“That’s…”
“In Tristan, it’s customary to gift ceremonial swords for boys’ birthdays.”
The woman quickly cut off Amaryllis’s words. It made one momentarily doubt whether such a tradition really existed in Tristan.
A purely decorative ceremonial sword wasn’t a practical gift. Since it’s made only for specific ceremonies, it would end up stored away after the ceremony, lacking any practical use.
If asked about its monetary value, the answer would be equally ambiguous. Unless the small embedded jewels could be reprocessed. But typically, gems set in such swords were easily damaged and impossible to reprocess.
“Since you’ve just received your title, it seems even more meaningful. I hope it doesn’t violate Sehera’s customs.”
“I love everything Sister gives me.”
Bastian innocently reached for the table. He soon picked up a piece of food with his fork and offered it to the woman.
“Here’s my gift too.”
“Today is the day for Your Highness to receive gifts.”
“Still.”
Bastian waved the fork in front of the woman. His eyes curved lovingly.
“I want to give it to you, Sister. I want to.”
“…Oh my.”
Perhaps touched by his desire to give something, the woman’s bright violet eyes momentarily wavered.
“Thank you. I shall accept it with joy.”
When the woman whispered, Bastian even showed the kindness of feeding her himself. Perhaps it was because Lumière’s message had been delivered by the maid that they appeared like a mother and child with a deep, unspoken bond.
At this tender scene, Amaryllis’s insides burned with rage.
First her husband, and now her son. Is this why they say blood will tell?
She was already going mad with concern over their similar appearances, but seeing her son act this way was more than Amaryllis could bear.
Amaryllis’s eyes flickered sharply. She barely contained herself as she turned to the maid beside her.
“…Jeanne.”
“Yes, Madame Sehera.”
“Tomorrow morning… please call for Liam.”
She couldn’t let Blumir be taken away, let that woman’s status rise accordingly, and thus find herself threatened. For this, Liam’s cooperation was desperately needed.
Though she wasn’t sure if the unknowing Liam would accept, she had to at least try.
“…Ugh.”
And at that moment, the woman’s face turned deathly pale as she covered her mouth and fled from her seat. As if something had gone wrong with what Bastian had given her.
Bastian looked up at Lumière with wide eyes.
“Wh-why did Sister leave like that?”
Lumière, who had been watching Bastian and that woman’s interaction with satisfaction until now, furrowed her brow. After looking at the table, she let out a deep sigh.
“It’s pork.”
…Pork?
Amaryllis momentarily looked at the Holy Father watching the banquet from the high seat. A not-so-bad excuse had occurred to her.
* * *
Lucifer patted Valentine’s back as she knelt in the garden, retching. Her white face had turned sickly pale.
Thump, thump. Her delicate body swayed with Lucifer’s touch. Her golden hair fluttered under the evening sky. The frail woman heaved violently as if she’s about to throw up her entire stomach.
A heavy voice fell upon Valentine.
“You’re composed today, at least.”
“…Because crying helplessly like that once was enough.”
Valentine barely replied before bending over the garden again.
Though it wasn’t painless, she had things to do. Though unexpected grief might burst forth whenever she faced Bastian in the future, today wasn’t that day.
“…I’m really dying.”
Valentine caught her breath and wiped her mouth.
“You know… I was almost touched when he tried to give me a gift. Children are like this. They find more value in giving than receiving. Perhaps that’s what makes them such innocent and harmless beings.”
At that moment, she almost felt her heart surge again. How could a small child who resembled someone she despised look so lovely?
“But of all things, he had to give me pork.”
Of course, Bastian wouldn’t have known what he was doing. Valentine was just suffering from falling for his innocence. She could still almost taste the greasy flavor in her mouth.
“It’ll be hard to just love him purely.”
Valentine grumbled softly and turned to Lucifer. For the first time in a while, mischief sparkled in her beautiful eyes.
“But Lu, do you know something?”
“What?”
“I didn’t like it much before, but it got worse after meeting you. Is there really something to it?”
Lucifer seemed to smile knowingly.
“My thoughtless master doesn’t know her subordinate’s traits.”
“Huh?”
“Our symbol isn’t pigs, but goats.”
