Chapter 15
She had no idea what state of mind she’d been in when the measurements were taken. She remembered Halima pressing all sorts of fabrics and jewels against her body, but by the time it was over, Theticia was completely worn out.
“The prepared dress will be sent to the Archduke’s residence.”
Halima offered a polite bow, and Theticia clumsily returned the gesture. Asmod wrapped an arm around Theticia’s shoulders and whispered lazily.
“I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”
With a light snap of his fingers, a swirl of violet smoke formed a new dimensional gate in the middle of the salon.
Demon, Contract, Spider Lady, Salon, Demon Realm, Ball.
Everything had been nothing but one shock after another, and now Theticia didn’t even have the energy to be surprised. All she could manage was a tired murmur of awe. Wow, he’s making that expensive dimensional gate wherever he wants.
When she opened the amethyst door knob attached to the pitch-black door, a different landscape from the salon unfolded before her.
“Wow…”
So she still had a bit of awe left in her. The enormous hall that stretched out beyond the door was breathtaking.
Even the endless, far-off ceiling was something, but it was the decor that nearly overwhelmed her eyes. The floor was laid with a carpet depicting the grotesque yet beautiful landscapes of the Demon Realm, and the walls were engraved with various bas-reliefs, like those in mythological temples.
Theticia stared at Asmod with a dazed expression.
“Is all Demon Realm architecture like this? The salon was already incredibly luxurious. I don’t think even the Imperial Palace would be more lavish than this. It’s almost painful to look at.”
Although it was an ancient design done long after the war, it seemed extravagant even to a human’s eyes.
“In the Demon Realm, luxury and display are virtues. You can’t compare an Archduke’s mansion to the workshop of a demon with no title.”
Asmod murmured lightly, making the dimensional gate disappear.
Feeling as if all her energy had been completely drained, Theticia let out a small sigh.
‘Even though it’s so luxurious, it still feels suffocating. Like a well-decorated prison.’
If possible, she wanted to see some natural scenery as soon as she could. The fresh green colors, the cute little bugs, the soft and affectionate animals. She missed them dearly. Though the plants in the Demon Realm were closer to a deep green rather than the usual green, it wasn’t the same.
With a doubtful gaze, Theticia looked up at Asmod.
“You promised to support my research on demonic beasts. You have to show me all the plants and creatures of the Demon Realm, okay?”
“Yes. Once the debutante presentation is over, you’ll be allowed to go out. Until then, you’ll have to endure.”
Just then, the sound of quick footsteps came from a distance.
Thud, thud, thud…
Through the gap in the grand doors of the hall, a white puff of fur, big enough to reach a person’s chest, leapt into the air.
“A dog?!”
At the appearance of a cute animal, Theticia lit up and reached out her hand. A fluffy ball of fur in this lavish and desolate mansion!
“C-cute… waaah!”
The moment the dog leapt into the air, large wings sprouted from its back, and the ink-stained snout that had been sticking out its tiny tongue split wide open. It opened so wide, it looked like it could swallow Theticia’s head in a single bite.
“Glacialabolas!”
Asmod scolded it as if calling out the name of a misbehaving child, and the dog snapped its mouth shut and froze in midair. Behind the shaggy fur, enormous wings fluttered.
“Archdukie?”
A lisping, childlike voice came from its slightly turned snout. Instinctively, Theticia hid behind Asmod’s back and soothed her pounding chest.
The dog’s disgruntled gaze fixed on Theticia. From behind Asmod’s broad back, Theticia cautiously poked her head out to observe the creature.
Its fur was white, with only its eye rims and ears tinged a pale brown. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like an oversized sheepdog, but the wings flapping from its back and the terrifying sight she had just witnessed kept her too tense to let her guard down.
“Wh… puppy?”
“Glacia not puppii!”
Woof! The small, sharp bark made Theticia break into a cold sweat. Asmod gently took her arm and pulled her to stand beside him.
“Comparing a demon to a surface animal is a grave insult. That kind of remark demeans the intelligence of demonkind.”
“Ah, yes. I’m sor… I’m sorry.”
Halima had also seemed displeased when she was called a spider. As Theticia apologized to Asmod, she followed his gaze and bowed her head to the dog.
“I forgive you. Glacia is magnanimous.”
Perhaps hearing its name, the dog lifted its head with a proud tilt.
“This is Glacialabolas. You may call it Glacia. My subordinate and the guardian of this mansion. This is Theticia Pelloni. She is my guest, so show her proper respect.”
He introduced them equally, but the instruction to be respectful was clearly directed at Glacia. Glacia twitched its short nose and quietly folded its wings to sit down on the floor.
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