Episode 20: In the Darkness

“Viola”

A sultry, low voice echoed from the darkness.

The moment Viola heard it, something grabbed her ankle as she tried to sprint with all her might towards the door. It was something; there was no need to think about it; it was Nox’s hand.

A strong arm supported Viola, who was about to fall headlong, but Viola wasn’t fooled. She knew exactly how she ended up in a situation where she would fall in the first place. It was all because of the man, who was now casually holding her.

“I won’t say thank you. Nox, tell me. What’s that statue?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is it alive? Is it your servant or something?”

“Who knows? What do you think?”

“I guess you’re not going to answer.”

Viola struggled to escape from Nox’s arms, even for a moment. Trying to divert Nox’s attention, she continued with an unrelated topic.

“Hey, Nox, what happened to Leon after that?”

“…Huh?”

However, that seemed to be a foolish question.

Nox’s arms holding Viola tightened suddenly, and there was a palpable tension in the room, as if the air were burning. Viola realized her own blunder in the face of the clearly irritated man.

“Perfect. I was planning to ask you once you woke up. What’s the relationship between you and that man?”

“We’re acquaintances; didn’t I say that from the beginning? That’s how I could make a deal with Nox. Don’t you remember? Nox, the one who wanted me?”

“I remember. But are you really acquaintances?”

“What, are you trying to say that I was pretending not to know? He noticed me, too, as a proper acquaintance.”

“No, it’s different.”

Nox’s grip tightened, forcing Viola to look up. As if determined not to allow lies, he showered her with a crimson light at close range, and Viola suppressed the urge to avert her gaze. If she looked away now, it would seem like she was truly lying.

“Is he your lover?”

“…Huh?”

To answer the unimaginable question, Viola let out a dumbfounded voice.

“A lover? What are you talking about? For Leon, I’m just one of the many healing magicians among the ranks.”

“That man said he came to help you. Do you expect me to believe such a convenient excuse?”

“He’s a person with a strong sense of duty. He’s always been like that.”

“Always?”

“When we were trained as part of the Demon King’s subjugation squad, It’s the job of a hero to go around and inspire at each facility.”

“Did you want to go back then?”

“Huh?”

“When you met the hero.”

Not understanding his intention, Viola blinked her eyes, and Nox roughly poked her cheek.

“If you don’t understand, that’s fine.”

“…Oh, you mean whether I want to go back to the human country or not? In that case, not at all. I like the Demon King’s castle here. Hey, are you happy?”

“Yeah.”

With a confident affirmation, Viola, who had intended to tease, could only fall silent. Breaking the somewhat indescribable atmosphere first was Nox.

“Ask again. You don’t want to go back?”

“Again? If I say I want to go back, will you let me?”

“Do you think so?”

“Not at all.”

“If you understand, don’t ask. I won’t let you go.”

Nox embraced Viola strongly, concealing her expression as she pursed her lips.

“Hey, Nox?”

“The hero returned alive. By the time I regained sanity, he had already disappeared. Truly, my biggest mistake.”

Burying his face in the nape of Viola’s neck, Nox took a deep breath.

“You were stabbed; blood rushed to my head. The hero saw that and reported it to the king. Now, you’re considered my only weakness.”

“Wait, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“All of this happened during the five years you were asleep.”

In Nox’s flatly spoken words, there was a slight undertone of emotion. Viola could only listen, holding her breath, to his voice that seemed to resonate with anger and regret.

“The king sees this as an opportunity. Someone claiming to be a former party member has openly started forming a unit. The hero’s attacks are persistent. The number of reconnaissance squads has increased. It’s all because of that.”

“But does the king know I’m alive? With that wound, normally, one wouldn’t survive.”

“I don’t know. But that’s the opportunity. A vulnerability has opened in my heart. There were times like that, unavoidable.”

“It’s been five years, though.”

“Five years! If you were dead, should I have forgotten you in about five years? Quite underestimated.”

Nox, who had distanced himself from Viola, slowly took her hand. With his crimson eyes fixed straight ahead, he captured Viola’s gaze.

“But don’t worry. I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone lay a finger on you.”

“Is there no danger for Nox?”

“Huh?”

It seemed genuinely surprising. Nox, who had been silent for a while, shook his head as if annoyed.

“Are you saying that I, someone like Nox, would be hurt by a hero?”

“I don’t think that, but worrying or not is a different matter.”

“Worrying is akin to underestimation.”

“It’s the same as love.”

Viola retorted instinctively and quickly covered her own mouth. What did she just blurt out? Even in the darkness, she could tell that Nox’s cheeks in front of her had flushed.

“Viola.”

The voice calling her name carried a distinct warmth.

“Viola… how long will you pretend not to notice?”

“Pretend not to notice?”

“I won’t allow you to claim that you’re unaware of my feelings.”

“That’s…”

Nox lightly pushed Viola’s hesitant shoulder. Without any resistance, Viola fell onto the bed, and immediately, Nox covered her. In the dark, the curtain of deep crimson hanging from the canopy swayed behind Nox with beautiful black hair.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything. Of course, I want you, but you prefer someone who will cherish and pamper you, right?”

“…Why do you remember that?”

“It would be quicker to forget a spell or two than to forget your taste in men.”

“Well, that was, you know, in the heat of the moment or a convenient excuse! I got angry at Nox for forcefully suggesting such things! What was that at that time anyway? Are you always so unscrupulous?”

“That’s a terrible misunderstanding. I thought you said you would choose your partner.”

“Even though it’s me?”

“Because it’s you.”

Enclosed in his arms and the cascading hair, Nox swayed slightly and chuckled.

“Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“Not that. It’s just that you changed so suddenly; I can’t believe it at all.”

“Five years can bring about changes.”

“For Nox, it might be five years, but for me, it’s just a moment. I could believe it more if someone said there’s some catch.”

“In that case, I’ll make you believe.”

Starting with these words, Nox murmured and captured Viola’s lips as if they were flowing.

Countless kisses—she lost count. The cool and soft sensation, along with the tingling sweetness that flowed in, still felt unfamiliar. She couldn’t get used to it.

“I’m serious. I’ll make you believe soon, so do your best.”

In the dim darkness, the man smiled quietly with narrowed eyes, and Viola realized that her escape route had been completely cut off.

“Nox—”

With a loud bang, the door swung open.

“Lord Demon King! I have a report—”

Ignatz’s voice was abruptly cut off.

“What’s going on, Ignatz? Is there something—”

Arnold, who followed after, also lost his words, standing still.

The room was pitch-dark. Nox pushed Viola onto the bed and covered her. Ignatz, with his ears reddened, staggered back. Colliding with Arnold, the two remained frozen.

“No, it’s not what you think!”

In a panicked attempt to address the two who were silently leaving the room, Viola shouted,

“It’s a misunderstanding!! Believe me!!”

Her voice echoed through the Demon King’s castle, rivaling Ignatz’s.