Chapter 22

22. If You Are to Be Mine

A man I could fall in love with, is it?

'Surely, she doesn't mean Kalik.'

My type isn't a burly, muscular, and rugged man. My sisters know that very well.

I liked men who were as beautiful as flowers, as soft as blades of grass, and laughed like swaying willow branches.

A kind person who loves animals and children. Someone who doesn't overly flaunt themselves, isn't arrogant or haughty.

Yes, exactly… like Enrique of the past.

My precious shepherd.

A youthful face on the border between boy and man, still immature in demeanor, each step precarious, making you want to help…….

'Ah.'

Suddenly, I looked around at my sisters with a slightly shocked expression.

Then, my second sister clicked her tongue in a disapproving manner.

[To have a taste so obvious and consistent.]

"N-No. Anyway, that's not important. I don't have any intention of loving a human anymore. How could I?"

Flustered, I quickly shook my head.

The betrayal I suffered was agonizing. So I vowed never to love anyone again, but suddenly, I'm told to love again. And to cut off that love with my own hands.

[You probably think it's cruel. But you're already caught up in so many causes and effects. You can't just go back.]

My second sister replied seriously as she listened to the story.

[Remember. This is a test. You can love the human Emperor again, or it can be someone else. Actually, it doesn't matter who it is.]

Then, my second sister made a gesture as if poking my chest with her index finger.

[It can be a woman, so anyway, love a human again. Love with the rational emotion that caused your death. Do you understand?]

"……."

[There will be tears of blood, but if you don't cut off that love, you can never return to being a demon. If you die in that body, you'll enter the cycle of reincarnation as a human, so think carefully.]

Thump!

At that moment, my heart sank heavily.

"…….Forever, I can't go back?"

[Yes. Your life as a demon ends. It's over with us too. You'll become human.]

[You'll forget all your memories as a demon too.]

[Even so, we can't directly help you.]

[This is all we can do for you. It's the result of negotiating with causality as much as possible. We can't interfere in your affairs anymore.]

Several sisters spoke in unison, answering at the same time.

'I can't. I can't!'

My whole body trembled like an aspen. My mind went blank, and I couldn't think for a moment.

[As time goes on, you'll become more and more human, little one. Eventually, you'll become a completely different being from a demon.]

My first sister whispered to me with a look of pity.

I couldn't say anything, so I just kept my mouth shut.

It was one thing for me to vaguely think, 'I'll live and die as a human,' but it was entirely different to receive confirmation from my first sister that it would be so.

My first sister was a being who saw the fate of gods and demons.

She was the darkness separated from the primordial chaos, and she governed life and death, and even causality.

A being who existed in a higher place, too grand to be called a god or a demon.

If that was what my first sister said, there was no way to escape.

My second sister, who had become dazed, added a word as if scolding me.

[Don't forget the lesson. Don't foolishly give everything away and love again. Love only as much as you can take that life at any time. Like a demon.]

The light is fading more and more. It's time to say goodbye now.

My sisters opened their mouths at the same time and shouted in unison.

[Devotion is for humans, and joy is for demons. Come back, little one.]

As I felt my sisters' energy fading away and my consciousness being thrown back into reality, I screamed silently.

"……Ah!"

Crackle.

My fingertips stung. Startled, I quickly regained my senses and stepped back in surprise, like someone struck by lightning.

"Empress?"

Thud.

Of all times, Enrique was standing there.

I should have stayed still unless I wanted to make it obvious that 'our marital relationship is very bad.' But I didn't feel like doing that at all, so I ended up pushing Enrique away.

'It's because of you. It's because of you that I'm in this state, in this situation.'

My heart ached as if poison had been poured into it.

I couldn't believe that he was once the man I loved so passionately, and now, just looking at his face made me want to vomit.

A phrase Leonarda wrote in her diary came to mind.

I wish he would die. I'd rather he die and not be seen in my eyes.

Sharp handwriting scratched across the paper, wishing for his death.

That was exactly how I felt now.

'I want to strangle him.'

I want to kill you, who made me know love, took away love, and even made me know despair.

Trembling, I pressed the tender skin of my palm hard with my fingernails, trying to regain my senses.

It was a banquet that many people had worked hard to prepare.

I couldn't strangle Enrique at this event and create a historically memorable scene.

