>> Soon as Astarte left, I remained standing while following her exiting the throne room.

“Welcome aboard, mister!” Prida walked in front and tapped my shoulder. Her smile amuses me, as well as Tristitia. “Mister... I mean, Your Highness...” he uttered.

I looked at both of them with scrutiny. “Uh, I don’t know what to say but... you accepting me like there’s nothing wrong seems a bit weird.”

The rest quizzically look at me.

“The Queen says that you’re welcome here to stay. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Botis chided in while caressing his beard. Mammon and Sartan, as well as Vangloria nodded in agreement.

“And the time two from Astarte—-Her Highness’s, uh... how should I say this, two people are against over me staying.”

Recalling their words, I felt disheartened. Not just I got summoned unannounced; also, this turns to be something ridiculous that there are people against me here.

“... That’s true; there’s no way some of us here will accept a mere mortal like him to stay.”

Beelzebub answered, as she looks at me with despondence. “I’m sorry, mister...”

Turning to look at her, I grasped out. “Huh? No, no... There’s no need for you to be sad about it...”

“But—-“

“It’s fine. Pondering about it further won’t bring any good solution. I understand the situation itself... and the whole gasp of this...”

Though, the situation here is a bit dire and I don’t know what to say properly, but I at least want to make this right.

The situation itself is in hot waters; this is the Demon realm, the place where humans despise of. This is something they won’t accept easily.

Since their looks are quite different from the normal one human encountered, their reactions should be the gist of it.

“Even so, we can’t believe a mortal will be the one to be betrothed to the Queen...” from the silence, Asmodeus suddenly speaks.

“A Demon and human, betrothed to be together... such odd fate we have here indeed.” Vangloria added.

The two looked at each other and turns to me. “At such time, the era of Queen Astarte... the red string of fate says so...”

“It’s not unusual to see our kind to be fated by the red string, but the time wherein a mortal be paired out by a royalty...” Mammon uttered.

Botis nods to agree. “But right now, we should let His Highness rest. This should be good for today.”

“Huh?” I uttered out of wonder. “The agenda for today is already ended. Once again, we welcome you here in our world, our future Demon King...”

The mages come to stand in front of me together, as they synchronously bow. “Huh? Guys—-“

“We are happy to be of service to you, Your Highness. Should you need something, you call for us and we will heed out you summon.”

With such valor and firm on his voice, Botis announced. “Huh? I don’t get it... You don’t need to speak like that. Please, raise your heads, everyone!”

Though, I say it but they did not falter on my words. “We should get going now, Your Highness...”

From behind are Aeshma and the three servants stand and calls me out. “Huh? I’m not a royalty so—-“

“—-Your Highness...” with firm on her voice, Aeshma sneers. “Okay...” I turned reluctantly away from them and follow the servants to exit the throne room.

Outside the hallway, we quietly walked. The air’s kind of heavy; I don’t think there’s a way to break this mood out. “... Your name’s Justine...?”

In an eerie silence, a voice speaks out to me. Turn out it is Aeshma, “Ye—-yes...” I stuttered. “Uh, Ms. Aeshma—-“

“Honorifics to us servants are unnecessary. Please... if you want to call us, take our names.”

She didn’t turn to face me, but I can sense that her resolute on that matter is firm. “No, I can’t just call you by your name.”

“But we’re just a mere tool here. Your Highness, I am your personal attendant, and yours to be of use.”

Those words she said made me shunned out. What? What’s that supposed to mean? “A mere tool?” I asked.

“Yes. From today onwards, I want you to treat me like a tool to be of use. It’s my duty to serve and attend to your—-“

“—-That’s absurd!” in a sudden burst, I shouted out. Aeshma stopped walking and turns to face me. “Ah! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”

I curbed over the thoughts rushed in my mind and bashfully apologize to her. “Its fine; as I’ve said, Your Highness... using honorifics to us servants aren’t necessary.”

“Huh?”

