I Became the Master of the Devil

It’s hidden here. Ash lifted his heel and rummaged through the display case containing collection plates.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

However, he heard someone calling him next to him. Here we go again. I’m sick of it. I didn’t have to look away. He could tell without even looking away. That person was Siani Felicite.

 

“Why are you following me here? Don’t you know that no one except people from my family is allowed in here?”

 

“But… I haven’t seen you properly in days.”

 

“That’s because you were under probation and couldn’t even take a single step.”

 

Ash nervously gritted his teeth.

 

“Can’t you get along with the vassals? Why don’t you try half as hard as those two guys?”

 

The more he thought about it, the more annoying he got. What if the person who will become the grand duchess in the future keeps doing that?

 

“It’s dangerous. Be careful.”

 

However, Siani only looked at him as if his words didn’t matter. She seemed worried that the wobbly display case might collapse.

 

“Please don’t mind me.”

 

Ash’s answer was blunt.

 

“I’m just thankful that you don’t show up next to me.”

 

“…”

 

The kitchen was a place where the employees of the grand duchy came and went. Clearly, if the two were caught in their eyes, they would gossip about useless things.

 

Uh? This is it. Ash finally found the teacup stuck in the corner of the display case. That’s when he stretched out his hand again.

 

“Ash!”

 

Suddenly, the display case shook. The recoil made the tea cups and plates on top clatter as if they would fall.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Ash reflexively curled his body at the sharp crackling sound. However,

 

What is it…? He didn’t feel anything.

 

“Oh my goodness! What is this all about? Are you okay, Grand Prince?”

 

“Lady!”

 

Ash slowly opened his eyes and found something.

 

“You…”

 

Siani was hugging his shoulder tightly.

 

“Are you crazy?”

 

The collapsed display case hit Siani’s back, and pieces of glass scattered wildly on the floor.

 

“Lady, your face is bleeding!”

 

“Hurry up and call the butler!”

 

Her fair cheek had been scratched by a shard of glass and was bleeding.

 

What should I do? Ash wanted to reach out, but he couldn’t move. The question of whether she was okay and why she was being reckless rose to the top of his throat… But then Siani asked him back with a worried face.

 

“Ash, are you okay?”

 

“…”

 

“That’s why I told you to be careful.”

 

Only he was reflected in her strangely bright red eyes.

 

That day, Ash felt it for the first time.

 

“You almost got into big trouble.”

 

That Siani loves him.

 

* * *

“You almost got into big trouble!” Ash vented his anger. When he saw her hair was messy, and her makeup was smudged, he got angry, but he could barely hold it in until everyone left.

 

That stupid fool… He felt like he wanted to step on that guy who was on the same team as him right away.

 

That’s why I hated it.

 

Ash hated Siani’s recklessness like that. The time when she was waiting for him in the rain and when she covered him first even though the display case was falling.

 

“Are you out of your mind? If you’re sane, you should have run away!” said Ash while tightening his jaw.

 

She didn’t even know being scared… The image of Siani, who was left alone with the kidnapper, made him angry.

 

“Why are you pretending to worry about me?”

 

“…What? Pretending to be worried?”

 

But the moment Siani said that to him, Ash burst into laughter.

 

“It’s already too late for that.”

 

Late? What do you mean by late? Those words felt like pouring cold water over his head.

 

“No, it’s not late for anything.”

 

It was never too late. He could turn it back to the beginning.

 

“Come here.”

 

If he had shot the sleeping bomb now and saved Siani by holding her in his arms, everything would go back to the beginning.

 

“Just like you saved me then, I will save you today.”

 

He dropped the hidden sleeping bomb on the floor. Then, as if he had been waiting, the hazy smoke began to rise.

 

“Protect me, Siani Felicite.” Just like always, she will do it today, too.

 

More and more the sleeping scent would penetrate Siani’s consciousness and take away her consciousness. Then Ash could take her in his arms and get out of there leisurely.

 

“Don’t you remember? You didn’t like me getting hurt.”

 

However,

 

“Rere!”

 

He reached out to catch her, but he couldn’t catch anything. His empty fingers wandered in the air. Siani left him alone in the smoky place… How come Siani? How on earth!

 

“Siani, Siani Felicite!”

 

Ash shouted. However, she had already run away to somewhere else.

 

“Damn it.”

