I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss, Vol. 4, page 11
…Or so she thinks, but reality isn’t so kind. Wordlessly, Claude follows her. She’d love to believe this is a dream, but it isn’t.
Eeeeeeeeeeeep!
She’s running, while Claude is only walking briskly, and yet the distance between them keeps shrinking. Fighting the urge to scream, she runs desperately, but it’s obvious he’ll catch up to her soon.
I have to hide somewhere…!
She turns corner after corner, breaking his line of sight. As she does so, she looks around, then spots a door that’s standing slightly ajar in a building that seems quiet. It’s a treasure house. She slips inside and sets a hand on the door, trying to close it before Claude appears. It’s heavy, but unless she hurries, he’ll catch up…
“Aileen.”
Wham. A long leg blocks the door she’s attempting to close. Stifling a shriek, she tries to retreat deeper into the building, but slips and falls on her bottom. She scoots away, but her back promptly runs up against something, blocking her escape. When she twists around, trying to get up, Claude’s long leg stomps down, blocking her way. He’s standing on the fabric of the long kaftan that’s fanned out between her legs— There’s no escape.
“Why are you running? Your husband’s come to take you home.”
In the gloomy treasure house, Claude slowly looms over her, giving her a smile that goes no further than his lips. His eyes are terrifying.
Growing desperate, Aileen screams. “You have the wrong woman! I bear a strong resemblance to your wife, that’s all!”
Claude’s face turns serious. Tugging at the fabric of her robe in an attempt to free it, she keeps talking. “I—I also happen to be named Aileen. Isn’t that an incredible coincidence!”
“……”
“A-and so, would you release me?”
“…I see. So you are not, in fact, my wife. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Y-yes, that’s it. After all, your wife would never be in Ashmael’s royal harem.”
“True. Now that you mention it, you’re right. There’s no possible way my wife would have been granted the Sea Palace and been made a high-ranking consort in the Kingdom of Ashmael.”
He’s absolutely onto her, but at this point, what is there to do but laugh. “Th-that’s very true… Hoh-hoh-hoh-hoh-hoh-hoh. Um, I would really appreciate it if you’d move your foot.”
“I’m afraid I’ve been terribly rude, then. By the way, don’t tell my wife, but I’m a surprisingly bad man.”
She has a nasty feeling about this, but by the time she tries to act, it’s too late.
Claude is on his knees, holding her firmly around the waist. His face is right in front of her nose. His smile is like a potent poison that’s been mixed into honey, and it paralyzes her. A voice that’s far too sweet breathes on her earlobe. “May I examine every inch of you to see how you differ from her?”
“I am your wife!!”
She surrenders the moment his fingertips skim the nape of her neck. Claude shrugs. “Sometimes you put up this pointless resistance.”
“Th-that’s because you—”
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
She’s lost track of what she meant to say. Instead, she presses her forehead against Claude’s shoulder. That’s all, and yet he gently strokes her back, as if he understands everything. She just can’t win against this man.
“Rachel was there, too. Are all of you here?”
“…Yes.”
“All right. Just leave the rest to me.”
She almost nods on reflex, but then she comes to her senses— The holy sword.
“No, Master Claude, you mustn’t! There’s something I must finish in this kingdom.”
“Oh really now? You can’t possibly mean becoming another man’s consort, can you?” While Claude’s voice is still kind, its pitch abruptly drops, and she cringes.
“Nuh, n-n-no! I’d never, I couldn’t possibly—”
“Then why won’t you come home with me?”
“Because— Yes, because I must play Cupid!”
If she’s able to steal the holy sword, that would be great. If she fails, though… If Baal is possessed by the fiend dragon and Ares becomes king, he just might attack Imperial Ellmeyer and come for Claude’s head. To keep that from happening, Baal must remain the holy king, which means she needs the power of love. However, she can’t possibly seduce a man other than Claude, so she’s going to support that man’s principal consort instead—that’s the current situation in a nutshell, or so she explains.
