Published at 18th of January 2020 11:16 pm

Volume 6, Chapter 1: The Platinum-haired Maiden Reflects on the Past

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

They were kind, so they chose to pretend not to see. It wasn’t just Dale, as Chrysos was also very kind and pampered her. They said she didn’t need to know anything. Just having her back was enough to make them break out in satisfied smiles. That was undoubtedly how they truly felt.

Even so, Latina was unable to make the decision to leave things unknown.

†

“Platina... Platina.”

It took her a bit to realize she was being called. Looking up, Latina saw Chrysos sitting next to her, looking concerned.

“Chrysos...?”

“It would seem that you truly should not yet be pushing yourself. Let us end things here for today, so that you may take your time and relax,” Chrysos said.

Hearing those words, Latina realized that gaps had started appearing in the conversation between Dale, Rose, and Sylvia at some point. She hadn’t quite nodded off, but apparently her hazy consciousness had started to drift in and out.

Latina hurriedly forced a smile, and called out in a purposefully bright tone, “Don’t worry about me. Just keep on talking. I’ll be alright.” “That won’t do.”

“Of course we won’t do that.”

The voices of both Chrysos and Dale rang out simultaneously, shutting down her proposal.

Chrysos looked at Dale with a sigh, and in acknowledgment he rose to his feet.

“Dale.”

“It’s not as if this is the sort of thing we need to discuss immediately, right?”

“That is correct.”

Latina had used a tone like she was taking Dale to task, but seeing how the overprotective natures of these two were flaring up at the moment, there had been no way that would work on them. The pair had only just recently been in a battle to the death, but now they seemed strangely in sync.

Dale approached the bench where the twin sisters were seated, and then easily picked up Latina. She settled into his arms so snugly that she wasn’t able to even budge an inch, much less try to resist.

Feeling shy in the face of Rose and Helmine’s gazes, Latina went red all the way to the tips of her ears. With a frail voice she protested, “I’m fine. I’m really alright, so at least put me down, Dale.”

“I won’t,” Dale said in blunt refusal, then exited the room with long strides. As Chrysos, who was in the highest position in this place, had given her permission, Rose and the others were unable to interject.

Vint and Hagel followed closely behind, their tails wagging along. While thinking that there wasn’t even the slightest chance of anything happening to Latina with the most frightful of all heroes and those mythical beasts guarding her, Chrysos gave a sigh and then leaned back into the bench.

Tracing back the path he had taken previously, Dale returned to the royal villa, where the refreshing breeze blew.

He occasionally stole glances at Latina, who wore an expression on her face that fell somewhere between troubled and embarrassed. She had already given up on her utterly futile protests that she was alright, and settled meekly into Dale’s arms.

“Are you going to change?” Dale asked, having put Latina down atop the bed in the villa.

“Yeah...” she replied, sounding sleepy. He didn’t even know where the clasp was on the delicate hair ornament she wore. Seeing Dale’s hesitation, a lady attendant who seemed to have been under orders from Chrysos hurried into the room.

To speak of Dale’s true feelings, he didn’t want to be separated from

Latina even for a moment. But even so, he realized now wasn’t the time for a dispute, and yielded Latina to the attendant before leaving the room. Vint lay down at the foot of the bed, looking as if it was only natural to do so. Dale was well aware that though Vint tended to move to the beat of his own drum, he also acted like a faithful dog in many ways. He could trust that mythical beast to guard her more than he could any strong, brawny soldiers he wasn’t familiar with.

Hagel was lying down outside, his eyes closed. He opened his eyes just a sliver in response to Dale’s presence.

“You have successfully carried out your goal, have you not...?” Hagel asked quietly. With that, Dale realized that after having spent so long running, he could finally stand still.

“...Yeah.”

“What do you intend to do from now on?”

Hagel had been there watching all along as Dale kept on running straight ahead without so much as even glancing aside. The soaring wolf’s voice had a tone of relief to it, at the fact that everything was over.

“We’re going to take it easy here for a while. Latina’s still in no state to be moved. And if I make Latina push herself, I’ll probably end up in another battle to the death with Chrysos,” Dale responded, no longer any darkness or harshness to his tone.

Sensing that, Hagel closed his eyes with a look of satisfaction and laid back down.

“I see.”

Dale averted his gaze from Hagel, and then nonchalantly stated, “Thanks for sticking with me...”

Through some means or another, it had been a long partnership between the two of them. The soaring wolf should have understood the reason behind the emotions invested in his blunt statement.

Hagel’s response was a simple wag of his tail. Dale was grateful for the brief reply.

With his gaze still averted, Dale saw the sunlight sparkling on the surface of the flowing water. He wondered how long it had been since his heart had been calm enough for him to simply listen to the flow of water.

When the attendant exited the room, Dale once more went inside and approached Latina’s side.

Latina had fallen asleep in the bed, and the sound of her sleeping was somehow out of tune, just like always. Her complexion didn’t look bad, either, and her breathing wasn’t unrestful. Eliminating those potential causes for concern one after another, he then devoted himself to watching over her as she slept.

“Latina.”

He wasn’t seeking a response, as he had no intention of interrupting her sleep. Just being able to call her name in this way was enough to make him feel satisfied.

With a gentle smile on his face, Dale sat down in a position where he had a good view of Latina, and gave himself over to the simple joy of letting time slowly slip by.

As she’d been bedridden for a long time, Latina’s physical strength had diminished greatly. The fact that she remained able to move about without significant trouble, though, was clear proof that, while imperfect, demon lords were still akin to low-ranking gods.

Latina had broken free of the state she’d been in up until now, wherein she was hardly ever conscious. And yet, Latina still had to be forced to recuperate. She was left weak, easily fatigued, and in need of frequent rests. As a result, there wasn’t a great difference from how things had been up until now, drifting off into naps regardless of whether it was day or night.

Chrysos popped her face in between dealing with government affairs, and Sylvia kept an unchanging smile on her face, but neither of them discussed how things were progressing between Laband and Vassilios. Seeing her sister and friend’s intention to let her simply focus on her recovery rather than thinking about anything difficult, Latina didn’t ask for any details.

However, Latina was by nature a workaholic. For her, being told to just rest and not being given anything to do was terribly irritating. But even so, she realized it was necessary, so she didn’t say anything selfish and kept all those feelings inside. Latina was aware that she couldn’t move around well enough at the moment to make such requests.

As she spent that night in slumber as well, Latina stirred in the bed.

Opening her eyes a bit, she saw the silk swaying in the night wind, lit ever so slightly by the moonlight. She realized that she’d been sleeping and rolled over.

“Hngh...”

There was a dark silhouette before her now that she’d turned over. “Dale...?” Latina called out to it, not even needing to guess at the name of

“Hmm? What is it, Latina? Are you up?”

