“Your Highness, you are going too far. All the daughters of our families are already married. We are not here to establish ties with you through marriage. Our intentions are purely for the dignity of the empire.”

“We are no different. Please refrain from making unfounded assumptions.”

“Of course. You were probably sent here on the orders of another family, weren’t you? A family seeking a marriage alliance with me wouldn’t dare risk offending me by making such remarks themselves. So what reward were you promised for delivering their message?” 

The old nobles remained silent. Despite the accuracy of my words, these seasoned patriarchs, with decades of political manoeuvring behind them, maintained their composure and avoided any sign of anger. 

“We are innocent of such accusations… but if Your Highness insists on thinking that way, there’s nothing we can do. After all, there is no way to prove our intentions.” 

“Our words were merely heartfelt advice, given for the sake of the Empire’s future and Your Highness’s safety. If you choose to disregard them, so be it. But this is the reason we have come,” one of them said.

After exchanging subtle glances, they took an envelope from their cloaks and placed it on the table.

“We have already received the Emperor’s approval. We ask that Your Highness review it and ensure your presence.”

The envelope, sealed with the Emperor’s insignia, lay on the table as the nobles turned and left, their business concluded. Judging by the speed with which they left the garden, they must have felt some embarrassment. Zetak watched them go, a slightly mocking expression on his face.

“There seem to be quite a few families like that,” he said, his tone casual. “To put it crudely, they’re after a successor who carries Your Highness’s seed.”

I understood what he meant. The kind of power I wielded, almost unattainable for ordinary humans, must make them believe that a child of my bloodline could become an extraordinary figure – a hero for their family. Zetak looked at the retreating nobles with an expression that bordered on pity.

“If they tried to raise a child with Your Highness’s blood, they’d probably die of high blood pressure.”

“Are you insulting me?”

“Of course not. As for me, I’ve developed an immunity, so I could manage. Would you consider having a child with me?”

A child with Zetak? It’s something impossible, but I couldn’t help but imagine the possibility for a moment. The child would probably inherit Zetak’s eyes. If they took after their father, they might also have tentacles. Zetak is a cross between a spider and a snake. So what would the child be like? Would they have spider legs or a snake’s tail instead of legs? Perhaps both. If the monster’s blood was strong in them, they might be born by tearing through my stomach. They might even devour my internal organs before emerging…

“D*mn it, stop.”

Zetak’s face twisted in frustration as he spoke.

“Honestly, it feels like you’re always stopping me when I’m trying to think. How do you even know what I’m thinking to tell me to stop?”

“I don’t know what it is, but judging by how scary it feels, it’s probably not a pleasant thought. Besides, you’ve never had anything close to a normal thought in moments like this.”

Murmuring something I couldn’t argue with, I decided to shut up. It seemed my earlier thoughts hadn’t gone down well with him. Still, I couldn’t help but reconsider the idea of having a child with him. If it was a child who inherited his dual nature, it would be strong. Whether they resembled a snake or a spider, wouldn’t they still be adorable?

“What kind of child do you have in mind?”

Zetak stared at me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as a soft smile curved his lips. *I don’t know,” he said, looking away. Though he didn’t say much, his expression was genuinely happy. A child, huh? It’s impossible now. But if we enlist the help of the mages at the Magic Tower, they may be able to find a way. Just like they did the impossible by fixing my arm. Whether it takes ten years, twenty years or even longer, it might be possible one day.

“If you want, I’ll give you a child.”

At my sudden remark, he looked at me for a moment with a startled expression, but soon laughed, his shoulders shaking slightly.

“Well, these days Your Highness’s way of speaking is more amusing than annoying.”

I wondered what was going through his mind this time. He murmured to himself with a faint smile, but the smile quickly faded as his gaze landed on the envelope sitting on the table. His expression turned cold as he opened it without a word.

“What does it say?”

“It’s pretty much what we expected. They’re calling for a Council of Nobles.”

“The reason?”

“To assess my safety and ensure the safety of the Imperial Palace.”

Zetak’s lips curled into a wry smile. Safety? The very idea was ridiculous. Seven years ago he had stood before the Temple Tribunal and gone through every procedure to prove his safety. He had even been granted citizenship and found to be of sound mind. And now they wanted to question him again?

