The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)

Do you know what’s one of the most satisfying things in the world?

It was when our imagination and expectation were met.

I used to lower my expectation about anything. Or rather, having no expectations at all. After all, we wouldn’t be disappointed that way. I wasn’t disappointed about never visiting an amusement park, and never disappointed about being unable to live long.

Because I never expected myself to live long anyway.

Ah, but how could I not have any expectations when Zia gushed out story after story about the festivals she experienced in the past? She filled my head with colorful’s ornaments, various night markets filled with tasty foods and trinkets from all over the world, stage plays, costume parades, assortments of performances, music, and even fireworks.

Yeah, how could I have no expectations hearing about them along the journey?

But oh, what a sweet sweet thing it was, when my poor imagination came alive in front of me the moment we entered the port city of L’anak Sor. All of the things Zia boasted were true, and my senses were flooded with different things all at once that I felt overwhelmed.

Even only through the carriage’s window, I could see the colorful garlands and banners, ribbons and balloons being distributed by demons in costumes, papier-mâché decorations and topiaries, all adorning the street leading into our accommodation—one of Natha’s secret townhouses.

I didn’t even realize I was fidgeting impatiently until Natha put his hand on my knee, and tapped it lightly. Ugh...it was quite embarrassing to be so excited about a festival as an adult. But my soul, which never experienced such a thing before, craved it so strongly.

Just like how it craved affection, which I slowly realized.

It was the result of being greedy—greed for life, to live while enjoying everything that life could give. With that greed came expectation, hope, and fear.

But as we alighted from the carriage, changed our outfits, and walked into the festive atmosphere, those things like expectation, hope, and fear gave my heart a delightful beat. It was within this heartbeat and adrenaline rush that I realized I had been so numb during those last years of my life.

Ah, life...it was something this overwhelming.

The first time I laid eyes on the demon realm, I thought that it looked like some sort of CGI; it was that overwhelming. But the feeling as I stepped into the pavement was even harder to describe.

My eyes were filled with colors and beautiful things; costumes in various shapes and sizes, from animals to mythical beings, even characters from fairytales; decorations and flowers flanking stone roads; demons and other non-human races of various colors wearing vibrant outfits...My ears were filled with music and chatter, and the smell of delicious foods flooded my nose.

I had watched things like carnivals on television, or watched vlogs about events like conventions and festivals. But there was a certain vibration that one could only feel when they were at the real venue. The sensations that flooded from every direction and make my skin tingle...it was something that only came from experiencing the things myself.

And the most overwhelming of all, was the sheer joy that was evident. Even without the ability to sense thought, I could feel the energy, that vibration, filling the atmosphere. Even while someone whining about a stall good’s price getting more expensive than last year, or while a kid crying after falling down the road after running too excitedly...the laughter, the smile, the yelling and the banter, everything filled with life.

Haa...what the hell was the human trying to accomplish with all the spreading hate.

Truly, I was glad I took Natha’s hand that one fateful night.

I was also glad that he had a firm hold on my hand right now, since there was a possibility of me getting lost with how dazed and bewildered I became with all these overwhelming sensations flooding me.

Before, in the capital city of Lenaar, the joyful atmosphere just felt ironic and mocking to me, even as I told myself that I shouldn’t take everything too seriously. That everyone was just a character in a novel, and it was pointless cursing the fate that befell this body even before my soul inhabited the vessel. In the first place, my senses had become numb after I forcefully ignored any sensation—since it was the only way my mind could cope with the pain that I thought I had said farewell to. So there was no way I could enjoy that ’victory’ festival.

But now that I could enjoy the events to my heart’s content, even in disguise, I could feel everything clearly. In this healthy body, in this greedy heart that wanted to dash here and there at everything new that my eyes laid upon.

The thing was...well, everything basically new for me, so I almost always dazedly heading into somewhere before my brain stopped long enough to tell the others, allowance money waving from my pocket. The first time I did it, Natha pulled me back instantly, and he had never let go of my hand ever since. Every time my feet tried to bring me somewhere, I wouldn’t manage more than one step before my hand got stuck in his firm hold.

"What an energetic pair of legs you got there," he commented after this happened dozen times already.

"It’s instinct!" I pursed my lips, only for him to stuff my mouth with a mushroom skewer. Right, as a druid, I couldn’t be seen eating meat. It didn’t matter though, everything else was delicious enough.

"Hmm, yes, you have a very energetic instinct," he laughed softly while we walked again.

He seemed to restrain me at first, but that was to prevent me from getting lost in the crowd. He would ask me what I wanted and proceed to take me there, even if all I ended up doing was just staring at the stalls. If there was something I wanted to try, he’d buy it for me instead, even though he gave me an allowance already.

