Saoto quietly sits in his space inside a room in which I guess is a library in this castle. I can see from the outside that there are many books about magic from all around the world gathered there. Saoto probably doing his thing as a Great Demon King. I know very well this is his daily life as one of the Five Great Demon Kings and also as the ruler of the Miltia district who is always busy with various national affairs and people's problems. Coupled with his kind yet very strict in handling every matter, no wonder he is burdened with a mountain of duties from all over his territory. Without asking him, I could know that he wouldn't have the time to spare or meet anyone at a time like this. Meanwhile, I'm still frozen in front of a large door that separates us between the corridor and the library as I'm thinking about whether or not should I disturb him at this moment just for some trivial reason.
I just want to ask him how do I look.
I rub my chin as I'm thinking about what action should I take here.
("He must have been busy doing his thing there but I want to meet him just to ask him about how do I look...") (Guilt)
("Doesn't it look so obvious that I want him to praise me? I'm worried that he would think I'm ready to do that kind of thing...") (Restless)
I get restless as I think about a thousand possibilities that can happen to me just by knocking the door in front of me. Either everything would end up well when I get the praise that I want from him or he would think that I am finally ready to become a 'mother'. Although I had made up my mind to marry him, I think it is too fast to go right for it. Long story short, this door is a 'boss' that would determine my future right now.
I then stare at the door for quite some time before finally daring myself to open it. I gulp as my hand slowly reaches the knob to open it. Even though my hands are trembling so badly since I feel guilty for bothering him, my tail and heart say otherwise. It's like they are begging to be praised by him. After a few moments, the tense atmosphere finally breaks as soon as the big door opens by itself, revealing the person behind it. I'm surprised to see Ena's face that appeared as soon as it being opened.
"Eep, Ena? What are Ena doing here-"
I ask in wonder right after seeing Ena who seems to have been in the library since the beginning. But before I could finish it, Ena quickly cut me off while looking at me with a smiling face and glares into my eyes as if she is aware of something. She then approaches before holding my shoulders tightly, making me shocked by her action.
"Let that aside, what are Mahou doing here? Mahou's cheeks are so red. Is it that Mahou is planning to be caressed by Saoto-Sama again? Aa... How romantic..." (Teasing)
Shocked by Ena's words, I then cup both of my cheeks which I don't realize have been blushing for a while. I'm still panicking as I look away from Ena while lowering my head a little so that my blushing cheeks could no longer be seen by her. I then deny the accusation thrown at me by her in panic.
"N-NOTHING... S-SEI J-JUST... EEK?!!" (Panic)
Yet, I'm shocked again as soon as Ena hugs me tightly from behind. With a slightly stern voice, I hear something coming out of her mouth.
"Mahou don't worry. All of Ena's tasks related to Saoto-Sama have been completed. So, Ena have no reason to disturb the romantic atmosphere of the two of Mahou. Anyway, all the best!!!"
I'm flustered as soon as I hear her words of wisdom. Despite that, my heart feels very eased once I know that she would not disturb my time with Saoto soon. I then look back at Ena's face behind me as soon as she releases her hug. I freeze for a while after seeing her pointing her thumbs up at me as if to indicate that she is encouraging me to keep moving forward.
("Eeh... Is this how women encourage others?...) (Stared)
I then smile back while looking at her face. Although it is awkward for me to be treated like that, somehow I feel more motivated to continue my original intention again. Ena seeing that I just regained my spirit then gently pats my shoulder before leaving me alone. I keep looking at her until she is surely gone before heading back into the library. However, I get shocked again as my head bumps into something hard that suddenly appears out of nowhere in front of me. I then gently caress my sore nose to reduce the pain before I'm startled as soon as I see a hand reaching out to touch it.
Saoto.
"S-Sorry Sei... Saoto don't notice Sei was already here earlier..." (Anxious)
Saoto suddenly gets worried as soon as he realizes that he has bumped into me as soon as he wanted to leave the room. He then reaches out his hand to gently caress my nose which is still in pain but I run it away since I couldn't feel any serious injury on it. I slowly grab his hand with both of my hands to show Saoto that my nose isn't injured despite bumping into his hard chest earlier.
