The Demon and the Hero - Chapter 1- Who is he?

“Mm…” Her brows drew closer as the silver-haired lady climbed out of her slumber after a disturbed night of sleep.

Pushing herself up she sat at the edge of the bed and yawned. Scratching her head, she allowed her eyes to get accustomed to the light her room was engulfed in.

She likes to keep her curtains drawn but her maid, that idiot Hera, just doesn’t listen to her command at all!

“Agh…” Her head throbbed because of the lack of nicotine and caffeine. She likes to smoke early in the morning but she had already run out of it last night.

Last night…she was thinking about the war. The only incident in her life which flipped her world upside down and made the lady regret her actions.

The biggest war of the millennia—the side of Light clashed against Darkness to take down the Seven Generals of the Demon Lord.

And the commander who led this was her—Lenora Ironhart Ravenshade. She is the inheritor of the Holy Sword left by the first hero, Aston Ironhart.

This war…it was all she thought about after she awakened her mana and was told by the church that she would become the next hero. Now, for the past twenty years, all Lenora did was train and prepare for the war, which concluded only twelve days ago.

It was the biggest and ugliest war anyone could have ever witnessed.

Ten apostles of Light participated in the war along with Lenora, and with their help and also, the huge army from the human side, allowed Lenora to finally put an end to the war.

Although the Demon King was still missing, Lenora was no longer concerned. Without his seven generals, the Symbol of Darkness wouldn’t be able to do a shit even if he returns.

The world was dyed in the colour of festivity; after all, the biggest terror on both sides—surprisingly, the demonic side as well—was happy after the demise of the seven Generals.

However, Lenora cannot feel as elated as them…she lost her comrades in the battle just because she wasn’t strong enough to protect them when it mattered the most.

Ever since she returned, she wasn’t able to stop thinking about them…the proud smile they wore even at the last few moments. They were gratified that they got to fight alongside her. And that…broke Lenora’s heart

She wasn’t able to sleep for many nights….their faces, those words they relayed, kept her awake. That’s why she completely surrounded herself with tiresome meetings, office work, lectures at academies, and everything that could keep her busy.

She…didn’t want to think about them, or she might as well slit her own throat with her blade.

“Haah~you shouldn’t overthink things this early in the morning.” Without bothering to knock, the blond maid entered the room while carrying a tray of tea and warm water.

“Hera, how many times do I tell you-”

“To knock? I did knock, but the lady was so engrossed in self-pity that she didn’t notice.” As brutal as ever, the maid stated.

Hera was Lenora’s childhood friend and someone who knew mostly everything about her. Although Hera couldn’t stay as much as before, after she got married, the time she spent in the mansion mostly revolved around taking care of the silver-haired lady.

“You are a Duchess, my lady; you need to act more lady-like,” Hera added as she gathered the clothes Lenora had thrown away last night to slip into her pyjamas.

Ignoring the noisy maid, Lenora inched closer to the window while holding the cup of tea, as she lazily looked at the clear sky.

It was a good day for light training.

Her eyes then went downwards, and she noticed him…a certain boy standing near the entrance of the mansion. With his back leaned against the wall opposite the mansion entrance, the person had his face covered behind a mask and bandages wrapped around his head.

Lenora frowned as she felt a tinge of Dark energy from him, urging her to ask, “Who is that guy?”

She could see that he was currently waiting for something or someone. And it made her unsettled that the being was a demon.

Hera didn’t have to look at the person to know about whom her lady was talking about.

The blond maid sighed and informed, “He introduced himself as Riphez. He has been wanting to meet you for the past seven days.”

Lenora’s frown deepened, “What does he want?”

“He said, ‘I want to have a few minutes with Lady Lenora’.”

“And he comes here every single day?” Lenora asked in slight surprise.

“Yup~he comes here in the evening and stays until early in the morning. I inquired a bit; he works in a nearby bakery.”

Lenora was genuinely surprised to hear that. For someone to show such desperation to just meet her?

“Did he attack anyone?” Lenora asked since the boy’s head was covered in bandages.

However, “No, not at all. I seldom see such polite men these days, who always respectfully bow and softly extend their intention without hiding anything behind the spiral of words.”

Lenora scoffed, “It’s rare for you to be impressed by someone who isn’t your dear husband.”

Hero blankly looked at the lady, “I am not obsessed, okay? I respect those who respect others.”

Ignoring the complaint she carried in her words, Lenora turned her eyes toward the boy, who stifled a yawn and stretched his arms.

It must be painful waiting for someone for the whole night when the weather is pretty harsh these days—Lenora inwardly muttered.

“Why wasn’t I informed?”

Hera heaved a sigh, “You chained yourself to your work, so I never got the chance to tell you about him.”

Lenora…couldn’t refute that. She, indeed, has kept herself too busy these days to even look at herself in the mirror.

Tying her hair, the lady commanded, “Bring him in and tell him to wait for me in the reception.”

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