“Oh, to think my body must be covered in dust.”

“I’m wringing out the rag here.”

“Should I clear away these plants?”

Complaints erupted from all directions. Joseph in particular grumbled incessantly while wielding a feather duster several times larger than his body.

“Why didn’t you stop this madness?”

Joseph asked Esh in a sharp voice.

Esh, however, couldn’t refuse knowing that Rael had started cleaning to improve her mood. If this helped Rael feel better, a little manual labor was nothing to complain about.

“Just shut up and clean.”

“Humans! They’re so unpredictable!”

Joseph pouted his small lips and continued dusting vigorously.

“How about everyone using nicer language?”

When Rael, who was sweeping the stairs, spoke with a bright smile, both Esh and Joseph clamped their mouths shut.

“Joseph’s manner of speaking isn’t good for prenatal education. Perhaps we should ban him from coming near.”

“Hey! Your foul mouth is no better than mine!”

The brief silence between them erupted into sparks once again.

“Let’s hurry up and finish.”

Rael chuckled watching them. The bickering between these demons was about the only thing that made her laugh these days. Esh and Joseph stopped growling at each other and refocused on cleaning.

As they cleaned, light jokes were exchanged and laughter occasionally broke out. The castle, which was already clean, sparkled even more with their attentive care. It was a sense of accomplishment Rael hadn’t felt in a long time.

How strange that simple cleaning could bring such peace to her mind. A testament to how few meaningful activities she had in this castle.

She needed to find enjoyable things to do here during the long months of pregnancy.

“What’s that?”

While Rael was cleaning near the windowsill, she noticed ravens fluttering away outside. Had they been moving in smaller numbers, she might have ignored them, but there were so many that they blocked the sunlight coming through the window, darkening the interior.

“…Oh dear.”

Joseph’s face wrinkled intensely at Rael’s question.

“What’s wrong?”

Just as she asked, the castle gate suddenly burst open. Since they were cleaning the hall, they could see the scene directly. The thick iron door, which couldn’t be easily pushed open by hand as Rael had noticed when she first arrived at the Demon King’s Castle, was now flung wide open.

Everyone’s attention immediately focused on the entrance.

“This place hasn’t changed.”

As the door opened, black shapes cast shadows inside. The ravens Rael had seen through the window were flapping their wings in a flock, and in front of them stood a woman.

Her black form-fitting dress had a high slit that revealed one leg.

“…Lady Sezl.”

Yuswen called out to her, and Rael learned that the woman’s name was Sezl.

‘Who is she?’

Who could enter Rubellan’s castle so boldly?

“What brings you here, Lady Sezl?”

Esh subtly positioned herself in front of Rael while addressing the woman. Curious, Rael observed the newcomer over Esh’s shoulder. Her silver hair and red eyes were striking, seeming to sparkle even more in contrast to her black dress.

“Is there something wrong with visiting my brother’s home?”

The voice of the woman called Sezl was clear like rolling jade beads, effortlessly penetrating the ears without her having to raise it. Her voice seemed to carry power within it.

‘Brother.’

She must be one of the four siblings Rubellan had mentioned.

“I see that cute human you’re hiding must be the one I’ve heard about.”

Sezl apparently knew of Rael’s existence.

With clicking heels, Sezl approached Rael. Esh’s body tensed noticeably.

“You’re not actually trying to protect her from me, are you? Step aside. Let me have a look.”

Sezl said with a twisted smile. But Esh didn’t move, causing Sezl’s brow to furrow.

“Everyone in this castle has no manners.”

With a wave of her hand, Sezl sent Esh flying sideways. She had used magic to toss Esh away. Rael was startled by the sudden development, and in that moment, the atmosphere in the castle changed.

Joseph and Yuswen emanated aggressive auras.

“Why so unfriendly? I just want to say hello. Is she that precious to you?”

Sezl approached Rael without so much as blinking at their killing intent. Rather than feeling afraid, Rael wondered if this woman intended to harm her.

“Grrrr…”

Kali, who had somehow approached unnoticed, positioned herself between Rael and Sezl.

“What’s this now?”

Just as she was about to kick, black smoke rose from Kali’s body, and instantly Kali grew twice her size. Her soft fur hardened like steel. As a result, Sezl’s extended leg bounced off Kali’s solid body.

