Y/n's POV
"I never know that Lady Hyein doesn't have a taste in recruiting."
"Just what quality does she have?"
"It must be a pity."
"Urgh, those voices..."
"Uhmm..."
A girl made her way to me. It was the same girl I helped just now. I asked her to meet me in private because I didn't want people to think badly of her as well. Hyein and Minji were settling the case with the nobles in charge of the city. Knowing that my presence would attract more people, I excused myself from the town and searched for a quiet place. I gave the girl a signal to follow me.
"You can call me Y/n." I said as I gave her chaneries back.
"Sorry, because of me..."
"No, don't be. It's not your fault."
I could feel the guilt in her expression. Then, it just came to me. This might be our last encounter anyway, it wouldn't hurt to ask, right?
"Why me?"
Out of the many people she could ask for help, why would she choose the obvious? She could see my horns clearly. It's supposed to be hard to ask a demon a favor.
"That's because you're a demon."
'What?'
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand. You purposely chose me when you know that I'm a demon? For what reason?" I failed to comprehend her reason. Her expression suddenly changed. I stepped back a little because her aura wasn't the same anymore.
"I want to test your ability. Of course, pickpocketing wasn't something I planned. When I saw you, I just used my chance to know you."
I furrowed my brows.
"Please don't think badly of me." She opened her chaneries and pulled out a necklace. Whatever necklace it is, it must cost me a fortune. It was clearly made of gold with red diamonds almost filling the whole necklace.
She wore the necklace, and I couldn't believe what happened next.
-
Hyein's POV
The conversation with the head of the town was tiring. He said that there were no eyewitnesses, how absurd. Although the people must have focused on their job decorating the town as the queen of the kingdom would visit, Y/n unnie wasn't even trying to harm the pickpocket.
"Is my decision to take her with us wrong?"
"Nope," Minji unnie said without doubt. "She's having fun here and that's because of your choice. You made the right decision." She patted me on the head.
I returned it with a smile. That's good then.
It's hard for me to decide on something, especially when it's crucial. Since I had some authority, certain options seemed to be easy, but the burden of the consequences was greater.
I took out my pocket watch, I guessed it was time to call for Y/n. The queen was about to make her appearance in an hour.
We walked toward the place Y/n pointed to before.
That was when we heard her shaky voice, "Who are you?"
Was she talking to someone? I immediately took a look. My eyes went wide when I recognized who she was.
"Your Majesty! What are you doing here?" Even with the surprised tone, Minji unnie and I still bowed our heads.
"W-wha... Your Majesty?" Y/n glanced at me, back to the girl, and then back again at me. I guessed it was hard for her to believe.
"Y/n, bow your head," Minji instructed and Y/n just followed.
The girl burst out laughing. "Oh gosh, that's hilarious. So, you're Y/n, huh? As the queen of this kingdom, I permit you to call me by my name, Kazuha. Please, be grateful."
"H-how can I?" She still lowered her body a lot but glanced a little at the queen. While Minji unnie and I just looked at each other. Out of many rumors we've heard about the queen, there's nothing to say about the queen's easygoingness. She must have a hidden motive.
"Just use your mouth, to say my name, no pressure. Or maybe, should I not only permit but oblige you to say it?"
There it was... Her sassiness. She was elegant and pure in front of her people, but not many people knew this side of her. Rather than saying it in a negative way, it was "bold" of her to act this way. She's not a frivolous person.
"There's no need for obligation, Kazuha-ssi."
Nice one, Y/n. She still addressed her with formalities.
"Well, that's fair enough. You must be surprised, right? This is why I told you that the thing inside the chaneries is important. Without this necklace, I would have a hard time appearing in the town later."
The queen walked closer to Y/n. "You want to know why I test you?"
Y/n didn't nod or answer, but I could tell she was expectant of the answer.
Then, the queen looked at me, "That's because I want to recruit you to work under the kingdom."
Minji unnie was about to talk, but the queen immediately raised her finger, instructing her to say no more.
"I can sense your potential and I want you to use them for the kingdom's interest. I give you this chance to alter people's perspectives not only on you, but all of your kind. Although the population of demons itself is significantly smaller than the other races, I do believe it's an amazing chance I give."
Y/n stared at me, "It's not... a decision I can make myself."
"but that doesn't mean you can bestow your obligation to decide onto me. Why are you looking at me like that?" I wanted to scream, but I held myself in front of the queen.
"We need time to discuss if it's okay with you." I plead.
-
The queen told us to show up 30 minutes before the festival began. I didn't want to believe that she would accept Y/n's rejection, but she gave us time. I guessed I wasn't entirely sure.
"What do you think, Y/n? What do you want to do?" Minji started, looking at Y/n who was not very excited by this discussion.
"I... I can't decide. Do you guys think it's a good offer?" she gave a question back.
"Well, I don't know since I'm not the one who's going to undergo a work life in a kingdom. What do you think from your perspective?"
Why did they keep ending their sentence with a question?
"Y/n unnie, don't ask more questions, answer them. What do you think of the offer?"
She opened her mouth, just to close it afterward. Eyes full of concern and confusion.
I knew those eyes. They were the same eyes I used to see in the mirror back then. The burden of deciding what's right, what's wrong, what's better, what's good, anything.
"I think it's good."
"Then, you're good to go."
I could feel Minji unnie's stare, but I kept staring at Y/n unnie's eyes.
"but what if it's a bad decision? I will bear those regrets my entire life."
"Yeah, I know. Maybe I will regret this choice to let you go easily. No one of us would like to choose that."
It was meant as an encouragement, I hoped she didn't take it as sarcasm.
"I don't know if you can think the way I think, but I'm used to wishing for my choices to always be right. If it's right, then it's good, but if it's wrong, I will ask for bravery to bear the consequences. Don't. Ever. Run away from what you have chosen. It will haunt you for life, the responsibility, the consequences, or the regrets."
"Woah, I must sound like a wise person just now" I pinched my nose bridge. I exhaled a heavy breath.
"So, what's your final decision?"
She looked me firmly in the eyes, but I wondered what she would find if I asked. Would she notice my doubt? Would she notice my sadness?
"I... will take the offer.
I... don't want to hide anymore."