Chapter 6 – Waking Up
Fluffy, something was touching my head.
It combed through my hair like a brush.
The feeling was pleasant.
For some reason, the right side and underneath my body were warm.
As I nestled into the warmth, I heard a low, murmuring sound of laughter from above my head.
…… sound, of laughter?
The sound came from closer than I thought, so I opened my eyes, and then froze.
“My destiny, are you awake?”
There was a very handsome man with silver hair, crimson eyes, and brown skin.
I instinctively tried to back away but my body wouldn’t move.
That’s when I realized where I was.
“?!”
…… h, h, how did I end up on the Demon Lord’s lap?!
I quickly tried to get off, but I was firmly fixed in the Demon Lord’s arms and couldn’t move.
“Wh, at, eh……?!”
I’ve never been so close to a man.
While I was confused, the Demon King laughed again.
“Calm down, my destiny”
“I, I can’t calm down! Please let me down!”
“That is counsel I cannot abide.”
He soothingly strokes my head as if to appease me.
And that shocked me even more.
I had never been patted on the head before.
Perhaps the feeling of combing my hair that I felt earlier wasn’t a brush, but the Demon Lord’s hand …….
Even though my heart should have already stopped, I felt as if it gave a powerful, unexpected beat.
Looking around, I saw that the place was unusually large.
The Demon Lord was sitting in a luxurious chair a few steps higher, while Alexia and the others were kneeling a few steps below.
“L, Lady Alexia……
When I called her name, Lady Alexia looked up.
“Have you woken up, Demon Queen?”
…… Demon, Queen?
“What is a Demon Queen? Why am I on the Demon Lord’s lap?”
The Demon Lord embraced me as I was confused.
“You are my destiny, my benefactor, and my queen.”
“Queen? Demon Lord, what do you mean by destiny? I’m not……?”
The Demon Lord gently places his finger on my lips.
“First of all, you have been asleep for three days. It must have been the effect of giving me most of your mana. Hence why I protected you until your mana was restored.”
Then I remember what happened before I lost consciousness.
…… that’s right, I resurrected the Demon Lord.
“I can’t believe that the Demon Lord himself is protecting me.”
“You are my benefactor, the one who removed the seal on me, offered me mana, and revived me. Despite what you may think, I will not forget my debt to you.”
“What do you mean by…… queen? Is it because I’m your benefactor?”
The Demon Lord shook his head.
“No, not so. Because you are my destiny.”
“I don’t understand …….”
I don’t understand the expression, “my destiny”.
The Demon Lord nodded, “I suppose so.”
“I will explain this as well.”
The Demon Lord raised one hand and waved it to the side, and several translucent pictures appeared in the air.
“This is the memory of 824 years ago, when I fought Saintess Illumina. This woman is Illumina.”
The Demon Lord pointed at the woman in the picture.
I was taken aback when I saw her blonde hair and pink-red eyes.
The woman looked very much like me.
“Look closely at the Saint.”
The Demon Lord lightly touched my forehead.
Then I saw what looked like a bluish-white flame on the chest of the woman in the painting.
“What is this……?”
“A soul. I can see the color of a living being’s soul.…… and this is you.”
Another picture appeared. There I was.
I was shown as if I was being looked up at, like I stood above, and it was probably the image of me that the Demon Lord saw as soon as he awakened.
There was also a bluish-white flame on my chest.
Mine, however, had an equal amount of reddish-black flames mixed in.
“Rachel”
A deep voice called my name, and I was startled again.
“You are not only a descendant of Saintess Illumina, but also her reincarnation.”
“Rein, carnation……”
No way, I thought.
According to my previous life, I must have come from another world.
I am not the reincarnation of the first Saint.
“No, that’s not true. I have the dark attribute. If I’m the reincarnation of the Saint, I should have holy magic power.”
That is why I could not become a saint.
I was officially treated as the descendant of the Saint, not my family, the royal family, and His Highness the Crown Prince never considered me to be a real Saint.
Rather, even though I am the descendant of a Saint, I was shunned because of my dark attribute magic power.
“Which attribute one is born with is a matter of luck. To begin with, Saintess Illumina had the strongest Holy attribute, but she could also use some dark magic.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I was amazed by that, too. She was a woman with two completely opposite attributes.”
The Demon Lord looks down on me.
“Rachel, can you use Purification Magic?”
“Eh? Yes, a little…….”