That kind voice belonged to just the person that Latina had expected.

Dale reached out into the darkness without even a hint of hesitation and lit the lamp nearby. As that tiny bit of light illuminated the room, a gentle smile appeared on Dale’s face.

“It’s dark out...?”

“Well, it is nighttime,” Dale responded with a chuckle, then sat Latina up and put a pillow behind her back to support her. He took the glass bottle full of water that was waiting next to the lamp, used it to fill up the accompanying cup, and then brought that to Latina’s lips.

With this action that made it seem like she’d caught a cold, Latina’s cheeks went so red that it was possible to tell even in this poor light.

“Dale... I can do it myself, you know.”

“Come on, don’t say that, just drink up. Your voice is all hoarse.”

Dale lovingly hovered over her, always by her side, to such a degree that it was almost too much. Latina wasn’t at all surprised by the figure at her side and knew who it was precisely because this was how things always were as of late.

As she steadily gulped at the contents of the cup until it was empty, Latina realized that she really had been thirsty. She could see the expression on Dale’s face because he’d gotten so close, and it didn’t seem to be gloomy at all. But Latina still knitted her brows and said in an uneasy-sounding voice, “You’re worrying about me... but it’d be awful if you ended up collapsing in the process. I’m alright, so you need to get some proper rest.”

No matter what time Latina awoke, be it day or night, Dale was there by her side. She had no idea when he was eating or sleeping. Because she couldn’t keep an eye on him, she couldn’t help but worry that he was pushing himself.

Dale smiled in response to her words, and then stroked her hair like one would with a small child.

“I’m resting up properly, too. You don’t need to worry.” “But...”

“And anyway, I really do just want to watch you, Latina... If I end up collapsing, then somebody else will end up looking after you, right? I can’t let that happen.”

As he thought that she really was kind for worrying about him, Dale broke out in a wide grin and kept stroking her hair. As if he’d reverted back to his old self, he was now in full on fawning, doting mode.

Ever since becoming a demon, Dale had been able to stay active with hardly any rest or food. He possessed an abnormal level of stamina, allowing him to even easily keep on swinging his blade, fighting on for three days and nights straight.

Dale was putting those high capabilities to use in a frivolous, regrettable direction, to keep watching over Latina. He was quite literally waiting on her day and night. To Dale as he was now, he was soothed just by the sight of watching Latina sleep. He was at his worst now, where he’d be willing to say he wouldn’t be bored in the least just watching her.

After spending so long being serious, the aftereffects proved to be more deplorable than just strong. And Latina, his “master,” still hadn’t realized that Dale had transformed into a being that completely defied all common sense.

She was able to get up more and more bit by bit, and her time awake became longer than her time asleep without pushing herself, so Latina started leaving the villa for walks. Latina was a bundle of curiosity, but she wasn’t allowed outside, so her strolls were kept within the temple. And since she needed to be accompanied by a lady-in-waiting whenever she did so, it was still a rather inconvenient situation for Latina.

However, around that time, Dale started to leave Latina’s side for at least a short time every now and then. He used that time to discuss matters with Chrysos that they couldn’t let Latina overhear: They agreed that if a new Demon Lord of Calamity appeared and threatened Latina, the Eighth Demon Lord, they would join together and smash that foe to a bloody pulp. In a way that would never appear officially in the pages of history, the most terrifying of heroes and the First Demon Lord had formed a pact.

And Dale had also used that time to offer information on Laband, now that Vassilios would open relations with the nation. As a noble of Laband, Rose would never say anything which could prove disadvantageous for her own country. She didn’t specialize in diplomacy, but she was very prudent and understood her own position. And Chrysos knew the position that Rose was in, too. Her personal fondness for Rose was something she separated fully from her official stance.

On the other hand, Dale wasn’t a Laband noble, and didn’t want to put Latina’s sister, Chrysos, as a disadvantage. And as a result, he included more of the negative aspects than Rose did when discussing the internal affairs of Laband.

When Dale was making one such visit to see Chrysos, Latina sent a lady - in-waiting to call for Rose.

The inside of the villa only had the bare minimum of furnishings. Latina greeted Rose while sitting atop the bed that took up the majority of the room. She urged Rose to take the seat by the side of the bed, where Dale usually sat.

“It would seem Sir Dale is not here today, yes?” Rose said with a smile. It had become the norm as of late for Dale to spend almost all of his time by Latina’s side.

“I think he’s with Chrysos right now,” Latina responded, looking straight at Rose. She wanted to look down in embarrassment, but she held that urge back through her utmost effort.

She felt like she really should have done this sooner. Even so, she’d let herself be indulged by Dale and Chrysos’s words, as they said that she didn’t need to know anything. Latina was confident that unlike that “doting idiot” and Chrysos with her “sister complex” who treated her like a small child, Rose would be willing to tell her even the things that may hurt her.

However, the thought that putting things off had served to protect her left a sense of painful weight behind, and she placed her hand above her heart.

“Lady Rose, what happened? What... what happened since I left Dale’s side...?”

Latina had started to get a vague sense of what had happened while she slept. But at the same time, she also sensed that she had brought it about, so she couldn’t keep on pretending not to notice.

“What did Sir Dale tell you...?”

“Dale won’t tell me anything... he said I don’t need to worry about anything, and that it’s fine... But I also know that’s not the case,” Latina said, then clenched both hands tight. “Please tell me. What happened?”

Rose sat silently, looking right at Latina. After about a minute of silence, Rose began in a quiet tone, “I am not as informed as you may believe. Uncle or Sir Gregor may know more, but what I am aware of amounts to little more than the rumors you could hear about town.”

Rose said that in advance. In personal settings, she referred to Duke

Eldstedt affectionately as “Uncle.”

Rose also had her misgivings about Dale and Chrysos intentionally not informing Latina of the state of affairs. But in her current standing, it was difficult for her to go against the will of Latina’s guardian, Dale, and her sister, the ruler of Vassilios, Chrysos. Therefore, she had leaned more towards taking a wait-and-see approach. But with that said, she hadn’t been expressly forbidden, so she had no reason to refuse to grant Latina’s request.

“Is that acceptable?” “Yes.”

Hearing Latina’s response, Rose once more sat in silence for a bit, thinking about where to start.

“I am not aware of precisely when it was that you left Dale’s side. The first time I heard of the matter, Sir Gregor was looking into the fact that Sir Dale had gone missing.”

“Huh?”

“Uncle didn’t tell me the details of the situation, but since Sir Gregor was worried about Sir Dale, I heard about it.” “Dale... went missing...? What...?”

“I do not know what Sir Dale did at that time. But when Uncle summoned Sir Dale back afterwards to eliminate the Fourth Demon Lord, he was accompanied by the grown soaring wolf known as Hagel.”

