Chapter 46: Demon Lord

Ryo sat calmly in an open field, the sun casting golden rays upon the lush greenery surrounding him. Across from him sat a man exuding an air of dominance—dark armor adorned his body, his crimson eyes flickering with an eerie glow. Between them rested a simple table, a contrast to the immense pressure filling the air. This was the Demon Lord, a ruler feared by many, yet here he was, seeking a conversation with Ryo.

"I'm here to make an alliance with you," the Demon Lord declared, his voice deep and authoritative.

Ryo raised an eyebrow. "An alliance?"

The Demon Lord nodded. "Yes, an alliance. We establish a trade route between your newly founded nation and my empire. And as a part of the agreement... you will marry my daughter."

Silence stretched between them. Ryo processed the words carefully, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. Marriage seemed to be a recurring theme in his life lately.

After a few moments, he asked, "What now?"

"You will marry my daughter in the near future," the Demon Lord stated with absolute certainty. "There are no better suitors for her than you. And considering you already have two princesses as your fiancées, adding a third should not be a problem."

Ryo let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "You make it sound like you're trading your daughter for an alliance."

The Demon Lord's gaze sharpened. "Is my daughter not good enough for you?"

"I never said that," Ryo replied, his tone neutral. "But shouldn't you ask her first? If she agrees, then—"

Before he could finish, a voice interrupted from beside the Demon Lord. "If I agree, will you marry me?"

Ryo's eyes flicked toward the source. Standing beside the Demon Lord was a maid—or at least, that was what he had assumed. Now, he realized she had been concealing her presence. With a small flick of her wrist, an enchantment faded, revealing her true form.

Long black hair cascaded down her back, her crimson eyes locked onto Ryo's with curiosity and amusement. She was breathtaking, her noble aura unmistakable.

The Demon Princess.

Ryo blinked in surprise. "You were here the whole time?"

She smirked. "Of course. It's only fair that I hear the terms of my own marriage proposal."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. This situation was getting out of hand. "I'll think about it. I can't answer this at the moment."

The Demon Lord gave a knowing chuckle, standing from his chair. "Fair enough. You have more pressing matters to attend to, but do give it serious thought. I will be meeting the Vampire Lord and the Dragon Emperor soon to discuss the alliance further. We shall determine the best course of action together."

Ryo nodded, watching as the Demon Lord turned to leave. The Demon Princess, however, lingered for a moment, her red eyes scanning him carefully. Then, with an unreadable expression, she followed her father.

As they disappeared into the distance, Ryo exhaled heavily. "Another one, huh?"

He had barely wrapped his head around the fact that he was engaged to both Selena and Seyra. Now, the Demon Princess was being added into the mix? His life was becoming more complicated by the day.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the sky.

"Well… I suppose I should get used to this."