V2 Chapter 60

“What are you really planning? Why are you helping me…?”

Ezra’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“On a whim…” The Second Demon Prince, who had his cup halfway to his mouth, put it down with a clatter and stared at her with a faint smile. “You don’t need to misunderstand, nor feel you owed me, whether you believe it or not…all of it was just done on a whim. There’s no other reason…though if you really wanted one, then I will confess that I don’t want to kill in front of the person I love… that’s all just there is to it…”

“…then, what about now? I don’t believe you have a good-natured reason to keep me alive now that we are alone,”

“…don’t push me,” The Second Demon Prince eyes narrowed and Ezra felt a chill on her back. However, it was only for a moment as it disappeared immediately after. His expression turned back to his indifferent smile. “…I may be a Demon, something that I cannot change nor alter, even if I am a God. But I still have my own moral and dignity to live by—I live by my own code. I only take a life from those people who pointed their blades at me… and, are you pointing something at me? Much less a knife, I don’t even see anything, even a small twig… to me, you’re nothing but a weak little girl that is only acting desperately like an arrogant idiot trying to save her pride. You’re not the least bit daunting…!”

Watching her, the Second Demon Prince saw the distress on the young woman knight’s face, the anguish in her eyes, and his lips curled upwards. “…as I said before, Lady Knight, I don’t have any particular interest to this war. Whether you are a foe of the Demon race or not, doesn’t matter to me… all of you are the same…just little kids playing make believe that they are incredible…that they are stronger and more powerful than anyone. That they alone have the right to live in this world. In my eyes, all of you are quite humorous. Though, hardly compelling, don’t you think?”

Ezra stared at him, twisted her hands in her lap.

There was a long and deadly silence.

The strain between them was the most palpable thing; it hung heavy on the air.

As the Second Demon Prince was continuing his meal without care, suddenly he heard a thump sound and when he glanced at the side, he saw Ezra walking towards him.

The Second Demon Prince was still unperturbed as he follows her with his eyes, only to see her sitting at the opposite side of him. She didn’t say anything and grabbed a piece of bread, and then started chewing it.

“And here I thought you don’t trust someone like me…” The Second Demon Prince grinned mischievously.

“Nothing is important than an empty stomach…” Ezra gave him a pointed look, “…even if I wanted to do something, it would be useless if I don’t have the energy to do it,”

“Good mentality…I’m impressed~” The Second Demon Prince chuckled in amusement. “So you want to recover your energy, even if the one sitting in front of you is a cruel mortal enemy…and might as well remind you, a well-known molester in the entire kingdom…? Well, I can’t say I can praise such attitude~”

“…what’s there to think about?” Ezra glared at the Second Demon Prince in front of her. “You have seen what you shouldn’t have and touch what you should not…! And I don’t have any way to escape from this play you are having… did you give me another option…?”

“You have a point…” The Second Demon Prince smiled mischievously. Ezra glare at him but paid no comment. They then ate in silence for a while, but at one moment, Ezra swung her gaze at the Second Demon Prince who was silently sipping his tea.

“…you said you are going to release me…?” she couldn't help but ask.

“…before that, don’t you think you need to apologize for trying to kill me?” The Second Demon Prince frowned. “…because of what you did, I was nearly exposed. I was close to killing you as well because of that…” His voice laded with anger and icy coldness.

Even Ezra can’t help but feel apprehended.

“…then, I apologize…” Ezra smiled wryly. “But I hope you can consider my position as well. I am a knight protecting my people while you are a demon, the world’s enemy… no matter what circumstances; we will always be on the opposite. I will still try to kill you given another option—for that, I can only apologize,”

Ezra toyed with the cucumber salad on her plate as she replied.

The Second Demon Prince dabbed his mouth with his napkin and ventured, “In your mouth, you only sound a hypocrite…”

Ezra looked at him alertly, wondering what was on his mind now. However, the Second Demon Prince didn’t really say much as he rose, walked over to the huge stone fireplace, picked up the poker and stirred the logs. His expression was ruminative. At the same time, Ezra stared at the Second Demon Prince figure and couldn’t help but thought—he really looks like a human, no, an Elf…

A sharp-eared human…so to speak.

