A Kiss?
As I sat still, I felt a shiver run down my spine.
Do I really… have to go that far?
For a moment, my face stiffened so much that I couldn’t even manage my expression. That’s how shocking it was.
I had planned to act cute and humor the duke a little to win his favor. But a kiss…?
I really don’t want to do that.
Besides, I hadn’t even kissed Veronica yet.
Not that I wanted to go around kissing people in this child’s body, but still…
Sigh…
I wasn’t the affectionate type, so even if it was to gain the duke’s favor, I felt a strong resistance to the idea.
I swallowed my sigh and forced myself to think.
Tap, tap.
“……”
The duke was now openly asking for a kiss. He tapped his cheek with his neatly arranged fingers, quite refined for a man.
So if I don’t kiss him… he won’t give me the jewel?
I have to… do this, don’t I?
I really didn’t want to. But I had no choice.
This was all to protect both myself and Veronica in this damned original story. A small sacrifice for the greater good.
I repeated those words in my head a few times before tightly shutting my eyes.
Just as I was about to press my lips against the duke’s smooth, pale cheek—
“Father!”
“……!”
The door suddenly burst open, and Veronica stormed in.
I turned my head and opened my eyes wide at the sight of her triumphant expression.
“What’s wrong?” the duke asked.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Veronica strode forward and swiftly pulled me off the duke’s lap. It all happened in an instant.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re trying to steal Dia’s lips for a mere jewel?!”
“Ahem. What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Dia’s kisses belong to me!”
Excuse me? What about my opinion?
I frowned as I watched Veronica and the duke argue over my kiss.
“What? A kiss?”
“Dia’s kiss?”
“……”
Even outside the door, I could hear murmurs. It was Vincent and Brandon’s voices.
Were those two always standing guard while I met with the duke? Why did news spread so fast?
In the middle of the commotion, I stared at the shimmering jewel in front of me and muttered inwardly.
Hey, Demon.
[Please refrain from calling me that, Master. I have a grand name—Desmond—]
Steal that jewel for me.
[What?]
Desmond’s tone immediately soured.
[Do you really expect me to do something so undignified—!]
If you do, I’ll grant you one request.
[Are you serious?]
Yes.
I already knew what he wanted. A real body instead of a mere doll.
With a bored expression, I nodded.
[Hahaha! Understood!]
Desmond let out a booming laugh as dark energy slithered toward the jewel.
With all the chaos caused by the duke, Veronica, and the now-intruding Vincent and Brandon, no one noticed the jewel disappearing.
All the while, I simply grinned in Veronica’s embrace.
Later that Night
The commotion ended the moment I yawned and said I was sleepy.
That was ridiculous.
Shaking my head, I waited until everyone was asleep before quietly getting out of bed.
“Phew.”
I approached the jewel that Desmond had stolen.
The duke probably realized that I had taken it amidst the chaos.
But since he didn’t say anything, he must have decided to let it slide.
“Anyway, what matters is that I now have the second jewel.”
I chuckled, reaching out for the jewel. Even in the dark, the pink diamond gleamed brilliantly.
[Master, you look absolutely wicked right now.]
“Shut up.”
Ignoring Desmond’s remark, I picked up the jewel.
Now, it was time to wake up the second demon and form a contract.
I recalled how Desmond had been awakened.
…Does it have to be a kiss again?
Coincidence or not, I had pressed my lips against the jewel back then, and that’s when Desmond appeared.
Would it be the same this time?
I groaned before reluctantly puckering my lips.
Smooch.
My lips lightly brushed the surface of the pink diamond.
I watched the jewel with tense anticipation.
And then…
“……”
Nothing happened.
Frowning, I stared at the silent pink diamond.
“What’s wrong with this thing?”
[Hmm…]
“Maybe there’s no demon inside?”
[No, it’s definitely in there.]
If Desmond said so, then it had to be true.
But why wasn’t it waking up?
I tilted my head and shook the jewel.
[Tsk. I knew it. That idiot must be too deep in sleep to wake up.]
“This isn’t enough to wake them?”
[Apparently not.]
“……”
Did this mean I had to do something even more than a kiss?
What on earth could that be?
I was still puzzled when I heard a faint whisper.
[……One more time.]
“What?”
[Just one more time…]
“……”
Is this thing crazy?
Realizing that the voice was coming from the jewel, I gripped it tightly.
[Kyaaah!]
“Get out here right now.”
[Okay! Okay! I’m coming!]
With a startled yelp, a small haze of pink mist rose from the jewel.
It was the demon that had been sleeping inside the pink diamond—Bibi.
[It’s an honor to meet you, Master! My name is Bibi!]
“……”
I silently observed Bibi.
Unlike Desmond, who had appeared immediately, this one had taken its sweet time.
Though I let it slide just this once, I still felt uneasy about what it had said earlier…
[Kyaaah! My Master is so small and adorable! Bibi is so happy!]
“Sigh…”
[Please hug me tight every night when you sleep! Aah, children smell so nice—sniff, sniff.]
“……”
This one’s a pervert.
No doubt about it. This demon was an absolute pervert.
At this point, I didn’t care about reversing the original story.
Annoyed, I grabbed the jewel and stood up.
“I’m getting rid of this one.”
[Yes! Excellent decision, Master!]
[Kyaaaah! Please don’t!]
Just as I was about to toss the jewel out the window, I lowered my arm with a sigh.
The high-pitched shriek had made my head throb.
“Can you shut up? What did you even do to deserve mercy?”
[Sniff… I’m sorry… Sob…]
Sigh…
This one was noisy, too.
A perverted, noisy demon.
I was seriously considering getting rid of it when—
[Ha! I knew it! You have such filthy tastes!]
[Shut up, Desmond! You useless piece of junk!]
[What? Junk?! You dare?!]
[Oh, you wanna fight?!]
“……”
My head is going to explode at this rate.
I grabbed both the jewels and spoke in a chilling voice.
“I don’t repeat myself.”
[…]
[…]
“Understood?”
[…Yes…]
[…Understood…]
Finally, the two demons fell silent.
I exhaled softly, but then—
[U-Um…]
“What?”
[You’ll still form a contract with me, right?]
“……”
For some reason, I could almost see sparkling eyes in the pink mist.
I frowned.
“What exactly can you do?”
[Ah! I’ve been waiting for that question!]
“……?”
Bibi’s confident voice echoed.
Somehow, I felt a tinge of expectation.
Desmond’s true ability was fire. If my mana was strong enough, he could unleash hellfire, a power that rivaled high-level magic.
So, what kind of ability did Bibi have to make such bold claims?
My heart pounded slightly as I waited for the answer.
[My ability is…]
“Yes?”
[Physical enhancement…!]
“……”
…That’s it?
