Chapter 28
Chapter 28
There was no way Lucifer didn’t notice the gaze I felt so of course, the voice belonged to him.
“Move that away, before I rip it out.”
He didn’t specify what he’d rip out or what he wanted moved, but it was clear he meant Hirpus’s ‘eyes.’ Lucifer turned his body as he spoke, deliberately blocking my view before Hirpus could look away.
‘He’s just cute… so why does he hate him so much?’
If it were just Regnator whining, saying his affection was being stolen, I could understand. But even Lucifer acting this way, it made no sense. Sensing Lucifer’s irritation, Morus quietly stepped closer and murmured in a low tone:
“Shall I remove him?”
“…”
Lucifer didn’t answer. He was clearly considering it.
‘No! You can’t! Remove what, exactly?!’
Frightened that Lucifer might actually say ‘remove Hirpus,’ I quickly wrapped my arms tightly around his neck.
“Daddy!”
I nuzzled my cheek against the nape of his neck as if urging him to go quickly, and the fierce air about Lucifer softened.
“… Tch.”
Clicking his tongue low, Lucifer left the bedroom with me in his arms. I thought he’d use his usual teleportation spell to whisk us directly to the ballroom, but this time, he seemed intent on walking there himself.
Morus naturally followed behind us.
“The preparations?”
“Completed without a hitch.”
“The guest list?”
“Everyone was invited.”
“The nuisances?”
“All are handled.”
The two demons exchanged short, cryptic questions and answers. Apparently, they were satisfactory responses. And Lucifer, still holding me, smiled. It was like he had already forgotten all about Hirpus.
‘What kind of day is it today…?’
Why did Lucifer seem a little excited? Was today that important, even in the Demon Realm, for him to show this much emotion outwardly?
I had no clue. I just wiggled my fingers and let out a big yawn. I guess, skipping my nap earlier was a mistake since my body was pitifully weak. And on top of that, I had taken a long, warm bath that left my limbs heavy.
It felt like my body was protesting, demanding sleep now. As I cradled in his arms that didn’t even jostle, I started dozing off. Lucifer slowed his steps even further for me. Yet the distance must not have been far, and we arrived sooner than I expected.
“Bella.”
“Mmm…”
“Are you sleepy?”
“Mm… Nooo…”
I slowly shook my head from side to side. Regnator had insisted with relentless obsession that today was a very special day, so I remembered that. Maybe today really was the day I’d be introduced to the Demon Realm for the first time.
If so, I couldn’t show up looking this limp. To wake myself up, I slapped my cheeks a few times. But Lucifer frowned and told me not to, so I only managed two smacks.
“If it’s too much, tell me.”
“… Mmm?”
“After all, today is your day.”
Before I could ask what he meant by that, the massive doors ahead of us opened.
Creeeak… BAM!
The doors, which had started to slide open slowly, suddenly flung wide with a thunderous bang halfway through. Though the hallway wasn’t dark, blinding light poured out so intensely it nearly seared my eyes. The bonnet I wore didn’t help block the light at all, and I winced instinctively. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for my vision to adjust.
Beyond the door was a massive hall, which was bigger than a soccer field. Beneath the dazzling decorations of the ceiling, countless red lights sparkled. If every red glow represented a demon and demons all had red eyes, then each of those lights was a demon.
‘Oh… my god.’
Until now, I thought Regnator’s half-naked outfits or Morus’s risqué clothing were just personal tastes. At least Lucifer wore a loose robe, even if his chest was exposed. But I was wrong.
Seeing the mass of demons before me, I finally understood. Regnator and Morus’s attire was actually conservative and modest by demon standards.
‘Is this even allowed? Should a baby really be seeing this? And seriously… if they’re going to walk around basically naked, why even bother wearing clothes at all?’
I had a lot to say but kept my mouth shut. If this was the Demon Realm’s custom, I had no right to complain. Maybe, if I didn’t have memories from my past life, I wouldn’t even feel embarrassed.
‘R-right… I have to adapt. I have to adapt to the Demon Realm…’
Resolving myself once again, I averted my eyes from the demons, deliberately blurring my vision. At this moment, I almost wished I’d gone blind. Luckily, a familiar voice snapped me out of my thoughts, cheerful and excited.
