>> “Hey! Put me down! Are you listening!? Hey!” I keep calling while squirming off from her grip.

Damn it! This woman won’t listen to me. And she’s a strong one despite having petite body!

“We’re here, master.” Alecto put me down as I turned forward. “Why won’t you let me down?!” I grunt out.

“It’s because master is quite stubborn. I am sure you won’t follow if I keep composed.” Her stoic face remains while explaining. This girl... I don’t know what’s wrong with her.

“Your Highness...” from behind me, a voice called out. I turn to look and got astounded in the surroundings. From the carved tunnel-like entrance, Aeshma stands, a piece of white cloth on her arms attached.

At the entrance show an impeccable beauty of marble stones carved over the surroundings.

Pillars structed, around 10 meters in height. Attached to it are the sconces lit the whole area.

Variety of plants surrounds over the place; a 13-meter-wide pool filled with water, arranged at the center, with rose petals floating.

“We should get going now. Your bath’s ready...” she announced and walked towards me. “Huh? What...?”

“I believe Alecto told you the event tonight, right?” Aeshma asked. “Huh...? Ah, yeah... but I don’t know if this is good. I mean, you and everyone here... and I am a human.”

“That doesn’t matter, Master. We’re all here to serve you as per the Queen’s instructions.” Alecto replied as she takes off my shirt. “HEY! Don’t just undress me!” I snarl out.

“It’s because the time is running. Should you keep idling, I will do what I must supposed to do, Master.”

Her expression remains the same. I heave a tepid sigh and gazes at the two girls. “What’s the matter, Your Highness...?” Aeshma asked.

“You asking me right now? You two should turn back! I’m undressing!” I snarl out. Alecto and Aeshma looked at each other and turns to me. “We’re fine seeing your body, Your Highness.”

What’s wrong with these two!? “But not me! Don’t look at me!”

The two twitches and turn their backs right away. This is mortifying, knowing that women are here with me. “Your Highness, cover yourself with a towel.”

While facing her back at me, Aeshma then reached out the piece of cloth. “Ah, thank you.” I reluctantly grabbed it and wrapped around my waist.

“You guys can look...” I called. Alecto and Aeshma then turns to face me. “Master, your body’s a little scrawny...” Alecto utters.

“Sorry for having such body.” I retort. “Well, then... you should soak down on the bath, Your Highness. Around later, we will wash your body.”

“Eh?! You guys will do it?! I can take a bath myself!”

I dashed over the pool and jumped over the water. A splash sound heard off, though the water level is only around my waist. There’s a water fountain refilling the pool coming out from the jar.

The water’s a bit lukewarm and scented with the rose petals. A kind of relaxing feeling wrapped around my body. I soaked down for around 20 minutes.

The temperature remains as tranquility succumbs. This kind of luxury life is kind of hard to believe, and I think this is just a dream.

And from what Alecto said a while ago, today’s the birthday of the Queen. I am sure, royal bloodlines will be here to greet her. Noble people as well.

“Master, time to wash your body...”

Alecto suddenly called out to me. “Excuse me?” I asked. “It’s time for you to wash your back.” She replied.

“Like I said, I can do it myself!”

Getting off the pool, a wooden stool prepared over the corner, as Aeshma stands. “Over here, Your Highness...”

“Ms. Aeshma, I can do this myself. You two don’t need to do this kind of thing.”

“But you should be clean through nooks and cranny of your body.” Aeshma replied. “What the...? Why? I don’t know, but it seems you two have the ulterior motives on me?”

“We’re not, Your Highness...” Aeshma then hold my shoulders, asking me to sit down on the stool. “Huh?” with wonder, I asked.

“We Demons possess a keen sense of smell.” Alecto replied as she walked forward. “The smell of you, a mortal makes our instincts drive into the wary of your ability. We can smell your fear, and that is like a drug to us.”

Adding that thought, I got petrified. “We’re all aware that you are afraid of us. We’re different in many aspects and physiques, after all.”

Aeshma and Alecto both glare at me. Their eyes both glow and sparkle, making me take a big gulp on my parched throat.

“Other beings who live in this realm are flesh-eaters. Some of our race did eat carcasses of humans to sustain their strength.”

