“Whatever, let’s just end this here and pretend it never happened. Get up off the floor so we can start talking about important matters.”
Damien held his hand out to the Beast Empress, who stared at it in suspicion. Moments later, she furiously shook her head.
“Do you think I’m in any state to walk at the moment? If you didn’t know, you cut this Empress off at the edge of a climax, and my legs no longer wish to listen to my commands.”
Damien sighed in exasperation. “Then, what do you want me to do?”
“Carry me!”
The Beast Empress’ response was instant. Her eyes gleamed with a child-like enthusiasm. Damien rubbed his forehead, not sure about what to do in this situation.
‘If I indulge her, things are bound to become more troublesome in the future. Yet, if I don’t carry her, I’ll never get my work done.’
Realizing that he didn’t have another choice, Damien turned around and squatted. “Get on my back. This is the most I’ll do for you.”
The Beast Empress smiled happily and mounted him, slinging her arms around his neck and curling her legs around his waist. As she did so, Damien grabbed hold of her luscious thighs to support her weight.
“Ah~!” The Beast Empress let out a moan of surprise. Hearing it, Damien’s brow began to twitch.
“Don’t make needless sounds or I’ll drop you on the side of the street and leave.” He declared coldly.
The Beast Empress simply smiled and shut her mouth, resting her chin on his shoulder and enjoying the new experience she was having.
“So anyway,” Damien started. “The reason I came here today was to request your help. War is fast approaching, and we need to eliminate the roots the Nox have planted in our Sector before it’s too late. But the number of enemies is far too many for me to handle alone. I hope the Beast Domain will comply with my request.”
The Beast Empress turned to look at Damien’s face, finding her lips brushing against his cheek as she did so.
But she hid the blush that crept up her cheeks. Their current conversation was one she needed to have as the Empress, rather than as a woman.
“Naturally, when it comes to the Nox, the Beast Domain has no problems lending its power. But the decision doesn’t lie only with me. You’ll need to convince that old geezer as well.”
Damien shook his head with a grin. “No, I only need permission from you. I guess I forgot to mention it, but starting tomorrow, the Beast Domain will only have an Empress.”
The Beast Empress’ eyes widened in shock. “You don’t mean…”
“It’s probably what you’re thinking. I’m not sure how that old bastard got into contact with them, but it doesn’t change the fact that he did.”
“Haa, that old thing has always been greedy for power, so it doesn’t surprise me. It’s a shame though. He was quite a good ruler, discounting his betrayal.”
Damien smiled wryly. If he betrayed his people, was he still a good ruler? But as he walked through the streets, he couldn’t deny the Beast Empress’ words.
The people living under the Emperor’s rule were happy. None the wiser to his deal with the devil, they lived in peace and prosperity. Perhaps the Emperor was greedy for power, but he wasn’t one to mistreat those under his rule.
‘What a troublesome grey area. But, it isn’t my job to fret over those things. I kill who needs to be killed and leave the rest for later. That’s always been my style.’
Yet, despite his thoughts, Damien found himself wavering. He was still going to kill the Beast Emperor, there was no doubt about that, but he felt guilty for the citizens who would mourn his death.
“Let’s walk around for a bit longer. I still have around a day before I need to go to the Adelaire Empire.”
The Beast Empress smiled softly. “Mm, let’s do that, then. Also, while we’re alone, call me Alea. Beast Empress is too rigid.”
“Your name is Alea?” Damien asked stupidly.
“Why? Is it that strange?” Ales retorted.
Damien shook his head with a smile. “No, it’s just far more normal than I expected it to be. Well then, Miss Alea, would you like to go on a date with me?”
Alea smiled happily and gave him a light peck on the cheek. “What a bold little boy you are. Nobody has ever dared to ask this Empress on something like a date before.”
“If you want to tell me this is your first date ever, you don’t have to talk in circles. Fine, then. I’ll give you a great date to commemorate our friendship, so be prepared.”
Alea frowned slightly at the word “friendship,” but didn’t say anything. Instead, she focused on the date that Damien was taking her on.
Sadly, he didn’t know much about the Beast Domain. He was forced to improvise when it came to locations.
But who was better at scouting locations than a spatial expert?
Whether it be the sandy beaches of the continent, the beautiful view from the highest peak in the world, or even the view of the world itself from the starry sky above, Damien allowed Alea to witness it all.
Their date lasted until the sun set as the two adventured through Apeiron. They spent the day like a pair of young lovers who knew nothing but each other.
But like all good things, their day had to come to an end at some point.
Damien and Alea sat on an indiscreet hilltop in Helia Forest and gazed at the sky above quietly. And ignoring Damien’s constant refusal, Alea cuddled up to him as they sat, disallowing him from escaping her grasp.
At this point, Damien already gave up on convincing her. It was better for him to simply turn his brain off and enjoy the little adventure they went on.
“So, now that it’s over, are you satisfied?” He asked lightly.
Alea looked over at him carefully. “Satisfied? I can’t say I’m completely satisfied. But somehow, I am over the moon with joy. It’s such a strange feeling.”
“Why aren’t you satisfied, then? Did you not get everything you wished for?”
“Even receiving the universe as a whole seems more possible than getting what I truly want,” Alea responded, her gaze carrying a hint of sadness.
Damien looked down at her curiously. “I don’t understand, though. Why? How can you be so certain about what you desire?”
“Does there need to be a particular reason? Did you have a reason when you and that princess fell in love?”
Damien didn’t answer. Or rather, he couldn’t. His love for Rose came naturally after spending a great deal of time with her, but was there any reason behind it?
There wasn’t. He somehow fell in love without even realizing it.
So how could he discount what Alea was feeling without understanding her?
“But even then, I’m afraid it isn’t possible at the moment. I can’t afford to be distracted.”
Alea cringed. Although she expected rejection from the beginning, she didn’t expect it to be so harsh. But even then, she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
“It’s situational, then? That means I’ll have plenty of chances in the future.”
Damien once again withheld his response. He truly didn’t know what to say to this woman, nor did he understand how they ended up like this.
He couldn’t help but feel suspicious of the Beast Empress. The impression she gave off was far different from the one he got when he first met her. But from her spiritual intent, Damien could clearly see that she wasn’t possessed.
Whether there was an ulterior motive behind her actions or if she was just a fool, Damien didn’t know. His curiosity nudged him to find out, but his rationality wholeheartedly disagreed.
‘What a strange situation.’ Damien sighed inwardly. But no matter how he tried to convince himself, he couldn’t change his own mind.
Now wasn’t the time for this kind of thing. He had yet to settle matters with Elena, he had yet to finish preparing for war, there was no time for him at all.
Even if it was harsh, and even if his meaning was misinterpreted, he wasn’t lying when he said he couldn’t afford any distractions.
And with that thought in mind, Damien parted ways from the Beast Empress. He didn’t dare look back. He feared the expression he might see on her face would be one that would make him waver.
That night, quietly within the Imperial Palace of the Beast Domain, the Beast Emperor met his end.
No matter how hard those under his rule investigated, they couldn’t find any trace of the murderer. The only clue they had was the faint Dragon Pressure that lingered in the air.
As for the Beast Empress, she vanished without a trace on the same night. The only thing she left was a note to her vassals, crowning a new Empress for the Beast Domain.
It was an unconscious change. Damien would’ve never thought him satisfying his own vanity by taking the Beast Empress on a date would have such a profound impact on the world.
But that was a story for another time.
For now, Damien made his way to the Adeliare Empire to finally reunite with his only remaining family in this world.