Translator: Nox

Chapter 42

Kiriel let out a short sigh.

“Bunny.”

“Nyeang.”

“Go to the next room with His Highness the Crown Prince for a bit.”

“Why? Are Bunny’s ears dirty?”

At Bunny’s words, Kiriel paused for a moment before shaking his head.

‘Why does she always jump to conclusions like that…?’

With that thought, Kiriel opened his mouth.

“No. There’s something I need to confirm with this person—something a child shouldn’t see. Just stay in the next room, and I’ll come get you right away.”

“That guy’s not fully human… The prickly one’s someone else…”

When Bunny insisted softly one more time, Kiriel’s expression turned peculiar, but he nodded matter-of-factly all the same.

“Yeah, that’s what I need to confirm.”

Bunny stared at Kiriel blankly for a moment before nodding, at which point Kiriel scooped her up and set her down from the chair.

Bunny carefully tucked the Black Flame Dragon—no, the one she held—back into her bag.

“Bye, Bunny. Shall we go? I’ll show you the way.”

“Ung.”

Roel held out his hand, and Bunny took it lightly.

Roel curved the corners of his eyes into cute little half-moons and gently tugged her along.

Bunny rolled her eyes toward Kiriel, who gave a light wave, and broke into a wide smile.

Kiriel’s lips curved into a faint smile at Bunny’s grin.

“This way, Bunny.”

“Uuuung.”

Bunny followed Roel into the next room.

Golden hair that gleamed like it had been slathered in honey, ruby-red eyes. The boy had been all smiles since they’d met, and he clearly took a liking to Bunny.

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? My name’s Roel. Roel Lavdia Rotis. Crown Prince of the Rotis Empire, nine years old. Nice to meet you, Bunny.”

Self-introduction!

Bunny’s eyes sparkled as she promptly opened her mouth.

“Bunny. Four years old! Young Master Yudia’s lady.”

With her introduction finally complete, Bunny puffed out her chest proudly.

Roel’s eyes went wide at her adorable declaration before curving into happy half-moons once more.

“Wanna sit over here? Oh, want some juice, Bunny?”

“Bunny likes grapes better than orange. But grapes less than apple.”

“Apple? Not sure about apple juice… but there should be grapes. I’ll check on apples too.”

Roel gave the servant bell a casual shake, then plopped down right next to Bunny.

Bunny blinked.

‘He’s kinda close…’

She snuck a glance at Roel, who was pressed right up against her side with that beaming smile, then stealthily pulled the little red bird from her bag and nestled it carefully into the sofa’s plush cushion.

“Bunny, is this bird your divine beast?”

“Yeah. Hwukyeom Dragon.”

“Hwukyeom Dragon? That’s a cool name.”

Roel, sitting beside her, smiled at Bunny as he spoke.

Bunny’s eyes narrowed.

‘Not a name.’

Black Flame Dragon was the species.

But even to Bunny, her own Black Flame Dragon didn’t look like the majestic one from her imagination, so she puffed out her lips and clamped her mouth shut.

“The juice is here.”

“Ah, thanks. You can go now.”

Roel personally placed the apple juice the maid had brought into Bunny’s hands, then fiddled with her cheeks a couple of times.

Bunny was so cute—and thus, so very tempting.

Roel licked his lower lip lightly and smiled as he spoke.

“Bunny, I’ve got something I’m curious about. Mind if I ask?”

“Something curi-ous?”

Bunny trembled all over, stomping her little feet at the sweet-tart taste and scent of the apple juice, then tilted her head.

“Yeah. What’s your deal with the demon race, anyway?”

“Eeng…”

Drip, drip.

The apple juice she hadn’t managed to swallow dribbled down from Bunny’s gaping mouth.

“Oh dear, you okay? It spilled. Hold on. I’ll wipe it up quick.”

Roel’s eyes went wide as he hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed carefully at the juice staining Bunny’s dress hem.

