The Immortal Queen Cannot Escape the Lies and Obsession of the Demon — Not That She Wants To - Chapter 02

In this world, there exists a being feared as the Demon King.

After fighting endlessly against beasts tainted with corrupted mana—monsters—humanity one day noticed a pivotal characteristic in their biology that would become a historical turning point.

Every monster slain by humans had been male.

Since they possessed reproductive functions, female monsters capable of producing offspring must also exist.

Yet, despite destroying countless monster nests, none had ever been found. They were likely being hidden.

Eliminating the females would be a decisive step toward eradicating the multiplying monsters.

Once this information was shared among nations plagued by attacks, disguised breeding grounds. Monster colonies were discovered in caves across the lands.

And deep within these colonies, the existence of the Demon King was revealed: a female-shaped demon creature that gave birth to countless monsters.

But humanity was no match for the Demon King’s overwhelming power.

They could only defend against the ever-growing hordes at the borders. Though a glimmer of hope had appeared, humanity’s disadvantage remained unchanged, and time passed with countless sacrifices.

“Ah, you’re awake?”

Her head felt itchy.

Even before she opened her eyes to identify the source of the annoying sensation, Ariana recognized the intruder’s voice, the one who had been rudely playing with her hair.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, exhausted, Ariana felt relieved.

“Rai, what time is it now?”

“Who knows? If you’re going by the sun, it’s nearly dawn. Why don’t you finally get a clock for your room?”

“Whenever I hear the ticking of a second hand, I can’t help but want to read. Ever since I stayed up late once, Nala hasn’t allowed it.”

“That’s your own fault.”

With a scoffing breath of ridicule, the gray shadow moved away from the bed. Feeling the shift as his weight lifted, Ariana blinked several times.

In her dim, gradually clearing vision, a familiar boy leaned in to look at her.

His long hair, a dull gold with black mesh highlights at the nape, and deep green eyes like murky water; pupil-less, like polished glass marbles.

This beautifully crafted boy, as if sculpted like a god from the scriptures, floated in midair. His form, with a gray cape draped over his shoulders and fluttering gently, was so fantastical it could be mistaken for a dream.

His unreal beauty gazed down at Ariana from above, a bewitchingly sweet smile on his lips as his fingertips brushed her cheek.

“What’s this? You look like you want to be spoiled.”

“Eh, really? Was it that obvious on my face?”

“…Hey, isn’t that response a bit sneaky?”

Having her true feelings unintentionally read from her expression or attitude was shameful for a member of the royal family.

Ariana was simply shocked by her own immaturity, but the boy Rai was taken aback by her overly honest confirmation and frowned in frustration.

“So? Ariana, who got poisoned at her own fifteenth birthday celebration and died once, lamenting that she couldn’t eat the cake she’d been looking forward to. What is it you desire?”

Mixing deliberate sarcasm into his condescending tone, the fingertips that had been gently touching her cheek now pinched it teasingly.

This kind of reaction seemed fitting for a boy around fifteen, her own age.

But Ariana knew well that Rai was no such adorable being.

“I want you to increase my remaining lives.”

His glass-bead eyes blinked once.

Dropping his teasing demeanor, he twisted his frivolous smile into one of amusement.

“Impatient, aren’t you?”

Rai stopped floating and leaned over Ariana.

Her waist was pinned between his knees, and his hands planted on either side of her head kept her shoulders immobilized.

What had seemed like a casual descent was actually a skillful restraint. Ariana secretly admired Rai’s technique.

“I didn’t mean to make you beg, but did it come off that way? Chocolate is out of the question for your poison-scorched body, but I did put some frozen oranges in the water pitcher over there.”

Rai’s nimble fingers tangled in Ariana’s hair.

Her head began to itch again. She shifted slightly at the ticklish sensation, only to be immobilized as he leaned his weight on her. Yet…

(It’s not heavy…)

Partly because her back was on the soft bed, the pressure felt light. The comfortable weight was almost pleasant.

With their bodies pressed together, their faces drew close, their foreheads touching.

While Ariana felt a pleasantly cool temperature, Rai muttered in annoyance, “You’re so hot.”

“Until dawn breaks, it’s still your birthday, right? Or was it until the party ended? Whatever. Don’t you want something more?”

“You know exactly what I want, don’t you, Rai?”

With their foreheads still touching, his unreadable deep green eyes stared straight down at her.

“If someone tries to kill me now, I’ll die for real this time.”

“That’s right. Because you’re human, Ariana. You only have one life.”

There had been three public assassination attempts. Two more were handled secretly, never made public.

In the year and a half since her coronation, Ariana had died five times.

But the reason Ariana, with only one life, still lived was because she had transferred those five deaths to the “remaining lives” given to her by Rai.

Ariana Fenizard.

The undying queen who had miraculously survived numerous assassination attempts.

It was all an illusion.

A false immortality made possible only by Rai’s existence.

“I still can’t let ‘myself’ die yet.”

Ariana didn’t know what mechanism lay behind the remaining lives. Rai never explained.

But they were lives. She could imagine all sorts of terrifying possibilities.

Somewhere, someone might be losing their life in Ariana’s place.

Even so, she had no choice but to use them.

For now, Queen Ariana Fenizard still had a mission to fulfill.

“…I see. Personally, I think tomorrow would be fine. Who’d be stupid enough to try again right after what happened yesterday, with everyone on high alert?”

“Rai, please.”

“—Fine.”

The bedsprings creaked.

As Rai sat up, his face betrayed a barely concealed smile, contrary to his dismissive words.

Baring beast-like fangs from his crescent-shaped mouth, the demon creature laughed cruelly.

“Ahh, and here I was worried about you.”

“……!”

Rai’s fingers hooked the collar of her negligee and pulled it down to her chest.

Ariana had known Rai for over a year now. She was used to his clinginess, like a cat familiar with people, but the embarrassment of having her clothes removed never faded.

Still, she had to endure it. This was the price Ariana paid to receive her remaining lives from Rai.

“Don’t blame me if you get a fever.”

Cupping her chin with his fingertips, Rai brought his face close to Ariana’s exposed neck.

There, on her well-cared-for skin, was a single, mismatched scar. A deep slash from her coronation, still visible even after a year.

Rai’s breath, a soft touch, then sharp teeth brushed over the scar. Ariana reflexively shut her eyes and tensed.

(It doesn’t hurt.)

Every time, she braced for the pain of being bitten, and every time, as if mocking her resolve, there was no pain.

After the sensation of a gentle bite, heat spread from the bitten spot throughout her body. The warmth made her head fuzzy, the tension drained from her stiffened limbs, and an irresistible drowsiness overwhelmed her.

Slowly, the pleasant weight on top of her lifted away.

“Here, one more. This should help you sleep. Goodnight, Ariana.”

“Rai, thank you…”

Ariana could no longer keep her eyes open, so she didn’t know what expression Rai wore.

All she understood, just before her consciousness sank away, was that the coolness of the hand placed on her forehead felt comforting, and the way he soothed her to sleep was gentle.