"Oh, did you see something scary?"

"You were just standing there silently for a few seconds."

Kalik and Cassandra were looking at me with very curious eyes.

Fortunately, the strange reaction I just showed could be understood as a revelation or a shock from it.

I soon buried my emotions deep inside and smiled.

It was time to lie.

"When I touched that dagger, my eyes suddenly turned white. I heard some kind of voice… it said there was more than one revelation."

"Oh. That's quite amazing. There were actually two revelations."

As expected of demons, my sisters prepared the person I could stab along with the dagger.

That was the demon-style consideration.

It was probably the best my sisters could do for their wayward youngest sister.

Live like a demon.

Reign, exploit, and abandon without any guilt.

Stab the heart of the human you love for your own benefit.

Because that's what it means to be a demon.

That also meant that I had met a death that was too undemonlike… a shameful death.

"This guy is my only Dashi. He's my younger brother with quite an age gap."

Kalik, who had been watching me carefully, smiled and beckoned. Then, a familiar youthful face strode towards me.

It was only when we were all standing together in one place that I realized. He was a little taller than Enrique.

Sharp eyes and a sharply defined nose. Tightly closed lips reveal stubbornness and personality.

Along with that, a massive yang energy that seemed to explode warmed my skin, making me flinch.

'Cassandra might hate him.'

A mature leader has a lot of experience and can easily defeat challengers, but it often happens that a young beast who has just become an adult bites the neck.

Then the head of the country changes, and the guaranteed wealth and power decline.

It would be most reassuring to get rid of him before that happens, but if that's not possible… isn't the best way to keep him away?

'So you came here to die for me.'

Yes, if you die, everyone will be happy.

Your brother, your sister-in-law, everyone who was willing to abandon you in an enemy country just because one revelation came down would clap and rejoice.

My sisters would be happy too.

To my sisters, the life of one human is not much different from that of a bug.

"As the gods have commanded, I will present my brother! Come, greet her. Meriem."

Ah…….

But what to do.

I'm a bit twisted.

'Everyone wants you to die, so I don't want to stab your heart as much as I can.'

Anyway, my sisters said that Meriem was likely, but they didn't say that it had to be him.

I just need to find someone else who fits my taste, someone I can love and abandon.

I quietly looked down at Meriem, who was bowing in front of me with a blank face.

“…Greetings to Empress Nix of the Empire.”

A pleasant voice.

The attitude was correct, and the pronunciation was clear.

It was neither excessive nor lacking, neither impatient nor overly lax.

To put it badly, he was good at getting along even though he was still young, but to look at the advantages, there was nothing but praise.

The pro-Emperor nobles were already in an uproar, and the pro-noble nobles were also greatly agitated, seemingly shocked.

Not only that, but Helene, who was watching this scene from afar, bit her lip and clenched her skirt tightly.

And Enrique.

Enrique did not hide his dissatisfaction with the current situation.

'Well, this child is neither a hostage nor a prisoner. He's not an official guest either.'

The Emperor of the Desert, Kalik, was a cunning man.

He didn't say how to use his brother. He just said he would offer him.

Therefore, the treatment of Meriem and his position were all in my hands.

'There's a reason why he praised me so much.'

If Meriem enters the Empress Palace, he will become a bridge between the Ahillo family and the Desert Empire, whether he wants to or not.

'It seems that there are benefits for Cassandra if she forms a relationship with the Ahillo family.'

Well, even if that wasn't the case, Meriem was perfect for use as a spy.

It would be even stranger if he didn't act as a spy.

Therefore, Enrique would hate this situation very, very much.

What Emperor would want a royal of an enemy country next to his Empress?

'Then you'll be a good tool to annoy Enrique.'

I curled up the corners of my lips.

I could feel Enrique flinching as he met my gaze.

"Hah, Your Majesty the Empress has never had an official concubine before."

"That's right. If Her Majesty the Empress receives a tribute, everyone will be able to offer concubines."

"I should hurry and see if there are any outstanding children among my nephews."

Whispers passing over the fan reached my ears.

Meriem couldn't have failed to hear them either, but there was no change in his face.

He seemed like someone who couldn't feel anything.

He seemed to have already given up, or he seemed used to being ridiculed.

I didn't like either one.

"If you are to be mine, it would be good to learn how not to bow your head."