DGDITMIAE 06

Chapter 06

The scent of gunpowder dissipated through the cold wind.

The monster staggered from the hit.

At the same time, cheers erupted from behind, but Terestia still stared straight ahead with an enigmatic, bewitching face—smiling as if she wasn’t.

Only when the monster finally collapsed and no longer obstructed her view did she slowly lower the rifle.

As her crimson lips finally curved into a bow, Argo, who had been standing behind Terestia, cautiously approached.

“Your Highness.”

“There must have been a rat.”

Terestia, now fully living as the Grand Duke, blinked slowly and handed the rifle to Argo.

Though Terestia’s body was immaculate, without a single drop of blood on her, Argo tenderly checked her attire.

Her fine, curly golden hair, and her violet eyes that betrayed no hint of what she was thinking.

She looked impossibly lovable for the demonic Grand Duke who ruled over the empire’s vast northern territories.

“Let’s withdraw for now. Argo, was there any separate correspondence?”

“No, there wasn’t.”

“Take care of the cleanup.”

At Terestia’s command, Argo, as if waiting for it, began issuing orders to the knights.

“I hear there’s a foul smell coming from where the dam was blocked. Sir Jade, investigate and report separately later. As for the monster carcasses, gather them all together and extract the bones and parts—load them onto carts by type.”

Argo commanded with a ruthless expression, and the knights moved in perfect unison upon hearing his orders.

Though he was only an aide-de-camp, he was giving orders that seemed to overstep his authority, but Terestia’s thoughts were merely this:

‘His hair is as fluffy as storm clouds…’

Having offloaded the work, Terestia watched Argo’s ash-gray hair flutter in the strong wind.

She thought to herself how elegantly handsome he was—if Argo had been the first face she saw when she opened her eyes, she might have been unable to look away and gulped down the sight of him, just like when she saw herself.

Moreover, despite his physique not being at all inferior to the rugged knights beside him, his face was quite different.

Propping her chin up and observing Argo, Terestia soon saw him approach and extend his hand, and she spoke.

“Are we done?”

“Yes, please get into the carriage quickly.”

“When we get back, I need to drink three cups of warm cocoa.”

“…If you drink that much, your teeth will rot.”

Argo said, not hiding his wrinkled expression.

‘More nagging!’

When Terestia frowned, not hiding her displeasure, Argo let out a small sigh and spoke sternly again.

“Your teeth will rot.”

“I’m the Grand Duke!”

Though she protested once more, her unyielding aide made Terestia forcibly calm her sulking heart and climb into the carriage.

‘Just you wait, I’m drinking three cups!’

Three months had already passed since Terestia came to the North.

At first, Argo had tried to teach her everything, worried about her, but now that she had adapted to the role of Grand Duke better than expected, he quietly followed her.

Even though spring had come to the empire, the North was still gripped by bitter cold.

Terestia absolutely despised the cold, and with that thought, she began to curl up like a cat.

Argo raised his eyebrows at Terestia’s posture and added a comment.

“It’s no use curling up.”

“I’m cold.”

“…Come here.”

Argo was always warm.

‘Are humans naturally this warm? Anyway, I did well to get such an aide.’

Thinking that, Terestia nestled in Argo’s embrace and leaned her head against his chest.

“There’s nothing unusual in the territory, right?”

“Yes, I received a report this morning.”

“Hmm, then what do I need to do when we get back?”

“Drink two cups of cocoa.”

“Good, I like that.”

As her body warmed up, drowsiness washed over her.

The border with the Inyument Territory wasn’t that far away.

It was problematic that the territory continued to suffer monster attacks, but since there were no signs of the border expanding, it was manageable as long as the defenses were solid.

Of course, the Terestia from her memories had never cared about such things and had remained in the capital, living a dissolute life.

“Alcohol, pretty-faced men, and gambling. Where would I, the Imperial Princess, go without you?”

She had been busy cackling while inhaling smoky, toxic things.

She was the queen of high society, the lord of the night.

A noble-born soul who willingly threw herself into all sorts of filth in the empire.

So now, the demon who had devoured the high-and-mighty Imperial Princess and was pretending to be her—the current Terestia—thought she could finally understand why humans had feared her so much.

Because that girl only did things that humans hated!

