The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 69: The sweet demon lord and the scary demon lord, all is still my demon lord

Chapter 69: The sweet demon lord and the scary demon lord, all is still my demon lord

I had an inkling already when I saw the plants and flowers around the rooms, that those were new additions that Natha made for me. I realized it when I touched the plants and felt the mana around the rooms, that they were only been there for a few weeks at most.

But the way Natha said it was ’my’ greenhouse...it truly confirmed that he made changes, not only in his private quarters, but also in the castle, for me.

For my future stay in this place.

As he took my hands and led me down toward the garden, I realized it even more.

It wasn’t the cold and empty corridor for the Lord like we took yesterday, but the path he led me through still felt quiet. It was also decorated with more greenery, and more flowers, and felt warmer than the other stone hallway. The mana along the way felt more vibrant, familiar, and welcoming.

If I closed my eyes and spread my consciousness, there would be a long green ribbon making a pathway, and if I followed it, I would reach the entrance to the garden without getting lost.

It was a path only meant for me.

I didn’t know if it was because today was a weekend, or because Natha made some instructions, but there was no sight of other demons during our walk. I understood that servants were supposed to work when their master wasn’t around, but I thought there would still be other staff walking around in this big ass castle.

Yet, other than the servants and guards in charge of Natha’s private quarters, the only other demons I saw were his ten vassals yesterday, albeit briefly.

When Natha asked me to come over, I had readied my heart to meet a lot of demons, but it seemed like my nervousness yesterday was a waste. Was Natha deliberately made it so? Because it was only a ’trial’ visit?

Hmm...well, whatever the case, it was good for me. If the vassals’ reaction yesterday was any indication, it might be better for me to not meet them yet, at least until the demons’ opinion regarding Valmeier got better.

"This part of the castle is called the ’backyard’, only those that lived in the castle can access it," Natha said after he watched me looking around the hall. "And the garden is only accessible by the gardeners and some of my vassals."

"Some?" I faced him in surprise. Why some?

"Just the more friendly ones," he said with a rather restrained smile. I presumed there was still a voice of dissent then, if he had to make a distinction like that. "I’ll introduce you to them slowly next time."

"Hmm..." we reached the outside then, and the corridors became brighter, with stone arched pillars and railings coiled by climbing roses. As I ran my fingers through the white roses, I suddenly remembered that boy. "Why is there a boy among your vassals?"

"Don’t be fooled by that, he’s a shape-shifter," Natha replied with a chuckle. "He likes to take that form to appear cute, so people would do his bidding."

Oh-ho, a sly one I see...he was showing me a rather friendly smile though. Was it to appear cute also? "Is he on the ’friendly’ side?"

"He is," Natha patted my head, probably sensing my relief. "Be careful with your hand."

"It’s fine," the thorns weren’t really big on these kinds. It also wouldn’t matter if I got grazed a little. "I have natural regeneration."

It came with the rejuvenation nature of druid. As long as I was connected with nature, and had ample mana in my core, my body would heal any physical injuries. Haa...if only Valmeier awakened his druid traits before, perhaps life wouldn’t be so bad for him. It couldn’t do anything to a wound related to mana, since it inflicted one’s soul, but it should at least be able to offset the pain and injury to the internal organ.

But then...if Valmeier ended up okay, I might not be able to come here—

"Ugh!" suddenly, Natha yanked my hand off the roses. I felt his cold hand on my waist as he pulled me into him harshly until my back crashed against his chest.

"Sweetheart," his low voice that entered my ear sounded cold—as cold as the lips pressing on my temple. I felt my heart stop then, as his grip on my wrist started to tighten. "Don’t say such things lightly."

He didn’t say it harshly, but the tone that he made brought me back to our first encounter; when he got annoyed at how much I rejected the notion of becoming his bride. I couldn’t see his face from this position—much more because I didn’t have any guts to move—but it was easy to picture his cold face from yesterday, and the deep silver eyes that glint dangerously.

