It was quite a satisfying visit to the Demon Realm.
Who would have thought returning from such a place could feel this refreshing?
It was a new revelation for .
Dad was doing exceptionally well.
To my delight, he was verbally lashing out at the Demon King far better than I had expected.
How could soone with such titles as Puppy, Angel Descended, Little Goddess, Tiny Chick, and Baby Bird Chirp Chirp force even the mighty Demon King to kneel?
I an, isn’t the Demon King’s ntal fortitude supposed to be unshakable? Yet, he seed more fragile than sugar cubes.
If he had visited our ho even for a day, he would’ve bled profusely from his ears from how Dad and I lived daily.
Even the Duke of Dinsions let go surprisingly easily.
After we spied on the Demon King together, he sent back to the human realm. His unexpected cooperation left slightly bewildered.
Well, considering he’s the top figure in the Demon Realm, he was likely calculating the odds of Dad becoming a complete Demon King.
Thus, he couldn’t outright kill or treat recklessly.
Still, I can’t fully trust him. He might change his mind and try to kill at any mont. He probably showed Dad just to earn my trust.
But it’s useless.
No one in their right mind would trust a demon.
Resolving to keep my guard up, I steeled my heart.
What if the knights are worried about ?
It’s been two days without any contact—surely, the mood must be tense.
For now, I decided to sneak back to my room and rest.
If anyone caught returning at this late hour, it might stir unnecessary commotion and wake everyone.
With that thought, I scaled the walls of the sanctuary.
Clap!
Dusting off my hands, I landed gracefully, though my heart felt uneasy. Tomorrow’s dawn brought its own worries.
How was the Pluto household doing right now?
What excuse might teor have concocted?
Countess Rearwin had always been very fond of , but disappearing for two days without a word was bound to concern her.
If she found out I hadn’t returned to the dormitory either, her worry would be imnse—or perhaps she might be angry?
Knowing her temperant, anger seed unlikely. Either way, I needed to et her as soon as possible.
I’d also have to face Reuben and Miles.
Just the thought of them weighed down with a heavy sigh.
And then, I froze in place.
I could only blink as my body stiffened.
I had locked eyes with teor, who was walking toward .
My mind went blank, as if a clean slate had been placed over my thoughts.
Is this what it feels like for ti to stop?
I couldn’t just remain frozen like this. I needed to say sothing—anything.
As I was about to open my mouth, conflicted, teor let out a sigh and approached .
“Everyone’s been worried about where you’ve been.”
“Huh? Oh, um… yeah….”
My brain felt like it had short-circuited.
What was I supposed to say?
Why was this so nerve-wracking?
I had known I’d run into him sooner or later once I returned to the sanctuary.
Yet, standing face-to-face with him made my heart ache, and my entire body felt out of order.
Was it because I felt so guilty toward him?
“It’s late now, so report back tomorrow morning.”
“Okay.”
teor’s voice was low and calm.
I forced myself to respond casually, though breathing felt difficult, and even eting his eyes seed overwhelming.
I had no face to show him.
“And there’s sothing I need to say.”
“Huh?”
His blue eyes regarded impassively, devoid of emotion.
The coldness in his gaze stung more than I expected.
Ah, so this is how it feels to be hated as the Demon King’s daughter.
It made perfect sense for teor to feel this way.
Even so, my heart ached.
“I explained why you left to my family. My mother might co looking for you, so I’ll tell you what I said.”
“Okay.”
I had been curious about what excuse he would give.
teor opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again.
What kind of explanation had he co up with?
Had he said I was searching for my biological parents?
If so, knowing Rearwin, she would’ve insisted on eting them too. That would an fabricating fake parents and another web of lies.
Or maybe he claid I’d lost my mory? Rearwin would undoubtedly bring back to the household for treatnt.
If not that, could he have suggested I’d eloped out of love?
That would an I’d run away in a sudden whirlwind romance. But I wasn’t the type to do sothing so absurd—
“I told them I confessed to you.”
“….”
My thoughts ground to a halt.
“I said I’ve had feelings for you since we were young and confessed. And because you didn’t want to stay, you left. Since we’re legally siblings, it made sense for you to leave after my confession. The family isn’t asking any more questions.”
“….”
My mind went even blanker, if that was possible.
It was an explanation beyond anything I could have imagined.
Even though it was just an excuse, his words struck hard.
The re idea of him making such a claim before his family was staggering.
I finally managed to whisper, “Are you really okay with that? That’s such a dishonorable thing to say. I an, because of ….”
A confession to an adopted sister?
Wouldn’t that tarnish his reputation?
Especially with his upcoming engagent, his family’s disappointnt must have been imnse.
To keep my secret and remove from the household, he had sacrificed his dignity.
Contrary to my concerns, teor’s voice remained calm.
“No other excuse would’ve convinced them to let you go.”
“I see… but still….”
Was this really okay for him?
Because of , he had shouldered such an unbearable burden.
Not only had I hurt him, but now I had turned him into soone who’d harbor feelings for his adopted sibling.
If he had revealed my identity instead, he could have beco a hero of the empire.
But the deed was done.
Suppressing the urge to cry, I whispered, “Alright. I’ll keep that in mind. I’m sorry you had to say sothing so untrue because of .”
“Good. Now get so rest.”
teor replied briefly and turned to leave.
He seed to have no more to say to .
I couldn’t move until he passed by entirely.
The short mont stretched unbearably long.
Once he disappeared from my view, I let out a deep, soundless sigh.
I felt so guilty that tears threatened to spill.
“By the way, where were you?”
“….”
The sudden question made the tears vanish.
Slowly, I turned to face him.
teor also turned back toward , his expression unreadable.
I didn’t want to lie to him anymore.
I had already deceived him too much.
From now on, I wanted to be honest.
“I just ca back from the Demon Realm.”
“What? Did you encounter Magi?”
“No. It wasn’t like that. There’s a demon who’s trying to kill . Apparently, the Demon King ordered it. That demon took away.”
“Who was it…?”
teor’s shock was evident.
There was no reason to hide the truth from him anymore.
“It was the Duke of Dinsions. He abducted while I was unconscious, and I spent two days in the Demon Realm.”
“…The Duke of Dinsions?”
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