I have slept with Valeria—though I can't remember it well—and also kissed her, so no suggestive things Valeria does to me can faze me anymore.
Chuu!
Despite that fact, I am still floored about what to do when she suddenly kisses me in front of everyone. I didn't see it coming—not at all.
Luckily, Valeria handles it like a champ. She is brimming with confidence, uncaring to how it might look from the others' perspective.
I am quick to adapt too. Wrapping my hands around her waist, I make the situation look more natural.
"Welcome back," Valeria says after pulling back.
"I have a feeling that I am going to go again, so it is rather hard for me to say I am home." Sighing softly, I smile faintly afterwards. "Regardless, I am home."
"Put it back on." Valeria gives my mask back. "You definitely don't want your face to be known after this happening."
Putting my mask back on, I say, "Simps can go fuck themselves. I'll fight them and the other Demon King Candidates at once." I smirk. "Anyway, that is not the reward, is that? I am not saying that it wasn't an honour, but I will be rather disappointed if—"
"Don't worry, I just wanted to kiss you." Valeria puts her hand up. "I have your reward here. I hope this will help you in your future endeavour."
Receiving the new Spatial Storage from Valeria, I can't help smirking in glee. I can't wait to fill it with luxuries and the interesting things I find in my future journey.
Sensing something wrong from Valeria, I turn my eyes to her. "Is something the matter?" She looks slightly dissatisfied for some reason.
"No," she says curtly. "I am just glad that you like the Spatial Storage that much."
"Oh, yeah... Thank you." No matter how unconvincing her answer is, I chose to not go down the rabbit hole, and nod my head.
Valeria steps back after giving me a silent look for three seconds. I immediately take off my old Spatial Storage, store it in the new one, then put on the new one.
Smiling softly at me, Ilschevar steps forward, and says, "It is a little bit unfortunate that Counselor Valeria didn't disclose what she gave to our outstanding Warrior; however, at least, we have seen something we have never seen."
"Woohoo!"
Phweet!
"What a lucky man!"
"I am a woman, but will I get the same treatment if I achieve something great too?!"
"Oh, shut up! No one wants to kiss such a vile woman as you!"
By the time I know it, the situation in the throne room became rowdy. Some of them are cheering, meanwhile the others are arguing about a completely unrelated topic to what they have just seen.
As expected of Velucan's subordinates, none of them really know how to behave correctly. Regardless of where they are, they keep being themselves—being loud whenever they want.
They are annoying at times, but it is fortunate that none of them are Haletha's simps.
"Hmm...?" I quirk my eyebrow when I notice the neutral look Vibiane and Eliseus are showing me. Both of them are the only people in the room who stay silent. "Why do I feel like their view on me has changed for the worse?"
Clap!
My head turns to Velucan when he claps his hand once to gather our attention. The cheers and the argument stop immediately, allowing the room to regain its tranquility.
"Since the matter has been settled, I think this is the time for you to resume your activities," Ilschevar says calmly. "Except for Velucan, Eliseus, Layland, and Vibiane, all of you are dismissed."
"Excuse us, Our King!"
My troop mates seem a little bit too eager to get out of the throne room. They do it orderly, but they dash so quick, all of them have got out of the room in just five seconds.
Turning my attention to Ilschevar as I wait for his explanation, I somehow get where this is going. I don't know what kind of relationship Ilschevar had with Haletha's father in the past, but I strongly believe he won't only give Haletha asylum.
"What about talking about this matter while having something to fill our stomach?"
"That will be preferable; however, I must ask if you feel I am worth the hospitality considering what I am going to ask you," Haletha answers stoically.
"Who knows? What you can offer me later might decide it."
Smiling mysteriously, Ilschevar claps his hands twice. I feel a sudden but brief Mana fluctuation, and in the blink of an eye, the scene changes.
Looking around the room, although I have only seen it once, I can tell it's the banquet room. It is my first time seeing it this well-lit though, so I am slightly surprised by how different it is from what I perceived before.
"Please, take a seat." Ilschevar's voice echoes throughout the vast banquet room. He has sat himself in the head seat. "People become more comfortable when they eat. I hope it applies to you too, so we can have a comfortable conversation."
Haletha, Arieda, and their Guardians immediately take a seat. I was planning to sit beside Eliseus, but Valeria motions me to sit beside her, so I do what she wants.
Upon sitting down, I am randomly reminded about the existence of my slave. I haven't paid any attention to Winerva ever since we were on the run from Lysimork's Rebel Army, so I don't know where she actually is right now.
"Are thinking about a woman?" Valeria's question awakens me from my thought.
"Well, I was wondering about where the slave that was forcefully given to me is."
"A woman?"
"... Yes." For some reason, I feel intimidated.
Shrugging the feeling as Valeria just being scary—it is not the first time I experience it—I observe Haletha, who is sitting across me. She doesn't look like she expects much of this situation, which can mean she has already given up her position in Lysimork.
Arieda is holding her mother's hand in worry. She seems to know what her mother is going to do, and she feels conflicted about it.
Clack.
"Looking at another woman while having your girlfriend beside you—as expected of Layland."
Ignoring the plate that has been put on the dining table, I turn my head to look at owner of the familiar voice. Her blue hair reminds me of the calming scene of the sea, but her red eyes remind me of a raging volcano.
Although she is not as beautiful as the heavenly beauty Valeria, her beauty is definitely something that attracts the envy of every girl in this world.
"Well, it's been a long time." She is my slave—my other slave that I didn't know I missed. "Good to see you can function well with that mark, Millonia."
"This asshole ... Ah, by the way, your other slave is here too." Millonia points her gaze to the front. "Huuh... This perverted bastard. Just how many girls you want to enslave?"
Ignoring Millonia's nonsensical comment, I follow the direction her eyes are pointing. There, I find Winerva and Xenon, who are wearing the standard maid dress, putting the plates on the table.
They still look awkward doing their job, but they are doing a great job; especially, Winerva, whom I have never expected to be good at this kind of job.
"Oh, so that's why your dress is different," I muse. "Chief maid dress looks good on you, Winerva."
"Kuhum! I am going to continue doing my job."
With a blush on her face, Millonia scurries away. No matter how crazy she is the moment she wields her sword, she still looks cute when she blushes.
"Teasing her is as good as—is there something wrong, Valeria?" I look at Valeria carefully the moment I feel her 'This bastard won't live long aura.'
"... The discussion is about to commence. Pay attention."
"Oh, so it's about that."
No wonder Valeria is displeased; she has spent a lot of effort to teach me manners, and I have almost behaved unethically just now. No one shall speak in the presence of the Demon King, unless he asks you to.
'But, wait. It's a banquet, so the rule must not apply. Why was she angry then?'
"Very well, Lady Haletha. Let us hear what you want from us."
I stop musing the moment Ilschevar starts speaking. The real discussion has started, and the result of this discussion will decide what kind of relationship we have with Haletha and the Dark Elves in the future.
"Firstly, I want to ask you to give us asylum. That is all I want for now."
"What can you pay us with?"
"My skills and competence. I can help you cultivate your crops, manage your Kingdom's financial situation, and lend you my knowledge as a Dark Elf to do things that only Dark Elves can."
A gasp of shock and disbelief can be heard from the Guardians who remain loyal to Haletha at the third thing she is willing to do. I am sure they didn't expect their Queen to do that much to receive asylum.
Ilschevar stays silent, but there is a soft grin on his face that conveys mischief as he looks at Haletha.
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