“Then, unlike Saintess Illumina, you probably have mostly Dark mana, but also a small amount of Holy mana. Purification magic can only be used by those with the Holy Attribute.”
…… I also have the magic power of the Holy Attribute?
While I was stunned, the Demon Lord continued.
“The only ones who can seal me or free me are Saintess Illumina or her descendants. However, to fully resurrect me, mana of the Dark Attribute is also required.”
However, the Demon Lord says.
“It is rare for a human to have the Dark Attribute.”
And I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
…… I am…….
“You are the only descendant of the Saint, with the same soul as her, who can fully revive me. And now, you and I are magically linked.”
The Demon Lord took my hand and forced my palm onto his chest.
I felt his heart beating.
At the same time, I definitely felt a familiar magic power there. It was my Dark magic power.
“I am much stronger now than when I faced Saintess Illumina. It’s all thanks to your mana. If there’s anyone who can seal me away, it’s you.”
Therefore, I am the Demon Lord’s destiny.
“You are the one who holds my fate in your hands.”
The Demon Lord kept staring at me.
“Why don’t you kill me? If only I can seal the Demon Lord, then killing me will eliminate any danger.”
The Demon Lord laughed.
“As I said before, I will not forget my debt to you.”
The face of the Demon Lord approached me and his forehead lightly touched mine.
The distance is so close that the tips of our noses almost touch.
“I heard the story from Alexia. It seems that you hate humans, the people of the Kingdom of Inglith. If you will become my queen, I will allow you to use the demons for your revenge.”
As if whispering love to his lover, the Demon Lord says.
“The queen is only one half a body. If you become my queen, I can say that the humiliation you have suffered is mine. I will gladly invade the Kingdom of Ingris. I will help you take your revenge. …… just make use of the Demon Lord.”
It was certainly what I wanted.
“…… I don’t think there is any benefit to the Demon Lord……”
“That’s not true. If you become my queen, I will have you, the only one who can seal me, on my side.”
…… I see.
Instead of making me your ally, you will also become my ally.
Then, with the descendant of the Saint in his hands, the Demon Lord will not be sealed again.
But that means becoming the bride of the Demon Lord.
…I can’t trust it right away.
I might be abandoned again.
“…… Let me think about it for a bit.”
I still can’t trust anyone.
The Demon Lord nodded in agreement.
“I understand. I will wait as long as it takes for you to make up your mind. But you are the only one who can be my queen. I want you to remember that.”
The Demon Lord’s face moved away.
I was gently lifted up and lowered from his lap.
“Alexia Rune, can I leave Rachel’s personal care to you, her guardian?”
“Yes, I’ll handle it, Demon Lord.”
Lady Alexia stood up and approached me, taking my hand gently.
“For the time being, let’s get you cleaned up.”
I looked down at myself.
I was still in the prison uniform I had worn at the execution.
“I’ll see you later, Rachel.”
The Demon Lord waved his hand lightly, and the view changed in an instant.
It was a beautifully decorated room, all black everywhere, but elegant.
“Now come, Demon Queen, let’s get rid of the muck, I’ll help you.”
I was confused by Lady Alexia’s words.
“Umm, Lady Alexia, please feel free to just call me Rachel. And you may speak to me as you did before.”
“Well, I’ll take you up on that and revert my manner of speaking. Frankly, that formal tone isn’t exactly my strong suit.”
“Hohoho,” Alexia laughed.
“But, I can’t call you by name. Even if the Demon Queen doesn’t become the Demon Lord’s queen, the Demon Lord will still make the Demon Queen his wife. Only the Demon Lord can call out your name.”
That’s what it meant.
“What would happen if I don’t become the Demon Queen……?”
“Hohho, won’t you? If you become queen, you can take revenge on the Kingdom of Inglith, right?”
I couldn’t answer that.
In my heart, I am conflicted, but in my mind, I know that I should become the Demon Queen.
Even if the Demon Lord were to betray me, as long as I could put the Inglith Kingdom in a vulnerable position, that would be enough for me.
…… I have died once already.
At this point, I don’t care about my life anymore.
However, my heart was not as calm as my head.
…… I …… if I were to be abandoned again.
Would I have to experience that feeling of despair again?
Lady Alexia placed her hand on my shoulder.
“Anyway, from now on, I will be the guardian and caretaker of the Demon Queen. If you have any problems, please feel free to ask……”
As she was about to say that much, Lady Alexia suddenly burst out laughing.
