Reincarnation (4)

"Yes, we have three months to ourselves after we completed the sacred ritual today."

"No, Eleanor, I want to talk now. Can we first sit on the table and talk calmly?"

It is too much for me to talk when she is clinging so closely to me.

"Alright."

We both sit in front of each other.

"Lord, if it's about you being a half Incubus, then I already know about that. Father came to meet me before the engagement and told me about it."

"I see. But no, there are other things as well I want to talk about."

"Okay, tell me."

"Firstly, I don't want us to do the sacred ritual today. I want us to get to know each other better before doing it."

"Lord, that is a weird thing to say. Are you not certain about our marriage?"

"No, it's just that I want to take things slow."

"But if I return to my household now, I will become a laughingstock for everyone."

"No. I want you to live here, and we can just tell everyone that we've done the ritual. It's not like others can tell whether we have or not."

"True, but I've never heard of anyone suggesting such an absurd thing."

"Please, Eleanor, that's a request."

I can't tell anyone about the curse. Not at this stage.

"Okay. If you're going to such lengths, there must be a reason."

"Thanks, Eleanor."

"The other thing I want to talk about is that I will be leaving for the Kingdom tomorrow, for five days."

"Just after I came here!?"

"Eleanor, please don't be angry. I have some work to do there."

"Okay then, I'll come with you."

"No!!! It's not somewhere I can take you."

"I see, then tell me what work you have there, or else I will accompany you."

"I want to become the Demon King candidate."

Eleanor stands up from her seat.

"Are you serious? So you are against humans after all?"

It must have been a surprise for her—just hearing the words Demon King.

"No, please calm down, Eleanor. The Demon King just commands the demons, like how the human kings command their people. It depends on what the king wants. It's not like human kings don't capture other territories. It all just depends on the person and his motive."

"I see, so you're saying you'll have your demons stop attacking human and demi-human territories if you become the Demon King?"

"Yes. I plan to make them work with humans."

"Hard to believe."

"Well, you trust me, right? That's why you agreed to us getting together, even after knowing about my half-demon blood."

"I've been watching you since we were kids! We've met at so many functions!"

"Eleanor, trust me. I wouldn't have said any of this if I had any ulterior motives."

"True. You would have first used your charm magic on me and already put a slave crest on me if that was the case, so I'll trust you on this one as well."

"Thanks, Eleanor."

"But won't it endanger you? We've been taught that Demon King candidates are enemies. And if there are two of them, it's best to let them fight and finish off the remaining one. So you'd be easily caught if you become a Demon King candidate."

"Well, that is true. But I'll be able to get holy blessings in any temple and holy blessings completely hide my status as a Demon King candidate."

"I see. Won't the holy blessings hurt you, since you also have demon blood?"

"No, it won't."

"That's good to hear. I'll support you."

"Thanks, Eleanor."

"Well, let's go out."

"No!!! Let's stay inside for an hour or so, so that no one suspects anything."

I stop Eleanor from going out.

I have no idea what's going on in her mind. It must have been quite a surprise for her, maybe even too much for her to handle.

"Okay."

She agrees to stay, but now she's completely silent.

I don't know what else to say.

"I'm sorry, Eleanor and thanks for listening to my request."

I had wanted to change the course of our conversation, but those words just naturally leaked out of my mouth.

After that, we spent the whole day not doing much, just had some food, and then I decided to retreat to the library to give Eleanor time to collect her thoughts.