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 40

Liliana lay sprawled on the bed in the middle of the day, gazing at the ring glowing on her left ring finger. A plain, simple ring that could be found anywhere. She had received rings worth many, many times more…no, perhaps hundreds of times more valuable than this one in the past.

All those rings had been confiscated when she was imprisoned, but even now, if she wanted to, she could easily acquire something far more expensive.

“Ah, I’m being so foolish.”

Still, she couldn’t help feeling happy when she looked at this ring. It reminded her of Asbel’s words from yesterday. He’d said he couldn’t feel anything…almost no taste, he had told her. It was sad, but even so, he had asked Liliana to stay by his side.

“He really can say such embarrassing things with a straight face, can’t he?”

With the bashful expression of a girl confessing her feelings for the first time, Liliana rolled over on the bed. The thought that her laughter might bring some comfort to Asbel made her feel warm inside. If she stayed by his side, maybe he would eventually learn to feel joy and happiness. This thought made her chest feel hot, and her cheeks softened in a smile.

“What are you doing, lounging around in the middle of the day?”

Just then, Asbel, having finished some task and returned to the mansion, stood there, looking at Liliana’s lazy position with a cold gaze. Unlike her, he was as calm as ever.

“It’s fine, isn’t it? I’m the ‘Enchantress of Nations,’ the Succubus Queen. I can do whatever I please.”

“…Don’t abbreviate your own title like that. ‘Enchantress of Nations, Succubus Queen,’ remember? ‘Succu Succu Queen’? You’re not making any sense.”

“It’s fine. …Anyway, come here. I’ll let you use my lap as a pillow.”

“Sorry, but I’m about to head over to the lake to gather food for today—”

“Just come here!”

Liliana pulled him down onto the bed. No, in reality, even if she tugged, she shouldn’t be able to move Asbel at all. The difference in their strength was that great.

“…Fine.”

Yet, Asbel allowed himself to lie down with his head on her lap, not rejecting her.

“When I look at you like this, you actually have a pretty nice face, don’t you?”

“I don’t really know if my face is nice or not.”

“Even though you barely take care of it, your skin is still annoyingly smooth…”

“Isn’t yours even nicer?”

“…The fact that you can say that so naturally must’ve misled a lot of girls in the past.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you, who has consciously deceived so many men.”

“Shut up. Don’t talk back.”

Gently, Liliana stroked his head. Asbel relaxed his body, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“Can I kiss you?”

“…Do as you like.”

“You really don’t show any reaction, do you? You know, I think I’m starting to get addicted to that part of you.”

“You’re far more childish than rumors say…No, perhaps you’re just free-spirited. I like that about you.”

“…Fool.”

Liliana moved to kiss Asbel…or she would have if he hadn’t suddenly sat up.

“What? Now you’re getting embarrassed? Turns out you can be kind of cute—”

“No. …Someone’s approaching the mansion.”

“—”

Liliana’s expression shifted. Asbel calmly stated:

“I set some traps, but none have been triggered…so it’s either someone highly skilled or a demon with a special power. I’ll go check it out. You prepare to escape if needed.”

“I’ll come with—”

“No need. If it turns into a fight, you might get caught in it. Stay in this room for now. Call out if anything happens; I’ll come immediately.”

“…Understood. But don’t push yourself too hard, alright?”

He lightly patted her head before heading outside.

“Interrupting at the best moment…what an inconsiderate person…”

Liliana sighed, easing the tension in her body. She trusted Asbel. She felt that no matter who came, things would be fine with him there.

“…Hm? A voice…”

She thought she heard something and glanced out the window, but no one was there. Feeling uneasy, she clenched her hand tightly, staring at the door through which Asbel had exited.

“Don’t do anything reckless, Asbel.”

Her faint voice was swallowed by the room’s silence.

◇

Asbel moved cautiously outside the mansion. There, he saw…

“No wonder the traps didn’t go off. I didn’t account for something that small. …It’s been a while, Pixie.”

