The Story of an Arrogant Succubus Princess Who Always Looked Down on Humans as Mere Food, Until She Fell in Love With an Ordinary Man - Chapter 33

“Gr-Gran, there’s big trouble!”

As she raised her voice, Eris barged into Gran’s office, where he was glaring at a pile of documents. With little regard for proper decorum toward her superior, Gran sighed heavily in response to his junior’s frantic outburst.

“No need to panic. I already know. Liliana the succubus interrupted the execution, and Asbel escaped, right?”

“W-What…You already knew?”

Eris steadied her breathing, turning her gaze to Gran.

“Of course. I’m not so clueless that I’d sit around while my subordinate faces execution.”

“Yeah…I guess that’s true…Ahaha.”

Eris looked away awkwardly, as if trying to brush it off.

“So, what are you going to do now? Even though I begged him not to go through with it, he still ran off with that succubus…”

“Ha! Are you feeling hurt as a woman?”

“That’s not it!”

“Well, she’s the most beautiful woman in the world, after all. It’s not fair to compare. Don’t feel too bad; you’re plenty attractive yourself.”

“I said that’s not it!”

Eris slammed her hands on Gran’s desk and continued speaking.

“Again, it’s that succubus! She got him to escape…This makes the knights look like a joke!”

“You’re probably right about that. But you didn’t actually want Asbel to be executed, did you?”

“Of course not. If it came down to it, I was willing to kill that executioner myself to rescue him. But because someone took me off the security detail, things turned out like this…”

“Heh, my bad. It just…had to be her. I took a few risky moves myself and didn’t want any interference.”

“…Wait, are you telling me, Gran, that you encouraged that succubus?”

Gran returned Eris’s shocked look with a small, amused smile.

“‘Encouraged’ isn’t the right word. She came to this country of her own accord. But even a world-famous succubus can’t slip past our defenses alone. We may not be fools, but we did make some arrangements.”

“But, Captain Gran, if this comes to light, it’ll cost you your position!”

“I know. If it’s discovered, I’ll literally lose my head.”

For some reason, Gran laughed. With a mischievous look, he relaxed his face and spoke.

“But you know, Eris, not to brag, but I’ve never once been caught in my mischief since I was a child. So, things will go smoothly this time, too.”

“You’ve already spilled it to me, though…”

“Ha! Now you’re an accomplice.”

“Don’t drag me into this!”

Gran had worked with a certain demon who happened to be in the human country to help Liliana escape from the demon nation. Just as the human nobility wasn’t unified, the demons were also divided, and Gran used that to his advantage.

If she died in the human kingdom, it would be convenient for certain factions among the demons—just as various motivations nearly led to Asbel’s execution, Liliana was allowed to slip away to serve someone’s purpose.

“Well, ideally, I’d like them to stay in hiding somewhere…”

Gran turned his gaze to a document he had been studying earlier. If the information it contained became public, it would overturn the current situation. But as long as he held onto it, both nobles and demons would have to think twice before opposing him—or the knights.

“…Mind if I ask you one thing?”

Eris, watching him in thought, spoke up.

“What is it? If it’s about my preferences, I’m into older women.”

“That’s not what I’m asking! I mean…Why are you going out of your way to support Asbel? I mean, he’s just another subordinate to you, right?”

“And wouldn’t you say the same?”

“I…I was saved by him…”

Eris distanced herself slightly from Gran, looking out the window. The clear blue sky, without a cloud in sight. Was Asbel now flying somewhere beneath that sky with the succubus?

A mixture of emotions—joy, sadness—tightened her chest. Eris relaxed her shoulders and spoke.

“Asbel saved me. He fought for what he believed in, and that’s why I’m here today.”

She would never forget the red blade stained with blood, the demons who laughed as they hurt her while she screamed for help. Asbel had cut down those demons with a single stroke.

Back then, he seemed like a prince to her. And, honestly, he still did—strong, unwavering, someone she admired. She couldn’t live that way herself, but it was because of him that she wanted to be of use.

“You’ve got a dreamy look on your face, Eris.”

“Shut up! Anyway, why are you helping Asbel?”

Gran exhaled softly at her question.

“It’s not that I’m helping him. But he’s too reckless to leave alone, you know? I can’t help but keep an eye on him.”

“Is that it? You’re not secretly in love with him or anything, are you?”

“Come on. Don’t say something that absurd.”

Sighing in exasperation, Gran continued.

“To me, he’s like an irresponsible younger brother. So I end up looking after him…that’s all.”

It was a poorly disguised excuse, but since Gran insisted, Eris couldn’t really press further.

“No way. Gran, you’re like the spoiled youngest child. Looking after someone isn’t your style.”

“You…Your superior is trying to be evasive, so stop digging.”

Gran laughed, thinking that Asbel might have been able to keep going because of this honest girl by his side.

“Anyway, join the search team for Asbel. I’ve cleared it so you’ll have some freedom. Feel free to elope if that’s what you’re after.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“But it’s not like there’s any reason to stay in the knights without him, is there?”

“True…but what are you going to do? Won’t you get in trouble if he keeps escaping?”

“It’s fine. Getting scolded is part of my job as a superior. So instead of worrying about me, do whatever you want. I’m good at cleaning up after others, so don’t bother with that.”

With a shooing gesture, Gran waved Eris out of the room. She left reluctantly, and Gran lit a cigarette, staring at a different document on his desk.

“…Recently, smoking has become unpleasant.”

He wondered if every decision he’d made up until now had been wrong. Entrusting Asbel with the responsibility of watching over Liliana might have been a huge mistake.

A thought passed through Gran’s mind.

“Damn it. Why does another problem always appear just when I think things are working out?”

For once, Gran slammed his desk in frustration.