Claude freezes up with that mild smile still on his face. It’s probably because he hasn’t understood any of it. However, he promptly recovers. She’d expect no less of her husband.
“For the moment, would you tell me what brought all this on?”
“I’ll omit the details, but if the holy king and his principal consort can be joined by love, I see a way to resolve everything. That’s why I’d like you to please leave the country at once and let me handle this, Master Claude. It isn’t safe here.”
If anyone were to find out who he was, they would strike off his head and everything would be over. He must understand, and yet he came anyway. Aileen knows this is no time to swoon. “You didn’t come alone, did you?”
“…Isaac and Auguste and… Well, there are others.”
“If Isaac’s here, then there’s no need to worry.” She sighs with relief. Claude’s eyebrows twitch.
Without paying them any heed, she catches both his arms, pulling him to his feet. “Master Claude. Hurry and leave this place. Please go home. I’m all right.”
“…You’re all right. I see.”
“It’s really nothing.” Not compared to losing you— But before she can say that bit, she’s interrupted by the sound of a fist striking the wall.
“……”
She suspects she’s stepped on a land mine.
Belatedly realizing her error, Aileen freezes up, holding her breath. Claude has hit the wall right beside Aileen’s cheek, and he’s looking down at her with a perfectly blank face. “I’m glad this happened here, in this kingdom. No matter how I feel, I won’t cause trouble for others.”
“Th-that’s…very true…?”
“I understand what you’ve told me, quite clearly. In other words, you want me to make you cry.”
Overwhelmed by the anger in his words rather than the content, Aileen trembles. “H-how did you come to that conclusion?”
“What happened to your wedding ring?”
His tone is incredibly low, and her anxiety builds. If she tells him it was taken from her, he may very well go straight to Baal, fully intent on retrieving it. “Umm, it— I, i-it’s fine! I’ll make sure—”
Bam. He strikes the wall on her other side. “I take it you can’t say, my sweet precious Aileen?”
“Th-that’s right.” She’s completely boxed in, with that sweet voice speaking directly above her, and she shrinks back.
“Very well. I understand perfectly.” As she trembles, wondering what’s going to happen next, Claude turns on his heel. “If you won’t come home, then do as you please.”
“…M-Master Claude?”
“In exchange, I will also do as I please.”
Claude sets off, his heels clicking sharply on the floor. Hastily, Aileen runs after him. “What? …W-wait! Master Clau—”
“My name is Claw here.”
“You took a liking to that name, hmm?! No, that’s not what I—”
“What’s this? We thought we heard voices, and look who we have here.”
The door to the treasure house opens, and light abruptly streams in.
“We were told a guard had gone missing, and here he is, dallying with our consort.”
The holy king’s figure is more suited to light than gloomy darkness. At the sight of him, Aileen impulsively steps in front of Claude.
Baal has filled the treasure house with sunlight. He glances at Claude, then laughs. “We won’t ask who you are. After all, the demon king himself would never saunter into an enemy nation disguised as a guard.”
“……”
“Black hair and red eyes. You’re just as the legend says, yet our kingdom failed to notice you. Their ignorance is grave indeed. Granted, they must have been utterly certain you’d never come here, since you aren’t able to wield your power inside the sacred barrier.”
Suddenly, Baal catches Aileen’s arm and pulls her toward him.
“Just a—”
“Still, this woman is our consort. We won’t tolerate assignations.”
“Excuse me?! You have no right to give me an order like th— Mmph!”
Baal’s big hand covers her mouth, and his arms restrain her tightly. Claude gives them a cold glance. Then he slowly walks right past them.
Baal calls after him, sounding entertained. “Are you sure? We won’t give her back.”
“Your principal consort’s name was Roxane, wasn’t it?”
“Huh?” Baal doesn’t seem to have expected that. His grip slackens.
Aileen grabs the opportunity to shake her head, freeing her lips. “M-Master Clau… No, I mean— Um, at any rate, wait!”
She calls for him to stop, but Claude leaves the treasure house without even looking at her.
Don’t tell me… No, he wouldn’t, he can’t!
