The wind dies down immediately. It’s probably because Aileen has pointed the sword directly at Master Claude’s nose, which brought him to his senses.

Though there’s a sword trained on their master, both Beelzebuth and Keith look unconcerned. That’s only natural. If Claude got serious, he could turn Aileen to charcoal in an instant.

Even so, her pride compels her to speak.

“No doubt some of the fault lies with me. I admit that. However, are you saying I should simply accept my lot and spend the rest of my life weeping? Don’t make me laugh. I have no intention of wasting another second on scum like him.”

“…Scum? That’s quite harsh.”

“Yes. Women accrue love over time. I have decided that I will love you. Come, let us foster our affection.”

“At swordpoint?”

Claude’s eyes are cold, and Aileen directs her most beautiful smile at him.

“They say if you keep declaring that you are in love, it will eventually become truth. Shall we test that theory out?”

“I see.”

Responding in a completely flat voice, Claude extends a hand. In spite of herself, Aileen hugs the sword to her chest. Gently, with his long fingers, he lifts a lock of hair that’s fallen across her shoulder. He scrutinizes it suspiciously with his red eyes.

“In other words, you’ve come to seduce the demon king?”

“Sedu…”

Her cheeks flush. She’s not accustomed to matters of love and men. In her previous life, otome games were her friends, and in this life, while she did have a fiancé, she had been raised as a sheltered noble lady, and tragically few moments of romance had actually passed between her and Cedric.

Nonetheless, she can’t afford to show weakness by being flustered now. Still feeling timid, she forces herself to flaunt a brave smile at that lovely, expressionless face.

“Y-yes. I—I suppose that’s what you’d call it.

“…Your voice seems to be trembling. Is that my imagination?”

“I-it most certainly is.”

“You don’t seem familiar enough with men to seduce one.”

“Just who do you think I am? I am a veteran seductress! I could seduce a man before breakfast!!”

She’s made that declaration firmly, but Claude’s face is still empty. He only looks her over, examining her from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes.

Her makeup and clothes ought to be flawless, as always. Since she’d intended to venture to the demon king’s castle, she didn’t go all out, but she assures herself that her appearance is nothing a duke’s daughter would need to be ashamed of. Still, for some reason, she suddenly feels embarrassed, and she stirs slightly.

H-having someone this gorgeous right in front of me makes me nervous… Oh, my hair! It’s all mussed—

Belatedly, she notices: Her shoes are muddy. The lace on her dress apparently caught on something and frayed. On the whole, she’s rather shabby. She charged straight through the woods, so it’s only to be expected. Even so, this is a dire situation.

After all, in this era, being impeccably dressed is a woman’s battle attire and her means of defense.

“I…I apologize for my unseemly appearance, especially when I’ve come to propose. I’ll call again another day.”

“There’s no need.”

Claude snaps his fingers. Aileen braces herself for a demon to appear, but a gentle breeze billows up from beneath her feet and swirls around her, scattering motes of light. The mud vanishes from her shoes, the frayed lace weaves itself back together, and the fabric that tore when it got caught on some branches is mended, then made clean again. Her disheveled hair is swept back by the wind as if it’s being carefully combed out, and her fatigue lessens slightly.

…It’s magic.

As Aileen blinks in surprise, Claude speaks to her brusquely.

“Now you won’t need to come back. Go home.”

“…I’ll treasure this outfit.”

“What?”

“I mean, it’s an enchanted dress! That’s marvelous!”

She twirls around, eyes sparkling, flaring out the dress she usually wears when she wants to travel unnoticed. At the same time, the bud of one of the flowers in a vase on the shelf opens. Is that magic as well? She watches the vase closely, her eyes shining, but that bud is the only one to open, and there are no further changes.

It seems strange, and Aileen turns to the expressionless Claude.

“Did that flower just bloom by magic as well?”

Claude doesn’t answer. From behind him, off to the side, Keith gives a significant smile.

“The presence of a lady really does brighten the room, doesn’t it? I’d worried that being surrounded by nothing but demons had warped your common sense and eye for beauty, Master Claude.”

“Oh yes, that reminds me! Regarding those crows on the way here.”

“…I keep telling you to go home. Are you hard of hearing?”

“I have heard you loud and clear. I’m simply refusing to go along. Now, about those crows—they are your servants, aren’t they, Master Claude?”

Aileen draws herself up to her full height and stands firm as she faces down Claude, who’s wearing an indefinable expression.

