Arundel’s face was still hot.
[I want to do it again.]
Arundel, who was momentarily flustered, pushed Zion’s shoulder hard. Zion raised both hands and said,
[It’s a joke.]
But every time he did, she was at a loss for how to react.
Fortunately, there were no signs of going any further… but she couldn’t rest easily.
[If this continues, really with a human…]
Arundel shook her head.
And she slapped her cheeks lightly and thought.
‘Don’t forget your duty.’
Feeling like she was being swayed by him, Arundel once again reminded herself of her mission.
“By the way…it was said that the Empress’s coronation will be held next month.”
As Arundel, who couldn’t stand Zion’s dangerous joke, kicked her seat and stood up, Zion spoke in a soothing voice.
[We’re going to hold Her Majesty the Empress’s coronation next month, so be aware.]
[Next month?]
[You don’t have anything to prepare anyway, so you don’t need to worry.]
Given the current situation, it was a bit worrying to hold a coronation.
The country was still in chaos due to the demons, and it was expected that there would be a lot of talk among people about the recent Empress’s bounty.
But suddenly, the Empress’s coronation…
‘I don’t know, Zion will take care of it.’
Just like the case with Duke Hellen and Count Montreal, Zion was a person who thought ahead, no, two steps ahead.
And he did it very secretly and meticulously.
He pretends to know nothing, but he’s just pretending.
When necessary, he uses them as threatening weapons.
So, as always thought, worrying about Zion was the most useless worry in the world.
Maybe if it was Hills…
‘But where did he really go…?’
Even Zion didn’t know his whereabouts, and she realized the seriousness of the situation.
There would be no mark now. All connections with him have been cut off.
As she stared blankly at the garden with anxious eyes,
Something purple was climbing over the wall of the Empress’s Palace.
‘No way…’
They say a dragon comes when you call it.
‘No…that guy was really a dragon.’
The true form was actually quite shocking.
Such a trivial guy was a forgotten monster, a dragon. He himself was a great demon, and it was true.
Hills was much stronger than she thought. And it was tremendously so.
‘He’s waving his hand.’
As Hills and her eyes met across the window, he laughed and waved his hand vigorously.
Yes, a dragon wouldn’t die.
Indeed, there was no need to worry about Hills.
Arundel thought again. The most useless worry in the world,
The first was worrying about Zion,
The second was worrying about Hills.
Just as her worried heart was sagging, Hills knocked on the window.
“Arundel.”
Arundel jumped from the bed and opened the window.
“There’s a door, why come through the window.”
“That’s right, haha.”
Hills laughed as he scratched his head.
But when she actually faced him, Arundel’s heart ached.
She had a hard time because of the mark, but she also received a lot of help from this guy.
Especially this time, he even got beaten up by Zion.
When the filter of compassion was applied to Arundel’s eyes, Hills looked somewhat pale and seemed to be struggling.
Arundel, who was looking at Hills with watery eyes, suddenly hugged Hills, who was scratching his head like a fool.
“Hills…! I’m glad you’re alive…!”
How long, she was hugging him for a few seconds.
When there was no reaction from Hills, Arundel dropped her arms. And she looked at Hills.
“…What’s wrong, where does it hurt?”
Hills’ face was not just red, but it seemed to burst. Even his ears were crimson red.
When Arundel waved her hand in front of him, Hills finally took a deep breath.
“…It’s unfair.”
“What’s unfair.”
If his face was frozen in red earlier, now his face was blue and he was chattering.
“How can you suddenly hug me like that!”
“What are you talking about?”
Arundel couldn’t understand what Hills was saying at all.
Hills looked really wronged.
“Hug me again.”
“Don’t joke.”
The hug just now was impulsive even in her own thoughts. It was absolutely impossible to hug Hills soberly.
“By the way, where have you been all this time?”
When Arundel turned the topic, Hills spoke with a dissatisfied expression, holding his chin.
“…Were you hurt a lot?”
“I was recovering.”
“To the point of death.”
Hills said, looking at Arundel.
The filter of compassion was applied to Arundel’s eyes again. Arundel looked at Hills with a worried expression.
“…Really?”
“No.”
Should I hit him…really…
The moment Arundel turned pale, Hills burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha, I wanted to see Arundel’s worried expression. But it’s not a complete lie.”
“…”
“It wasn’t to the point of death, but it hurt quite a bit.”
“…Right.”
“And, Arundel, you should be grateful to me.”
Hills, with a lot of strength in his shoulders, laid out the things he had done.
“I was worried that the frail Empress’s body would die, so I dragged my sick body and taught Zion how to remove the heartworm.”
“I appreciate that.”
Arundel nodded as if acknowledging it.
It was what she had expected. The only people who knew how to get rid of heartworm without an antidote were herself and Hills.
She was unconscious, so she thought Hills would have taught Zion the method.
“Only words? If you’re really grateful, hug me again…”
“Enough.”
“Tsk.”
Looking at Hills pouting because she wouldn’t hug him again, she remembered the terrible pain.
‘Come to think of it…I almost died the same way.’
Arundel glared at Hills, recalling the moment of pain when he removed the mark.
“You should be sorry to me, you know.”
“Huh…?”
When Hills, who was pouting, discovered Arundel, who had her eyes wide open in anger, he flinched.
“The day before the execution.”
