A Saint Lives In The Demon Duke’s Mansion - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

 

***

 

With Levi’s unassuming declaration, a quite reasonable ceremony was held the next morning in the rear yard.

 

I wasn’t sure how they managed it all in one night, but they managed to make me a cute white dress and shoes. 

 

‘Oh, it’s a sudden development….?’

 

Will the Duke’s future be okay as it was? I designed it, but it’s very embarrassing. Why was everyone acting so natural except for me?

 

But wasn’t it a little weird to have an engagement ceremony where there was blood and flesh just yesterday?

 

I stared down at my toes instead of the noisy rear yard.

 

It wasn’t because the shoes were shiny, but because I was uneasy thinking that there might be some white bones buried under this lawn.

 

Then a feisty voice spoke up.

 

“What are you doing?”

“Vivi.”
“The girl who’s getting engaged today is looking at the ground.”

“The thing is…”

 

I looked around, and whispered to Vivi.

 

“No one’s saying this, isn’t this a weird place for this?”

“It’s really not for you to say.”

“Well, isn’t it common sense when you’re going to get engaged that you choose a place that isn’t soaked in blood?”

“It’s really not for you to say.”

 

I know. I know, but it’s really weird. 

 

However, Vivi put an end to it.

 

“Well, it’s Bastion.”

 

I suddenly had a feeling that I was going to get neurotic about that word in the future.

 

And a sad hunch was never wrong.

 

For now, I would put that aside for later. It would be unfair not to enjoy this moment, so I tried to act as pretty as I could for Vivi.

 

“How do I look today?”

 

Vivi hmmed quietly, as she crossed her arms.

 

“…It’s tolerable. It has to be at least this good.”

“Just be honest and say that I’m so adorable that you want to take a bite.”

“I think someone should keep their mouth shut, and stop rubbing it in!”

 

So, it’s like that. You just wanted to eat me all up.

 

However, it’s no good because this body already belongs to someone else, but I would be happy if it was just a friendship hug.

 

I hugged Vivi, whose nose was a little red.

 

And whispered warmly.

 

“My big sister Vivi.”
“Thump.”

“Now let’s cover it up and down. I’m the fiancée of the Young Master now.”

“…You vulgar thing.”
“Oh my.”

 

I, who was having a snowball fight with the cold Vivi, said suddenly.

 

“Pretty.”

“Yeah?”

Vivi fluttered her eyelashes in a conditioned reflex, as she swept her hair back.

 

Wow, I was confident in being pretty, but this was a different level.

 

Rather, how does this vivid petal background come out? I was surprised every time I saw it. 

 

Taking a step back, I asked for this and that as if I were doing a camera test. 

 

“Now, shall we laugh this time?”

“Haha.”

“Meanly.”

“Hohoho.”

“You can’t cry, can you?”

“Sob…”

 

That’s crazy, a tear like a jade bead dropped right away.

 

This one, this one could definitely do it. She would definitely work.

 

At that moment of admiration, Duke Wolfgang wandered up.

 

As he approached, I hurried towards him as he kept one hand hidden behind him.

 

“Can I cut this maid loose?”
“Ugh, that’s unfair!”

 

Looking down at Vivi and me, he shrugged.

 

“Do whatever you want.”

“That’s…!”

 

Vivi shuddered with betrayal, and I shivered in excitement.

 

Alas, was this the taste of dirty establishment power. It was thrilling. 

 

With a theatrical gesture, Vivi ran away as if she was hurt. Poor magnolia flower seemed to bloom from her back. 

 

As expected, I should really cut her loose.

 

Determined, I grabbed Wolfgang’s trousers.

 

“I heard there’s a famous art academy in the south.”

“So?”

“Please sponsor her as an engagement present.”

 

I pointed at Vivi and asked shamelessly, but honestly, I was nervous.

 

A little wasteful, don’t you think? Would it be hard to send her out because she wasn’t raised as a normal maid?

