Argen took time for deep self-reflection and resolved to prioritise Valen above all else from now on. She decided to grant him anything he desired. Sensing Valen’s eagerness to gather military intelligence to bring back to the human realm, she had been subtly helping him, but Valen only ended up disappointed time and again.
What kind of information could he possibly need?
She should just ask outright.
Argen was certain that even if the human realm learned more about the demon race, it wouldn’t significantly change the current situation. While she acknowledged the incredible pace of human development, from a demon’s perspective, they were like enraged fighting dogs. Even if those dogs wielded swords and cast spells, they were still just fighting dogs.
If Argen were to ask first, “Shall I show you the military supply distribution routes?”, Valen wouldn’t be pleased—his face would freeze cold. He’d probably think she was insulting him.
But it wasn’t insulting him; it was protecting him.
On the day Valen returned to the human realm, she hoped he wouldn’t be branded with shame because of his relationship with her. She wished he would remember her as someone who fought relentlessly in the demon realm solely for the sake of humans. She hoped he would live as an honourable hero in his own country, where his family was.A yawn suddenly escaped her. Even enduring while watching his face had its limits. The deep blue dawn was receding, and the time for daybreak to arrive was approaching. It was when Argen slipped back under the covers and turned her back to him.
“Ugh…”
She sat up again.
Valen lay there, eyes closed, drenched in cold sweat, breathing heavily and raggedly. Despite the imposing physique radiating a sinister aura, Argen showed not a trace of fear. Her expression was one of concern instead. To her eyes, Valen merely looked like a small animal whimpering in distress.
“…Are you… all right?”
Just as she was about to place her hand on his shoulder, Valen grabbed her wrist with a brutal grip. Instantly, her body was pinned beneath his, his rough breath and sweat dripping onto her face. His large hand clamped down on her throat.
“Huff, haa, haa…”
Valen’s face was deathly pale. Argen, however, remained calm, while he froze, his eyes wide with shock.
“Did you have a nightmare?” Argen reached out and gently cupped Valen’s cheek.
When he blinked, the confusion in his pupils faded away. He seemed to be slowly emerging from the dream.
“……”
Their gazes, each a different temperature, collided in midair. Silence settled over the room. His large hand was threatening, as if it could snap Argen’s neck at any moment.
But Argen had no intention of pushing him away or running. There was no tension in her hand. It simply rested there, like a thick scarf draped over him. In contrast, the forearm pressed against Argen’s cheek had veins standing out frighteningly taut.
“You.”
A low voice flew out and settled on Valen’s forehead. Valen flinched, then seemed to shake off the lingering drowsiness, finally coming to his senses.
His hand fell away hastily. Valen raised his sturdy upper body, brushed back his hair, then collapsed onto his side. His chest muscles rippled beneath the gaping shirt collar. Sweat seeping from his neck trickled down to the hollow of his chest.
It was the moment Argen rose to fetch a towel. Valen grabbed her forearm, pulling her down onto the bed with a thud. Argen turned her head only to see Valen’s slightly frowning profile.
“Where?”
“I was going to wet a towel and bring it up. You’re sweating a lot.”
“Forget it. I’ll wash myself. So don’t act ill-mannered and just stay put.”
Ill-mannered…(*T/N end of post)
She flipped through the dictionary in her head from cover to cover but couldn’t find the meaning. It’s just manners, so why add ‘ill’?Ah, maybe manners has levels too. Like captain and vice-captain. “ill-mannered” seems to mean slightly less manners.
But the context didn’t fit. Don’t act ill-mannered and just stay still? What on earth does fetching a towel have to do with manners? Argen shook her head with a serious expression.
Could the word be related to illness? They sound similar. An illness of the body. So Valen might be saying, ‘Don’t act like you’re ill and just stay still’!
“I’m not ill anywhere.” When Argen answered as she felt, Valen turned his head and met her gaze.
A confusion even greater than when he’d just woken from sleep flashed through his pupils.
“Let’s not talk. Talking to you demon bastards makes me feel like my intelligence is dropping.”
…Guess I was wrong.
If Nadol were here, he’d give me the answer, but going to Nadol’s bedroom now would probably make Valen sulk badly.
After that problematic remark about being hurt, Valen’s breathing returned to its usual rhythm. Argen watched the sweat bead on his chest and absentmindedly poked it with her fingertip. Then she quickly wiped it off on Valen’s clothes.
“What are you doing?”
“…Just wondering if you were hot.”
“I’m going to wash now.” Valen, who had been resting for a while, sat up.
She wasn’t trying to kick him out. Argen, flustered, stood up too. “You can rest here.”
Valen paused as he was about to leave the bed and turned to look at Argen. His expression was peculiar. He raised one eyebrow and opened his mouth in a testing tone.
“Why?”
It felt like a question with a predetermined answer, but unfortunately, Argen couldn’t quite grasp what he was after. She remained silent for a few seconds. Her expression appeared calm and unwavering, but her mind was racing. After deep contemplation, this was the answer she came up with.
“You lost the bet.”
“……”
She knew this wasn’t the right answer. But Argen didn’t want to send Valen away alone.
“Stay with me until the sun is fully risen today. It was you who promised to do anything.”
“What kind of wish is that for such a trivial thing?”
“Then, regardless of the bet, will you stay in my bedroom?”
“……Well, it’s not exactly easy.” He answered half-heartedly and stood up completely.
Before he could take a step, Argen urgently grabbed his hand. Valen turned back, looked down at their clasped hands, then slowly gazed up at Argen’s face.
“You said you wouldn’t go.”
“I’m going to wash.”
“It’ll get dirty anyway. You can wash it all later.”
“I’m going to die anyway. Why bother living?”
“…To be honest, right now, I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“Why? Do you like me that much…?”
“You had a nightmare.”
Their words overlapped. Unlike Argen, whose eyes were serious, Valen’s face grew cold.He froze as if his thoughts had stopped, then nodded, unexpectedly agreeing to her words without resistance. Valen looked a bit dazed, as if he’d been hit unexpectedly from behind. When Argen gently tugged his hand, he let himself be led along helplessly.
Huff. As the lamp’s light was extinguished, pitch-black darkness descended. Feeling the warmth beside her, Argen stared silently at the ceiling. She tensed her throat to suppress a sigh threatening to burst out.
“I feel like I only make mistakes with you.”
“What is it now?”
“I know Demon King Castle can’t be a good memory for you. Still, I wanted you to rest peacefully while you were here. But I guess that was my selfishness. In the end, I only made you have bad dreams.”
“Don’t read meaning into useless things.” Valen pushed one arm behind his head and spoke curtly.
Argen turned to look at him. “Can I ask what you dreamed about?”
“What the hell now?”
“Did someone in your dream insult you, saying you never learned morality as a child?”
“……”
“Or was it that they said everything but the shell should be fried?”
“Sounds like you’re insulting me.”
Argen realised her mistake. Without thinking, she’d repeated the exact words the elders used whenever they badmouthed Valen.
“…It wasn’t an insult. Even shoes taste good when fried… It’s a compliment. So if you hear similar things while walking the Demon King’s castle corridors, you don’t need to get angry.”
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
They exchanged this kind of context-free dialogue while waiting for morning to come. Argen fought it off, digging her nails into her palms, even though she was so sleepy her eyes were watering. But she couldn’t stop the yawn that burst out unexpectedly.