“The Fourth Demon Lord...?” Latina asked, her voice trembling.

“In Vassilios, they’re referred to as the ‘Demon Lords of Calamity,’ yes?

Those demon lords suddenly grew active. Laband fell prey to an attack by the

Fourth Demon Lord, and suffered great losses,” Rose said, turning pale.

Latina had one question in response: “Why... why was Dale summoned to eliminate a demon lord? No matter how skilled an adventurer he may be...”

“Latina...?” Rose asked, looking surprised at Latina’s reaction. She thought about why Latina wouldn’t know about that. She couldn’t come up with any reason on the spot, but she sensed that this was one of the things that Dale had intentionally been hiding.

“Sir Dale is someone who was granted several instances of divine protection from the gods of the seven colors. As the antithesis of a demon lord, his blade has the power to strike them down.”

“Huh...?”

“Dale possesses a power that makes him what is known as a ‘hero.’” “Huh...? Huh?”

Latina looked absolutely befuddled in response to Rose’s words, and then came to understand a moment later, only to become confused once more and break out in a sweat for some reason. Her gaze darted about, never settling down, showing clearly how out of sorts she was at the moment.

“Dale... is a hero?” “Yes.”

“So... he can defeat demon lords, then...?”

“It still does not become an easy task, but with Sir Dale present, there is at least a possibility of doing so. And so, with him accompanying them, Sir Gregor and the others departed to defeat the demon lords and their demons.”

“So... Dale defeated the Fourth Demon Lord?” “Yes.”

That wasn’t the whole of Dale’s exploits.

The Demon Lords of Calamity were considered dangerous by nations the world over.

Dale became famed as the “Platinum Hero” through his furious efforts fighting alongside the allied nations in the war against the Seventh Demon Lord, where he fought under the banner of the fairy princess while clad in platinum armor and accompanied by a mythical beast. Rose informed Latina that his fame had now spread throughout the world.

When she furthermore heard that Dale had defeated the Second Demon Lord with the assistance of a “Purple Oracle,” Latina collapsed atop the bed. She was now convinced that Dale was the reason for the terrible state of the space containing the thrones.

I had a feeling... but it really was Dale...

And at the same time, Latina also realized the most important power that Dale possessed.

Latina lay collapsed on the bed for a while, having been completely and utterly overwhelmed by the flow of new information. Though she felt like her eyes were spinning, she finally managed to somehow sit up.

Facing Rose, who wore a look of concern on her face, Latina uttered earnest words of apology. “I’m sorry, Lady Rose... I was just so surprised...”

“It would seem that Sir Dale truly did not inform you that he possessed the power of a hero... Sir Dale’s work for Uncle involved demon lords and their retainers, so I had been certain that you were aware.”

“Dale never told me about his work... He said it came from someone important in the nation, so I thought that maybe it involved confidential matters that couldn’t be allowed to be leaked...”

Latina didn’t even know that Dale’s employer was Duke Eldstedt, the prime minister of Laband, until Dale collapsed from illness and she went to the capital. Latina also didn’t know Gregor’s lineage until that time, so she readily accepted the introduction he had given when they’d previously met.

Her reasoning was also influenced by the effects she had seen her parents’ positions leave on them as a child. Her mother, Mov, was the highest-ranking priestess in the nation (in Vassilios, priests and priestesses also oversaw the country’s administration). Her father, Smaragdi, was responsible for educating a great many young priests, leaving him in a very influential position as well.

Latina hardly viewed things in the same manner as a typical girl living around town.

“So Dale... defeated the Demon Lords of Calamity, right...?”

“Sir Dale’s exploits have become famous the world over. Currently, the matter surrounding the Second Demon Lord is known only to Uncle and the nation of Vassilios, but the news that Sir Dale was central to the defeat of the

Fourth and Seventh Demon Lords has spread abroad to other countries.” “I’m glad... Dale is alright...”

While muttering that, Latina realized that because she was sealed by the demon lords who were part of the natural order rather than killed, her “divine protection” remained with Dale. If the fragment of the gods’ miraculous power that was granted to man was called divine protection, then the same should also be true of the power the lower-ranking beings called demon lords granted to their retainers.

Latina had granted Dale something akin to a wish. She wanted him to return safely. Latina was always thinking that she wanted him to be protected from anything and everything, even if it took all of her power. Realizing that she had given him power that was on a whole other level from what demon lords normally granted their retainers, making him into an especially powerful demon, Latina hoped that it was of at least a little help to him, and gave a sigh.

But from the state of those thrones... did Dale defeat demon lords other than the Calamities...?

If Dale was a hero, then he must have soon realized that it wasn’t the power of a hero that had harmed her, a demon lord. And she herself was the one who had told Dale that the only one outside of a hero who could harm a demon lord was another of their kind.

Was the reason my seal loosened because it had been shaken by the power of a hero...?

Looking back on her own hazy memories, Latina recalled that by the time she regained consciousness, three of the thrones were already without a master. In all likelihood, the effectiveness of the seal had lessened thanks to nearly half of the demon lords having been defeated.

To start with, the sealing ceremony had been hurriedly carried out with the shared goal of sealing the Eighth Demon Lord. The efforts of an irregular being such as a hero who was also a demon had surely no small effect on it weakening.

“So the Demon Lords of Calamity suddenly grew active?” While still thinking things through, Latina gave voice to her concerns.

“Yes.”

“Do you know why?”

Rose, without a sign of frustration, gently explained. “No. However, the Demon Lords of Calamity have always caused harm to those around them, acting according to their own thinking alone. Many explain it as being something akin to a child’s tantrum, in which you cannot seek a reason behind their actions.”

Hearing Rose’s words didn’t clear away the gloom on Latina’s face.

Was it my fault...? I can’t imagine why Dale and Chrysos would not want me to know so badly otherwise...

It was precisely because she had such kind people thinking of her as someone precious that Latina’s thoughts wrenched at her heart.

“There were... a lot of victims of the Demon Lords of Calamity... right...?”

And that’s not all... Because of me, the demon lords other than the

Calamities were also... They didn’t do anything, but because of me...

Seeing how terribly pale Latina had grown, Rose gently stroked her back.

Latina jumped up with a start, and looked like a child about to break out in tears.

Rose gently took Latina’s hand in her own. It was as if the warmth of Rose’s heart was gradually being conveyed along with that of her hand. Her kind blue eyes looked at Latina from up close.

“I do not know why you are blaming yourself so much, Latina. Would you like to talk about it?”

Latina opened her mouth a sliver, only to instead hold her tongue and shake her head side to side. Having accepted that reaction as a possibility, Rose broke out in a slightly strained smile and gripped Latina’s hand a bit tighter.

“If you cannot discuss it with me, then how about talking with Sir Dale or Her Majesty, the First Demon Lord? They both surely would like for you to rely on them.”

