“And another thing—if you already knew that place was filthy and chaotic, why didn’t you ever do anything about it?! What do you think of the demons living on the edge of death there?!”
Movira’s smile froze for a heartbeat, then smoothed out again. Only a fleeting, unreadable flicker remained in the depths of her eyes.
“All right, all right, my love is right. I haven’t cared enough about them.” Her tone carried indulgent compromise. In a way, Seraphina’s earlier outburst had truly frightened her.
“So from today onward, every matter in the Demon Realm—big or small—if you wish to handle it, you have full authority. You may even… command me to act.”
“Command… you?!” Seraphina’s eyes widened instantly, staring at Movira in disbelief.
She couldn’t tell whether this was momentary appeasement or genuine surrender of power.
Judging only by the words, she was more inclined to believe the former. Still, she stared hard into Movira’s eyes, trying to read something—anything.
“Of course.” Movira leaned closer. The still-weak Seraphina had nowhere to retreat and could only let those fingertips trail across her chin, sending an itchy shiver through her.
“My Princess Regent Seraphina, from now on your will shall be my direction. However…” She drew out the word, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.
“There is one exception—between us, especially in the future… in bed.
You may not command me there. After all… that is my domain!”
The blatant teasing made Seraphina’s face explode with scarlet again. The tiny bit of momentum she had gathered instantly collapsed.
She tried to shove Movira away in embarrassment and anger, only to be pulled even tighter by the waist.
“Y-you pervert! Who… who wants to go to bed with you…”
Even Seraphina herself didn’t sound convinced. When she thought about it, she had already shared Movira’s bed countless times.
And she had… grown used to it. No! That was numbness! She had simply gone numb!
Not to mention… she had just been thoroughly devoured moments ago.
“Is that so? Yet I hope in the near future you’ll be the one begging me…”
“Are you insane?! Who would beg you for… that kind of thing?!”
After the brief flare of shame and anger, Seraphina decided to test the authenticity of this sudden “freedom” and probe Movira’s bottom line.
She forced herself to stay calm and threw out the one request she believed would never be granted.
“If… if I said I wanted to go back to the human world just to take a look?”
She shrank her neck, bracing for rejection, even fury.
After all, Movira had always reacted badly to this topic before.
Yet Movira’s answer came swift and crisp, almost eager.
“No problem at all. Actually, I’ve been wanting to visit too! Let’s treat it as… a little vacation together, how about it?”
Seraphina was completely stunned. She hadn’t expected Movira to agree so readily.
She actually said yes? Then what was the meaning of all the times she had tried to escape and been dragged back? Was it only because she hadn’t fully become a woman yet? Or because she hadn’t thrown a big enough tantrum?
Beneath the surprise, however, a deeper chill crept in.
What exactly did Movira’s words imply? If she was willing to let Seraphina go back, she must have absolute confidence Seraphina would return.
Was this true release… or simply a larger cage?
Seeing Seraphina’s expression shift from fleeting joy to wary suspicion, Movira couldn’t help but laugh softly. A fingertip brushed over Seraphina’s slightly parted lips.
“What’s wrong? Does my promise really shock you that much? I will try… to treat you the way you wish.”
Seraphina nodded faintly, but remained silent. To obtain something she had dreamed of for so long this easily—it felt wrong no matter how she looked at it!
“How long was I asleep?” she suddenly asked the crucial question.
“Two days. But we should return to the bedroom now. The maids will come to clear the table soon.”
Two days?!
Seraphina’s heart lurched.
What had happened outside in those two days?
Movira carried her back to the bedroom. Seraphina’s body was still limp, but her mind raced.
The moment they entered, Movira mentioned—casually, as though discussing the weather—the very thing Seraphina was worried about.
“While you were resting these past two days, the Demon Realm has become much quieter.”
She helped Seraphina settle on the bed, then leaned against the headboard beside her.
“That Ripper, Gorka, and the lord of Asma… I took care of them for you.”
Took care of them?
Said so lightly, as if merely brushing dust from her sleeve.
“Took care of them?! How… how did you do it?!” Seraphina shot upright, body tensing, trying desperately to sit straight.
But the slight movement pulled at her exhausted muscles.
The surge of emotion made her vision blacken; she pitched forward uncontrollably.
“Urgh…”
A short, fragile cry escaped her throat, but the sensation of falling lasted only an instant. A warm, solid embrace replaced it.
Movira had clearly anticipated this; her arms were already there the moment Seraphina tipped forward.
“Aiya, is Seraphina already eager for my embrace?” The teasing whisper drifted from above.
Seraphina’s face was pressed against Movira’s soft chest; her nose was instantly filled with that familiar fragrance.
“W-what nonsense are you saying!”
She struggled uselessly. Movira’s arms quickly wound tighter, locking her in place.
“Let… let go…” Seraphina’s protest was barely audible, more like a whimper.
Movira pretended not to hear and continued the conversation in the same casual tone while holding her.
“No need to worry. The Ripper was merely stripped of rank and exiled. As for that city lord of Asma… I had him beheaded.”
“You…” A burst of anger flared inside Seraphina. “Why did you have to…”
“Oh? It seems Her Highness still hasn’t grasped the situation. Don’t you think you’re being too soft? They were committing treason!”
Seraphina opened her mouth, but no rebuttal came…
She had always rejected the deep-rooted violence of the Demon Realm, yet… it seemed that in some situations, violence was indeed necessary…