Even Though I Defeated the Demon Lord, My Wife and Daughter Treat Me Like Trash ~ I Found Out My Wife's Child Isn't Mine, and When I Confronted Her, She Got Mad and I Was Exiled. The Country's in Trouble Because the Demon Lord Came Back? Sorry, I'm Getting Remarried to a Princess, So I Can't Help. - Chapter 20: Ten Years Ago, at the Demon Lord’s Castle (Albert’s Side)

Chapter 20: Ten Years Ago, at the Demon Lord’s Castle (Albert’s Side)

It had been three years since part of the eastern nations had fallen under the control of the Demon Lord.

Albert’s party had finally infiltrated the Demon Lord’s castle.

They had already defeated three of the Four Heavenly Kings, the top generals of the Demon Lord’s army. The only ones left were the witch Galforne and the Demon Lord himself.

Prince Albert had joined the mission to defeat the Demon Lord because he needed a great achievement.

The reason? A marriage alliance with the empire.

To negotiate such a union as equals, despite the difference in power between the two nations, Albert needed a military victory.

That was his goal.

And then—the tragedy happened.

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“Damn it, a teleportation trap…”

After entering the Demon Lord’s castle, Albert found himself caught in a trap.

A teleportation trap that forcibly transported him to another location.

Isolated in enemy territory, he now had to prepare for the worst—death.

Typically, on the other side of a teleportation trap, a swarm of monsters would be waiting.

Even with his skill in swordsmanship, Albert lacked the kind of magic needed to wipe out large numbers of enemies at once.

“How many enemies are there…?”

He tried to sense any presences… but…

“Strange, I don’t feel anything.”

No, wait.

He mentally corrected himself as he heard footsteps.

Whoever it was didn’t seem to be hiding their presence and was walking directly toward him.

A moment later, as the figure came into view around the corner, they spoke.

“My, it’s you. I was hoping it would be Van Ismir.”

It was the worst possible opponent—

The immortal witch, Galforne.

Thinking back to his battles with the other Four Heavenly Kings, none of them were foes Albert could defeat alone.

Even so, he couldn’t just give up.

He reached for his sword, but in the blink of an eye, Galforne was already standing right in front of him, peering into his face.

“My, don’t be so tense. I’m not going to eat you or anything,” 

Galforne said, gently stroking Albert’s cheek with her hand.

“Hey, boy.”

“W-What…?”

“Have you ever… been with a woman?”

“D-Don’t mock me…”

“Is that so?”

Her hand slid from his cheek, down to his neck, chest, and stomach, until—

She grabbed him tightly.

“Are you sure?”

“S-Stop that…”

“Do you really want me to stop?”

“O-Of course…”

“Fufu… alright, I’ll stop.”

Galforne released her grip, but then took hold of Albert’s hand instead.

“Come on. There’s a nice place over there. Let’s go together, shall we?”

Albert had heard about this.

This was the witch’s infamous “seduction.”

She was likely using some kind of charm spell on him right now.

That was close.

If it weren’t for the anti-charm accessory Barnes had made for him, he would’ve been completely under her spell.

(Witch… I don’t care if you’re immortal or whatever. I’ll pretend to go along with your act, and the moment you let your guard down, I’ll cut you down.)

That’s right.

Albert thought he was only pretending to go along with the witch’s seduction.

—Three days later, after spending time with the witch,

Albert rejoined his party.

Everyone was overjoyed by his miraculous return.

“I’m so… so glad you made it back!”

The one who was happiest to see him was Van.

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According to Galforne, Albert was her “insurance.”

During the battle with the Demon Lord, Albert didn’t betray his comrades.

But his real struggle came after the battle was over.

Ever since experiencing intimacy with Galforne, Albert had been with many women.

Yet, nothing ever surpassed those three days.

In fact, the more women he was with, the more he realized how incredible Galforne had been.

Galforne must have been aware of Albert’s feelings.

After some time, she reappeared.

“If you continue to do as I say, I’ll give you the same experience again.”

Albert couldn’t resist.

He followed her instructions every time they came.

Once a year, she would visit him, only to leave after a simple, tight grip—just enough to remind him of her power.

Ten years.

Ten years of being teased and manipulated.

Her orders were simple: eliminate Van Ismir, let Albert inherit the kingdom, and offer it to her when the Demon Lord was resurrected.

Albert tried to set a trap to kill Van, as Galforne had instructed.

But Van escaped.

Still, there were other ways to eliminate him.

Albert had long known that Camilla was manipulative, trying to use him even during their days in the party.

So, under Galforne’s orders, Albert seduced Camilla, making her his own and using her as a weapon against Van, turning her into Van’s weakness.

To deal a psychological blow beyond any doubt, Albert even had a child with Camilla.

When Galforne learned of this, she praised him, saying, “Well done, Albert,” and for the first time, she didn’t just grip his hand—she kissed him.

Though it had taken ten years, the plan worked better than expected.

The moment Albert saw Van vomiting and collapsing in his room, he was sure of his victory.

Van was weakened.

He considered killing Van on the spot.

But, just in case something went wrong, he held back.

Galforne had given him two conditions:

“Offer this country to the resurrected Demon Lord.”

If Albert were caught and disinherited for Van’s murder, everything would fall apart.

The last ten years would have been for nothing.

If he simply weakened Van and exiled him from the country, surely Galforne would finish the job.

All that was left was to resurrect the Demon Lord and hand over the kingdom—and then he could be with Galforne again.

Albert spent his days with those hopes swelling in his chest—and elsewhere—when suddenly…

“Your Highness, an envoy from the Empire has arrived.”

Albert’s downfall had begun.