 

He couldn’t tell where Siani disappeared because of the smoke. Ash moved to find where she had escaped.

 

“Little Master! The smoke is too thick! Hurry up and put on your mask!”

 

“You…”

 

Where on earth and for whom did you abandon me? What happened to Siani while he didn’t notice it?

 

“Ke-keugh. Please forgive me! We don’t know if something like this will happen.”

 

“Where is it?’

 

“Yes, yes?”

 

“Where’s the emergency exit?”

 

Ash scoffed coldly. In the midst of the acrid smoke, he didn’t even take a breath. His eyes were red, searching for something.

 

“O-over there.”

 

Arthur walked toward it when he saw him pointing behind the wall. There was a hidden emergency exit. Bang, he kicked the door open, but…

 

Damn it! It seemed like she had already escaped through the emergency exit, and no one was there.

 

“Gasp, this can’t be happening. How on earth did she get that chain off? It couldn’t have been broken by woman’s power.”

 

“…”

 

At his words, Ash saw a chain that seemed to have been ripped out by force. It can’t be solved by a woman’s power.

 

“You have a smoke gun, right? Give it to me.”

 

“Yes, yes? Are you sure you’re going to catch the princess? It will definitely cause people to misunderstand, little Master!”

 

The man stuttered as if embarrassed.

 

There were imperial knights around. In this situation, it was natural that if Ash targeted Siani with the smoke gun, it would raise suspicion.

 

“Shut up and give it to me.” But Ash smirked. “I just need to make sure no one sees it.”

 

Bang, bang! As soon as he was handed a smoke gun, he shot it into the sky. The view became blurry.

 

She’s definitely around here… Siani was probably wandering around, looking for her carriage. She would return to him if he didn’t let her move even one step. As always, she would realize that the only person she could rely on was him.

 

“What is this? It looks like someone is shooting a smoke gun? Princess, where are you!”

 

“Grand Prince! What happened!”

 

At that time, he could see the knights gathering after hearing the sound in the distance.

 

“Ah, the criminal who was trying to harm the princess, and the royal princess tried to run away.”

 

Ash answered slyly. Then he shot smoke once more to prevent anyone from approaching. The sky became cloudy.

 

“I will catch him, so everyone, don’t come close and step back.”

 

It was at that time.

 

“…Ah.”

 

The figure of the woman who appeared to be Siani passed before his eyes. She clearly must be worried about him and came running to him due to his acting. Of course it should be like that. The man laughed. 

 

Who is that brat?

 

There was someone next to Siani.  

 

Does that mean… she ran behind the wall, leaving me alone to save that brat?

 

Why? For what reason?

 

Haha.

 

Ash reloaded and fired the gun again.

 

“Little Master!”

 

“Who’s next to you, Siani?”

 

Bang! Bang! The sound of gunfire that shook the wind rang out one after another.

 

“Come here when I still spoke nicely!”

 

Ash’s every word came out in annoyance.

 

“…Ugh!”

 

But at that moment, a bullet shot from afar and landed next to the wall where Ash was standing.

 

“Ha, that’s crazy.” He cursed while still holding his gun.

 

How dare that brat…

 

“Ugh!”

 

But the bullet that flew back again passed Arthur’s cheek exactly. Something thick dripped down. At first glance, he could see Siani’s face distorting as she looked this way.

 

Ah, did she see my face bleeding? Right. She must be worried about me. Then…

 

Ash fired the smoke gun that had only been fired into the sky to that guy.

 

Leave him behind and come here right away.

 

The bullet grazed the back of the guy who hid Siani behind him.

 

“Rere!”

 

However,

 

“Are you okay? Your back is bleeding!”

 

The wind blew, and the smoke cleared in an instant. In the meantime, Ash saw clearly. Siani’s red eyes were looking at the back of an unknown man.

 

Rere?

 

She could only make expressions like that only to him, but who on earth is that punk?

 

Ash’s hands weakened. The smoke gun fell to the floor.

 

“You can’t walk to the carriage like this. Even if I get scolded, I’d rather we go straight to the underground castle…”

 

No.

 

As soon as Siani touched her necklace, the two disappeared.

 

“Siani.”

 

The two went… and left him behind.

 

“Siani Felicite!”

 

Moreover, Siani never looked back. It was as if she had completely forgotten that he had been left alone here. 

 

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