THE DEMON KING'S EMPRESS
Autumn, Love Flourishes

"You're the second person to ask me about this."

"Really, Your Majesty?!"

"Yes." Yeah."

"If I may ask, who was the first person to ask you this, Your Majesty?"

"Ehem. You're supposed to call him sister-in-law."

"But, Your Majesty doesn't mind the way I call him. Why would you mind?"

"That's rude!"

"Already. You two don't need to fight just because of a trivial matter like this. If there is anything else you want to talk about, you should discuss it in your palace. I don't want someone making a fuss in my palace."

Hearing Prince Sirzechs reprimanding them, the two fell silent for a moment. Even Princess Cariz felt awkward to ask about the Demon Queen to Prince Sirzechs. He once called off his engagement to Prince Sirzechs, who is now his brother-in-law. Coupled with the attitude of her husband who kept staring intently at her as she asked about the Demon Queen to her sister-in-law. It was as if she felt that she had been bullied by her own husband. Anxiety, heartache can only be contained in his heart. She did not want to just because of her disrespectful attitude towards her sister-in-law, making her husband cold towards her. Coupled with his behavior in the past that caused the relationship of these brothers to become tenuous. She was afraid that her attitude would make her husband completely abandon her. All the efforts he made and planned for years would be in vain only because of the small mistakes he made. So she chose to keep quiet, not bringing up the Demon Queen in front of her husband again. He will be patient and find a way, how he can talk to Prince Sirzechs.

"Calm down, brother. I won't make a fuss in your palace. After all, you yourself are not afraid if someone infiltrates your palace?!"

"Why should I be afraid?"

"Look at this great brother of your palace. Thousands of white pillars stood firm everywhere with no windows on each side. There was only a long white cloth as the curtains. In every corner of the palace there is no strict guard."

"At least my palace is much quieter and not as scary as your palace."

"Hahaha.I am the Demon King. If my palace is beautiful, quiet as your palace. It would just be everyone's joke material, that the Demon King's palace was so beautiful it didn't match the leader's name."

"Hmm, makes sense too. But at least I admire you. Your palace that looks sinister and mysterious, it turns out there are many beauties that cool the eyes."

"You're praising brother too much. If you want, I can send him some for you to choose and of course to accompany you, so you don't feel lonely."

"You haven't seen it and tried it yourself."

"I've seen it before. I've been interested in him for a long time. But, I don't know... Are you going to give it to me or not?!"

Hearing Prince Sirzechs say that in front of her husband, Princess Cariz's heart thumped. He squeezed both his hands over his thighs. Demon King Feng who was next to her, saw the strange behavior of his concubine. She guessed that her concubine still harbored feelings for her brother, even though her guess was wrong. Princess Cariz was nervous and misbehaved, as she once called off her engagement to Prince Sirzechs for absurd reasons that logic could not accept. So, Princess Cariz thought, that Prince Sirzechs deliberately took revenge for his past deeds by saying that in front of her husband. However, she did not dare to open her voice, considering her husband who kept glancing and staring intently at her. It was as if there was a stifled anger behind his gaze.

"As long as you like it, I will gladly give it to you. After all, we are sisters, aren't we?!"

"alright. I hold your word. I hope you don't regret it and pull it off someday."

Hearing the words that her brother said, made Demon King Feng feel that something was wrong with his words. Apparently, he felt sorry for saying such a thing to his brother. However, the rice had already become porridge. He felt the pride to retract his words. He only hoped that the beauty meant by his brother was just a joke, not something serious.

"Okay sister, it's very late. Me and my concubine retreat first."

"I'm sorry, I can't get you guys to the front."

"It's okay. You rest tonight with a good heart, brother. I hope you won't have nightmares again."

"Thank you for your attention."

"Together."

The two of them got up from their seats and bowed to pay their respects to Prince Sirzechs. Prince Sirzechs replied to him just by nodding his head. The two walked in accompanied by Shion to the front and left Prince Sirzechs alone. Prince Sirzechs observed the entire banquet hall. Thousands of white pillars stood firm with long white cloth curtains blown by the wind coupled with a red carpet in the middle of where he stood now. The luxurious seats are white with dragon carvings around them, which are in the topmost center of the chairs and tables on the right side and on the left side. He looked at the white chair he was sitting in. In his mind, the chair now had only one. But it would be better if one day, there would be one seat next to it. A chair occupied only by his future consort, his wife, and his last love. Imagining it made her smile to herself. He imagined that one day, he would sit up there and be accompanied by the woman he loved so much. The woman who had been able to attract his attention, make himself shift his world, make himself crazy, even make him willing to wait until he looks back and says "I want to be your queen who will give birth to your children and love you for the rest of my life."

Who else if not the Demon Queen he had wanted all along. Just thinking about it made him go crazy. It felt silly, but that was what he expected. Desires and dreams that he has long been passionate about. A love that may be unrequited or a love that is buried deep in his heart, only he knows. Prince Sirzechs looked at the sky which was very bright at that time filled with a sea of stars with a large full moon and bright lights. He muttered to himself.

"Lili, you know what I built this palace for? Why am I still loyal to myself? It's because you stole half my heart. No, everybody. You stole my heart all. For years, I kept this feeling. In the past, I wished that the one who would marry you was me. But destiny says something else. And now, haven't you been able to change your heart yet?! Lili, I hope someday you can see me. Even the universe knows that no one is sincere with you but me."