“No, if there’s anything bothering you, just tell the Demon Lord.”
“Not you, Lady Alexia?”
“Hmm, the Demon Lord would be happier if the Demon Queen relied on him. Don’t worry. He may not look like it, but he has a big heart. He’ll listen to all your selfish wishes.”
…… Isn’t that an exaggeration?
But, since I’m going to be in the Demon Lord’s army anyway, it might not be a bad idea to wait and see how things go before making a decision.
At least the Demon Lord said he would wait.
I’m not sure if I should even believe that.
“Anyway, the Demon Queen should spend her time in the Demon Lord Army. Just as the Demon Queen is hesitant, there are probably some among the demons who may have their own thoughts about the Demon Queen. There’s no need to decide right away, is there?”
The hand resting on my shoulder tightens slightly.
“Well, let’s put an end to such difficult talk.”
Lady Alexia smiles.
After that, I was bathed without further ado.
Since I was imprisoned in a dungeon before my execution, I would not have been flatteringly clean.
When I took a bath, the water was quite dirty, I was so embarrassed.
…… I …… was on the lap of the Demon Lord in such a dirty state.
Incidentally, according to Lady Alexia, immortals don’t sweat, and don’t need to eat or sleep.
“Well, I think it would be best if you just lived your life like everyone else. You need time to eat, sleep, and calm down. You’re still confused, aren’t you?”
I eat a few snacks after my bath.
Perhaps because of the time spent in the dungeon, the amount of food I ate had decreased, and Lady Alexia was surprised, “Why don’t you eat more?”
It had been a long time since I had a decent meal, but my stomach couldn’t handle it.
Then I was tossed into bed.
“If you need anything, ring the bell there. I or one of my subordinates will come. I will be here just before dinner. Please rest until then.”
“Well then,” Lady Alexia says, raising her hand and leaving the room.
I see her off from the top of the bed and think.
…… I wonder where in that slender, petite body she gets the strength to lift me.
I listened to the sounds around me for a while, but it was quiet.
The bed is soft and fluffy, and unlike the wooden bed in the dungeon, it gently supports my weight.
I lay down gently and was enveloped in comfort.
A lot has happened and I’m a little tired.
Either way, I am a demon now.
Regardless of whether or not I become the Demon Queen, I intend to live among the demons as a member of the Demon Lord’s army.
That much is certain.
I never want to be human again.
When I close my eyes, I feel a pleasant drowsiness.
…… Let’s take a little rest.
………………。
……………………。
I’m dreaming.
Bishiri, I felt a sharp blow on my back.
After a delay, heat and intense pain hit me.
I scream, but the torturer does not rest his hand.
Twice, three times, his whip swings across my back.
I groan in pain and look up to see His Royal Highness the Crown P there.
“Spit it out. You’re in league with the demons.”
It is more of a command than a question.
In a tone that would not acknowledge any other words.
But I didn’t notice it.
…… I pretended not to notice.
“No, Your Highness, that is not so! I swear to God, I have nothing to do with the demons!”
Another crack of the whip and a scream.
“Don’t lie to me. Then why do you have Dark attribute magic? You must have gained it through communication with the demons.”
“N, no, no, that’s not true! I was born with it! And everyone in the royal family knows that —…….”
The whip swings harder, striking me in the back.
“Carry on until she speaks the truth. But don’t kill her.”
With that, His Highness turned on his heels and left.
I could do nothing but watch him go.
Even though I, the daughter of an aristocrat, the daughter of a Duke, was exposing my skin to a man who was not my family, or even my fiancé. Even though my body was being harmed.
His Highness shows no signs of concern at all.
On the contrary, he looks down at me with a cold gaze, as if looking at something filthy.
How much humiliation, anger and hatred did I feel as the whip swung at my back?
I will never forget the taste of blood oozing from my clenched lips.
……………………。
………………。
“Wake up, it’s time to get ready.”
A voice called out to me, and my eyes snapped open.
My brows furrowed as I felt a pain in my back that shouldn’t have been there.
I ignored it and got up.
“For the time being, please make do with my clothes for a while. I will prepare some clothes as soon as possible.”
I give a slight nod.
…… Never, ever, will I forget, nor forgive.
Until I repay the pain and humiliation I have suffered.
I will never forgive anyone.
Sads Translates 