“To us servants, being of use to you, our master is our topmost priority.”

Her face remained poker, all while saying it. Seems that she’s trying to imply the proper position here as the servant itself.

“... I got it.” Mumbling softly, I answered.

“Then there’s no need to—-“

“—-But I refuse not to give any honorifics to the elders. It’s something of respect towards you...”

Aeshma didn’t show, but I felt she twitches out a little from my words. Her eyes focus on me and seem to quiver.

“To that’s why... let me call you with honorifics, all right?”

She didn’t respond immediately. The eerie silence between us made me feel dreadful to this. “All right, do as you please... Your Highness...”

“And calling me that... I’m not a royalty so...” my eyes look directly at her. Aeshma did same at me as well. “.... You have lots of demand. I don’t know if this is good. The Queen might be upset to this.”

With scorn on her voice, Aeshma let out an exasperated sigh.

“Will she? I mean, I see no reason for her to get upset, is there?”

The servant shakes her head sideways. “In this Kingdom, the King and Queen’s words are totally absolute. Right now, since there is no King at the moment, Her Highness is the one in charge of everything.”

“And, you say that I’m your ‘proclaimed’ King next to the throne, should you follow my words here...?”

Aeshma twitched a little as she heard my words. “It is indeed. I’m sorry, Your Highness...”

She bows slightly after as delivering the apology. “But I did say you don’t’ need to be formal at me. I’m not a royalty. Please... raise your head up!”

I walked forward to her and holds on her arms. “Ms. Aeshma, I want you to be casual to me. I’m not a royalty, and despite of these people around saying I’m a ‘King’ of this kingdom, there’s no way I will accept that fact.”

She didn’t rebut, yet her eyes remained focus on me.

“Ms. Aeshma...?” I called out once more. “...If that’s what Your Highness—-“

“—-Ms. Aeshma!”

Her body twitches right the moment I called her name. “I mean, Justine...”

Though, she seemed reluctant to this, Aeshma nods to my request. “Good.” I smile at her right after.

“Uhm...” right that moment, Aeshma utters to me. “Hmmm...? What’s the matter...?” I asked. “I... I can’t say for sure, but you just smiled at me.”

“Huh...? Ah, yeah... I did. What’s the matter?”

Aeshma’s eyes avert off from me. “Nothing. I am your servant and showing such thing as smile is prohibited.”

Huh? What? “Eh...? But—-"

“Please, don’t say anything anymore.” That then, I noticed her face blush.

“Uhm, okay...? If that’s what you want, Ms. Aeshma.”

I don’t know what makes her react like that, but I didn’t push the matter anymore.

We proceed on going back to my chamber right away. The sun still at the zenith, and as I entered the room, Aeshma bows at me. “Should you need something, please call me.”

“Ah, Ms. Aeshma...” before she leaves, I called out.

She then looks at me. “... Huh?”

“Well, I don’t know what made you feel fret and the reason about my smile... but I want to apologize.”

She didn’t respond on my words. “That would be all.” I answered.

Without rebutting anything, Aeshma left. This is the first day of my life in this new world.

A ‘new life’ that I can’t possibly think if I should be grateful to have, yet something I should be at least, be glad for.

“And now, proclaiming me as the ‘King’ of this Kingdom...” I mumbled. This is ridiculous!

Me being a ‘King’, this is just too superficial to believe. A luxurious life, a position and power to rule and govern people.

I don’t know if this is just a dream. Should it be, I wish to wake up. This is just too good to be true; a girl younger than me, as well, a Queen betrothed to be my wife.

I sit on the couch located at the center of the room. Its softness is unbelievable. Also, despite of being wide, this room remains warm.

Only the rays of sunlight coming from the window gives the light encompassing.

“A luxury and a King’s life, huh...? Not that bad, though... but I don’t want to make things complicated here.”

And being the new citizen because the Queen say so... I heaved a long, tepid sigh. Will I still be able to go back to my world?