“Lady Rose...” Latina said in a hoarse voice, breaking out in tears at the same time.

Afterwards, Latina indulged in Rose’s kindness of not asking anything further, and simply kept on crying.

I’m sure... that just like the prophecy said... I brought a lot of people misfortune...

Latina’s feelings of remorse, that she was a sinner and deserved to be treated as such, were so great that the pressure crushing her made it so she couldn’t even breathe. Because of such thoughts, in a way, Latina may have actually wanted someone to blame her.

As Latina continued weeping like a child, she realized that someone was looking at her with a terribly quiet gaze. She found herself suddenly stricken by something akin to dread, and began to tremble, her teary eyes turning toward the silent presence.

“Ms. Helmine...” she called out in a hoarse, tiny voice, echoing her own fright.

Rose hadn’t brought a single lady-in-waiting with her to Vassilios, so Helmine served that role. Rose wasn’t from an especially elite lineage, and she was able to take care of herself in her day to day life, but she was still a noble officially visiting this foreign nation as a representative of Laband. And as Helmine was also serving as her bodyguard, she was always waiting on Rose, at her side.

As a result, there was no reason for Latina to find fault with Helmine quietly waiting in the corner of this royal villa that served as Latina’s private room. Even so, though, Latina’s cheeks were dyed red with embarrassment at letting Helmine see her sob like a child.

Latina was currently in a weakened state both physically and emotionally, but faced with this person she was so bad at dealing with looking all calm and composed, her natural pride flared back up.

She wiped away the tears reflexively streaming down her face with both hands. Her strong competitive spirit reared its head, not wanting to let this person see her in such a pathetic state.

Helmine looked at Latina with a terribly calm, composed gaze. Latina just wasn’t any good at dealing with this woman.

She was an older woman with an air of composure about her. She was a beauty, with a great many things Latina lacked back when she still hadn’t yet become an adult.

Faced with her, Latina felt like she was having the things she was lacking thrust in her face. No matter how much she was aware of that, having those things shoved in front of her caused Latina’s heart to feel heavy. And above all else, Helmine knew a side of Dale that Latina didn’t.

Helmine was the one person Latina didn’t want to lose to.

With that single-minded purpose, Latina lifted her face and found Helmine wearing a smile that looked somehow cruel.

Rose soon realized the atmosphere crackling between the two of them.

Latina wore her feelings on her sleeve, so it was very easy to understand what was going on when she suddenly started acting differently, paying more attention than was necessary to Helmine’s gaze.

But Rose didn’t say anything, instead deciding to watch over the situation.

Latina was being crushed by her feelings of guilt just moments ago, but now she was no longer even hanging her head, instead meeting Helmine’s gaze head-on. Disregarding the reason, it had a large effect on bringing back Latina’s liveliness.

“I’d thought that you’d grown quite a bit, but it would still seem you’re still just a little lady, huh?”

Those words of Helmine’s brought a serious frown to Latina’s face, but the girl couldn’t deny what she’d said.

“You don’t care to rebuke me for talking to the sister of her highness, the king of Vassilios, in that manner?”

“...I don’t have any authority in this country. As long as you don’t make light of the wishes of the Golden King, then I don’t mind whatever you may say to me personally.”

Latina was aware that she was more precious to Chrysos than anyone else. And she also understood that as this country’s king, Chrysos’s intentions were to be respected. But at the same time, she reminded herself that she lacked any authority here, and didn’t find it right that she was overly pampered thanks to Chrysos’s influence.

And so, Latina had no intention of using Chrysos’s name now, no matter how much Helmine’s words may hurt.

Hearing Latina’s response, Helmine broke out in a faint smile. It was impossible to tell what she thought of Latina from that expression alone.

“Due to the encroachment by the Fourth Demon Lord, the south of Laband suffered great damage. Until that damage is recovered from, it will also impact the power of the nation significantly. Apparently the neighboring nations see this as a chance to cause unrest.”

Helmine’s words were information that, in theory, Latina had wanted to hear. Even so, hearing what had occurred was even more painful than she had expected.

“It seems that a number of the small nations to the east of Laband were driven to ruin by the Seventh Demon Lord. It was enough of a disaster that saying losses were great doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Helmine looked at Latina, the girl’s face pale and her hands gripped so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. The faint smile still remained on her face.

“Even so, that shouldn’t be any reason for you to break down in tears, right? Or do you have a reason significant enough to make you cry?”

Even breathing felt painful to Latina. She was unable to even raise a rebuttal, and realized that she herself had sought to hear what Helmine was saying.

“Even if you do have a reason, to be able to do nothing about it but cry... Well, you’re still just a little lady, so maybe there’s no helping that,” Helmine said, her smile shifting into an outright sneer.

Latina silently scolded herself for starting to avert her eyes, lifting her face back up properly.

“I’m...” Latina started in a pained, hoarse voice, her gaze fixed straight on Helmine. “Certainly still immature. It’s true... that I’m not able to do anything.”

Helmine’s blue eyes opened a little wider.

“It’s a fact that I’m still inexperienced, unable to do anything but cry...

But, even so...” She firmly wiped away her tears, and steadily put more strength behind her voice. “I’m properly reflecting on it all. About what I’ve done, and about what I should have done... And about what I can do now.”

Latina’s eyes, now full of determination, looked straight at Helmine as she said that.

Helmine gave a giggle at that sight, and then said as if in challenge, “I see.

Well then, go ahead and try, ‘little lady.’”

Seeing this break in the conversation and the air between the two of them, Rose decided to excuse herself from this place. As Rose’s bodyguard, Helmine wouldn’t be permitted to leave the room on her own, and she judged that Latina’s spirits may have recovered, but she still needed time to sort through her feelings.

“Well then, Latina, I will be returning to my own room, but... I will still be staying in Vassilios for a while yet. If you need anything, then do not hesitate to ask,” Rose said, the gentle smile still on her face.

“Right... Thank you, Lady Rose,” Latina said, a good bit of vigor having returned to her expression.

Rose left the villa, that kind expression still on her face. She once more opened her mouth when they were a good distance from that place, turning around towards the person behind her and saying in a reproachful tone, “Please do not act so spitefully.”

Helmine smiled and shrugged her shoulders a bit in response to Rose’s words.

“I just had the urge to pick on her a bit.”

“It may be only natural to call Latina ‘young,’ based on her age.”

“That’s for sure,” Helmine said with a giggle, looking somewhat like she was gazing off into the distance.

“However, children mature quicker than you think, don’t they? The last time I met her, she was just a little lady who was like a kitten, snapping at anything and everything.”

Helmine thought back on how that young girl had shot back an “I’m not little!” to everything she did and said. Unable to look at things objectively, rather seeing and reacting to everything based on her own personal feelings, she had been a young girl in every way.