“Hah.”

Sezl roughly pushed back her hair, looking incredulous.

“Lady Sezl!”

Joseph shouted, which only made Sezl look more irritated. Rael felt quite awkward caught between them.

“Did you come to see me?”

“Oh?”

When Rael spoke, Sezl’s fierce expression softened with curiosity.

“Should I consider you my guest?”

Sezl was somewhat surprised and intrigued by Rael’s calm demeanor. For a mere human to face her so composedly was unprecedented in the hundreds of years she had lived.

“That’s right. I came because I was curious about you.”

“Then let’s receive you properly in the reception room.”

Rael spoke with the ease of the castle’s owner. In truth, she was just as flustered by the situation. She simply wanted to avoid creating a scene that might escalate into a larger conflict among the demons. If a fragile human got caught in such a fight, she might not survive.

“Joseph, please ask Chapir to bring us some tea.”

“But Lady Rael!”

When Joseph urgently tried to dissuade her, Rael shrugged and said:

“She’s a guest. We must be courteous.”

Rael’s words contained an implicit warning to Sezl as well. If she was a guest, she should behave accordingly.

“Wow, he’s brought in someone extraordinary.”

Sezl was genuinely impressed, thinking that her brother’s human was no ordinary person.

* * *

Borrowing Rubellan’s reception room, Rael and Sezl sat facing each other. Despite the steaming teacups before them, neither woman was quick to enjoy the tea.

Rael was beginning to understand how inconsiderate this demon was. She seemed quite different from Rubellan, though when Rael recalled his occasionally reckless personality, perhaps they were similar after all.

“There are widespread rumors in the demon realm.”

Sezl, who had been observing Rael for some time, finally spoke.

“About me, I presume.”

“That’s right. They say my brother captured some human.”

“And you came to verify that?”

“Well, not exactly. I made a bet.”

“A bet?”

Rael tilted her head at the mention of a bet, wondering what it had to do with her.

“Yes. I made a bet with my siblings about how many days the human who entered this castle would survive.”

Rael’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at the mention of death.

“And today is the last day I wagered on.”

As Sezl’s red lips curled upward, Rael felt a chill. Could she have come to kill her because of that bet?

“Oh, no need for that expression. I really just came to confirm with my own eyes that you’re still alive.”

Sezl cackled, seemingly reading Rael’s thoughts. With a bitter feeling about the rude woman before her, Rael picked up her teacup.

“What day did the others bet on?”

“Hmm… I bet one month, Mecklan bet three months.”

“Was there no one who bet longer?”

Rael’s gaze followed the tea swirling in her cup.

“Ah! Now that you mention it, that guy did.”

Sezl leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she continued.

“He said you’d live until you died of old age, using up your full lifespan.”

“Which sibling was that?”

Somehow, she felt she knew who it might be.

“Juletan.”

Indeed, it was a name she recognized.

“I hope he wins.”

After all, she wanted to live out her full lifespan. Sezl laughed pleasantly at Rael’s response.

“Human… ah, Rael was it?”

“Yes.”

“I can see why Rubellan brought you here.”

“You know something even I don’t.”

Rael inwardly mocked her. Even she, who had been by Rubellan’s side, didn’t fully understand his motives, yet this woman claimed to know after just seeing her face.

“You’re interesting. Interesting enough that I’d like to keep you in my castle.”

“Surely not.”

Rael was exasperated. She couldn’t comprehend what aspect of herself so perfectly matched these demons’ tastes. Was there something special in these siblings’ bloodline?

“Especially this scent of magical power, it’s extraordinary.”

She really wondered what this “scent of magical power” the demons kept mentioning was, and how she could completely eliminate it.

“Hmm…”

As Sezl narrowed her eyes with her chin resting on her hand, Rael caught a fleeting resemblance to Rubellan. Earlier she had thought they didn’t look alike enough to be siblings, but perhaps that wasn’t entirely true.

“I only meant to check and leave, but my curiosity is too strong to resist.”

Rael wanted to beg her to just resist it. She had confirmed Rael was alive, so couldn’t she just go back out the way she came in? Preferably, she could send a letter three months later rather than coming in person.

“I think I’ll stay here for a while.”