“It’s all very well for them to warn those who enter the forest, but mocking visitors is in rather poor taste. The behavior of your vassals reflects on you, Master Claude. Do teach them to refrain from slander based on crude rumor.”

“And why should I listen to anything you have to say?”

“Because it would be embarrassing for me to have a fiancé lacking in decorum.”

“I don’t recall becoming your fiancé.”

“In addition, Master Beelzebuth, your attire is shameless. Utterly undignified.”

Beelzebuth blinks in surprise, and Keith bursts out laughing, hugging his sides.

The only article of clothing Beelzebuth wears above the waist is a long vest. He shows a lot of skin and is dressed in the style of the East. When she saw his character design, she didn’t think much of it, but by the customs of this country, intentionally exposing your skin is an outrageous thing to do. Moreover, it’s midwinter. She feels cold just looking at him.

“I’ll have something appropriate tailored for you. We’ll also need to teach you proper etiquette.”

“Wait, human girl. Why the hell would I do anything like that?”

“You are Master Claude’s right-hand man, correct? Demon or not, you’ll need to be proper enough to make public appearances.”

“…Right-hand man, you say.”

Beelzebuth’s voice seems rather excited. He’ll be easy to manipulate.

“As for you, Master Keith… You seem to have been making do with the same clothes for quite some time. Taking good care of your possessions is a fine thing, but we can’t have you looking shabby in court. Do you have anything you can wear to social functions?”

“Oh, well, I had something tailored a few years ago. The thing is, Lady Aileen, and you won’t believe it—while I’m technically a high official, I’ve sided too firmly with Master Claude, and so my wages are zero! Even though there are payments listed on the official books. Does that seem right to you?”

“Goodness.”

Are his wages being embezzled? Aileen wonders as she frowns, falling deeper into thought.

“…I’m beginning to understand the situation. I take it Master Claude has no money, either?”

Abruptly, the flowers in the vase all drop their petals at once. When the two attendants notice this, they react swiftly.

“Master Claude, you don’t have to let that trouble you. I enjoy life quite enough as it is.”

“My king, if you desire money, I’ll go steal some for you. Just say the word.”

“Silence, both of you— Do you see now? There’s no value in marrying me.”

“Good heavens, don’t worry about something so trivial. I’m quite reliable enough to provide for you, Master Claude. Why, if you’d like, I could even keep you in your demon form as a pet.”

Instantly, lightning strikes just outside the window. At this point, Aileen isn’t even startled. She simply laughs with an idle “My word.”

Claude, whose face is still blank, groans.

“…What brought that on? Didn’t you come here to seduce me?”

“That sort of thing suits me better.”

Keep the final boss as a pet. Wouldn’t that be a nice development? Aileen smiles, terribly pleased with the idea.

Claude looks back at her frostily.

“The fact that you don’t understand that seduction would be preferable shows your sensibilities are questionable.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment… In any case, I hope you’ll enter a contract by marrying me. With nothing more than your agreement, you will all be guaranteed lives of comfort and fortune.”

“Wow, she sounds like a new type of missionary.”

“Master Claude. All I ask in return is your love. Thanks to a certain piece of human scum, I’ve been shown just how demanding a request that is.”

Claude looks up. While it’s faint, there seems to be some emotion in his face now.

Thinking that if she can only make him agree, she’s won, Aileen presses him.

“You are a kind man. Surely, you do not hate humans wholeheartedly. As a result, the demons feel rather stifled, which in turn pains you. Am I wrong?”

“……”

“Personally, I hope those who wronged me get devoured by demons. However, if you wished for that, it would actually happen. How heavy that responsibility must be, and how conflicted you must feel—and yet here you are, resisting that very temptation. I respect your strength.”

For the first time, Claude’s confusion shows in his face. He widens his eyes. In them, Aileen’s reflection wears a devilish smile.

“If you marry me, I will protect both you and the demons you cherish. I won’t make you bear that burden alone. I may not look it, but I would have been empress one day. I do understand these things.”

Abruptly, Claude’s face goes blank again. It’s as if he’s snuffed out his emotions.

Aileen blinks, and then his lovely face is right in front of her.

“Enough. Leave.”

They aren’t words, but a spell.

He taps her on the forehead with his index finger; she totters, her body rises lightly—and in the next moment, her knees buckle, dropping her onto something soft.

She’s sitting on her bed. Her bedroom has abruptly materialized around her, and she blinks at it repeatedly, feeling bitter regret. He’s forcibly magicked her back home.

“…He pulled one over me. Was I close to convincing him…? Or did I make a mistake somewhere?”