I nodded once.
"Yeah. Actually, last time, they tried to kill me too, and this time was no different. But they still didn’t manage it. Thankfully, I came back without any major issues."
Feeling slightly awkward, I shrugged my shoulders.
Imagine that—a human going to the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Demon Realm, sleeping soundly in a princess-like bedroom, and feasting on gourmet dishes imported from the human realm.
If anyone heard this, they’d think I was lying.
Thinking about the Duke of Dimensions, his face once again overlapped with Meteor’s in my mind.
Meteor.
Why does the Duke of Dimensions look exactly like you?
Why does he look like an older version of you?
You wouldn’t know, would you?
Meteor, looking slightly surprised, spoke with a bitter tone.
“So, you’re the Demon King’s daughter, huh? Looks like you’re in more danger than I thought.”
“....”
“This isn’t really a conversation we should continue here. But, are you planning to stay in the Order of Holy Knights?”
I couldn’t answer immediately.
To me, the question sounded more like, When are you leaving the Order?
But I didn’t want to leave.
I shared the same goals as the holy knights.
I needed them, and I wanted to stay with them.
“Meteor, I need to kill the Demon King.”
“....”
“And I want to save my dad. I need to destroy the Demon King’s soul while saving my dad’s body and spirit. You have to kill the Demon King too, don’t you? I want to stay with you until then.”
I couldn’t lift my head as I spoke.
I felt like a criminal in front of Meteor.
It didn’t take long for his voice to break the silence.
“You know as well as I do that once we kill the Demon King, that’s the end of it. It doesn’t matter what soul is inside—it’s all the Demon King.”
“....”
“I’m not planning to reveal your secret right now. But you’re not just any demon’s child—you’re the Demon King’s daughter. How long do you think you can hide that? I hope it doesn’t take too long for the truth to come out.”
“....”
Was he saying I should leave the Order soon?
That’s what it sounded like.
His calm yet firm tone left me with nothing to say.
Meteor, I swear I won’t harm humans. Ever.
I’ll protect people at every moment.
I know it’s wrong to hide my identity and deceive everyone, but I’ll try harder.
Not that it would matter. Being born as the Demon King’s daughter is already a crime in itself.
“Well, I’ll go ahead.”
Meteor let out a soft sigh as he brushed past me.
A faint breeze carried his cold presence as he walked away with measured steps, his footsteps growing fainter and fainter.
It wasn’t even Winterly Duke’s winter estate, yet the air around me felt freezing.
I stood there for a moment before finally moving and somehow found myself in my dorm room.
Climbing into bed, I wrapped myself tightly in the blankets.
But even that didn’t bring warmth—only solitude.
I felt like the only person left in the world.
Ding!
<'From Maid to Saintess - Astina' suggests you abandon Meteor and join forces with the Duke of Dimensions instead. She says he’s bound to help you destroy the Demon King’s soul.>
...Excuse me?
Now that I think about it, the Duke of Dimensions did say something similar.
“If you ever wish, I could help you save Lloyd Delight.”
So what?
Even if I were cornered with no way out, I would never accept help from a demon.
The Duke of Dimensions has no reason to kill the Demon King while sparing my dad. It wouldn’t matter to him who won.
He doesn’t share my goals.
But the holy knights and Meteor are different.
We share the grand goal of destroying the Demon King, of eradicating the Demon Realm that has ravaged the human world.
They are my comrades, advancing together, not benevolent beings who condescend to offer aid.
I didn’t want to abandon my comrades and accept a demon’s help.
If I did, there would undoubtedly be a price to pay.
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' says not to worry.>
Why?
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' explains that Meteor’s earlier words shouldn’t be taken literally. When he said you should leave the Order, he didn’t mean for real.>
...What does that mean?
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' elaborates:
“You’re not just any demon’s child—you’re the Demon King’s daughter. How long do you think you can hide that?”
She says this means Meteor is worried your identity might be exposed someday.
“Hmm....”
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' continues:
“I hope it doesn’t take too long for the truth to come out.”
She says this means Meteor fears you might be ostracized if your secret is revealed and thinks leaving the Order to protect your life might be a good idea. It’s a sign of affection, not a demand for you to leave.>**
“Huh....”
What?
How do you even interpret it like that?
I stared blankly, dumbfounded.
But the loneliness and desolation that had surrounded me seemed to dissipate.
“Thanks. That explanation was so absurd, it actually made me feel a bit better.”
Ding!
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' urgently advises that, despite his cold words, Meteor must have been deeply worried during the two days you were missing. She says he likely couldn’t sleep or eat properly, and his heart might have been torn apart.>
...Really?
If that’s true, then I feel even worse about it.
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' adds that Meteor probably blamed himself for your disappearance. She emphasizes that you must not abandon him for the Duke of Dimensions.>
Beep!
<'From Maid to Saintess - Astina' warns Gabriella not to manipulate you. She’s confident Meteor is a lost cause now that you’re the Demon King’s daughter.>
Beep!
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' angrily retorts, insisting the Duke of Dimensions is an absolutely hopeless choice and that you would never fall for a demon.>
Beep!
<'From Maid to Saintess - Astina' snaps back, pointing out that the Duke of Dimensions made you laugh during your time in the Demon Realm—something Meteor hasn’t managed to do.>
<'Yuri-Loving Druid Gabriella' grabs Astina by the collar!>
<'From Maid to Saintess - Astina' retaliates by pulling Gabriella’s hair!>
“....”
Why are they even fighting?
My head is already noisy enough without this chaos.
Does who I end up with even matter right now?
“...Both of you, stop it.”
I muttered softly and pulled the blanket over my head as I lay back down.
Though the gloom had lifted, I still felt unsettled.
Would I even be able to sleep tonight?
Ding.
<'Dragon Slayer Sylvester' tells you to forget everything for now and have sweet dreams.>
...Thank you.
I really hope I can have a good dream tonight.
With that thought, I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.
***
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
The next afternoon.
The sunlight was so bright and piercing it made my eyes ache.
After finishing my report at the sanctuary, I stepped outside, letting the warm rays wash over me.
There was someone I needed to meet.