Hmm...what was the point of giving me the money then? Not that I’d refuse them...

"I feel like this market only sells food?" I looked around as we walked, realizing that all the places we stopped at were selling food and beverages. I even spent like ten minutes watching someone turn melted candy into magical beast shapes, until Natha took it upon himself to buy me one that was shaped like a horned rabbit.

It was at that point that I realized we had separated from Zia and Angwi, probably because I spent too much time getting amazed at everything. Oh, gosh, so embarrassing. If I wasn’t wearing a hood now, my overly excited face would be on display everywhere.

"It’s easier for the market to be categorized by type, isn’t it?"

"I see, that’s right," I wave the empty skewer stick in the air, and suddenly remembered something that I wanted to ask him since yesterday. "Oh, are you the one who planned all this?"

He took the stick from my hand and it disappeared who-knows-where, just like all the previous waste our shopping produced. How convenient. "What’s the point of having subordinates if I have to take care of every little thing? Though I do receive reports about it."

"Ooh~" I tugged on his hand and craned my neck to whisper. "So this is like a secret inspection?"

*pfft*

He laughed. He laughed in that soft, arched crescents moon, in a voice that echoed in my mind. He pulled me closer, tugging on my hand gently, until our bodies pressed side by side. He let go of my hand then, and as my fingers started to feel empty, the familiar coldness seeped into my waist.

"No," he answered me, as I pulled my hood lower to hide the flush creeping on my cheeks. "This is a date, sweetheart."

And then he proceeded to usher me out of the market, walking through many alleys, into another street. It was also big and crowded, but instead of street stalls, it was filled with shops. It seemed to be the city’s original shopping district, but of course, it was also filled with festive decorations.

"Oh...what kind of shops are they?" my eyes darted around again, and his hand was back in mine, like a shackle.

"Hmm...things like souvenirs, accessories, jewelry..." he paused for a bit, and I felt his thumb rubbing on my wrist and fingers. "Is there anything you want here?"

"What? Would you buy it for me again if I do?" as I looked at his smiling face, I felt like there was some kind of expectancy inside the gaze of his silver eyes.

His smile widened at that, and the familiar silver crescents graced upon me. "Of course."

The way he answered without hesitation made me feel mischievous. Or was it because we’d been spending days and nights together these last few days? Made me feel closer to him—perhaps close enough to pull a harmless tease.

"Can I ask for anything, then?" I tilted my head, trying to fill my mind with useless thoughts while at it—not an easy thing to do, turned out.

"You can,"

I stepped forward then, turning my body to face him while his hand still on mine, and looked up at him with a smile. "Really? What if come into a store and asked for everything?"

You know, like the people in those movies and shows about rich people who came inside a store, took a single glance, and declared they would take everything. People who commented on such shows seemed to like that, wondering how it felt to be that rich. Well...in my case, I wasn’t healthy enough to be able to do it.

But it sure seemed exciting, no?

Not that I could do it now, being healthy but broke—

"Sure, why not?" he reached out his other hand and slipped it beneath my hood, stroking my cheek gently. "Why don’t we buy out the entire street while at it?"

What the hell? You could do that?

As I looked into his nonchalant smile and calm gaze, I was reminded once again who this man—demon—was. Of course, no other than the wealthiest of the realm.

My eyes sparkled for a moment, before my conscience hammered me into the ground. Wake up Val, it’s not your own money!

"You shouldn’t say something like that," I tilted my head to pull away from his palm and narrowed my eyes at him. "What if I took advantage of it and really buy everything?"

His hand followed my head’s movement and held me in place. There was still that calm, confident smile as he leaned closer and spoke firmly. "And I told you, you can," I felt my eyes flicker as his cold lips touched my forehead. "I already said you can ask for anything,"

The sincerity in his voice, and the tenderness in his gaze, weren’t something that I expect from this silly conversation. Everything, from his words to his gesture, made it seem like he really meant everything, that even if I made such outrageous demand, he would grant it without even questioning what would I do with all of them.

Was he playing with me?

Was he sincere?

"...why?" I stared at him, unblinking, trying to decipher any hidden meaning behind his aloofness. "Why are you being so kind to me?"

Was this a test? Why would he need to test me though?

Then if it wasn’t...

I opened my mouth, slowly, while looking straight into the moon-like orbs. "Natha..."

Yes. I told myself not to expect anything so I wouldn’t have to feel hurt.

Still...

Humans—no, living beings, were a creature of greed. I felt greedy for an answer, to satiate my curiosity. To satiate the thirst inside my soul.

"Do you...have a feeling for me?"