"It's fine"
I look at Saoto while smiling at his worried face to soothe his heart. Slowly, Saoto smiles again before holding my hand tightly with both of his hands to return the grip of my hand earlier. I get a little surprised by his actions and keep looking at his face for a while until I remember the original purpose of my coming to meet him at this time.
("Hold on... How am I going to ask him about my appearance... All this time, I'm the one who always answered this kind of questions. But this time, I'm the one who want to ask him...) (Stared)
I just freeze while thinking about the steps I need to take. Unconsciously, I turn my face away from looking directly into Saoto's face as soon as I get embarrassed when I'm thinking about the question I'm about to ask him. I then get startled as soon as I feel my gaze becomes higher while my feet are no longer touching the ground where I have been standing before. Unbeknownst to me, Saoto has lifted up my body before looking back at me with a slightly worried expression on his face. I fall silent, not daring to tell him about the question I've wanted to ask him before he asks me,
"What's the thing that bothering Sei right now... Just tell Saoto..."
I'm shocked as soon as I hear Saoto's request. However, I realize that the expression I'm making right now does not reflect the slightest calmness on my face. Despite that, the thing that makes me feel so restless right now isn't bothering me, but this man whose schedule was so tight and packed. Suddenly, I feel so guilty to express what I've been wanting from him earlier.
"Aah... A-anu..." (Restless)
"Sei, do Sei want Saoto to teach Sei how to live as a succubus right now?"
I gasp a bit after hearing his question. I suddenly remember that I indeed had promised him to teach me on how to live as a succubus since I still couldn't control my changing ability 'thing' yet. That aside, I don't think that he still remembered it despite I'm the one who had wanted to learn from him, had simply forgotten about it. For a moment, I suddenly feel terrible for disturbing his busy schedule just because of my own selfishness, just wanting to be praised by him. Even though Saoto doesn't have much time to spare, he still remembers everything about me while I just hindered his work right now. Suddenly, I'm startled as soon as Saoto kisses my forehead, leaving me wondering and confused while thinking about how to respond to it. I then look at his face to get an answer.
"Sei, just tell Saoto what have been bothering Sei so much right now. If not, it won't be on the forehead next time..."
My cheeks immediately blush as soon as I hear the warning from the man in front of me. Somehow I feel very calm to know that Saoto is trying to comfort me and doesn't consider my presence at this time to be hindering his work as the Great Demon King. For a moment, a memory flashes in my mind as soon as I remember the same atmosphere as this moment.
I woke up early in the morning to be woken up by a phone call from not a stranger in my life, Tomori-San. It could be said that every time we went out for a walk, it was certain that every day I would be asked a deadly question as soon as I walked with her.
"Hey Sei-Kun, how's Tomori's look today? Isn't that girl prettier than Tomori?"
Tomori then pointed her finger at a beautiful woman who was standing not far from us as we walked through the city. In a moment, I realized that the question she asked was nothing but a trap so both answers could lead to a misunderstanding. If I nodded at her question, I would be accused of thinking that she wasn't beautiful at all, while if I said otherwise, I would also be blamed for trying to protect her heart without telling the truth. As a man, I was completely in the wrong to answer this kind of question. Just by a small mistake, they would be sulking for no reason.
I then doubt the answer that Saoto would give if I'm to ask such a question to him. For a moment, I get startled again by Saoto who suddenly returns to kiss my cheek, stopping me from my long reverie before I immediately blush as soon as I realize that he is still trying to comfort me again who went blank earlier. Saoto then smiles back at me to show that he wouldn't mind listening to whatever problems have been bothering me right now.
"Sei, just say it. If not, it won't be on the cheek next time..."
Saoto teases me again so that the problems are not for me to hide alone. Despite that, I don't hate Saoto who keeps teasing me right now and somehow I'm expecting something more from him. With a low tone and filled with embarrassment, I lower my gaze so as not to directly look into his face while hugging his body tightly before daring to ask him something.