Is he really a Demon...?

Although the four Demon Princes and Princesses look like that of humanity unlike most Demon Races, probably because they are of Royal Blood. But they still possess some characteristics of a Demon, outside and inside. But this youth… personality, appearance, and character… he looks extremely like that of a human, without any presence of a demonic aura from him.

If in the human world, it was nothing but in this world—he would surely appear that of a fragile weakling. However, that power and skills he displayed…

Ezra couldn’t help but wonder just what kind of person was the infamous Second Prince of the Demon Empire.

Looking weak and fragile and yet, extremely powerful…

Was the rumor true?

Was the prince both prurient and incompetent?

What a shitty baloney…!

I don't know about character and personality but if he was incompetent then all the people in the world are trash!

… …

Ezra can’t certainly understand what the Second Prince was planning.

He had actually given her a bit of freedom –though Ezra can feel eyes constantly watching her and her every movement and actions from who knows where. Even with her level and abilities, she still couldn't locate any watchers that were monitoring her, giving her frustrations as well as a blow in her own confidence.

Still, she has enough freedom to walk around the Palace. Albeit wearing a collar that can alter appearance provided by the Second Demon Prince, giving her an identity of a servant. Though, wherever she goes, the woman she had seen before, Ruka or was that her name…? Ezra wondered—was accompanying her all the time, even to the toilet or a bath. It's surely suffocating!

However, with this as well, Ezra managed to gather several quite important information that she might need, and even able to interact with several important figures of the Demon Empire, so she has no qualm in acting like a servant or anything of the sort. The only problem she had was that… what is that accursed demon planning…? Why is he letting her do what she wants without even saying anything…?

As long as she wouldn’t do anything excessive, he wouldn’t care…!

Is that it? Is that even enough...?

Did it not cross his mind that this opportunity he had given to her might cause the Demon Empire to fall? Or was he that confident on the Demon Forces...that no matter what happened, or what she would do, they would still win in the end?

Just what is going on here…?

… …

A few mornings later as Ezra made her way to the Second Demon Prince room, she was reminded by the sounds of activity that came to her from the entire Palace, that the day of the celebration ball was getting closer. Though Ezra has gotten used to celebrations like this, even still she just can’t help but be surprised that Demons also has a thing for this kind of materialistic pleasures.

Earlier that morning, as she returned from a walk (gathering information) after breakfast, Ezra had passed big conservatories full of exotic, unreasonable blooms of flowers from all over the continent. It was clear that there would be no lack of flowers for the palace when the ball arrived. As she draws near to the Second Demon Prince room (her current room), the busy noises of the big palace fell away behind her and when she went in and closed the door, Ezra found herself alone in the dreary, silent room.

White frilly curtains but a slight film of dust lay over the marble table, and chairs. The maids seemed to have neglected to dust this room during the previous few days, all their attention was being given to those parts used for the celebration hall. Though, as for the prince’s personal servant, she was always with Ezra wherever she goes, thus, couldn’t attend her duty properly.

Though, now… it seems like the accursed prince had something to do and called the mentioned strict servant…

Furthermore, the usual eye seemed to be quite absent, Ezra noticed. Did something happened...? Well, not like she could run away even if she wanted it. She now realized how heavily guarded the palace was, and probably the entire City…

Indeed, the Second Demon Prince did not lie. What she did, indeed caused a terrible reaction from the First Demon Princess, The Demon Princess of Ice.

Feeling mortified, regretting her reckless actions, Ezra then opened the door of one of the wide, silver painted cupboards. Inside were a pile of books bounded by some kind of ‘glue’ on the spine, or what the second prince called it.

It was really a very interesting idea to bound papers to make a book using some kind of adhesive. And if she was not wrong in understanding it, it seems like the second prince was the one who had created it…now, it was getting popular.