 

However, Wolfgang calmly reiterated his previous answer.

 

“Do whatever you feel like.”

“…Really?”

“It’s the mistress’ responsibility to manage the house.”

 

Wow. That’s welcome, but what do you believe?

 

Obviously, my head felt complicated even though things were going better than I thought. 

 

Was I doing the right thing? It wasn’t like I’d met a tiger while trying to avoid a fox, right?

 

With such a reluctant mind, I looked up at Wolfgang, who was looking off in the distance, as I shrugged and changed the topic.

 

“You’re not a picky father-in-law candidate after today.”
“You’re not a stocky daughter-in-law candidate.” 

“I look forward to your kind cooperation, Father.”

 

He chuckled when I said that to him with a sly grin.

 

“Yes, daughter-in-law.”

 

Then he pulled out what he was hiding behind his back.

 

It was a pink peony bouquet.

 

When I hugged him, I felt like my nose was itchy. Was I allergic to pollen?

 

Hiding my face in the gorgeous bouquet, I could see my friends waiting for the ceremony in the distance. The calendar wolfpack and the Queensbury family.

 

I thought there might be a strange tension because it was a meeting that was beyond normal, would it be okay?

 

As the wolves snooped, Queensberry, who had her husband and child behind her, stamped her foot as she looked at them.

 

Well, I thought I didn’t have to pay much attention.

 

Clap Clap

 

At that moment, Hugo, who was leading the ceremony, clapped his hands. 

 

The servants, who’d been running around all over the place, split down the middle. Then the tailcoat-clad Levi approached me, as I stood in the middle of the ceremony grounds.

 

He literally had the appearance of a little groom. 

 

“So, cool.”

Levi lowered his gaze very minutely. 

 

It was recognizable now. That was his look of embarrassment.

 

Smiling, I spun around in front of him. The white dress spread like dandelion puffs had actually been partially blown away. 

 

“Well? Do I look pretty too?”

“…Yes.”

“You’re late. In such a situation, you have to answer quickly without hesitation in 0.1 second. Understand?”

“Yeah.”

 

He’s a little groom, so I have a lot to teach him.

 

I hesitantly held the bouquet in one hand and held out my other hand to him.

 

“Hold hands.”

 

Holy power was affected only by being close to the user, but it was more clearly expressed when in physical contact, and I assumed it was the same for magical power. 

 

In other words, physical contact was a very desirable act that would extend our life spans along with our love. 

 

Levi grabbed my hand, and there were cries of ‘oh my!’ around us.

 

Were they happy? Was it cute? I guess it might look like that. 

 

For your information, I haven’t taken off the bandages yet. 

 

It would’ve felt as if he’d grabbed a baseball in his hand instead of my small hand, then I looked around at those around us.

 

From Benjamin with a proud expression; to the older sisters and brothers, who were always nice to me; to Uncle Tony, who was shedding tears. 

 

Everyone whistled, congratulated me and Levi, and sprinkled colorful confetti on us.

 

“Live happily ever after…!”

 

Tumble!

 

For a moment, something spilled out from near the back of the house, as if the door to an overfilled closet had been forced open.

 

Frozen.

 

Soon after hearing the thud, the knights began to cram it back in.

 

It happened in a flash, but I saw it. 

 

Bloody arms and legs.

 

“Come on, one more time.”

“Live happily ever after!”

 

The servants shouted brightly, with looks that said, ‘When did the pile of bodies overflow?’

 

Huh, I thought as I laughed, Levi and I raised his hand and my D*raemon’s hand.

 

This was…

 

‘I made it.’

 

In any case, it was a spring day when I officially entered Bastion, which I didn’t know if it was a good thing or not.

 

***

 

Engagement as soon as you mention it, then separating as soon as you’re engaged. 

 

Finally, with my bandages reduced to half its original size, Levi and I neatly held hands as I saw him off.