Hearing his words, the girl with tiny wings hovering in the air—Pixie Mimi—responded in a displeased tone.

“Oh, it’s a human. I have no business with you. Where is Lady Liliana?”

“Answer my question first. …How did you find this place? Depending on your answer, I may have to cut you down.”

“Do you think you can, human?”

“Want to test that?”

They glared at each other, but sensing that the man before her had no intention of backing down, Mimi let out a sigh.

“You’re aware we Pixies are proficient in magic, aren’t you? Among our spells, there is one for locating individuals.”

“I haven’t heard of this magic much, but…”

“First of all, we pixies do not like to come out like other races. It’s natural that you humans do not know about pixie magic.”

“Are you the only one who knows this place?”

“Are you saying that I have connections with humans or demons? Please stop saying foolish things. The most important thing to me is Lady Liliana alone. I would never do anything that could harm her.”

“………”

Asbel thinks for a moment. This pixie had indeed fought to let Liliana escape, even while she was on the verge of death. It is not a lie that she cares for Liliana.

Besides, there are no signs of other creatures nearby. No matter if it’s a pixie or something else, Asbel does not miss the presence of any approaching beings. …Even if the opponent is using some kind of magic.

“I understand. Liliana is in the back room. If you want to see her, follow me.”

Asbel starts to walk. Mimi follows him, looking dissatisfied.

“…This is irrelevant, but you call her rather familiarly, don’t you? Lady Liliana.”

“She told me to call her that.”

“I see. Lady Liliana is a kind person. …But you should not misunderstand too much.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“That person moves by values that cannot be measured by humans. It’s not something you, like, can stay by her side forever.”

“I see. I’ll be careful.”

Asbel does not heed Mimi’s words. It seems that Mimi dislikes Asbel’s attitude, glaring coldly at his back.

“LiLi, I’m back──”

“Asbel! You’re back! I’m so glad you’re safe! Are you hurt? You’re not, right?”

Liliana rushes to hug Asbel when he returns to the room. After gently patting her head, Asbel speaks.

“You have a guest.”

“A guest? …Wait, it’s Mimi! Why are you here?”

Mimi answers with a face completely different from before, seeing Liliana’s astonishment.

“Before Lady Liliana left the country, she told me to live freely. So I thought I’d like to be by Lady Liliana’s side and came here, but…was it a bother?”

“That’s not true. I’m happy to see you. …Oh, right, Asbel. You bought tea in the town yesterday, didn’t you? Where is it?”

“It’s in the kitchen shelf…no, I’ll make it. We have a lot to talk about, right?”

“That’s nice, but you’re not good at making tea…Well, it’s fine. If it’s bad, I’ll just make it again, so I’ll ask you this time.”

Hearing that from behind, Asbel leaves the room. After his figure disappears completely, Mimi speaks.

“Lady Liliana, I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I’m glad you seem well too, Mimi.”

“…I’m fine. More importantly…Lady Liliana, what kind of relationship do you have with that man? They looked very close; is that the usual──”

“No, it’s different.”

Liliana interrupts Mimi’s words and says.

“I’ve decided that I will live by his side from now on. Life here is quiet but fun. If I get bored, it might be nice to travel somewhere far away again. I want to live by his side forever. That’s my biggest wish.”

“So that means…”

“Yeah. It seems I’ve fallen for him.”

Liliana smiles, a very happy smile that she has never shown before.

“………”

Ah, Mimi thinks. Surely, the words of Lord Ilias were not wrong.

“Lady Liliana. It’s alright. I will save your soul…”

“Mimi…? What are you…”

Mimi takes a pure white key out of the empty space. Then she tightly grips it with both hands and says.

“Oh God, may we be saved by our prayers──Amyris Liche.”

“────!”

In that moment, the consciousness of the girl named Liliana was swallowed by dark darkness.