Chapter 53. Strong Rival!

"How horrible... I'm so hungry..." The Dream demon sobbed, ugly tears flooding the bag.

"Shut up!" Willow shook the bag violently, shutting the demon up. Black goo swam within the bag, swarming itself in the dark liquids.

The group sat in the carriage, driving closer and closer towards the Capital City.

Augustine carried a suitcase, inside was the Shadow Demon they'd trapped from earlier.

Farrah's locks of glowing white hair had been transformed into a colour of rich brown. Her crimson red eyes had faded into a caramel brown. Jacques had decided to cast such a colour transformation spell to avoid suspicions. The Demon Princess couldn't help but constantly look at her hair, worry sketched all over her cold face.

"...leave it alone," Lucilline sighed.

Farrah couldn't stop casting her gaze over at the window, checking her reflection over on the glass surface. "But..."

"You look fine." Lucilline chuckled.

The Demon Princess—last of the Royal demons—turned out to be a worry wart for appearances. Nobody would've imagined she had such a fear.

"That is not the point." Farrah bluntly deadpanned, her cold expression never changing. "Although my hair and eye colours have changed, my face hasn't. There are still demons out there trying to search for me. What they want from me; I don't know. But it should have something to do with my lost memories."

Lucilline leaned back.

"That is correct." He cheekily smiled, "But we promised to help you recover your memories. There should be some answers in the Capital City."

Farrah fell silent.

She looked away from the black-haired nobleman, afraid that if she stared too long, she'd be mesmerized by his charisma. "Well," she frowned, "I know."

*****

As usual, the Capital City flourished in population and richness.

"We'll have to walk to get to the Royal Palace." Lucilline stepped down from the carriage. Augustine lent him a hand, to which the black-haired nobleman graciously accepted.

The butler felt a glare burn into the back of his head.

Turning back, he saw the unhappy expression of Jacques.

Augustine happily shrugged. If the mage was unhappy, then that must've meant he'd done a good thing. "But first of all, we also need to book an appointment with the Crown Prince." Lucilline did not notice the conflicts between the two taller men.

The black-haired nobleman sighed, "We'll also need to get you a new name..."

"Hm..." Farrah hummed to herself. "What about November?"

In an instant, everyone came to a stop. The atmosphere became cold and unpleasant, as if a storm was brewing overhead them all.

"...huh?" Farrah was puzzled, yet her cold face unmoved.

Lucilline felt his knuckles turn pale. He laughed it off, "Choose a different name?"

The Demon Princess did not question it. She came up with a different one, "...Then what about A? I can be called Lady A-"

"Neither that." Lucilline shook his head. His heart palpitated, drumming rapidly against his chest. He could not control the shivers creeping down his skin, as a feeling of unease surrounded him.

The name Lady A reminded him of his homeroom teacher; Miss A.

He had always suspected her from the start. Miss A, despite being a sweet teacher, had countless flaws. For example, that night when Percival, Daphnne, and him ventured inside the school—they found her holding a mysterious book with November.

November was confirmed to be a demon.

If November was a demon, doesn't that make Miss A. a suspect as well? What if at that night, they were drawing teleportation spells... to invite demons and help them invade the school? That answered the question of how the demons were able to invade S Academy without notice.

There was a high chance of Miss A. being November's accomplice...

Farrah did not care about Lucilline's unease.

She huffed, "Then call me Nineteen."

"Huh?" Lucilline was puzzled. "Why Nineteen?"

Farrah played with her hair, tousling a strand of chestnut brown around a finger. "I'm not sure? Maybe it's because I look like I'd be nineteen-years-old."

Everyone, "..."

Lucilline took a deep breath. "That is acceptable. Then your name will be changed to Nineteen."

He couldn't stop the hammering of his heart. Just why did Farrah come up with the names 'November' and 'Lady A' earlier? What connection does she have with those two?

"Young Master," a pair of cold gloves squeezed his hands.

Lucilline was stunned.

Augustine took ahold of his hand. Despite wearing his butler gloves, the warmth of his hands seemed to permeate through. His sharp silver gaze spoke countless words—more than the man himself will ever speak.

The black-haired nobleman found this act amusing, yet comforting.

"Well, let's go shop for some clothes. Nineteen, you wouldn't want to wear robes all day long, would you?" Lucilline smiled gently.

Farrah—whose name was changed to Nineteen—had nodded.

They have explored and traversed past several stores. Having tried on multiple dresses, Farrah ended up carrying five bags full of clothes. The Princess Demon have never experienced the hardships of purchasing clothes before. Now that she had tried on so many dresses, Farrah was almost ready to throw up.

"We should return back to the Rubius manor." Lucilline hummed happily.

His delicate face brightened up, "I'm sure brother and sister will be happy that I made a new friend."

Farrah deadpanned, "We are not friends."

"Oh?" Lucilline arched an eyebrow. "Then what are we?"

The brown-haired Demon Princess huffed. Her pale face glowed like the mourning moon. "We are in a coerced relationship. If you don't want to die, you must help me. You are my slave, and I am your Master."

