The Little Demon King is Too Bothered by Her Brave Dads - Chapter 100

“Your Highness, First Prince, did you cough?”

At the same time, a servant’s polite voice was heard from beyond the door.

“The Princess of Orleans asked if you could join her for breakfast.”

Tatiana?

At the unexpected name, Lakius’s eyes widened a bit.

“What shall I tell her?”

“Tell her I’d be delighted to join.”

The answer came out faster than he thought.

“Understood.”

After the servant’s presence disappeared.

Lakius hurriedly headed to the bathroom.

‘Calm down, it’s just having breakfast together.’

Yet strangely, his heart was fluttering.

***

A little while later.

Lakius, who was entering the dining room with quick steps, paused.

“What’s this…?”

The first thing that caught his eye was the table set far too elaborately for breakfast.

A whole roasted chicken dish filled with various nuts and fruits.

Mashed potatoes with butter and gravy sauce.

Fresh salad and various drinks.

And even a cream cake that was on the verge of collapsing in the middle due to the excessive chocolate and fruit decorations on top.

“Laki, happy birthday!”

Tatiana, who had arrived earlier, greeted him with a bright smile.

She was wearing a colorful party hat on her head, which looked very lovely.

Beside her, Cesar was sitting with an indifferent face, wearing a party hat identical to Tatiana’s…

‘…Wait a minute.’

For a moment, Lakius’s pupils shook as if there was an earthquake.

‘Am I seeing things right now?’

Lakius rubbed his eyes vigorously and looked at Cesar again.

But the scene before him hadn’t changed at all.

‘That cold-blooded man who wouldn’t bleed a drop even if pricked with a needle… wearing a party hat?’

Lakius felt like he had experienced some cosmic horror.

“Lakius.”

Just then, Cesar called out to Lakius with a slight smile.

“If you breathe a word about today to anyone else… you know what will happen, right?”

Then he gritted his teeth and threatened Lakius.

Only then did Lakius sigh in relief, clutching his chest.

“Thank goodness. I almost thought Master had gone senile prematurely and lost his mind… Ouch! Ah, isn’t it okay to joke a little on my birthday?!”

“Be thankful you’re still alive because it’s your birthday.”

Meanwhile, Tatiana looked at the two bickering men with cold eyes and said just one thing.

“Sit down.”

At that single command, both men obediently took their seats.

Tatiana pouted and grumbled.

“Really, what is this? We finally all got together and you’re just fighting.”

“Miss Tati, I’m wronged. This is all because Lakius was talking nonsense…”

“Third Dad, you’re not innocent either. It’s his birthday, couldn’t you let it slide a bit?”

Lakius gazed at the bickering father and daughter.

Somehow, his heart ached.

His precious people had gathered in one place to celebrate his coming of age.

It was a happy moment he had never even dared to dream of, even in his fantasies.

Perhaps that’s why this whole scene felt somewhat like an illusion…

‘What if all of this is just my delusion?’

For a moment, Lakius felt his heart sink.

Even though he knew it was nonsense, he couldn’t help but feel terribly afraid.

But then.

Tatiana turned to look at Lakius with narrowed eyes.

“Laki, why are you spacing out like that?”

Suddenly, Lakius snapped back to reality.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

Tatiana was still there in front of him.

Cesar was also looking at Lakius with an indifferent gaze.

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Lakius shook his head and smiled faintly.

He was in a rare good mood.

***

After finishing Lakius’s birthday breakfast like that.

Lakius and I went out to the garden for a walk to settle our full stomachs.

Although it was cool due to being in the north, it seemed that even the changing seasons couldn’t be beaten.

The garden was in full late spring bloom.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”

It was truly a sight that drew admiration.

Under the bright blue sky, pink peach blossoms had burst into full bloom.

The vivid contrast between blue and pink was dazzling to the eyes.

Lakius and I slowly walked through the shade of the clustered blossoms.

The ground beneath our feet was completely colored with fallen petals, as if pink snow had fallen.

“Thank you so much for today.”

Lakius turned to me with a gentle smile.

“I never thought I’d get to celebrate my coming of age with you personally. I was really surprised.”

“Well, that’s because we’re friends.”

I answered, squaring my shoulders.

“After you left for Carlo, you didn’t show your face in the capital at all. What could I do? The person who wants to take care of you had to come visit.”

“Ah, no way.”

At my answer, Lakius’s eyes widened a bit.

“You came all the way down here just to celebrate my birthday?”

“Of course. Now that I’m saying it, do you know how much trouble I went through to come all the way here?”

I boasted, making sure he heard.

“There’s no friend like me, right? So be good to me from now on. Got it?”

“Indeed, I should be grateful for this.”

Just as Lakius was chuckling softly.

A spring breeze suddenly rushed in.

At the same time, the hat I was wearing flew off and sailed through the air.

“Ah!”

I turned towards the hat in surprise, but.

Lakius caught it before I could.

“Got it.”

Lakius, flashing a smile, strode towards me.

“Are you okay? Your hair’s all messed up.”