 

I would try to stay in physical contact as much as possible. We couldn’t control each other’s growth as much when we were apart. 

 

Still, I was worried because while I had an alternate option, Duke Wolfgang, Levi didn’t.

 

Now that he’s become my groom-to-be, I wouldn’t tolerate his premature death.

 

I anxiously said goodbye to him.

 

“Always be careful, assassins or not.”

“Yes.”

“Study hard, and stay healthy.”

“Yes.”

“Never cheat on me.”

“….”

“You have to answer.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll write to you.”

 

Then Levi answered the loudest he’d ever had. His voice was clear as he answered ‘Yes.’

 

“I don’t know what to write yet.”

“….”

“Should I write a short letter?”

“Yes.”
“Okay, you should go now.”

 

I looked sideways, thinking that the horses wouldn’t break up at this rate.

 

Queensbury and Ignite, who stood face to face like us, were shedding tears and had runny noses.

 

To be more exact, Ignite’s tears and runny nose were dripping, and Queensbury was getting tired of it.

 

“Well, summer vacation is just around the corner.”

 

When I mentioned the summer vacation, a different answer came from Levi, who’d only repeatedly been saying ‘Yes.’

“Let’s do it then.”

“What?”

“Wedding.”

Levi, who spoke briefly, climbed on top of Ignite and rode out of the mansion without looking back.

 

Appearing out of nowhere, knights were soon following him.

 

In the huge cloud of dust, I coughed and clapped my hand over my mouth.

 

Charming. Hmm, it’s pretty good.

 

‘…I was a little flustered.’

 

My pride was hurt, but only a little bit. I couldn’t believe I was so excited about the little groom’s fastball. Anyway, I didn’t feel bad.

 

That’s how well I seduced him.

 

Hmm, I could feel a subtle gaze as I hummed quietly. 

 

“What? What are you looking at?”

“Pwahehe.”

“Oh, don’t laugh like the aunty next door I just happened to meet in the hallway.”

 

I returned to the mansion, while I avoided the constantly laughing Queensbury.

 

I headed towards Wolfgang’s office, returning an awkward hand wave to the servants who were smiling and bowing their heads.

 

Yesterday’s mess had been tidied so fast that I couldn’t find it, then I yelled as I entered.

 

“You’re so mean, Father!”

“What do you mean, daughter-in-law?”
“You didn’t show up!”

 

I couldn’t believe he’d left after the engagement. How could a person be like that?

 

“He wouldn’t even want to see me anymore anyway.”

 

He muttered as if from experience, then Wolfgang glanced at me.

 

“…Anyway, why are you dressed as a maid again?”

“Hehe, I was afraid Father would be disappointed.”

 

As he wrinkled his nose, he made a face that told me to stop talking nonsense.

 

Wow, you took the joke seriously. In truth, it was.

 

“All the clothes you bought me are a bit big, so the bedroom maids decided to fix it for me.”

 

The engagement dress, and the expensive clothes, that had mysteriously appeared overnight.

 

They were pretty much the right size, but in the eyes of the bedroom maids, they were dissatisfied with the appearance. So, they took them away, and said they would fix them. 

 

But the Duke Wolfgang stared down at me, worried that they would fix it with a poison needle.

 

“Didn’t you say you were nine?”

“Me? Yes.”

“Didn’t I get a size for a seven or eight year old?”

 

Benjamin, who took over Wolfgang’s gaze, laughed awkwardly.

 

“Yeah, and yet… Aisha’s a bit small.”

 

Indeed, it was said that my baby fat had been on the rise recently, but that was all. I hadn’t eaten much since I was young, so my stomach and sides hadn’t stretched out yet. 

 

Benjamin said soothingly to him, as I scratched my head.

 

“Rapiden will return to the capital soon, so please be patient.”

“Rapiden?”

“Bastion’s exclusive boutique.”

 

Were they working voluntarily?

 

I desperately swallowed the question that tried to escape my mouth. 

 

***