Lucilline just chuckled at it. "Indeed."

Behind him, Willow was speechless, "..." No! Young Master! You are no slave!

She was about to open her mouth and retort the Demon Princess, but a loud shriek interrupted her. "HELP ME!!! THERE'S A THIEF!!!"

Lucilline: ...this sounds very familiar.

All of a sudden, the sound of heavy footsteps raced past the streets. The crowd of nobles had quickly parted away, making way for a man dressed in black tights to sprint through.

The thief carried a bag of coins, a hideous smile warped on his face—

In a split second, he was nailed to a wall by a sword. The blade poked through his hood, nailed tight to the wall. No matter how hard the thief tugged at the sword, it would not come unstuck.

"Stay still, thief." A young man dressed a in velvet red cloak had grabbed the thief by his hood, pulling the sword out of the wall. His locks of white hair were as fluffy as the feathers of a dove, and his neck resembled a handsome swan.

The young knight handed the thief over to other patrol members, who thanked him. "Thank you for the help, Sir Azalea!"

Amongst the crowd, Lucilline watched.

He sighed. It turned out that Azalea turned into a Royal Knight, working under His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Indeed, his dream of becoming a knight did come true.

The crowd parted. Lucilline was about to walk away as well.

"...Lucy?" A low voice wandered from afar.

Lucilline was shocked speechless, as a pair of hands grabbed onto his. It was just like the past.

Azalea's pair of amethyst purple eyes shone with great brilliance. "It really is you, Lucy!" His hair bounced, as if he'd grown ears and a tail. He jumped up and down, holding and shaking the black-haired nobleman's hands. Sweet laughter spiralled out of his smiling mouth.

"Hey! Release your hold on Young Master!" Willow frowned.

Azalea faltered.

His purple amethyst eyes darkened, as if contemplating something.

Then, they brightened again. "Oh, long time no see, sister!"

Willow: !!! He remembers! ( ﾟдﾟ)

The maidservant no longer appeared grim, and a layer of mist surfaced her purple eyes. She wanted to bawl out and cry, but feared of directing attention.

"It's been three years since you left, Lucy." Azalea had grown taller, his build becoming lean yet strong. "There's a lot we should catch up, right? Thankfully, I'm not on duty for today. Oh right! I should bring you to visit Daphnne—she opened up her own herbal shop! We can talk there!"

Lucilline's golden eyes softened.

It had been a long time since he returned to the Capital City. He felt as if many things changed—Azalea's usual gentle yet indifferent nature turned quite... bright.

"Oh, who's this... lady." Azalea turned rigid once he saw Farrah.

Inwardly, Lucilline sweated. What to do... should I let Azalea in on the secret that Farrah is a Demon Princess? Or should I lie to him according to the plan—

"I am Nineteen, an associate of Lucilline Rubius." Farrah responded, her face indifferent and cold.

She betrayed no emotions.

"We met outside the Capital City. Being the kind gentleman that he is, Lucilline Rubius offered to help solve one of my problems."

Azalea's eyes scanned the brown-haired woman.

He kindly smiled, but that smile seemed to lack something. "That is wonderful. I hope that your problem is solved as soon as possible."

The group followed Azalea down the streets.

The entire way, the white-haired knight never let go of Lucilline's hand.

*****

"We're here." Azalea beamed a bright smile.

They were led to a small shop, casted over with emerald green curtains and a variety of products sitting behind a glass window.

"Welcome to— Wait, Lucilline, is that you!?!" A chestnut brown-haired woman ran from the front counter, her eyes sparkling with joy. Daphnne almost cried, upon reuniting with her friend.

"Willow, you too!" Daphnne sniffed, her eyes reddening.

The maidservant panicked. "D-don't cry..."

Lucilline just chuckled at this.

He introduced Farrah, who used the name Nineteen. Daphnne did not suspect a thing, greatly welcoming her inside her herbs store.

The group entered a private room, then began discussing the old times. Back when S Academy was not destroyed and still in reconstruction... back when Azalea, Lucilline, and Daphnne were studying together peacefully. They were not focusing on exterminating demons, but rather just living their lives to the fullest.

"It was really peaceful back then, huh." Lucilline pondered.

Inwardly, he shook his head. Back when I first met you two, I had found out that my life was a story. That was when Augustine revealed to me that I was a villain, and you were destined to kill me.

Lucilline leaned against the wall, crossing one leg over another, to avoid any pressure on his right knee.

"Hey, Lucy." A fair hand stretched before his face.

The black-haired nobleman blinked. "Yes, Azalea?"

The white-haired knight shyly glanced away, a tint of redness creeping at his ears. "Could I... talk to you... privately in another room?"

Lucilline's golden eyes widened. Privately? Could it be that he found out about Farrah's identity-

"Yes! We have a spare room!" Daphnne added. "You two can borrow that room to have your... private talk." For some odd reason, Lucilline seemed to have seen heart shapes dancing in the heroine's eyes.

