The Incubus Archduke Dreams of a Pet Human - Chapter 34

At the sight of Periot trembling, Mammon swept back his flame-like hair. He rose from his seat as smoothly as if floating, then looked out the window.

“Consider yourself lucky. I have found just the right person to help us.”

Cellis glanced at the contemplative Mammon and conjured a bundle from thin air.

“Items found in the Contaminated Forest. How modest a woman’s luggage can be. Winning a woman’s heart should not be difficult, should it?”

Cellis unwrapped the bundle with thumb and forefinger as if handling filth. From inside came an illustrated guide to flora and fauna, postcards, and a handful of gold coins.

Mammon kept his gaze on the window as he spoke.

“I do not wish for Asmod’s power to grow any further. So I have no intention of breaking the contract. But we shall need to add several conditions to it.”

Periot’s eyes, which had been blank with despair, flickered with desire.

“Conditions being…?”

Mammon looked down at the Empire beyond the window with languid eyes.

Sunlight unseen in the Demon Realm illuminated the Imperial Capital’s beautiful landscape. The Capital, seething with desire, was truly an empire of greed.

“Stealing away Asmod’s pet human, ten will not be enough. You will need to bring at least a thousand.”

***

Drowsy with sleep, Theticia blinked slowly. The soft bedding beneath her hands and the calm scent in the air were familiar.

Outside the window, a faint blue moon shone into the room. A four-poster bed draped with dark purple curtains, an embroidered velvet sofa. Ornate wallpaper and candlesticks leaving no space bare, and a large mirror adorning one wall.

‘…I’m back at the Archduke’s mansion. Did Lord Asmod bring me here?’

The comfort of the familiar space swept away the last of her lingering tension. Her body, still sore in places, carried the cool, emptied sensation that followed a high fever.

‘I had a dream… such a strange dream.’

At the thought of the squirming tentacles that writhed through her fragmented memories, goosebumps rose along her skin. As she flinched, she felt a patch of warmth pressed against her side.

“Mmm…”

As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, shapes gradually came into focus. A small bundle of fur, curled up tight, was pressed right against her.

“Glacia…?”

“Shon-ni, you awake?”

A moist black nose twitched in surprise before giving her chin a quick lick. Holding Glacia in her arms at last made it truly sink in that she was back at the Archduke’s mansion.

“Shon-ni okay? Shouldn’t have let Shon-ni go like that. Got caught up in war talk.”

Whether he had heard what had happened to her or not, Glacia’s voice was heavy with gloom. The way he kept giving gentle, ticklish licks as though to comfort her brought a small, relieved smile to Theticia’s lips.

“No, I shouldn’t have followed. How could Glacia be at fault?”

Even so, his thick furry brows drooped low. His dejected look made her heart ache, and she tightened her arms around him.

“You really are a good one.”

Who would ever think such a small, pitiful dog could be a legion commander? It was enough to be proud of him, simply that this bundle of fur could worry for someone and try to offer comfort.

“But Glacia didn’t protect Shon-ni. Got scolded bad by the Archdukie.”

With a downcast face, Glacia gave her nose a quick lick.

‘Archdukie said no need to chase away the demons coming near, sho I listened…’

Taking the words at face value, Glacia had no idea Asmod had been planning to play tricks on her.

“You got scolded?” Theticia asked, startled.

“Mhm.”

What fault could there possibly be in a dog to warrant scolding? The mistake had been hers, and she couldn’t suppress her guilt toward Glacia.

“Oh no… so that’s why you’ve been so down.”

Placing Glacia on her lap, Theticia cupped his face in both hands and gently stroked him. His eyes seemed moist, as if he had been crying, and the droop in his expression was unmistakable. The light brown markings above his eyes looked so much like a pitiful frown they could almost fool her.

‘I can’t possibly relax seeing this puppy so down.’

As she wondered how she could lift his spirits, Theticia spoke softly.

“You know, Glacia, don’t you find it uncomfortable to keep calling me ‘Shon-ni’?”

“What else would I call you if not Shon-ni?”

At Theticia’s question, Glacia licked his own nose and stuck his tongue out again. That hard-to-stow tongue was probably why his pronunciation kept slipping.

“It’s a bit much to keep saying ‘guest’ every time. I don’t call you ‘Legion Commander’ either. I just call you Glacia.”

At the title of Legion Commander, Glacia panted and lifted the corners of his mouth. He clearly liked being praised.

“What was your original name again? Glaciala-bala-shalas?”

“Glacialabolas!”

At least he pronounced his own name quite fluently.

“What if Glacia called me by a nickname too? Then I think I’d feel less sorry.”

When Theticia smiled brightly, Glacia tilted his head as if deep in thought.

“Call me Tishia.”

“…Can I really call you Tishia?”

Tilting his head, Glacia asked. In his cute little voice was a strangely cold undertone that nearly made Theticia choke on her breath.

“Of course! Call me Tishia.”

“Hehe. You said to call you Tishia, Theticia Pelloni.”

The way he repeated her name was clear and precise. The moment he finished speaking, a sudden spark of static pricked Theticia’s fingers where they were buried in his fur.

“Ow, that stings!”

The ink-stained muzzle below seemed to curl into a sly grin.