ASTERI'S POV
The next day, we set off at dawn, carrying the same energy and momentum as before. By afternoon, the Kingdom of Raja came into view.
"It's really beautiful from this view."
"It's my first time seeing it too. Let's go."
They set off, but from that moment on, both of them felt it—a presence watching, silent and deliberate—as they made their way into the kingdom.
It was the demons. Some were disguised as trees, animals, birds, and even insects while others suppressed their energy and walked around the kingdom.
Few demons can be seen engaging in conversation with humans and monsters present while others are helping them in their daily activities.
"Perfect. I planned on calling them off, but doing that alone might disrupt the current atmosphere,"
I said, my eyes sweeping over the citizens going about their daily lives, oblivious to the forces at play.
As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the main building, two demons—Vasal and Spikey—stood waiting.
Vasal opened the carriage door and bowed, while Spikey stood in front of us, bowing as well.
"My Lord, my Lady, welcome to the Kingdom of Raja."
They said in unison. I stepped out first, offering Hinata my hand.
"What happened to 'no bowing'?"
I asked, and they quickly straightened.
"Forgive us."
They chorused.
"The Queen is waiting. Please, follow me."
Spikey said, leading the way along the familiar path.
Vasal fell into step behind us, moving at a slower pace. As we entered the Queen's hall, the two demons stationed themselves by the door.
Ahead, Queen Towa was seated, Eto standing silently behind her.
"To think you'd take the road instead of teleporting… you must have a lot of time, Asteri."
She remarked, calling me by name. I remained unbothered—we were married, after all.
"I just wanted something... natural."
She replied and rose from her seat, walking towards us. She offered me her hand; I took it and kissed it lightly, though Hinata didn't even glance her way. She's still jealous.
"Hinata."
"Towa."
They said each other's names at the same time before stepping in and embracing.
'Just look at them. Once rivals, now partners. I love it.'
"Lunch is ready, if you'll please follow me,"
Eto cut in, still completely unable to read the room.
He led us to the dining hall, then promptly changed into a butler's outfit and began serving us.
"Eto has been useful I can see."
"Yes Master, I'm the Queen's bodyguard, butler, and head of military affairs in Raja."
He answered a question that wasn't meant for him. (So Eto-like.)
"And the demons?"
"As you've seen, the demons are everywhere in the kingdom. You can't take done one of them without the other noticing.
Besides, there are barriers monitored by our finest. Nothing passes through without their notice. They take turns so they don't get tired. Despite that, Vasal and Spikey also take turns circulating the kingdom every 5 hours. The Queen's building is completely under my control."
As usual, he spoke more than what was asked but the last part didn't go well with me.
"What do you mean completely? You're stalking the Queen, invading her private life?"
I asked, already binding him with scared chains.
"Of course not, Asteri. There are certain places I've forbidden him from scanning so it's all right."
"I did have time to possess him but I'm sure Shinn did something to keep him off. Eto is stubborn, you know."
'Worry not, my master. I made sure he didn't trespass on some locations.'
Shinn reassured me after I opened up the link.
"I've got confirmation from Shinn, he's free."
I said releasing Eto.
"I'll never do anything to get on your bad side."
"I see."
With that, I shifted the topic, and we talked through everything that had happened until evening crept in and it was time for dinner.
Eto returned with a few maids to serve us, moving quietly as we continued our conversation.
"I'll go get some fresh air on the balcony,"
Hinata said, excusing herself from the table.
Towa and I wandered through the halls after sending Eto off on patrol. We spoke for hours as we moved from room to room, until we found ourselves in what looked to be her private living quarters.
She stepped behind the curtain rail to change, the faint outline of her small frame visible through the fabric. I shut my eyes at once and turned away, giving her what little privacy the moment allowed.
'Um, Mr Groom, that's your wife. Looking away isn't the right choice.'
"How are your friends? I mean the Demon Lords. Are you still keeping tabs?"
She asked.
"No. Ever since I left the Demon Lord Council, I haven't interacted with any of them. Ramiris chose Rimuru and she's currently living in Tempest. As for Guy, he's annoying as ever so I rarely visit him."
I answered without turning around.
"Why do you think the Queen of Fairies chose Rimuru?"
"I don't know, nor do I care. It's her choice after all."
"That's your end-of-discussion answer. So like you,"
she said—and her voice was suddenly right behind me.
"Why are you turning away? You're not the saint I took you for."
Don't tell me…
I turned, my gaze meeting hers. She stood there in a kimono bathrobe, looking entirely too pleased with herself.
"I…"
Before I could say anything more, she let the robe fall open.
"You like what you see?"
She asked, searching my face.
For a split second, my mind went blank. Heat rushed up my neck, and my breath caught before I could stop it. I looked away on instinct, jaw tightening as I tried to gather myself.
"I… I guess not…"
Her voice wavered.
"That's not what I meant. I—"
I turned back, finally meeting her eyes.
My hand lifted almost on its own, hesitant at first, then settling against her as I stepped closer. My pulse was loud in my ears, restraint thinning with every second.
She flinched at the sudden movement. I didn't pull back. Instead, I leaned in and kissed her, the last of my composure giving way in the quiet between us.
"I love you, Towa."
I said. Though the words 'I love you' are fragile and often false, I decided it'd be best to show rather than tell.
"I'm here to make love with you."
Her cheeks flushed and she broke eye contact. She was embarrassed and speechless and I took that opportunity.
My clothes faded, leaving only my trousers, and I eased the robe from her shoulders as we kissed. We fell back onto the bed together, the world outside the room seeming to disappear.
I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her eyes met mine—and I realised they were glistening. There were tears there.
#I wonder what she's feeling right now. I never felt anything during my first. Wait, did I do something bad? Hinata never acted like this?'
As I began to run through a dozen possibilities in my head, she spoke, pulling me back to the moment.
"I… it's my first time,"
She admitted, her voice small with embarrassment.
I stilled immediately. The tension in my shoulders eased, and whatever haze I'd been caught in cleared at once.
"…I see."
I said quietly.
My hand came up to her cheek, gentler this time, brushing away the trace of tears at the corner of her eye. I held her gaze, making sure she could see I understood.
"Then we take this slowly."
I murmured.
The fire in the room softened into something warmer, quieter. They moved together in a rhythm that soon blurred into sensation rather than thought.
Her fingers tightened around mine, her legs drawing me closer as if afraid I might vanish. I held her just as tightly, as though she were something fragile I could lose if I let go. Outside, the night carried on as usual, but in that space between us, everything slowed to a careful, deliberate hush.
When it was over, the room fell into a quiet, heavy stillness. She lay there, breathing unevenly, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar tide of feeling. I began to pull away, intending to give her space—but a hand caught me and tugged me back.
Before I could fully react, someone had climbed over me, settling in my lap. I blinked, trying to make sense of the sudden shift, only to realise I wasn't alone after all.
"Heh?"
"Let me help you recover."
Hinata, the culprit, whispered.
I turned, expecting to see Towa, only to find she had already fallen asleep. A small relief—thankfully she was out. But Hinata… she was far too shameless to do this with the Lady Second in the room.
"Focus on me, baby."
She murmured, her voice low and demanding.
"I want more of you in me—for my pleasure… and for more little ones."
She smiled that wicked, knowing smile.
And just like that, the night stretched before me, marking itself as the most hellish—and unforgettable—night of my life.
To be continued...