This was clearly an attempt to find fault with Zetak and drive him out. Did they think I would turn to women without him? No, they weren’t that naive. Half of it was about increasing their chances, and the other half was fuelled by a stubborn desire to expel him simply because he was a monster. That’s probably how it was.

“You don’t need to attend. The meeting will end in nothing.”

To question the safety of Zetak, already guaranteed by the Temple, would be tantamount to opposing the Temple itself. The nobles would not dare such a reckless act. In the end, the Council would fizzle into insignificance. It was just an excuse to summon Zetak and me in the hope of finding something to criticise.

Zetak looked silently down at the envelope in his hands.

“Do you want to go?”

“I don’t know. It just makes me think. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never really fit in with the humans.”

“…”

“Even after gaining citizenship, even after the Temple officially declared me safe, there are still those who shun me. It feels like no matter what I do, that won’t change.”

Was he sad? For a moment I thought so. But perhaps I was mistaken, for a faint but lingering smile curved his lips.

“I have fought so hard to stay at Your Highness’s side, yet there are so many who would trample on my efforts.”

His eyes glowed strangely. Even though it was daylight, I felt like I was staring into the eyes of a wild beast in the dark of the night. The reason I felt I couldn’t leave him alone was that I didn’t sense any killing intent on his part. Despite the way its eyes looked, there was no malice in them. It seemed as if it had completely adapted to the environment of the demon realm. A monster that has truly decided to k*ll will not show any signs of intent. If I left him alone, I couldn’t predict what he might do behind the scenes.

“We will attend the meeting.”

Zetak hesitated, looking at me with a curious expression, as if trying to gauge my intentions. He stared at me intently, testing my resolve.

He wasn’t human. I could tell by his earlier reaction. Zetak was no longer someone who could be constrained by human laws or principles.

When he decided to act on his displeasure, whether by secretly slitting the throats of nobles behind their backs or mysteriously disappearing any noblewoman who proposed marriage to me, it was certain to be chaotic. The only reason Zetak obediently followed the rules of the Imperial Palace was simple: to stay quietly by my side. But if people continued to interfere, he wouldn’t remain as passive as he had been.

“We will attend the meeting. Let’s make it clear to them once and for all, so that the question of your safety will never be raised again.”

There’s no need to escalate the situation unnecessarily. It would be far better to put them in their place in a formal setting and ensure that they never dare target Zetak again. He has been building his foundation to live in the palace since that day seven years ago. Protecting that foundation should be my responsibility. It’s the right thing to do.

Zetak stared at me for a moment before smiling. The strange glint in his eyes was gone, replaced by his usual warmth. His general demeanour might seem cold, but the way he looked at me was so tender, it was almost as if honey dripped from his eyes. He folded the letter in his hand and set it down.

“Shall we take this opportunity to go on a trip?”

“A trip?”

“Just a thought. Being cooped up in this cramped palace with Your Highness seems like a waste. Spending time in a place where we’re constantly disturbed by such annoyances also feels like a waste.”

“Waste of time.”

These words made my hand, which had been reaching for my teacup, stop in mid-air.

“I’m not saying we should leave right away. Let’s take it easy in the palace for now… and then, when life starts to feel boring, how about we step outside together?”

“…”

“Explore the world with Your Highness, visit famous places and maybe even have nights where we camp under the stars because the sun has set along the way. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Zetak smiled. His eyes were gentle, his lips curved in a slight smile, but at the same time there was a hint of loneliness about him.

“I hope we can travel… a lot.”

“It’s not just about travelling. I want to experience everything I can with Your Highness. As much as possible.”

If he wanted to do something, he should just do it. There was no need to say it so seriously, or to look so lonely while saying it. He looked as if he thought I’d been given a terminal diagnosis, his expression tinged with sadness. Terminal…?

“You…”

I replayed his words in my mind. He had said it felt like a waste of time. So he thinks I don’t have much time left. I swallowed these thoughts and decided not to say them. I could see why there was such a desperate look in his eyes. I now understood why he wanted to experience so much with me, why he even considered time spent being disturbed by others to be a waste.