although she had decided to release the humans and was certain the knight order would withdraw, the final loose ends remained.
But as she stood at the washstand, looking at the girl reflected in the mirror…
The thin nightgown revealed the faint outline of her perfect figure, and on her lower abdomen was a clearly visible pink heart-shaped mark.
Though not glaring, it was larger than the previous pattern and brimming with demonic aura.
Even that wasn’t enough to shock Gabriella.
On both sides of her head, a pair of spiraled horns adorned with cyan-blue runes had grown just above her ears, extending over her forehead like a small black crown.
These were unmistakably demon horns—if seen in a human city, she would instantly be hunted as a full-blooded demon and thrown into prison.
Yet strangely, she felt no psychological turmoil.
She had already anticipated this outcome the many times she kissed the Demon King and accepted her dark magic.
She had prepared herself long ago; this was a necessary sacrifice…
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Gabriella felt it was no big deal.
After all, the humans still had items that could lift curses—if she ever wanted one, she could obtain it anytime.
Now was simply not the moment.
She gently traced the pattern on her abdomen, carefully sensing the flow of magic within, and the corners of her mouth curved upward.
“The naughty Lady Isabella~”