“She’s grown up enough to acknowledge her own immaturity, hasn’t she?” Helmine said with a smirk.

Rose gave a sigh as she stared at this woman, who had lived for a great deal longer than she had.

Rose had no intention of being overly soft on Latina, the way that Dale and Chrysos were. But even so, Latina was an adorable “little sister” who adored Rose. She wasn’t particularly fond of seeing the girl get one-sidedly talked down.

“I believe it isn’t especially mature to tease someone, either.”

“That’s true. I still have a ways to go myself,” Helmine said with a giggle, then smiled, unperturbed by Rose’s words. “Ever since seeing Dale’s face like that, I just got the urge to tease someone.”

Those words of Helmine’s had a slightly different emotion behind them than before, depriving Rose of her need to object.

“That child really did seem to be driven into a corner. I hadn’t seen him in that state in some time, so I couldn’t help myself... I really do have a way to go myself.”

Before accompanying Rose to Vassilios, Helmine had happened to see Dale at the Eldstedt estate.

He had cast aside his trademark black magical beast leather coat for shining armor, and as he replied to the cheers for the “Platinum Hero,” he didn’t seem to be worked up in the least. He seemed like a shining hero, his expression fitting his newly acquired nickname.

But to Helmine, he had the look of his younger self about him... that look of the young man who had learned what it felt like to kill another person through his role as a hero, and suffered his own anguish as a result.

At that time, Helmine didn’t know what had him so up against the wall, but when she saw him again, she became certain. He was hugging Latina, doting on her so heavily that he seemed almost dependent on her. The sight of Dale clinging to her so desperately (as if he never wanted lose her again, and if he did, he would lose himself in turn) was more than enough that even if she didn’t know the details, she could tell that Latina was the reason Dale had been driven to his breaking point.

Seeing that old, familiar face made her want to tease them a little.

She wasn’t sure what Latina was grieving and moaning about, and she didn’t feel the need to be. She also didn’t know what Latina had done, or why that caused Dale to suffer so much. And so, she didn’t intend to preach to her, or drive her into a corner with logic. Instead, it was ultimately just “teasing” of her own volition, based on her own emotions. It was a bit of revenge, as if Helmine was saying, “Look at how much your actions caused Dale to suffer.”

That prideful girl would be able to withstand someone she “hated” so much judging her immaturity and faults. But because Helmine recognized that, she needed to raise her opinion of the girl. Perhaps she was now just a step away from the point where she couldn’t call her “little lady” anymore.

Musing on that, Helmine once more muttered to herself, “Kids really do grow up fast, don’t they?”

Meanwhile, after seeing Helmine and Rose off, Latina sat with her arms wrapped around her knees for a while atop the bed. She then rolled about back and forth, as if turning in her sleep. She paid no heed to how disheveled her clothing was, with the hem of her skirt turned up and her legs suggestively exposed.

“...Haa.” She let out a sigh. Because there was nobody else around to hear, she muttered to herself, “...I just keep messing up. I just can’t grow up, can I...?”

Helmine had said all that, but Latina honestly still didn’t know what to do.

Thanks to Chrysos’s assistance she was saved, but when she was recognized by the other demon lords as an enemy, it wouldn’t have been a surprise for her to be completely annihilated. No matter how far she ran and hid, she didn’t think she would be able to escape. But if she did that, then until she was found, the demon lords would burn everything to the ground in their search for her.

If she’d been honest with Dale, telling him that the other demon lords were targeting her, then he would have protected her even if he had to sacrifice himself in the process. But she wanted to protect Dale just as badly, and didn’t want him to do such a thing.

It wasn’t just Dale, either. The place where she lived, Kreuz, would surely become a target for the demon lords. Her friends and the townsfolk had been so kind to her as she grew up, and Latina wanted to protect all of them.

All of those people who had given her something, after she had lost everything on that day when she was young. All of those who had taken her in and given her love, after everything about her had been thrown aside and she was driven out. Because she had once lost everything, Latina feared losing things again more than anything else.

And then there was Chrysos. They had been born and raised together, and she was Latina’s precious other half. They had shared everything since their birth, and her sister was her one and only remaining family member.

All of those precious people, weighed against her one, tiny life... They couldn’t even be compared. If it would protect the people she cared about, then she would gladly offer up her life.

“But... I may have done the same... So Dale wouldn’t have given up so easily, right...?”

She didn’t want him to act recklessly. And even though Dale was known as a first-rate adventurer, she never imagined he could carry out something as insane as making enemies of all the demon lords. However, it was also true that she hadn’t thought it was utterly impossible. It was precisely because she had the thought “If it’s Dale, then he just might pull it off” that though she didn’t know any of the circumstances, she intuitively thought of it as Dale’s doing.

“What should I have done...?”

She had originally thought that if she just disappeared, things would return to the way that they had been before. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of the Demon Lords of Calamity running rampant, nor had she thought Dale would target the demon lords not of the Calamities, as they hadn’t done anything wrong.

“...That may have been my greatest sin, failing to think of that...”

Thinking back on how she’d merely been dragged along in the ensuing chaos, Latina pressed her cheek up against the pillow.

Caught up in her feelings of powerlessness, Latina didn’t even notice herself doze off.

“Latina?”

Hearing that voice, Latina opened her eyes. Dale’s face was right before her, looking worried. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his kind voice full of concern, though Latina was uncertain why.

Dale enveloped her cheek in the palm of his hand. His fingertips gently stroked the contours of her eyes as if to comfort her. It was then that Latina remembered that she’d fallen asleep with the traces of her sobbing still showing on her face.

“I’m fi—” She caught herself midway through answering. She still hadn’t found an answer to the question she had been contemplating. Nonetheless, she had made a firm decision to no longer merely avert her eyes and weep.

“...I’ve been thinking. I made a lot of mistakes.”

“Latina?”

“I hurt you a whole lot, Dale, and brought you so much suffering too. ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t even begin to cover it, but... I feel like I shouldn’t just let myself stop thinking about what I did wrong.”

Latina’s words caused Dale to break out in a slightly strained smile, but he continued gently stroking her cheeks and head. That kind gaze, and his adoring caress, were those of the man she adored, but— Latina suddenly opened her eyes, as if in surprise.

That wasn’t all I was wrong about... that I forgot about... was the thought that suddenly came to mind.

She had been wrong.

She had understood it further in the past. It was something she had always thought about when she was a child, but at some point she had forgotten.

I...

When Dale asked her to marry him, her childhood wish had been granted.

Those dreamlike feelings of bliss had caused her to forget before she even realized it.

What she’d wanted to become wasn’t simply someone who Dale doted on and called “cute.” That wouldn’t be any different from when she was just his “beloved daughter.” It wasn’t enough to make her the grown woman she wanted to be.