“Ah. No wonder goats have been looking cute lately. Though I’ve never actually seen one.”
It was a silly joke. Then she tilted her head.
“But then why does the Holy Father’s Orthodox Church do that?”
Lucifer’s eyes asked what she meant.
“Why are they suspicious of people who don’t eat pork? I felt so hurt whenever they used to look at me strangely.”
“It’s food forbidden by heretics. One of the main ways to identify their believers.”
“…Ah. So heresy was the issue.”
She only needed to know her own faith, why would she need to know what doctrines heretics followed?
Of course, hundreds of years ago when religion held more influence, these might have been well-known doctrines. During times when inquisitors were active, such small details could put one’s life at risk.
But now that religion’s influence had waned, persecution wasn’t as severe as before. While most countries on the continent, including Sehera, worshipped the Holy Father’s Orthodox Church, that was all.
Valentine suddenly let out a scoff.
“What has God ever done for us anyway.”
Once a devout believer, now she was just an apostate. Her once deep faith had transformed directly into disbelief.
There is no god to save this world.
Since demons exist, God must exist too. But that immortal being doesn’t interfere in human affairs. If God had any intention of salvation, Valentine wouldn’t have ended up like this.
It’s laughable. Her salvation came not from the God she so believed in and relied upon, but from the demon she had feared and rejected.
Valentine gently caressed Lucifer’s cheek.
“Let’s go. Lumière must be worried.”
Lucifer nodded. On their short path back to the banquet hall, they found someone retching face-down in the garden.
It was Liam.
Despite it being winter, the sun hadn’t set yet. He seemed to be quite drunk already.
“Lu.”
But Valentine knew Liam well. Born a knight, Liam had little taste for alcohol, which often left him feeling out of place among the nobles.
Moreover, his gaunt shoulders and seemingly half-sized frame felt strange.
“I told you not to do anything.”
Valentine turned to Lucifer. She instinctively sensed this had something to do with him.
“What are you doing, Lu?”
At her gentle question, the demon twisted his lips into a crooked smile.
* * *
Early morning, Liam’s face was dark as he headed to Amaryllis.
Lilims1The lilim, or lilin, are dangerous demons similar to succubi that reside in Hell, who ruled over dreams, were cruel beings precisely because they were enchanting.
‘You haven’t been looking well lately.’
Recently, during their private meeting, Amaryllis had muttered that with a voice full of concern. Liam said he was fine, but he knew the truth himself.
The guilt eating away at him, and thus the nightmares that came with it, were slowly killing his spirit.
No matter what he did, one person wouldn’t let go of him. Valentine, Valentine, Valentine.
His… now only family.
The nightmares that came every night were still bearable. After all, dreams were just illusions. Not reality. Terrible hallucinations drawn by Liam’s guilt.
But perhaps because of drinking too much at the prince’s birthday banquet yesterday,
The succubus he encountered at dawn today drove Liam mad. Like a boy having his first wet dream.
‘Brother.’
Giggle, giggle. In the black dream, laughter bordering on mockery struck his ears.
A space lit up. Something that was taking her form suddenly appeared there.
Tina…
Liam’s body moved as he muttered between his teeth. Without thinking, he embraced her tightly. She, who he thought would coldly reject him, didn’t refuse.
She, docilely held in Liam’s arms, shifted her weight onto him. She pushed him back, gently.
It was possible because it was a dream. His body tilted backward at her light gesture. Soft bedding touched his back. Soon she bent over Liam.
Casually straddling his stomach, she caressed his chest with her right hand. Her left hand elegantly brushed her hair behind her ear.
A golden afterimage poured down on him, soft sensations brushing against his body, tickling him. Its lips curled into a gentle smile.
‘I’ll give myself to you.’
The sweet voice shattered. Fatal things he couldn’t refuse bound him.
How long had he… dreamed of this.
Her soft hands slid down. Her slender fingers traced over his n*ked body. His breath hitched at the warmth that was transmitted—the undeniable human touch. His knees grew weak beneath him.
Hah, huh… As he swallowed the faint rising gasps, the laughter deepened.
The fingertips tracing his body’s silhouette grew bolder. Hands with tender warmth firmly gripped his thighs. Blood boiled throughout his body.
- ianthe
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