"Don’t think about getting wounded as a simple thing, mm?" he pulled my hand carefully, although his grip was still tight, bringing my hand back toward my chest. "I might get tempted to lock you up if I think you do."

The tone that he used was soft, but his voice sounded dry, and it just made me scared even more. It sounded like a promise, and I believed him. I believed that he’d really lock me up if I carelessly took light of my body again.

And even though I knew he said that for my own sake, I couldn’t help but be reminded that he was the Demon Lord.

He stroked my hand, and tightened his arm circling my waist. "Your answer, sweetheart," he demanded in a soft, melodious voice.

"...okay," I managed to answer after taking a deep breath. "I’m...sorry..."

It was only then that his tight grip on my hand and my waist lessened. He still embraced me though, and pressed his lips on my temple. "Good boy," he said softly, in a gentle tone, nuzzling my hair as if what transpired before was just a fragment of my imagination.

And my stiff, scared body melted just like that.

Damn it—the way his everything affected me! Just how easily I was frozen, and how easily I was melted. Worse of all, there was a tiny part of me that thought it was...arousing.

"Did I scare you?" he stroked my hand with his thumb again, caressing my cheek with his other hand.

"Just...a bit?" I bit my lips in embarrassment.

He stepped back and let go of me then, but took my hand and kissed the ring on my finger. "Forgive me," the silver eyes gazed at me with tenderness, as he smiled apologetically.

I shook my head which was getting redder, and frantically tried to change the subject. "Umm—the greenhouse..."

He kissed my forehead with a soft chuckle, before intertwining our hands and pulling me toward the stone path of the garden. As we walked through the beautiful walkway flanked by flower bushes and colorful hedges, I tried to get rid of any naughty thoughts fleeting inside my head.

Especially, I tried to stop wondering whether it was Natha’s sudden streak of scary side or the way he called me a good boy that affected me more.

No, damn it—stop thinking about it!

Look! Look at how pretty everything was—the waist-high hedges in reddish and purplish color, with tiny flowers popping out in between; the delicately shaped topiaries; the beautiful trees shielding the garden from the rest of the castle yard; the tiny white pebbles that formed the walkway...

"Wow..." it really was a pretty sight. And it only got prettier the closer we were to the greenhouse. I could see the hexagonal building, looking as if floating between countless glowing waterlilies. "It should be prettier during the night..."

"It is, but you can’t see the garden and the greenhouse’s plants clearly then,"

"Mm...too bad,"

"We can come back tonight if you want," he looked at me with a smile, and I gripped his hand in response.

"Let’s do that!"

There wasn’t much to see during the night in the Tower. The forest and the garden were dark and eerie, and the only beacon was the swirling mass of the elemental birds above the tower.

The prospect of seeing the magical scenery made my step lighter, and I almost skipped in excitement as we cross the bridge. It was beautiful too, by the way, exquisitely made with delicate carving.

And then we entered the big hexagonal building, and oh God—

I didn’t mind even if I was told to live here instead.

At first, it almost felt like I was entering a jungle. We were greeted by giant ferns of green leaves that curtained the entrance point. But once Natha brought me through those ferns, the entirety of the greenhouse was visible to me.

True to its name, the place was filled with plants, most of which were of exotic kinds. It felt like an indoor garden, where various energy mingled nicely. I could sense magic formations keeping the condition stable for each corner of the greenhouse, helping the plants to grow in their optimum environment.

But what got me stunned was the set of chairs and table in the center, facing a side with a glass wall overlooking the lake. I walked there almost instinctively, seating myself on the sofa. Sunlight fell over me through the dome ceiling, the flowers and plants surrounded me, and my eyes feasted on the calm expanse of water.

Natha sat beside me, and I grabbed his hand wordlessly, without tearing my sight from the scenery. My greenhouse, he said. Mine. He made it for me.

Here, in the heart of one of the demon realms, a little corner just for me. And him.

Just for us.