"Sa-Saoto... D-Don't Saoto think that S-Sei looks p-pretty today?..." (Embarrassed)
Saoto fall silent for a moment as if he is surprised by what he just heard. Still embarrassed for asking such a question to him, I keep my gaze lower, not daring to look directly into his face. It's obvious how rude of me to ask him such a trivial question that needs to be answered by him who is currently busy right now. I remain silent until he suddenly places his mouth close to my ear before saying something to me again.
"Sei, the beauty is relative... No one is truly pretty in everyone's eyes... But for Saoto, Sei is the most beautiful woman Saoto ever met in life. The dress that Sei is wearing right now suits Sei so much that it draws Sei's beauty as a woman in Saoto's eyes..."
I'm very surprised and embarrassed at the same time as soon as I get praised like that by him. I never think my heart would melt just by hearing his hoarse yet seductive voice praising my beauty. My body instantly feels very warm as if I've wanted something to be done to me. My mind suddenly blanks and I couldn't think properly anymore. My heart is beating so fast that my breath feels so much heavier in his grip. My tail continues to wag rapidly, showing him that I'm not calm at all even though my original intention to come and meet him today was only to calm down my heart which just wanted to hear him praise my beauty badly.
Is this the pleasure as soon as a woman is praised by her lover?
Or is it just because of his seductive voice that my body feels like this?
Or because I'm a succubus who should like this kind of thing?
Many questions cross my mind as soon as I start questioning how come my body suddenly became so hot. Even though I'm being held tightly by the warmth of his body and accompanied by his scent that soothed my very heart, somehow my heart is nowhere from calming down yet expecting more from him. I'm craving something warmer from him. I then look at his face for a long time with blushing cheeks as I'm embarrassed to ask him for something. Saoto, who has been silent for a moment then gets surprised as soon as he sees the face I just made. With a trembling voice, I express the uneasiness in my heart to him.
"Sa-Saoto... K-kiss Sei-" (Embarrassed)
I unabashedly ask this man to kiss me even though his earlier intention of teasing me like this was only to make me express the uneasiness in my heart. However, my heart won't calm as if I've wanted to be kissed by him so badly. I keep staring at his dull lips for a long time without realizing it while imagining myself getting gently kissed by it. I finally express my desire to Saoto while hoping that his kiss would soothe my heart. However, I'm surprised by him who suddenly kisses me gently even though I still haven't fully told him about what I've wanted yet. This man seems to know that I'm really looking forward for a kiss from him, maybe because it was clearly shown on my face earlier. Although I get surprised, for some reason I enjoy the kiss given by him and continue to hold his body tightly as if I don't want to let go of his mouth at this time.
I continue to enjoy every moment of his lips gently touching mine right now. His tongue sways slowly around my tongue which has been frozen as soon as my mind went blank after it gets touched gently by his tongue. This warm atmosphere continues to fill my mood as soon as I could feel how warm this man's mouth was. Saoto who continues to hold my head tightly, permits me to remain in this position and enjoy it for quite some time.
Finally, the beautiful atmosphere breaks as soon as Saoto pulls back his lips from mine again. I, still shocked and rambling by the warmth of his lips then gently touched the lips that he has kissed earlier as if I couldn't believe how pleasurable the kiss was. I then get surprised by Saoto who suddenly kisses my cheek to calm me down again as I'm making a sad face on him without knowing it. After some time, I ask him to put me down again as I feel calmer after getting a kiss from him.
"Sa-Saoto... Saoto can put S-Sei down now..." (Tired)
Saoto slowly lowers me from his arms while helping me to stand on the floor. I don't know why all my energy is gone as soon as I get a kiss from him, making it so hard for me to balance myself as my legs are shaking like crazy. Saoto quickly holds my hand for a moment before finally letting go of it once I'm able to stand up properly again. Saoto then asks about my condition while looking at me with a slightly worried face.