“Lady Bella! You’ve arrived!” A silly tone that didn’t match his trustworthy baritone and it was unmistakably Regnator. “Oh my! Lady Bella! Even if there were fairies in the Demon Realm, none would outshine you!”
As expected, he was spouting flowery nonsense. The demons began murmuring at his words. Right. Talking about fairies in the Demon Realm was a bit much. He was the one who once explained to me that fairies only lived in pure and clean places.
‘Fairies in the Demon Realm? Ridiculous.’
Just one look at the demons in their scandalous outfits told me enough. The Demon Realm was the farthest thing from ‘purity.’
“I must have lived all these centuries just to witness Lady Bella’s lovely self today!”
Declared Regnator, a demon who had lived for thousands of years.
“Enough. Get lost.”
Lucifer cut him off before the nonsense could go on forever. After allowing just enough flattery, he ruthlessly shut it down. Unlike usual, with all the eyes and ears watching us, I wanted to crawl into a hole out of embarrassment.
“Lady Bella! Please, come in! Right this way!”
Regnator, undeterred by Lucifer’s command, continued guiding us with enthusiasm. I wasn’t keen to watch the two demons flirt with melodrama, so I tapped Lucifer’s shoulder, signaling we should go in. As we stepped into the hall, all the demons dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
It was a spectacular sight since hundreds of demons were kneeling in perfect unison. Did Lucifer always receive greetings like this?
‘It… still doesn’t feel real…’
Feeling awkward, I looked around the hall.
It sparkled as if stardust might rain down at any moment. A chandelier shaped like roots spreading from the ceiling dominated the vast center space. Crystals embedded in the black walls glowed like moonlight, and white candlesticks adorned every table.
That’s when I first felt that something was off. The hall was too bright for a demon gathering. They preferred nighttime and shadows.
‘So Regnator did prepare this…’
It seemed customized for me. And honestly, the demons kneeling in this well-lit space looked bizarre. With those outfits, it would have made more sense for the hall to be lit only by lamplight in the shadows.
Uncertain where to look, my gaze wandered and finally landed on the all-too-excited Regnator. As always, he was half-naked. This time, he’d ditched the cloth that used to drape over one arm. Now both arms were fully exposed, covered only in tattoos like sleeves.
His defined muscles shifted with every movement, and under the chandelier’s brilliant light, they looked even more striking.
Gulp.
The sound of someone swallowing hard echoed. It wasn’t me, of course.
Even without looking, I could feel the intense presence behind me. It was Morus. Yes… best to just pretend I didn’t hear that. If I turned around, I’d just get stressed. I already knew what kind of expression she’d be making.
Just imagining it made me dizzy and exhausted.
‘I just want to go back to my room…’
But Lucifer had no intention of retreating when he gently set me down.
“Walk.”
His voice fell like a command, and I nodden my head, reaching for his hand. No way I was walking alone under all these stares. What if I tripped?
“No way!”
“How dare she touch Lord Lucifer…”
“Is the hand even the issue? Didn’t you see her being held earlier?”
Gasp! Sigh!
Sounds of shock rang out from all corners of the hall. Even without straining to listen, those exclamations echoed loudly, and I instinctively flinched.
‘Was I not supposed to hold his hand?’
Feeling nervous, I wondered if I’d messed up. I started to slowly slip my hand out of his…
“Don’t mind them. They’re nothing more than buzzing gnats.”
Despite how powerful these demons looked, likely high-ranking nobles, Lucifer had just demoted them to insects. His words stuck with me. I wasn’t the kind to shrink under others’ gazes, and yet…
I was behaving unusually timidly, afraid of causing trouble for Lucifer.
‘Maybe I should’ve just stayed in his arms…’
Lucifer, brushing his hair back with a sigh, muttered wearily:
“Morus, is the cleanup not done yet?”
“I’ll rectify it immediately.”
Morus, who had been ogling Regnator like a hungry wolf, vanished like a shadow.
(TN: Morus, although weird but less weirder than Regnator, is actually a cool lady. Isn’t she? She’s so slayyyyy!)