Almost all the aristocrats and nobles, even those from the Imperial Court followed such way of binding things, keeping confidential documents in order. After all, it was clean and firm, unlike those tied by strings. Not just that, unlike the usual papers she had seen… the paper that the Second Prince was using was slightly pale white, clean and neater than those she had seen before. It was truly interesting…

Ezra took the books from the cupboards and placed them on the table and the first thing she came across was a book entitled; [Cinderella]. A fairytale of magic and love with demons as characters… Ezra cannot help but smiled in amusement as she flipped open the book and started reading it. She had glimpsed of it last time and became attracted by it. But what makes Ezra more curious and interested about it was the fact that these books, these stories are all made by the Second Prince for a Demon Dryad named Sybilla—his beloved fiancée…

Demons he may be… but he indeed was quite an odd demon for sure.

Ezra felt that the Second Prince loved this Sibylla woman very much.

He created many fairytales just to please her…

[ A female demon named Cinderella lived with her demonic stepmother and her two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. They were very mean to the poor Cinderella, making her work all day cleaning, sewing, and cooking. ... Cinderella's demonic stepmother, Lady Tremaine, was cold, cruel, and jealous of Cinderella's charm and beauty…]

[…one, on Saturday at 8 o'clock, the ugly sisters went to the party. Cinderella sat in the kitchen. She was very sad. There was a ring at the door. Cinderella opened the door…]

[… There was an old aged demonic woman—though she looked like an old witch. She said, "Hello! I am your Fairy Godmother. Why are you sad?" she muttered with a ‘Hihihi’ laugh. Cinderella although, slightly suspicious, still said, "I want to go to the party but I fear, I haven't got any beautiful clothes." The demonic Fairy Godmother said, "No problem, here is a new dress and some glass shoes. Then, here is your ride.” she said as she took a pumpkin and turned it into pumpkin shaped beautiful chariot, while captured mice were turned into beautiful white steeds. The demonic Fairy Godmother then muttered and warned, “…Now you can go to the party, but you must return before 12 o'clock."…]

Reading the story, Ezra cannot help but feel enamored with it.

A very wonderful literature piece… really difficult to believe that this was done by a demon...

And most of all, it was made by the prince full of infamy and known as incompetent at that...!

[…Suddenly the clock rang. Cinderella said, "Oh no! I must go. It is 12 o'clock." She ran home and at the door of the Prince's castle, but she tripped, the glass shoe came undone. Cinderella halted and was about to pick it up but the time was ticking and the prince chasing her was had gotten closer. Hence, she grits her teeth and chooses to run away. At that night, she lost her shoe.

The next day, the Prince was very sad because he was in love with Cinderella but he didn't know where she lived. He went to all the houses in the village all while letting women of age tried the glass shoes. But none of them fit… Finally, he went to Cinderella's house. But the evil demonic stepmother and sisters locked Cinderella in a room while all of them, including the stepmother, tried the glass shoes. But as expected, none of them fit as well. The Prince was sad and was about to give up, when the mice, friends of Cinderella help her broke out from the room. The prince instantly knew that she was the girl he was looking for, as he was dazzled by her beauty. And indeed when she tried, to the furious looks and expressions of the stepmother and ugly sisters, the glass shoes fit in her foot, and it even caused the glass shoes to shine, her servant attire, transformed into a beautiful blue colored dress. The Prince was startled and his face beamed, “I finally found you!” he muttered in excitement. Then, the prince kneeled in front of Cinderella and said, "I love you. Do you want to marry me?" Cinderella cried tears of joy and replied, "Yes."

The wedding was the week after. Cinderella and the Prince were never unhappy again.]

What a lovely ending…

It’s one of those only children and women would love… a pure love story and romance… though, I don’t think the demons would like this kind of setting.

Amused, Ezra once again picked up another book. This one was another fairytale, titled; [Rapunzel] and the other books as well. Though, not all books were stories and fairytales.

What caught Ezra’s attention the most was a book named; [The Prince].