A brush of cold against my skin jerks me awake as my legs swing around, not finding any resistance around me. I groggily turn around, noticing the empty sheets next to me and the rays of the Sun blinding my barely open eyes. My eyes slowly getting used to the newfound light, I sit up on the large bed, examining the room surrounding me.
A parchment on the table with visible ink on it draws my attention as I lazily get up from the bed, its sheets spread across haphazardly, a scene more likely from a battle rather than sleep. I walk to the table slowly, my bare feet tingled by the soft carpet below.
The parchment opens to reveal scribble in Dral, my mind pushing itself to translate the written words. I’ve had some practice in it, but I do hope Cerolus hasn’t decided to use difficult words.
“Downstairs for breakfast and drinks.
Call Tiana if you need anything.
Join me when you get ready.
Cerolus”
So, he woke up and left me alone in the room. Does that mean he doesn’t really care that much for me? Or that he just wanted to do whatever he wanted without me being in the way? I’ve never even considered what Cerolus wanted these past weeks, he’s never said any of his needs to me and just listened to whatever I wanted to say instead.
My eyes fall onto a small ring on my finger. It’s the ring he made for me at the wedding. I didn’t even thank him for it.
Does this mean that I was a bad wife all this time? Did that make me too selfish? Should I try to be more considerate to him, to his needs?
“Tiana!”
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try, right?
The small doors open, Tiana walking out, brush in hand.
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Dressed and ready, I exit the room and slowly make my descent to the floor below, following the small sign on the wall that points to a dining area after Tiana has told me that Cerolus is most likely to be found there.
The large doors open to reveal a large area packed with wooden tables and chair, people sitting all around me, chatter and meaningless conversation coming from everywhere at once. The Demons nearest me turn around to look at the newest arrival, but they don’t drop their gaze from me, following me as I slowly trudge around the room, looking for any sign of my husband among the crowd of faces.
The gazes multiply as the chatter slowly dies down and the various conversation halt, the eyes crawling across my skin as far as I can tell. Most of the Demons here carry at least some sort of a weapon, with a large number of them armored as well, the minority keeping the regular clothes that do not seem to show any kind of weaponry, but I suppose even they would be able to defend themselves in a pinch.
I notice a familiar set of clothing in the corner of my eyes, and notice a familiar tail swinging lazily behind a large back and a pair of black horns with a small chip on the top rising above the Demon’s black hair.
I don’t think I ever ran this fast in my life, even Sernol would give me a praise.
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“So the thing with light magic is that it’s incredibly useful in being unpredictable in nature…”
A small pair of hands grapples my chest tightly as I almost instinctively try to defend myself before I see the pale skin of the small hands below my chin.
It’s her.
I turn around slowly, as the grip around my back loosens, blue eyes watery to the point of tearing looking back at me.
Gods she looks prettier every day.
Sophia lunges at my chest, her small figure almost perfectly hidden from sight by my clothes.
“Missed me, I presume?” Sophia only nods at my words as I look around the room, eyes directed straight at us.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“What are you all looking at? Get your own wife.” Chuckles can be heard as the room slowly rises into a clamor it had before, the attention on the two of us dissipating.
“Anything for you and your wife, Lord Cerolus?”
“I’ll have some eggs with bacon, and she’ll join me on that. And give us some bloodwine.” I look down, slowly raising Sophia’s head from my chest. “Is that alright with you, Sophia?”
“Umm…. Yes.” Her face brightens up slowly as she takes a seat next to me.
Did all these people look that intimidating to her? How do I make sure she understands that she is safe here? Is she still afraid of us, of me?
I will make sure to protect her, that I swear upon the Gods themselves.
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Slowly calming myself down from that embarrassing performance, I look around the table I’m sat. There’s only one person apart from Cerolus and me, with several guards seated around us.
“Sophia, this is Lord Nagarit. He’s an old friend of mine.”
“Emphasis on old; that horned bastard by your side hasn’t aged in years.” Lord Nagarit bows gently, to which I respond the same way, since I don’t know otherwise. Cerolus has told me that I’m a member of the Royal Family so I should have some freedom regarding the other nobility.
Lord Nagarit doesn’t possess any horns, his skin almost milky white and his hair visibly grey. I haven’t actually heard of all Demon races, and nobody actually pointed out the exact differences, so I could only guess at this point.
“Are we seriously going to talk about how old we are, Nagarit? I thought you would at least understand how tedious it is to be old.”
“It’s tedious to be old when you are actually old. Doesn’t apply much to you Lilin, now does it?”
Lord Nagarit has raised his voice, if even barely. It does seem like age is a sensitive matter to both of them, but I’m almost certain not in the same way.
“So, how are the wife and kids, Nagarit? You haven’t even mentioned them this morning.” Cerolus seems intent to move the conversation going in a different direction.
“They’re fine, Cerolus. The kids are starting to get out of the nest at last, it’s been twenty five years with those leeches at my back. The oldest one actually found a wife and is ready to inherit the business. This old man can’t keep all his wits around anymore.”
“I think I have a long way to go before I retire, Nagarit. And when I do, I’m not really certain who’ll get the ‘privilege’ of inheriting the stuff I own.” Cerolus turns his head towards me as I try to look anywhere but his face. The sound of plates hitting the table saves me, as I try to divert any attention he may have towards the food in front of us.
“Well for now I’m lucky to have such a pretty and young wife next to my side. As for the rest, there will be time.” Cerolus’ tail wraps slowly around my hips as he starts eating the food in front of him.
“Time is what you have Cerolus. Time is what you have.” Lord Nagarit looks meaninglessly around him, his thoughts seemingly drifting off beyond this room. Just how cryptic they can be about all of this? Am I ever going to be in a position to find something out about my husband?
“Well I guess I’ll leave you to your meal then. It has been wonderful seeing you again after all this time, Cerolus, make sure you visit again before I die.”
“I’m pretty sure you’d haunt me from wherever you end up if I don’t.” Both men laugh briefly and Lord Nagarit stands up, the guards around him moving in unison. The table is shortly devoid of company, my husband and I left to eat.
“We’ll take a small tour of the town and then go off to the road to Democrit. We should arrive by night if everything goes well.”
I can only nod as I stuff myself with the food on my table.
Let’s just forget what happened today. Food will be good for that I think.