The Demon and the Hero - Chapter 11- Hope

Lenora has been brought up like a man, while she mostly remained surrounded by male soldiers. However, this was different. She wasn’t entering the barracks of another soldier, but the room of a guy who recently confessed to her.

This place will not be surrounded by military gear but Riphez’s personal belongings. Instead of smoke and leather boots, his room would be proper and fragrant.

Naturally, Lenora would feel a little embarrassed suddenly entering the room of the boy who has romantic feelings for her.

She silently walked behind him, crossing the small gallery before Riphez opened the door to a room, and invited her, “After you.”

Lenora nodded before she took a strong gulp and walked inside.

‘Haah…’ The scent of jasmine assaulted her nose, making her feel her heart rate calming down a bit.

His room was tidy and quite well decorated.

There was a single bed by the window. Dark curtains with several kinds of patterns stitched on them. There was a bowl of fish on the table on the left, beside it was a tea table.

On the right was a cupboard where several books were placed. There was not a speck of dust and everything was at their place.

“You have used the space quite efficiently.” She praised him. Although the room was small, Riphez had fitted everything so perfectly, that it didn’t feel suffocating at all.

“Please sit anywhere you feel right. I will make something for you.”

Lenora was feeling a bit guilty now for making him cook something even though the chef had already prepared breakfast for her back in the mansion.

…however, she didn’t offer help. Her tall and broad frame would surely make it difficult for Riphez to move around in the small kitchen.

“Miss Lenora, is there a preference you have? Or any allergies?”

Lenora shook her head, “I can eat anything. Don’t stress about it.” During her military days, she was told to survive on nothing for several days, only to be given her boot to eat on the fifth day. Naturally, anything he makes would be better than that.

Riphez smiled as he picked the carrot and expertly chopped it into small cubes.

Seeing his fast-moving hand, Lenora couldn’t help but say, “You sure love cooking, huh? Was it your hobby?”

Riphez paused for a moment…pondering whether he should lie. But then, he confessed,

“Actually, I couldn’t hold a knife until a year ago…” Lenora was surprised, and her wordless inquiry was heard by the brown-haired, as he said, “…however, unlike my background in the Demon realm, I knew I had to do something here to survive. As such, I chose a simple path.”

Lenora was stunned, “You learned cooking just to survive in this realm? You could have chosen an easier job…like becoming an adventurer.”

This time, Riphez had to lie, “I …don’t like getting involved with violent activities.”

Lenora slowly nodded; she could tell by her experience that Riphez was a sheltered boy and someone who didn’t like to use his hands to talk.

‘We are so unlike…’ She heaved a sigh, and looked at him…his delicate features…his warm presence. She could tell that whoever’s life partner he would become, the woman would always remain happy.

And…on the other hand, Lenora’s hands were coated with a thick layer of blood and gore of those who once were Riphez’s brethren.

His parents, friends, family…she killed each one of them. And now…

“Miss Lenora,” She shivered, feeling his warm skin touching hers. The woman turned to look at him, his eyes holding emotions that made her heart accelerate.

Very softly, he asked, “Are you in pain?”

Lenora….couldn’t stop herself from nodding, “It…hurts…”

Her throat felt numb and heavy as well like something was stuck in there. Her choked voice reached his ears, “I-I cannot sleep….the war…it always wakes me up…”

She was the Hero, naturally she would be strong enough to overcome any situation—that’s what everyone thinks. However, she is a human being as well, who also has emotions

The cries of her enemies haunted her just as deeply as the tears of the allies she had lost along the way. Memories of the war flashed relentlessly in her mind, tearing at her conscience and echoing a single, unforgiving word: murderer.
When he approached her, Riphez didn’t know what she was thinking. But upon hearing her words, he understood that the situation was severe.

He first went and turned off the boiler. Filling a glass with water, he brought the glass and Lenora to the bed.

Making the lady sit down, Riphez
handed her the water.

Lenora feared that she might choke while sipping water, so she shook her head.

“Take light sips…it will help, trust me.”

Lenora, hesitantly, took the glass, as Riphez joined his hands on his lap, and told her,

“You know, Miss Lenora…why do I fear violence? It’s because of the things I have seen. Being one of the heirs, I was always told to live in the palace—a place which was nothing but horrifying for me.”

Taking a pause, he added, “I have seen…people getting slaughtered. Their consciousness was kept intact when their body parts were devoured by the Demons. Kidnapping people, and making them watch their loved one getting ra*ed and killed. And, even as a Demon, I felt disgusted by all that.”

Shaking his head, he added, “And it’s not just me, but the other commoner demons also felt the same way. It was the high noble demons and those who worked for them, who had such tendencies.”

Heaving a sigh, he told her, “I also….used to get nightmares…used to wake up in the middle of the night, all bathed in sweat and fearing that one day I might have to follow their path.”

Lenora held his hand, trying to comfort him. More than herself, she was now concerned about his condition.

Riphez smiled at her, his dimples making her heart race before the brown-haired added,

“However, everything changed when you arrived in my life. I watched you, eradicating everyone who became the source of my horror…you became my savior without knowing.”

Lenora raised her brows, “So? Do you no longer get any nightmares?”

Riphez closed his left eye, “It would be a lie if I said yes…but now, I have this.” He suddenly took out a piece of metal from under his pillow, “This…I carry everywhere, and whenever I get up seeing a nightmare, I hold this and feel that I am safe.”

Lenora raised her brows as she took the piece of metal and muttered, “It seems a fragment of armor…”

Riphez leaned closer and whispered, “It’s yours.”

“…!” Lenora’s eyes widened as she turned to look at him in disbelief.

Riphez smilingly got up as he said, “We can’t get rid of our fear, Miss Lenora, but we surely can find a ray of hope that can save us in our dark times.” Entering the kitchen once again, he began slicing the vegetables, as he added, “I found my hope in you. What about you?”

Lenora didn’t say anything and just kept on looking at him.

Soon, a smile—a smile she hadn’t even realized she could muster—appeared on her face.

‘My hope huh….’’

*****

A/N:- Who can become the hope for the hope of humanity? Well, we all know the answer. Drop a comment.