I had wanted... to become an adult who could stand by Dale’s side...

Someone who could support him...

In her current state, she was merely the subject of Dale’s one-sided doting. She had grown complacent, and in turn had lost sight of the person she had wanted to become.

It was no surprise that she found herself being called “little lady.” After all, she’d been childish enough to deserve the name.

“I really did make a lot of mistakes, didn’t I...?”

“Yeah. I did nothing but screw up... So I want you to tell me properly when I do something wrong... to tell me what you want me to do, and what you’re thinking...”

She remembered Dale’s desperate words that she’d heard when she awoke in Vassilios. Those words that sounded so painful, as if his heart were about to burst. He had earnestly wanted her to let him protect her, but

Latina felt the same way, and so she didn’t know what to do. “I was wrong, but... I really did want to protect you, Dale.”

“Right, that’s true... I knew, too... that you’d feel that way, Latina,” Dale said in agreement with a troubled look on his face, both his hands gently touching Latina all the while.

“You’re so kind like that, Dale, so... you’re alway so nice to me. I know that you’d forgive anything and everything I do... even if that caused you to suffer.”

“It’s fine, though... being soft on you.”

A part of Dale realized he couldn’t really hold her actions against her.

Demon lords were like threats incarnate, and Latina had become a target for all of them. Since she wanted to settle things without anyone coming to harm, sacrificing herself was a reasonable choice. To be honest, when he considered the situation, he realized that was the conclusion that would result in the least number of losses.

Even so, he hadn’t been able to accept that, and decided to keep struggling, using all his strength to mow down those in his path.

As Dale’s thoughts brought a strained expression to his face, Latina watched him gently.

He found himself unable to settle down, worried that the blood-stained cruelty he had wrought would be discovered.

“If... the same things were to happen again, I may make the same choices again...”

“That’d... be a problem...”

“Just like you want to protect me, I feel the same way about you, Dale.

But...” Latina said, halting for a moment as she gripped the hand Dale was touching tightly. “I’ll talk to you properly from now on, Dale. I’ll think things through together with you, about what I want to do, and what I should do.” “Huh...?”

“I want to be with you, Dale. I want to be someone who can protect you too, rather than just being someone you protect. Therefore, so that I can be someone who can properly stand by your side... Next time, I want to listen to how you feel, and talk things over together.”

A strained smile crossed Dale’s face after hearing Latina’s words, this one possessing a slightly different meaning than the one he’d worn before.

“I’ve... gotta reflect on my actions, too.” “Dale?”

“There’s also a whole lot I should’ve discussed with you...”

When Dale looked at that beloved girl in his arms, she looked almost dazzling to him.

“I proposed to you, Latina. As husband and wife, we should be sharing even the things that are painful.” “...Yeah.”

“So if something happens again... please don’t hide anything from me. I’ll manage even the stuff you think is impossible one way or another.” “Right.”

“Ah, and when things are tough for me... can I rely on you, too? Though, then again, I’d want to act tough at times like that...”

“I’ll work hard for your sake too, when such times come. You’re always saving me... so I want to do something to pay you back,” she replied, and Dale’s smile grew more relaxed.

Just having her by his side since she was young had supported and saved him. But she’d surely say that wasn’t enough. “...You don’t have any more siblings, right?” “I don’t.”

“I’d like... to hear about your family. You couldn’t talk about them because you had to hide Chrysos, right?” “You heard that from Chrysos?”

“Yeah,” Dale replied, and Latina’s expression grew a little pained.

“I’m sorry for not saying anything. But Chrysos is more precious to me than anyone else, in a different way from how I feel about you.” “She is your one and only sister, after all.”

By nature, devils had a strong sense of camaraderie and regarded family as especially precious.

Chrysos was Latina’s only sister, and her last remaining family member.

Dale fully understood that Latina and Chrysos held deep feelings for one another.

“Is there anything else you’re still hiding?” “...There’s still some stuff that’s embarrassing.”

“I guess that stuff may still be okay, even when it comes to a husband and wife...”

“What about you, Dale?” “Hmm?”

“Is... there anything you’re hiding from me, Dale?”

“Ah...”

Dale reflexively began to dodge the question, but after some thought, he reconsidered. It wouldn’t be right to force her to speak and then shelve the matter of his own secrets.

She was no longer just a small child who needed to be sheltered. And he intended to treat her accordingly.

“To be honest, I’m a hero.”

That was why Dale revealed some information he had kept to himself until now. After hearing that, Latina sat silently staring at Dale’s face for a while. She may have already heard it from Rose, but it was still an extraordinary shock.

“Um, Latina?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you alright?”

Latina snapped out of it once Dale called out to her, and the tension drained from her shoulders so thoroughly you could almost hear the hiss of it escaping.

“I’m just surprised...”

“I’d heard from Lady Rose, too... that you were a hero.” “Is that so?”

Thinking about it, Dale realized that he had not exactly forbidden anyone from talking about it, so this wasn’t that much of a surprise. Rather, it was perhaps more of a surprise that Latina hadn’t learned that fact up until now. “I didn’t ask Lady Rose, but... are you alright, being a demon?”

“You should probably be better informed about that than I am, right?”

Even Dale couldn’t help but be bewildered. At least technically, Latina was Dale’s “master.” And it was Latina herself that told him that “demon lords are permitted to know a portion of the foundations of the world.”

“Huh? Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true...”

Latina had completely set aside the powers she’d been granted as a demon lord, so she’d completely forgotten she had such an ability.

“Well, you’re the Eighth Demon Lord, so... you’re not quite the antithesis of a hero, who exists to eliminate demon lords. I guess it kind of worked out.”

“I see...” Latina said with a nod, lacking even a hint of demon lord-ness about her.

“I need to get my act together more after all,” Latina flatly stated. Dale was instinctively about to say, “You’re fine the way you are, Latina,” but managed to keep it to himself.

Dale thought to himself, Latina’s so cute, nodding her head while looking all serious like that. That was already a conditioned reflex at this point. He successfully held himself back from voicing that comment, though, out of consideration for the fact that she was trying to become an adult, as saying that would be like taking back his agreement to treat her as one.

He silently berated himself, wondering which one of them was really the one who still had some growing up to do.

“Dale?”

“It’s nothing... I was just thinking that you really have grown, Latina.” “...?” Latina tilted her head a bit, as she’d just been so keenly feeling her own immaturity.

“I’ve gotta get my act together, too.”

“Aren’t you already a proper, full fledged adult, Dale?” “Hmm...”

Rather than treating her as an equal partner or seeing her as his “master,” Dale really did prefer to be someone that she could rely on. His pride as a man wouldn’t allow him to back down on that point.

However, they were finally able to be together again like this.

“Let’s try to do things right from here on out.” “Yeah.”