“Ahahaha…”
Hills laughed awkwardly, as if something had hit him.
“I told you I don’t recommend it.”
“If you hadn’t removed the mark then, I would have been exposed helplessly in front of all those people!”
Recalling that time, Arundel glared at Hills. But Hills shouted as if he was angry.
“How would I feel having to endure the sight of Arundel in pain!”
This shameless guy.
“Why are you raising your voice!”
“I clearly told you not to! I couldn’t sleep for days thinking about Arundel screaming…!”
Hills looked really wronged. His eyes were so red.
If she pushed him any further, he might really start crying, so Arundel shut her mouth.
Hills was chattering for a while, gradually regaining his composure.
‘Strange guy.’
As Arundel looked at Hills as if he was a freak, Hills, who had regained his composure, patted his hand with a healthy expression as if nothing had happened.
“Now, shall we move on to the main topic.”
“…”
“You haven’t forgotten? The new contract.”
In fact, as soon as Arundel saw Hills, she thought about the contract. She was just pretending not to know.
Arundel recalled that day.
On the day of the execution, when the voices of criticism against Zion rose, Hills stepped forward saying he could solve the situation.
She knew she shouldn’t, but she was desperate, so she made a contract on credit.
[Okay, solve this situation.]
[Good. A new contract is established.]
She was hoping he had forgotten.
As expected, he was a guy who received what he was supposed to receive like a ghost.
“So, what are you going to ask for?”
She asked nonchalantly, but in fact, Arundel was very worried.
She had made a small contract before, but it was a very minor request to check Bianca’s magic power.
So the price at that time was…what was it?
[Don’t hate me.]
It was quite a nagging price, but it wasn’t a big burden to fulfill. Thanks to that, she had self-reflected, and her relationship with Hills became quite close.
But this time it was different.
She couldn’t say anything even if he asked for a big thing. His true body was even hit by a strong magic.
“Hmm, what should I ask for?”
Hills smirked.
“For Arundel to become my slave.”
“..…”
“Or how about I become Arundel’s slave?”
Hills said with a smirk.
“For life, without separation.”
His red eyes sparkled.
When Arundel, who heard the words, tensed up like a cornered rat, Hills’s eyes turned purple and he chuckled.
“It’s just a joke, the price I really want is.”
“…What’s the price?”
Heart pounding.
“Get me a job in the palace.”
Arundel frowned for a moment.
“You want me to get you a job in the palace?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I can’t borrow the prince’s body again. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
That made sense.
It was quite a commendable idea for him, but there was something to confirm.
“What are you going to do in the palace?”
“Of course, to be by Arundel’s side.”
Hills said with a smirk.
He was good at making such embarrassing remarks. Thanks to that, it was Arundel’s part to be embarrassed.
“And, I also have a promise with that guy.”
“That guy…? Zion?”
“Yes, I told you before. We made a peace treaty.”
“But?”
“So, I have to help him.”
Zion needs help?
He seemed like a person who would never need the help of others in his lifetime…
Arundel wanted to ask what it was, but Hills kept his mouth shut last time.
There was also a secret treaty, what was it?
“And…I’m curious personally.”
“About Zion?”
Hills nodded lightly.
“What are you curious about?”
“Just, I’m curious about his identity.”
He spat out the words and sat down heavily in the chair. Arundel recalled the serious words Hills had said last time.
Come to think of it, Hills had said something serious.
“You said last time that you don’t think he’s human?”
“Yes.”
“If Zion isn’t human, what is he? He may seem a bit monstrous, but he’s human.”
“…You’ll see.”
Hills shrugged, not seeming to take it seriously.
“Anyway, get me a job in the palace. Preferably a cool and great job.”
“Ha… I’ll think about it.”
“No! I won’t compromise. If it’s not this price, I’ll really become a slave.”
“Me?”
“No, me.”
This crazy guy…
Arundel’s headache came back. Should she lobby the prime minister?
There probably wouldn’t be a job that suits him.
Surely even if he was asked to clean, one day he would break an expensive ornament and be kicked out.
But, the answer she could give now was,
“I’ll try.”
Hills nodded with a smile.
He was humming and scanning the room, wondering what was good. Then Hills’ gaze caught the view outside the window.
“By the way, the garden has become a mess.”
“Yeah… that’s the demon’s doing.”
“If I had been there then, I would have scolded him.”
Hills said nonchalantly, staring at the garden. Arundel, who was watching him, asked.
“The demons?”
“Yes.”
“Why are they so rampant these days?”
At Arundel’s question, Hills seemed to ponder a bit.
“I’m curious too.”
“…Don’t you know?”
“Yes. I’m not very interested in the demon world.”
Knowing that there was nothing to gain, Arundel changed the subject.
“How long are you going to be here?”
“Why? I was going to sleep here and go.”
“Oh really? My divine power has returned to some extent, can I test it on you?”
As Arundel threatened to gather divine power in her hand, Hills pouted his lips.
“That’s too much.”
“I’m going to change my clothes. If you want, stay there.”
As if to show that she was serious, Arundel swiftly unbuttoned her dress.
“…Oh really!”
At Arundel’s threat, Hills, with his face all red, disappeared, shaking his head.
‘I have to do this to make him listen.’
Arundel clicked her tongue, looking at where Hills had disappeared.
“What job should I get for that guy…I feel like I’m going to get scolded for nothing.”
