The Incubus Archduke Dreams of a Pet Human - Chapter 40

As his eyes softened, her tightly wound heart shrank to the size of a bean.

“Then I will take my leave.”

Jess, who had been watching for an opening the entire time, also stepped in to help. The fabric shop owner, who had shrunk back, hurried over, rubbing his hands together.

“I have finished processing the fabric you ordered.”

While the owner spoke, he neatly wrapped the blind-stitched fabric, no bigger than a handkerchief, and handed it to Theticia.

As they stepped out of the fabric shop, Levia carefully tapped Theticia’s shoulder.

“I-It is a shame. I-It was fun. L-Let’s talk again next time.”

“Yes, it really was fun, Lord Levia!”

“I-I recently authored a new Demon Realm flora compendium. Th-That book focuses mainly on flora researched around the capital. I-I’ll send it along to Asmod.”

“Really? You have already given me so much.”

Just the sample pouches Levia had taken from his robe were enough to make her bag feel ready to burst. His bluish, hollow eyes curved gently.

“I-It is the first time I have met a kindred spirit.”

Levia grinned and quietly placed Theticia’s hand atop his own. As nobles customarily did, his cold lips brushed lightly against the back of her hand. Unlike the lips that withdrew at once, his deep green eyes lingered for a long time on the mark at her wrist.

It was embarrassing to receive such a greeting from a demon other than Asmod for the first time, but Levia’s touch was not as frightening as before. It was because she agreed with his words about meeting a kindred spirit.

When Glacia stretched and let out a light breath, a Dimensional Gate slightly smaller than Asmod’s appeared in front of the shop.

“I look forward to seeing you again, Lord Levia.”

“Until then, Archdukie.”

At the lively farewells from Theticia’s group, Levia waved his hand loosely. When the Dimensional Gate disappeared, the waving hand stopped abruptly.

“T-Theticia.”

Levia licked the lips that had touched human skin.

A shiveringly clean, sweet, and moist scent. As expected of a human brought by Asmod, it was far from ordinary.

“……S-She knows more than what I heard from Mammon. A-Asmod would not be able to have conversations such as these with her.”

As Levia stood blankly in front of the shop, the fabric shop owner cautiously approached him.

“Y-Your Grace. The items you purcha……, ghk!”

At a flick of his hand, thorny vines sprouted in an instant and wrapped around the demon.

“N-Never interrupt again.”

With that irritation-tinged, sullen voice as the last note, the thorny vines tangled together and compressed. Over the bodily fluids gushing out, Levia took slow steps forward.

***

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

A compulsive rhythm echoed through the office. It was the sound of Asmod tapping his pen, unable to keep his hand still.

Perched on his urn, the head steward Rumpel watched his master with anxious eyes.

‘So the human finally did something.’

The master who had said he would go flower-viewing with a human woman returned alone, his face dark with anger. Saying it was the full moon, he had even cast aside his overdue work. Now he sat blankly, only tapping his pen.

That wicked human must have done something. The only loyal retainer of this estate who could correct his master’s naivety and uphold the dignity of the Archduke’s house was himself.

“Your Grace, the demons of the domain are awaiting the mana you will bestow upon them.”

Rumpel repeated the words he had already rattled off several times.

“……Yes. They have waited a long time.”

At the reply that finally came, Rumpel let out a deep sigh.

“That they have. The mana famine grows ever worse, yet because of that small human, the inspection has been delayed far too long.”

The title of Archduke was not bestowed merely for show. He was a lord who governed one of the seven divisions of the Demon Realm, and the situation was dire. Just as His Majesty the Demon King, Lucifer, distributed mana to Pandemonium under the Blue Moon, Asmod too had to distribute mana to his domain.

Now that he could fully wield the vast mana he possessed, he ought to bestow benevolence upon his domain. Yet his master seemed absorbed in caring for the human, with no sign of intending to leave the capital.

“You must also prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony, so would it not be best to at least inform the domain of the inspection schedule in advance. At this rate, the domain’s residents will be on the verge of submitting petitions to the Archduke’s mansion.”

Petitions from the Human Realm were, at most, merely letters, so it would not matter if a few boxes piled up. But petitions from the Demon Realm were riddled with all manner of curses and poisons.

Rumpel added in a serious tone.

“It is time to put an end to that waiting.”

“Yes. I am tired of waiting.”

Having spoken those words, Asmod rose abruptly from his seat.

“Y-Your Grace!”

Rumpel cried out in alarm and leapt down from the urn, but he could not pursue Asmod, who had already flung open the door and rushed out like an arrow. As a ghost, the range in which he could move beyond his urn did not extend past the threshold of the office.

“Your Grace!”

Leaving Rumpel shouting from the doorway behind him, Asmod hastened his steps.

He could feel Theticia’s mana from the ballroom.

While waiting for Theticia and those with her in the office, the impatience had swelled like a plague after a flood, gnawing at his nerves.

Suppressing his anger, Asmod flung the ballroom doors open.

Theticia waved at Asmod with a bright expression.

“Ah, Lord Asmod! I am sorry I returned so late!”

At the demonic scent coming from Theticia, who had only just returned, the little restraint Asmod had left, snapped.