It would be good if they could talk things through with one another, no matter how much they screwed up. While thinking that, Dale took Latina’s hand in his own, and the two of them stayed that way.

†

Having talked things over with Dale, Latina then visited Chrysos’s room alone after dinner. It wasn’t the room where they had lived together when they were young. It was instead a high-quality one from which the authority of a king could be felt. However, there were always ladies-in-waiting and guards in the next room over, so it was a formal space lacking in absolute privacy.

“It feels odd somehow, using human language around you, Chrysos.”

“It is not a conversation you particularly want others to overhear, yes?

There are those who could understand bits and pieces, but few could understand everything. That makes it suitable for a private conversation, would you not say?” Chrysos said with a slightly mischievous look on her face, then she took a sip of the tea Latina had prepared, a bit of a glint in her eyes.

Normally, preparing tea would be a task for a lady-in-waiting. But Latina wanted this time to be for the two of them alone, so she successfully got the lady-in-waiting to back down using the excuse that this was a tea from Laband which Sylvia had shared with her. The tools and methods used for handling tea differed between Vassilios and Laband. Chrysos had sensed that

Latina had something to discuss when the girl went out of her way to visit her room, and didn’t particularly try to object.

“Once our exchange with Laband begins, it will be necessary for those of this nation to study the language, yes?”

“The other races can’t even pronounce devil words without an affinity for it, after all...”

The basic criteria as to whether or not someone could use magic was if they could pronounce the so called “spell language.” The devil race all had an affinity for magic, and it served as their mother tongue, but for other races, it was a language that could be utterly impossible for them to speak.

However, the languages used by other races had no such restrictions, making it possible to simply study and employ them.

“So, what is it, Platina?”

“Dale hadn’t told me...” Latina muttered, staring into the teacup in her hand. The depressed-looking face on the other side of the pale dark brown surface of the liquid looked back at her. “Did you know, Chrysos? That Dale... was a hero?”

Chrysos sat in silence for a while, but soon confirmed, not wanting to lie to her twin sister. “That is correct. After you were sealed away... before long, someone began laying the demon lords to rest. Considering my position, I was unable to determine who that was... but upon hearing what Sylvia and the others had to say, I soon realized.”

“Sylvia...”

“There was a hero by your side, Platina. He was moving about, killing off demon lords at a pace that would normally be utterly impossible. After hearing of his relationship with you... I conjectured that perhaps you had made that hero into your retainer.”

“I see...”

“And I sensed that he was the reason you said you would not return to me,” said Chrysos, puffing up her cheeks in a way that really did resemble Latina. Latina smiled just a bit in response to her sister’s expression, then looked down once more.

“So... Dale really was the one who... defeated the demon lords, then?”

Latina said, hesitant to use the word “killed.”

Seeing her sister like that, Chrysos mentally sighed to herself, and said in a composed tone, “That is correct.”

“From the state of the thrones, it seemed like... Did he defeat all of the other demon lords...?”

“...I suppose there’s no denying it at this point,” Chrysos replied, realizing she wouldn’t be able to lie to her clever sister now.

Latina’s expression grew pained.

“That... was because of me, wasn’t it?”

She had already sensed it from the stories of those around her, but looking at her sister now caused Chrysos to think it once more: Latina was still kind and earnest by nature, just as she’d been when they were young. That fact caused her to feel both relieved and glad. That was because it was proof that even after being exiled from this country and losing their father, she was still able to grow up in a place where she was healthy and safe.

“...I suppose I must give that man my thanks.” “Huh?”

“No, it is nothing.”

Latina apparently hadn’t caught the words that Chrysos had quietly whispered, causing the Golden King to feel relieved. It was precisely because she cared for her sister so greatly that she couldn’t let anyone know she had said such a thing about that deplorable hero.

“...It seems you really were not suited to become the First Demon Lord.”

“Chrysos?”

Chrysos gave a small chuckle, then made eye contact with Latina.

“There is no need for you to worry about it, Platina.” “But...”

The demon lords other than the Calamities had not done anything deserving of death. They were unreasonably killed, bringing misfortune to the retainers and people under their protection as well.

Latina’s expression clearly showed what she was thinking. Even if you tell me not to worry about it... Chrysos gave another small laugh.

“You are a demon lord... Though you may be a low-ranking one, they still tried to harm a ‘god.’ If that is not worthy of being called a sin, then what is?”

“But...”

“Therefore, what occurred was divine punishment... The only ones permitted to eliminate demon lords are our antithesis, heroes, after all.”

That was the natural order, decided on by the higher-ranking gods of the seven colors, who made up the world itself.

With a faint smile on her face, Chrysos stroked her sister’s cheek like she’d done when they were young, mimicking the action her parents had used to comfort the pampered girl. She was a little surprised and yet also relieved at how naturally that action came to her. Chrysos had thought she’d changed so much, but something from her youth remained so clearly within her, which left her feeling a little embarrassed.

“It is possible for demon lords to harm one another, as they are of the same kind. However, that doesn’t mean that such a thing is ‘permitted.’ Such an act is a valid cause for retribution.”

The only one permitted to interfere with the other demon lords from amongst their number is the Eighth Demon Lord, Latina. Such a being came about inherently as a means to reign in the other demon lords, after all.

Just like the Second Demon Lord had once done to the First, it was possible for one demon lord to destroy another. But at the same time, that was considered an irregular act for this world.

If such a thing were to occur, there was a high chance they would both be destroyed at the same time. The one who had taught Chrysos that was a priestess who was said to be exceptionally uncommon, possessing a power that was utterly unprecedented in devil history: Mov, whose name indicated a color of the gods. When Chrysos had been told that, she didn’t understand the precise meaning behind those words. Looking back on them now, though, she finally understood.

“And so, they simply earned their just desserts. There is no need for you to worry yourself over the matter. What occurred was only a natural conclusion, after all.” Even while she said that, she knew that Latina would not accept that so easily.

From Chrysos’s point of view as the First Demon Lord, she knew full well that the other demon lords had no choice but to give their approval. But since Latina was her one and only precious sister, Chrysos also felt they needed to face retribution for laying a hand on the girl. Regardless of how it happened, such a thing needed to occur.

In bad taste, the Second Demon Lord saw even attempts at revenge on her as enjoyable, and was arrogantly confident that she would come to no harm even if other demon lords tried to do so. But normally, the demon lords would never dare interfere with others of their kind.

Chrysos herself had also been prepared for her own demise.

In addition to her natural divine protection, the Eighth Demon Lord herself, Latina, didn’t see Chrysos as an enemy. And from the way that the hero serving as her retainer was a hardcore doting idiot of a husband,

Chrysos judged that he would not cast judgment on her immediately. But even so, none of that was absolute. However, she also felt that there was no helping that.

