>> Everyone then leaves the hall after the introduction, except for the mages and servants, as well as the guest of honor (supposedly), me.

“Everything settled accordingly, huh?” sighing in exasperation, Astarte leans her back on the throne while holding the scepter.

“All is well that ends well, Your Highness. Now that you found the one who will rule over this Kingdom, your position now is already absolute.”

Botis raise his voice in anticipation as he looked at the Queen.

“Indeed. I know the Queen will find someone suit for her as a husband.” Mammon claimed as he turns to look at me.

I twitched out right that moment. Astarte leans forward to look at me, all while sitting over on her throne.

“It is indeed that I found the betrothed one, but there’s something I want to know further than this...” her eyes sneer, as I avert away.

“What is, Your Highness?” Botis asked.

Astarte leans back again on her throne. “The fact that he must feel the same the way how I feel about him.”

The entire crowd shunned from what she said. I gulped over the matter and move a step backward a little. “Something I want to guarantee before he takes the title of Demon King. I know, if the previous Queen still lives, she will say same thing.”

Lurking that rhetoric monologue, their faces turn grim. That matter, as Aeshma said to me the previous Queen died a few weeks ago. It’s still fresh on their minds...

“Justine...” Astarte opens her mouth and called over my name in the midst of eerie silence.

“Huh?” I flinched over and look at her. “...It’s a kind of trivial thing, but I am in doubt you want to take the title of the Demon King, right?”

Her voice gives off mellow, but firm to the question. The others tilt their heads and gazes at me with anticipation.

“I did say that we have all the time here together. Yet, I sense that this isn’t something for me to decide along, right?”

Her eyes solemnly stare on me. That makes me wonder, why did she wanted me to be the Demon King at the first place? I’m a mere mortal without any specific ability.

Plus, I didn’t come from a noble bloodline.

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“I don’t have any qualms for you to point me as a candidate for the position of Demon King, Your Highness...”

With humbleness on my voice, I declared. Everyone focuses on my statement. Even Abigor who stands beside the Queen eagerly heeds.

“For me, the person who has no idea about this world and pointed as the next ruler is a ridiculous thing I can think about.”

The atmosphere turned eerie from the moment I speak. Even Astarte turn grim from the words left on me.

“Hey, you don’t say that—-“ in the midst of silence, Abigor raise her voice but Astarte halted her immediately.

“You shouldn’t raise a voice to our guest, Abigor. I know you feel bad about this, but this is a matter between me and him. Please, stay aback.”

Heeding the firm words of the Queen, Abigor reluctantly stepped back.

“... I’m sorry for the words, Your Highness—-“

“No, you shouldn’t apologize on anything, Justine. I fully understand what you want to comply. And it’s on me; there’s no need to feel bad.”

Astarte, though a little disappointed but she delivered it with mellowness. “It’s in a whimsical way that you got here out of nowhere...”

I nod to her response. “However, I’m thankful for you.” After her thoughts, I bow down. “From what...?” she asked.

“I got saved from death, Your Highness...” my words fill with humbleness.

“What do you mean?” she asked again. Lifting my head to look at her, I start to recall about it. “Someone from my world wanted me dead. That girl was the person I cared.”

On my words delivered, Astarte sneers with contemplation as she looked at me. The thing she wanted to know who that girl shows on her quizzical looks.

“Why...?” she asked again. Her brows fuzzed together. “It’s about the same issue we have...”

“Oh, the thing she wanted you to be her King?” from the anticipation and excitement, Astarte leans forward on her throne. Even the Mages turns their eyes on me.

“If I can say it’s like that... and I know there’s no way I can see her as someone I can stay with.” I continued, trailing the words next to the statement.

“That sole reason made her attempt in executing you. How horrible...”

I nod. “And that’s the reason I can’t let this thing you want to fulfill. I know it is absurd enough, and it makes me feel bad. But the way how I truly feel about you is...”

Before I proceed, Astarte shows a gentle smile on me. “... That doesn’t change the fact that you’re the one who is for me.”

“Huh?” I mumbled. Trailing the next words to say, Astarte stands on her throne. “This conversation makes us be honest to each other. Knowing a part of you is the goal of this...”

“Huh...? I mumbled again. Looking struck from what she’d done; Astarte stepped down on the throne.

“Personally, I don’t ever want anyone other than you to be the next King. Even if my confidants and vassals say so, to you who is the sole candidate to the position is yours to take.”

“But...”

Ah, I got bamboozled over this. I thought she would let me off the hook of being the King.

“My decision for you to be the next King is absolute. However, you can decline the offer the way you like it.”

Each trot her feet echoed on the stairs down, I can sense something unpleasant that starts stirring over me.

“However, there’s something I want to remind you. Should you do not take the candidacy to be my King, then there’s no need for you to stay...”

She stepped down and faced me. “You will transport me back to my world?”

“Nope; since you know our existence... you’ll be punished with death.”

A sudden chill shred on my body that moment. “Huh...?” I grunt.

“The mortal here knows our existence. A punishment of death should bestow to him.” Astarte uttered as she looks at everyone.

“But I didn’t do anything to be punished by death! Please—-“

“—-Then there’s no need for you to decline my offer to be the Demon King, right?”

Wait... that... “You’re coercing me?” I grunted out. Her lips form a menacing smirk.

“Not coercion; more of asking the proper way...”

You’re just trying to justify it in your accord. “....Ugh, I almost believed to that.”

Astarte chuckles at me. “Of course, I’m serious. I’m serious about your way of declining will lead to your downfall.”

However, her eyes say otherwise. “Definitely, you’re coercing me...” I grunt.

“I’m not. It’s a law you abide. Since you’re here and all, my words are absolute. Follow or defy, your choice to make.”

What the...?! “I have other appointments to do. Please excuse me...” passing over, Astarte walked from the hall and proceeds out. Abigor quickly followed, but her eyes sneers at me.

“Looks like the Queen is serious over that matter, Mr. Justine?” Botis utters with wry smile on his lips.

“Huh? I don’t even understand everything about it... But she’s cunning over this matter, huh.”

Turning about face to look at her, I heave a small sigh. Though, I’m grateful that I’m still alive and all from the sudden plan of killing Catherine made, there’s this absolute dedication over the position.

However I take it, there’s no way I can escape on it. Probably, because she’s the Queen and her words are rules.