Lucilline: ...this is not normal

He followed Azalea to a separate room, where the others could not access. Inside was a small office, littered in paperwork and boxes of bitterly scented herbs. Lucilline did not care for the scent, for it did not affect him at all. It did not faze Azalea either.

The white-haired knight pulled up a chair.

"Sit here, Lucy." He gestured.

Lucilline shook his head, politely declining, "No, it's fine. I should stand-"

"Stop enduring." Two words harshly cut him off. Lucilline was stunned, looking up to see the frigidly indifferent eyes of the white-haired knight. Those irises used to be glazed in the warm colours of blooming lavenders; the valiant colour submerging a field of grass into a sea of violet. Yet now, they were dark and purged in a tempest—cold like the bitter winter.

Azalea did not allow any complaints, letting Lucilline sit on the chair.

The black-haired nobleman pursed his lips, "...endure what?"

All of a sudden, Azalea leaned before him—their faces merely a few inches away. "Don't pretend with me, Lucy." The atmosphere was incomparably thick, the air stuffed and difficult to breathe in.

"Your knee is injured, isn't it?"

Lucilline: !!!

"H-How'd you know?" The black-haired nobleman was surprised at the male lead's observations. I was confident that I hid it properly... nobody noticed it after all.

Azalea sighed, his cold facade crumbling apart, revealing his old gentle side.

His contours softened, as if his heart was breaking in pieces from caring about someone else. "Your standing position was not natural. I could tell that you weren't placing strength in your right knee. Earlier, when you were leaning against the wall, I saw your right knee bend strangely."

Truly, once it came to Lucilline Rubius, nothing about him could escape from Azalea's eyes.

"Why didn't you ask for treatment?" Azalea pouted. His brows were furrowed, which were a sign of his... anger.

Lucilline found it amusing. "Why are you angry for me?"

"Answer my question first." Azalea was relentless.

Thus, the black-haired nobleman could only concede. He propped his chin on a palm, his golden eyes lingering in defeat. "Well, it was a injury from..." From being thrown to the ground by Farrah, but I cannot tell him that. "...it was from accidentally falling during training."

The lie was made up quickly.

It did not escape from Azalea's observation though. "Is it really just a fall?"

"Of course," Lucilline frowned, "I was training before arriving in the Capital City. I suppose I pushed myself too hard, because I fell over and accidentally scraped my knee."

Azalea knelt down on one knee, then examined the black-haired nobleman's injury.

He rolled up his pants from the bottom hem, the slim fabric easily folding away from the slender leg. "..." A hideous purple bruise was revealed; a burning ire amongst the smooth skin. A few scrapes of blood blisters could be found underneath the skin, the veins ruptured.

"...this is an accidental scrape?" Azalea deadpanned.

Lucilline: ...no.

"Yes," his mouth rejected the truth settling in his mind. "I did indeed get this injury from an accidental scrape."

Silence encumbered the private room. The bitter scent of the herbs flowed in the room, the smell becoming stronger and thicker.

Azalea frowned. His expression was upset.

Lucilline wanted to cry. How am I supposed to trick you?

"...Are you sure you didn't get this injury from helping that... woman named Nineteen?"

Lucilline: !!! Though you're partially wrong, you're also partially right.

"Of course not!" Lucilline huffed. "The help that Nineteen needs does not require the use of violence. It really was an accidental scrape."

Azalea's purple eyes flickered with unease. Perhaps I am being too nosy.

He coughed, "Then, why didn't you find treatment? You could've gone to a hospital, or get treatment from a mage. Don't you have a mage in your group—Jacques, right? He is also a Royal Knight, who you can trust."

Lucilline found this question simpler to answer.

"It's just an accidental scrape-"

Azalea poked at his bruise.

"Ow!" Lucilline flinched, a layer of mist forming before his golden eyes.

"...Just an accidental scrape?" Azalea arched an eyebrow.

Lucilline wished to hide himself in the shadows. If only he was a Shadow Demon and could quickly hide from the blinding light. Facing Azalea's detection was as scary as paying a visit to Grand Duke Rubius!

"I-I was wrong..." He stammered. "I didn't want to bother Jacques, because he already helped me heal an injury before-"

"An injury from before!?!"

Lucilline: ...oh no.

A part of the black-haired nobleman withered. He was definitely going to get interrogated once more.

"I... I met a demon along the way. It threw a knife at me and I couldn't dodge it in time. I thought it would be a good idea to catch the blade with my teeth..." Lucilline shrank back in his chair, as he felt the glacier cold glare stemming from a pair of violet eyes. "...um, I got a shallow cut on the mouth from that. Just a shallow cut!"

The black-haired nobleman was like a child caught from stealing cookies from the family's cookies jar.

He looked away, "The injury really wasn't that bad-"

"...on your mouth, huh?" Azalea could hardly control his voice from shaking. "If I remember correctly, mages need to touch the injury in order to heal it..."

At that moment, the young white-haired knight became aware of a potential rival.

This rival... was strong!