"Sei, Sei feels better now, right?"
"Hmph..." (Lifeless)
I affirm Saoto's question while nodding slowly to answer his question. It's not because I don't want to answer him properly but rather I barely have any energy to do so. Every single energy I have disappears as soon as I get kissed by his lips tightly. For a moment, I get surprised again as soon as Saoto, who has been silent since earlier, suddenly pulls my body and rests my head on his chest while gently stroking my head. I feel much calmer as soon as my head gets gently caressed by him before Saoto then continues to say something.
"Sei, if Sei felt the kiss was so good that it made Sei lose all of Sei's energy, that means Sei's heart has opened to accept Saoto..." (Smiles)
I'm surprised as soon as I hear the explanation from Saoto. I guess that explains how his kiss just now felt so good that my strength suddenly disappears for a moment. Even so, I don't find myself hating the kiss and even wish to get another kiss like that in the future. I breathe a sigh of relief after I'm getting better in his arms. Although it is soft, I could feel the heartbeat of the man in front of me which is still fast, showing me that he also feels the same sensation as me from the kiss earlier. I continue to smile as I rest my head on his chest before I get shocked as soon as I see the atmosphere next to me.
Some of the maids are stunned while looking at me who is just making out with Saoto until the tray she carries suddenly falls before picking it up again after realizing it. By seeing the incident, I realize something odd.
("Wait... Am I making love with Saoto openly this entire time?...) (Stared)
I then look around me carefully. Saoto and I are standing firmly in front of the library or rather in the palace corridor while hugging each other tightly. I finally realize that our kiss was not only done in an open place but was also seen by the maids who keep passing around here earlier.
I then hit Saoto repeatedly in his chest to tell him to let go of his arms from keep hugging me. My cheeks flush for a moment with extreme embarrassment as soon as I realize that many of the maids could have seen the shameful side of me. Plus, I'm the one too eager to make out with him that I don't think twice before doing it and get carried away. Saoto finally lets go of his embrace as soon as he notices that there are maids who have been watching us from earlier. After escaping his arm, I quickly turn my body away so that no one could see my embarrassed face at this time. In a moment, my ears catch Saoto's voice reprimanding the maids who have seen us earlier.
"Nina-San, Rina-San, continue your work as usual... and don't tell anyone about this"
"Will do, Mahou. Allow us to continue our work"
I peek a little and see the two maids leaving to resume their duty. For a moment, I'm surprised as soon as my head gets gently caressed by Saoto who has been standing right behind me since then.
"Sei, don't worry. They don't even know about that..."
I'm shocked before looking at Saoto's face in amazement. How could those two maids not know about it when they have been standing there for a long time while watching us. Saoto then continues his speech while smiling at me.
"Saoto had put a barrier-kind spell around us earlier to prevent people from outside to find out what's going on inside it. After all, Saoto know that Sei is a shy one..."
I'm surprised while looking at the face in front of me. For a moment, tears pool in my eyes before finally flowing out profusely. I don't expect that this man in front of me cared so much about me who is very shy and even had installed some kind of magic beforehand to take care of my feelings. For a moment, I could feel Saoto resting my head back on his chest before stroking it gently to calm me down. I instantly calm down in his arms. In a low voice, I again ask the man in front of me to make sure of something.
"H-Hey Sa-Saoto... W-why did you tell them not to tell anyone about that then..." (Confused)
I ask him in wonder. If what he says is true, why does he need to tell those two maids to keep it secret. Doesn't that mean the maids had noticed that we've been making out in front of them since earlier. Saoto, who has been silent for a while, calms me down for a moment and slowly lifts my face to look at his still-smiling face before kissing my cheek to comfort me. The surprised me then looks at his face for a long time before he continues,
"They saw Sei who was still weak earlier because Saoto had to release the magic to help Sei. After all, they just wanted to help if anything had happened to Sei before continuing their duty again"
I'm relieved as soon as I hear his explanation regarding this entire situation. The maids were only concerned about me who seemed weak and unable to stand on my own at that time. I'm the only one who misunderstood things while thinking that they already knew all the romantic stuffs that happened between Saoto and me just now. With a heart full of relief, I hug the body in front of me tightly before my hug gets returned by him. Slowly, I tell him something,
"Thank you Saoto for taking care of Sei's heart"
I continue to rest my head on his chest happily. This man in front of me seems to understand me very well even though we just met. Somehow I trust this man in front of me more than anyone right now and always feel comfortable by being on his side. I continue to hug the body tightly to feel the warmth of his body and his scent as much as I please before looking back at his face to ask something.