She had been prepared to dirty her hands as much as it took to get her sister back, no matter how much others may blame her, so she had no room to speak. But her naturally kind sister could surely never cast her aside so easily, which made Chrysos glad.

“Platina, demon lords are gods. It is only natural for them to be arrogant beings, existing far beyond mortal reasoning, yes?”

“But...”

“And yet, we must also try to maintain our perspectives as people. In that regard, your concerns are also correct.” “Chrysos...”

Latina lifted up her face, which showed the complex emotions she was feeling, in response to her sister’s voice. While Chrysos kept always looking firmly ahead, she had always relied on the kind people around her in comparison. Her own inadequacies made it feel like her heart was being crushed.

“Never change, Platina.” Chrysos then dared to add, “So that I do not become an arrogant being who has forgotten what it is like to be a person... So that I do not end up in a bloody battle with your one and only retainer, in which we cut down anything and everything.”

It may have troubled Latina, but that was what Chrysos thought. She was also only able to be herself, with the heart of a person rather than being solely the First Demon Lord, when she was by her sister’s side. That was all that maintained her sense of self, so that she wasn’t crushed by her duties as king.

“Act as our restraints.”

And so, she wished for Latina to remain as she was now.

Chrysos smiled while saying that, while Latina looked back, seeming troubled. Latina had become aware of her own immaturity, so she couldn’t so readily accept that.

“Even though... I think I’m no good as I am now?”

“It is essential to keep growing, yes. And it is impossible to never change at all.” Chrysos hugged her overly serious sister tight. In her current life, she never felt anyone else’s warmth this closely. She wondered why her sister couldn’t understand why that alone was such a great salvation for her.

“However, Platina... please stay as you are. You understand as well, do you not? I am asking you to let me remain as your sister.” “Is that really true?”

“It is.”

While Chrysos found the admission strangely irritating, she was certain that man thought similarly. I cannot believe he thinks the same as I do! For some reason I cannot help but find it vexing! And yet, that man has surely also been saved by my kind natured sister... Chrysos thought.

“To us, being able to protect you so that you can remain as you are is akin to sustenance... though in a way, that may perhaps be terribly difficult to handle.”

No matter how much she had to dirty herself while walking her path, and how much blood and corpses piled up along the way, if nothing else, she didn’t want that to come anywhere near the beloved girl she wished to protect.

Carrying the exact same load wasn’t the only means of sharing a burden.

She wanted her precious sister to live in a kind, gentle world. However, that clever girl would surely realize she was being protected, and understand the burden that those around her were bearing. That

And no matter how painful the tasks she undertook may be, not having the one she cared so much about have to bear them was enough to save her.

That man likely felt the same.

I sincerely don’t wish to admit it, though, Chrysos thought to herself, feeling disappointed. It was also an awkward feeling for her, realizing they understood one another.

“I can’t say I fully understand... but I’ll try to think about what you said, Chrysos.” Chrysos couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at that overly serious response from Latina.

“That should be enough for now, yes?” Chrysos then hugged her sister tighter and said, “So stay like this, by my side.”

Latina had a strange reaction to Chrysos’s words. Her gaze darted around, and she made a face like she was having trouble getting the words out.

Though Latina herself wasn’t fond of the way that her thoughts showed clearly on her face, Chrysos found it charming.

Chrysos was well aware of it, but Latina didn’t want to stay in Vassilios. Without her even realizing it, her brows grew furrowed. Even if it had been to protect her, Latina was declared a criminal and exiled, so there were likely those who would despise her in Vassilios. However, Chrysos now possessed enough authority to protect her from such people, and she would not allow anyone to act disrespectfully towards Latina.

Still, perhaps she disliked the idea of getting wrapped up in politics.

From what she’d heard from Sylvia and Rose, she got the impression that Latina had received an education and been trained in manners befitting a noble lady of Laband. However, she apparently had no training as a ruler, which was unsurprising, considering she’d been living peacefully as a commoner.

In that case, it seemed reasonable to have her live in a tranquil environment where she didn’t need to have anything to do with such greedy people. That way, Platina wouldn’t need to worry about anything.

Lately Latina had become able to move around a bit, so she started doing her own laundry, coming and going in the kitchen, and on top of all that, apparently even polishing up the pots, but she didn’t need to push herself so hard, or at least that’s what Chrysos thought.

Of course, that was where Latina’s wish to go back home lay. She got even more fired up when she was busy, a true workaholic.

Latina was aware that in her current situation, it was the job of the ladies- in-waiting to take care of her day to day needs. She accepted them waiting on her, but she couldn’t help but feel irritated about it.

Latina tried to calm down and think the matter through for Dale’s sake, but before long she was doing laundry and polishing up pots and pans. That polishing in particular was ideal for whiling away her time without needing to think about anything, and it made everything all nice and shiny, so it was like killing two birds with one stone. She enjoyed doing it, concentrating on getting the pots good and polished, and ended up feeling a sense of accomplishment that left her completely refreshed.

“...A day may come when I can live by your side, Chrysos, but... for now, I’m returning to Kreuz. That place is now the one that I’d call my ‘home town.’”

Naturally, wanting to work wasn’t her only reason, but that was how

Latina conveyed her feelings to Chrysos.

“Platina...”

“There are a lot of people there who worry about me... and that makes me very happy,” Latina said, looking entirely her usual self.

“I... suppose I should feel fortunate, that you have a place where you can to ensure the diplomatic relationship between Vassilios and Laband was established even a moment sooner.

As for Latina, she was grateful to hear how Chrysos felt, but she also couldn’t keep on living as “the beloved sister of Her Majesty, the demon lord.”

Ever since we were children... I always thought that “wife” sounded far more wonderful than “princess.”

The woman that Latina admired most of all was Dale’s grandmother, Wendelgard. She grew old peacefully while surrounded by her grandchildren and her clan, beloved by a great many people. Latina hoped that she could become a “Granny” like that someday.

She did have some admiration for the beautiful dresses and splendor of high society, but she didn’t want to become part of it. In that way, Latina’s thinking was that of a commoner to her very core.

“It’s not like this is a final farewell, like it was before...” “...That’s true.”

“We’ll definitely meet again.” “Yes. Without fail.”

Chrysos’s arms remained around Latina, who then hugged her sister back.

The hair of the two girls embracing one another was the same color, giving off the same platinum shine.

When they had said farewell in the past it had been hurried and they didn’t quite understand what was going on, only knowing that they would never meet again. It was a parting that was nothing but sad and painful.

But this time, it was different.

They would surely be able to meet once more.

The number of beings who could harm a demon lord were limited. As such, there were none who could get in the way of these two demon lords’ wishes.

I would not allow even that man to interfere, Chrysos thought heatedly in regards to the only person who could possibly prove a hinderance. With that thought, she hugged Latina even tighter, wanting to get even more out of her time together with her sister.

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