Hearing that made my body chilled out. I don’t know if it’s still water, or sweat formed in my back. “Other Demons residing here stick to their instincts; to regain the strength needed to the sudden attacks of the hero from the Human Realm.”

Aeshma added while folding her sleeves. “...Uhm...” I mumbled. The words I want to say got jumbled in my mind. This is no joke; I am really in a big trouble right now.

“Worry not, Master. It’s the reason we’re here. We’re already familiar with your scent, and that make us feel assured you’re safe and guarded at all times.”

As Alecto retort, her hand holding a scrubber full of suds, suddenly landed on my back. She scrubs me gently as the foam forms. “This will help erase your smell.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked. “Even if your scent is gone, your appearance remains. Everyone will easily recognize you.”

“And when that happens, mayhem might occur.” Aeshma added as she scrubs my chest. “Hey—-"

“Relax, Master...” Alecto utters. The sound of scrub rushed over my body. Their breaths make me unease. “... Master, we are glad to serve you right now.”

“Yes, serving Your Highness is our topmost priority.” They continue scrubbing my back and chest. The faint scent of flowers nurtured under my nostrils.

“Now, Your Highness... your crotch.”

“Eh...?” I asked. Aeshma glared at me as I stupefied from her statement. “I need to wash it. Spread your legs wide.”

Her body leaned over, hands holding my knees. “Hey! It’s out of bounds! I will do it myself!” I grunt out.

Alecto and Aeshma brush off of me right away. “You two did your job. Please, let me finish this.” I uttered out.

“But, Master... you might not clean that area—-"

“I can do it myself! PLEASE STEP ASIDE!” I snarled out as the two twitches out of surprise. These two know no shame at all. Damn it!

Getting the scrubber, I gently scrubbed my crotch as suds formed. “Ah, Master’s thing is... kind of cute.”

A voice from behind suddenly heeds up. “Hey!~” I almost got stumbled from the stool as Alecto stands beside me. “Ah, I got busted. I am curious what’s in between the guy’s legs.”

Her face, still stoic, as that statement said. “YOU TWO, LEAVE ME ALONE! NOW!”

They quickly run off after that. What’s wrong with those two? I heave a tepid and exasperated sigh from what happened.

Rinsing myself with the water at the pale prepared beforehand, my body feels refreshed. The towel hanged at the hook, already waiting for me.

Drying my body, Aeshma then came back. “Your Highness.” On her hand is a robe made out of silk. “What...?” I asked. “Wear this. Your clothes are ready.”

I didn’t retort and just glare at her. “Your Highness...?”

“No, it’s nothing... and what did I say about calling me that, Ms. Aeshma...?”

“Oh... I apologize, but it’s a custom for us servants to call—-"

“Ms. Aeshma...” I called out again. “Sorry, Justine.” Replying with meekness, Aeshma averts off her eyes of me.

“Don’t treat me like a royalty; I am but a plebeian. You don’t need to act like a servant to me.”

“.... But it’s the Queen’s order—-"

“I don’t give a damn to what your Queen says.”

My voice lifts up. No retort comes along after my words. “I’m sorry. It’s just frustrating that this is happening to me. I am scared; what will happen if I die here...?”

Their thoughts said a while ago succumbed over me. This world is not for mortals like me.

In a sudden, my life change and takes me to a place where bizarre people live. And asking me for a marriage for the sake of this Kingdom, and the fate that is aligned for a woman I never met in my life...

“I’m sorry.” I utter, clenching my hands. The swirling emotions formed in my chest. This is madness. “But we believe in our Queen.”

A sudden burst of words came out from Aeshma. “From the time this Kingdom founded, we believed from our Queen who governs us. Right now, we never see you as a stranger, but a person she chooses to govern this land.”

“And if you think you’re not suited for our Queen, you should work on it.” Alecto suddenly chides in. “You may never think that you are a King, but for us... we believe you’re the only one suited for Her Highness.”

These two, it’s just been a couple of hours since we met, but their faith for me is unfathomable. “We want our Queen to be happy, and that’s our duty to make it happen.”

I don’t really understand anything. Yet, the way how they say it makes me feel a little relieved for a meantime.

I still can’t find the doubt that this life might end so soon than ever. Well, I guess... I just need to see what they wanted for me and to what I can do for this Kingdom.