"Saoto, why did Saoto suddenly rushed out of the library earlier?"
I look at his face, puzzled. I somehow had forgotten that my original purpose of visiting him was to ask him in his space as if I didn't want to disturb him from doing his work. However, everything that has happened so far occurred as soon as Saoto suddenly came out and hit me right in front of the door.
("If Saoto hadn't bumped me in front of this door, I wouldn't have misunderstood things and embarrassed myself...") (Stared)
I conclude the cause of all the events that have happened right now. For a moment, I get startled as soon as Saoto caresses my nose, stopping me from my reverie just now. I look directly at his face which is still smiling at me while waiting for an answer from him.
"Saoto wanted to come to pick up Sei for a meal in the palace dining room but Saoto didn't expect for Sei to come to ask Saoto about-"
I quickly cover the mouth of the man in front of me so that he would not continue his sentence. I realize that I'm the one being selfish and have wanted for this man in front of me to praise my beauty even though I understand very well how busy he is. However, my heart feels calmer and happier by it as it becomes the reason I was able to feel something so pleasant just now. Just thinking about it makes my heart flutter a little. In a moment, I get startled again by Saoto who suddenly lifts my body with both his hands. Quickly, I hit his chest while telling him to put me back down before we get seen by any passing maids that are roaming around here.
"Sa-Saoto?!! P-put Sei down?!!" (Anxious)
Saoto grins at me who gets panicked for a moment as soon as he picks me up. Suddenly my cheeks get kissed by him again, making me look at his face in surprise to get an explanation.
"Sei looks sad just now. Is it better now? If not, Saoto can carry Sei all the way to-"
I anxiously continue to cover his mouth again while quickly nodding to him. Rather than bear the extreme embarrassment of being carried by him to the dining room with my reddened cheeks at the moment, I should walk next to him while calming myself down first. To be honest, I'm worried if I get greeted by someone in the dining room with my condition like that.
"Alalala... This one Mahou is spoiled..." (Imagined Ena teasing me)
No matter what happens, I can't let that woman see me like this. If that really is the case, she would tease me so badly every time we take a shower. Despite Ena never having been in a relationship, she is surprisingly very aggressive about these things. Saoto then slowly lowers my body again before reaching out his hand to lead me. Despite being a little surprised by his actions, I warmly welcome the hand he extends to be led to the dining room. However, I get surprised as soon as Saoto adjusts his grip to hold my hand properly like a couple. He also rests my head on his arm before asking me about something again.
"Sei, Sei don't mind it like this, right?"
Saoto asks me to make sure that he doesn't make me feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, I get very happy to be able to hold his big hand tightly and feels for myself the warm temperature of his hand that pleases my very heart. I then nod slowly at him in agreement before we step forward into the palace dining room like a couple in love.
For a moment, I get surprised as soon as I see the dining room which is now right in front of me. I look at the dining table in front of me for quite some time as if I couldn't believe what I'm seeing.
("That table is so long and there are two chairs at its both ends... How can we eat together like this...) (Gloomy)
I get a little gloomy as I see the table that would be my dining place with Saoto soon. The distance between the chairs is extremely far from each other. I then ask the man next to me after suspecting something.
"Saoto, Saoto don't use that long table to do other things, right?" (Staring)
I glare at Saoto as I doubt him of something. How would I be positive to see the long table that could dine so many people other than him. I don't want to be shocked that I'm just one of his harem. Saoto then gently caresses my head for a moment while looking directly into my face again.