Moreover, Terestia had secretly drunk the alcohol the original Terestia had loved, but it tasted so disgustingly awful that she immediately spit it out, burst into tears, and came to this conclusion:

‘I don’t like what Terestia liked! I was fooled! I’m happier eating cake!’

That was it.

When Argo found Terestia, licking her tongue and stamping her feet in frustration, he clicked his tongue at the bottle of alcohol on the floor.

Then he consoled her by putting a sweet candy in her mouth.

“How is it, Your Highness? What the former Highness enjoyed isn’t your taste, is it? If you keep going to sleep without brushing your teeth, I won’t give you any more of the sweets you like.”

At that, Terestia burst into tears again and struggled, saying she didn’t want that.

…That had become the daily routine at the Grand Duke’s castle lately.

“…His Highness the Grand Duke has returned!”

“Mom, there are so many knights.”

“Shh, it’s dangerous to go near. Watch from a distance.”

While Terestia, nestled in her aide’s arms, was lost in a light sleep, the carriage steadily moved and arrived at the Inyument Territory.

When Terestia frowned at the murmuring of the territory’s residents and woke from her sleep, Argo looked at her blinking eyes with great reluctance as she left his embrace.

“Did you sleep well?”

“…Hmm, have we arrived?”

“We’ve entered the territory.”

Argo, with gestures far too delicate for his build, swept back Terestia’s disheveled hair and answered.

Terestia looked out the window with sleepy eyes.

“Why are they all outside?”

“It seems they were waiting for Your Highness’s return.”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

What’s the problem? Surely they’re not trying to start a riot?

But I’ve already taken care of everyone who suspected my identity, and I did well following Argo’s advice!

Feeling a sudden sense of crisis, Terestia quickly scanned the faces of the residents with sharp eyes.

As she peered out the window as if clinging to it, Argo broke her out of her worry.

“They were waiting to see when you would return because they’re fond of you.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, just like ‘Cookie.'”

“Cookie.”

Cookie was the name of the puppy the castle residents raised.

At first, the little thing had dared to bare its teeth at her, but now it was a darling that wagged its tail excitedly the moment she stood at the door.

‘Hoho. Is it because we’re both mammals? It seems humans have canine habits too.’

Terestia nodded in understanding and continued to look out the window.

The waving hands of the people looked just like Cookie’s wagging tail.

“How many expeditions has this been already?”

“I believe this was the fourth large-scale expedition. According to Beth, His Highness sometimes goes out with only a small number of people in between.”

“Good heavens, is that even possible? No matter how great the Grand Duke is, how can one person do that!”

“It is a bit strange. The rumors about her in the capital were so bad…”

“Ahem, well, they say she’s possessed by a demon.”

As the carts carrying the monster carcasses entered the Grand Duke’s territory, everyone let out admiring sighs.

“Look there—the condition of the carcasses is even better than last time!”

Just a few months ago, they’d had to join the subjugation squad and work hard to hunt monsters, and in return, they’d barely receive three shriveled loaves of bread.

But now things had changed.

The Grand Duke personally went out to subjugate monsters, so they no longer had to join the subjugation squad, and merchants flocked to buy monster parts, allowing them to make a living within the village itself.

“There’s a reason the merchant guild from the capital doesn’t act so high and mighty this time. Frankly, so what if His Highness is a demon like the rumors say? If she just keeps me from going hungry, I’d swear loyalty to a demon.”

“Ha ha ha, when I think of the Vatican bastards who steal our money in the name of donations, I’d rather just become a demon’s subordinate!”

The conversations were terrifying in content, yet boisterous and hopeful.

But Terestia couldn’t laugh.

‘What? A demon Grand Duke?’

As if something huge had happened, as if she’d heard something she shouldn’t have.

And she asked Argo, who was looking at her with a puzzled expression.

“A demon? What do you mean, a demon? Are the rumors that I’m a demon still circulating?”

“Pardon?”

“…Do people really think I’m a demon?”

Her large violet eyes were trembling with confusion as she asked.

She’d certainly eliminated all those who suspected her, so why were such rumors still spreading?

Argo stared at Terestia with an incredulous look.

“…Your Highness, did you just say ‘demon’?”

At Argo’s words, Terestia clamped her mouth shut and rolled her eyes in frustration.

‘Why again? Why is this happening again?’

Everyone keeps digging into my identity!