‘If they find out about Bunny, poof…’

Imagining herself turning to black dust and scattering under blinding white light, Bunny blurted out in a panic.

“B-Bunny not demon?? Bunny no relation to demons at all, Bunny total perfect human?? Ung ung. E-eyes not red, hair not black either?? Bunny doesn’t even know what demons are…”

Roel blinked once, unable to hide his own fluster, as he watched Bunny ramble on incoherently right in front of him.

Once he’d meticulously wiped the damp hem clean, he gazed at her with a smile and ventured gently.

“Hey, Bunny… are you a demon, by any chance?”

Flinch.

“Nuh-uh!! Bunny dream’s to be great archmage, not great demon king…”

Bunny hopped in emphatic denial.

Her pupils quaked like they were in an earthquake, her heart thundering so loud it seemed it might echo in the room.

Roel burst into a soft chuckle and rubbed her cheek.

Bunny rolled her eyes around.

‘…Future human big boss. Shouldn’t have fixed him.’

Bunny, plunged into yet another massive crisis.

She’d lost count of how many times this had happened.

‘Just addict him to demonic qi again…’

Bunny crossed her stubby little arms with effort, her face scrunched in serious contemplation.

“Gasp! Duke’s lady Bunny addicted the Crown Prince to demonic qi!!! She’s a demon! Duke’s lady Bunny is a demon!”

“You’re a demon? Die, you enemy of humanity! Take this, power of purification!”

“I’m disappointed, Bunny. You’re no sister of mine anymore! Power of purification to grind demons to dust!”

“Waaah!”

‘Bunny. Protect Daddy, Oppa.’

To become a fine adult.

‘Future human big boss, bye-bye.’

Bunny uncrossed her arms and hopped down from the sofa.

She planted her feet on the floor, marched forward with grim determination, and Roel paused, tilting his head.

“More apple juice?”

“Ung!!”

Her resolute expression melted away in an instant, replaced by an enthusiastic reply.

Roel swapped his untouched cup for the one Bunny clutched tightly in both hands.

Slurp.

Bunny took a sip of the sweet apple juice, and her eyes shot open wide.

‘Gasp… Tricking Bunny all soft like this! As expected of the future human big boss!’

Slurp, slurp.

Sipping away at the sweet apple juice gripped tight in both hands, Bunny snuck peeks at him.

‘Bunny, did they figure out I’m a demon?’

Or did they?!

As she kept stealing glances, Roel flashed a brilliant smile and spoke.

“Hey, Bunny. Thanks for healing me. So… do you think I could get strong like you?”

Like Bunny?

Bunny tilted her head at Roel’s words.

Roel was human, and Bunny was a demon. Roel would become the human big boss, while Bunny was set to become the great demon king.

A super great demon king was the strongest, so she could totally splash the human big boss into defeat.

“Bunny too strong. Might be hard.”

Roel clapped his hands at Bunny’s grave pronouncement.

“Wow, really? That’s awesome. I like people stronger than me.”

Bunny’s nose lifted proudly at Roel’s praise.

“Then, hey… how about this? When you and I grow up, we get married?”

“Marwidge what?”

“You and me living happily ever after, side by side. No fighting, sleeping in the same bed, holding hands, talking things over together.”

“F-Forever no fighting, hold hands?!”

“No. Well… um. Basically, I become yours. Then I’ll believe you’re not a demon.”

Gasp—future big boss becomes Bunny’s?

Bunny’s eyes sparkled.

‘If marwidge, Bunny conquers human world?’

That would be totally awesome.

Conquering the human world without a single fight, plus keeping the human big boss right there to watch.

Gulp.

Bunny drained the last of her apple juice, set the cup down with a clink, and stuck out her hand.

“Love it. Let’s marwidge.”

Having achieved the monumental feat of claiming the human world without lifting a finger, Bunny grinned ear to ear.

Roel grabbed her proffered hand with glee and beamed.

“Great!”

And so the marriage—scheduled—between the nine-year-old and the four-year-old was sealed.