"Why are Sei doubting again? That table used to be the previous Demon King's assets, nothing more. Besides, in Saoto's heart, there is only Sei alone... Somehow, Sei looks quite jealous right-"
I quickly cup the man in front of me for the third time as soon as I hear his words. However, I can't deny that deep down in my heart, there is a feeling of jealousy as soon as I'm thinking of Saoto, having someone else in his heart. Besides that, I can't help but feel relieved as I hear his answer. I then release my hand from his mouth as soon as we are greeted by a maid there.
"Good morning, Mahou Seinarin, Mahou Saoto. My name is Lia. Mahou can both sit in the chair we have prepared"
The elf woman who introduced herself as Lia guides us to the seats that have been prepared for us. The chairs that were originally far away are being moved and placed right next to each other so that we could enjoy our meal together. Eager and can't wait to taste the food here, I quickly pull Saoto's hand to the table while smiling at him. Saoto, who gets surprised for a while by my actions then quickly follows my steps before we rest our backs on the soft seats. I immediately drool as soon as I see a dish get brought to us. However, my appetite suddenly disappears as soon as the lid that has been covering the food being lifted, revealing the dish inside it.
"Do you call this thing food?..." (Staring)
I nibble at the food in front of me with the fork prepared for us. In front of me right now is a raw meat that is still covered in blood as if a monster just got slaughtered and served directly to the guests. I turn my face to look at Saoto as if I couldn't believe what I'm seeing right now. How could a Great Demon Lord like him eat something like this every day? Saoto lets out a heavy breath for a moment before looking back at me while gently stroking my head.
"This is why Saoto want to invite Sei to live with Saoto... If it's kept like this, Saoto will have to roast the meat every day..." (Gloomy)
(Eeh.. How can he be so sad just because the meat is not cooked... Isn't Saoto is one the Great Demon King...) (Staring)
I'm surprised to see Saoto's tears well up just because of the uncooked meat. However, I understand his suffering from having to face this meal daily and having to cook them himself every time before being able to eat them safely. For a moment, I get startled as soon as a woman I'm familiar with, approaches and greets me.
"Apologize Ena for my rudeness, Mahou Seinarin. But this is the favorite food-"
"HOW CAN YOU SAY IT'S THE FAVOURITE IF IT'S STILL RAW?!! HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE SAYING THAT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A MAN'S HEART, YOU HAVE TO KEEP HIS STOMACH FIRST?!! IF IT'S KEPT LIKE THIS, ENA WILL FOREVER BE SINGLE?!!" (Furious)
I'm the one who get angry for a moment and blurt out as soon as Ena tries to correct me. For a moment, I feel terrible as soon as I see the woman in front of me stands sadly right after hearing my words just now.
"Ouh... That's why Ena is still single..." (Sad)
A sad Ena plays her finger as she becomes aware of her mistake. I don't want her to keep with the guilt so I gently pat her shoulder while smiling at her before saying something again.
"If Ena insists, Sei can teach Ena and all the maids here how to cook"
I can't really blame them either as I'm aware that the demon race which consists of various races have various tastes in their food. Some prefer raw and some prefer cooked. Despite that, it is not wrong to know the tastes of other races so that it is easy for us to get along with each other. Plus, the age of the elves is so long that they need to at least know how other races like their food if they want to find a life partner other than elf. For a moment, all the maids' eyes shine as if they are really looking forward to me for teaching them on how to cook, including Ena right in front of me. For a moment, I get startled as soon as Saoto gently pats my shoulder and looks at my face with a smile.
"After all, Saoto miss Sei's cooking. Sei doesn't mind, right?"
My cheeks flush as soon as Saoto praises my cooking skill. Maybe this is the happy feeling of a woman as soon as she gets praised especially by the person she loves. I then look back at all the maids who are looking at me with a face full of hope. I'm letting out a heavy breath before saying again.
"OK, LET'S GET COOKING"