“Ah, yes. It’s fine…”

I was about to reflexively take the hat, but I stiffened my shoulders.

Because his large hand suddenly reached out and pressed the hat firmly onto my head.

It was the firm hand of someone who had held a sword for a long time.

“…”

Lakius clumsily retied the ribbon that secured the hat and the neck, then took a step back.

He carefully examined whether my ribbon was tied prettily.

That gaze… I kept becoming conscious of it.

‘This is strange.’

I bit my lip hard.

Normally, I would have scolded him for doing this.

But now, even moving my lips was difficult.

Just then, Lakius smiled awkwardly.

“Well, I can’t tie the ribbon as prettily as Tati. Maybe you should untie it and retie it…”

“No, it’s fine like this.”

I shook my head reflexively.

“…”

“…”

Silence fell.

Only the occasional sound of flower petals brushing against the grass could be heard.

Everything else was just quiet.

“Well, going back to what we were talking about earlier…”

Lakius, who had been hesitating for a moment, carefully opened his mouth.

“Thank you, really.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not just saying this, I’m really happy that you came to visit like this.”

Lakius had a rare serious expression.

“I really missed you.”

“…Laki.”

“I thought I was managing okay until I saw your face, but now that I actually see you…”

Lakius trailed off for a moment, then concluded with a mix of seriousness and embarrassment on his face.

“I guess I wasn’t.”

“…”

I gazed at Lakius blankly.

The current Lakius was, how should I put it.

He looked a bit nervous.

My expression probably wasn’t much different from Lakius’s.

‘Really… this is strange.’

We’re just close friends who’ve been hanging out since we were young.

‘Why do I keep becoming conscious of Lakius?’

I swallowed hard and answered.

“…I missed you too.”

It was just that one sentence.

But somehow, I found it a little harder to breathe.

Meanwhile, at my answer, a smile slowly spread across Lakius’s face.

It was a bright smile, as if he was truly happy, without a speck of doubt.

“Really? You missed me too, Tati? I’m glad.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off Lakius like that.

All my senses were focused solely on Lakius, as if the world was revolving around him…

A strange sensation.

Just then, the wind blew again.

‘Ah.’

I blinked blankly.

The peach blossom petals swept up by the wind rippled like a pink sea.

Amidst the thousands and tens of thousands of flower petals swirling like a storm.

A young man stood there, as if he had been crafted from only the most beautiful things in this world.

With his golden hair shimmering like gold thread scattered across his forehead, his red eyes curved like crescent moons.

He smiles at me.

And I.

Somehow, I felt like I would never forget this moment for the rest of my life.

…I suddenly thought.

And then.

Crunch.

A broken twig under my shoe made a crunching sound.

In that moment, I snapped back to reality.

‘What was that just now?’

What on earth was that sensation?

That feeling that had dominated my entire body until just now, as if we were the only two left in the world.

That strange sensation had completely disappeared.

And somehow, I felt regretful about that…

‘Regretful?’

I became a bit bewildered.

‘Really, what on earth am I doing right now?’

To hide my confused feelings, I clenched my fist tightly.

‘Laki and I are just friends. More than anything, Laki has…’

I bit down hard on my molars.

‘A destined partner he’s meant to be with.’

The female protagonist of this world, who will become Lakius’s lifelong lover.

The one who was the only one to approach Lakius first, who had lived a hard life being shunned all his life,

And became his support…

At that thought, my rapidly beating heart suddenly became calm.

It was really strange.

The weather was mild enough for spring flowers to bloom.

I was wearing a thick shawl, so there was no way I could be cold.

…Yet strangely, a corner of my heart felt chilly, as if a cold wind was blowing.

“…ti.”

“…”

“Tati!”

Huh.

I snapped back to reality.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

Whoosh-

Once again, the wind rushed in.

The scent of peach blossoms wafted strongly.

My hair was tousled across my cheeks in the wind.

Lakius, who had reached out his hand, tidied my disheveled hair while speaking as if whining.

“Can’t you focus on me when you’re with me?”

“…”

I looked at Lakius with complicated feelings.

‘The days when we can be this comfortable with each other will come to an end someday.’

Because I am…

The absolute evil that Lakius, the protagonist of this world, must defeat.

The Demon King.

‘Come to think of it, when will the female protagonist appear?’

Suddenly, I thought about the female protagonist.

The female protagonist who will help Lakius and play a major role in defeating the Demon King.

…Only she can give Lakius perfect happiness.

If the female protagonist appears.

For Lakius’s happiness, I should step aside.

I know that.

Even though I know it well.

“…”

The peach blossom scent that filled my lungs felt strangely bitter.

But just then.

There was a loud clanging sound of metal clashing.

‘Huh?’

Lakius and I reflexively turned around.

We saw a knight in full armor running urgently across the garden.

‘What’s going on?’

Without anyone taking the lead, we followed him inside.

As we entered the lord’s mansion, we heard the knight shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Magical beasts have invaded the outskirts of the city!!”