Aileen feels the blood drain from her head.
“What, did his courage fail him because he couldn’t win? And he calls himself the demon k—?!”
When she slams a fist into his solar plexus, Baal crumples and sinks to the ground. Aileen’s fists tremble as she fights the urge to stomp on his back. “You don’t understand the gravity of this situation at all, do you?!”
“—Why, you… Who hits kings in earnest?!”
“I know you saw his face! He’ll steal Lady Roxane from you!”
Baal looks up at her with a dazed, foolish expression. Aaaaaaah! Aileen clutches her head. I’m such a fool! I made him angry…!
If this were a game, she’d immediately opt for a redo. She’s chosen so, so wrong.
While trying to achieve marital happiness, she somehow triggers their first marital fight instead.
At the shabby inn where they’ve gathered to make their reports for the day, the demon king abruptly speaks up. “My Aileen is as adorable as ever.”
“Never mind that. You mean she was in the harem. Okay. So—”
Not a day goes by without him bragging about his wife. Isaac tries to let it go in one ear and out the other, but then he notices Auguste. The young man is standing behind the demon king’s chair, flailing his arms, before using them to form a big X. Isaac looks puzzled.
“She’s too adorable, and that’s why I want to hold it against her all the more. Heh-heh. What should I do to her? Just thinking of what will happen next makes my heart leap.”
“……”
The demon king is positively glowing. Isaac looks at him, then at Auguste. Holding his gaze, Auguste nods solemnly.
Aileen finally went and stomped on the demon king’s land mine, huh.
He’d heard that a high-ranking consort named Aileen had been given the Sea Palace. He’d suspected the news would stun the demon king, but apparently it’s made him explode instead.
“I thought if I killed anyone, I would probably begin with your group.”
“Coming right out with ‘kill’? Isn’t that a little too direct? At least make it ‘eliminate.’”
“I was wrong, though. I should have taught Aileen a lesson first.”
“Listen when people are talking.”
“I haven’t felt this energized in a long time. I want Aileen to really witness this love.”
“Like I said, listen. Your brother hasn’t come back; that doesn’t worry you?”
“Oh, come to think of it, do you know what Aileen told me? She said if you were here, there was no need to worry. Do you mind if I kill you?”
“Please, Your Majesty, carry on with whatever you were saying.”
The king is smiling, but he’s also reaching for the sword at his waist, and for some reason, Isaac can’t laugh it off as a joke.
“And so, to punish her, I’ve become the guard of the principal consort.”
“…The principal consort?”
“Yes. She’s suspected of having ties to the fiend dragon; I’ll be observing her. The general ordered it.”
The fact he’s like this and still works efficiently is one of the demon king’s most unpleasant traits.
“First, that Ares fellow will probably plot to usurp the throne.”
“Huh…? What, really?! He didn’t look like the type at all…” From behind him, Auguste finally speaks up.
Without turning around, the demon king continues. “If he isn’t intentionally planning it, others will spur him on, and he’ll attempt it soon. If not, a mere general would never have the principal consort placed under observation at his own discretion, without orders from the king. Unease regarding the fiend dragon, discontent over the holy king’s failure to order military action, his own claim to the throne, the righteous cause of the demon king’s subjugation, and his trump card, the Daughter of God: All the conditions are in place. Has he taken Cedric’s bait yet?”
It’s less a genuine question than a request for confirmation. Isaac sighs. “…Yes. The second prince of the Ellmeyer Empire, here to request help in freeing his nation from the demon king, has been sheltered by a friendly noble, and will be shown to General Ares’s mansion soon. The holy king will not be informed.”
“Probably because the holy king would refuse to shelter Cedric.”
“That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s our ally.”
“However, Aileen is protecting him. She would only do so if it benefited me. In other words, the holy king won’t choose to oppose me.”
The very thin basis of his theory could easily be construed as bragging about his wife. It may be a little late to care, but Isaac is fed up with it. The fact he suspects the king is probably correct doesn’t help.
Behind them, Auguste looks as if he doesn’t really get any of this. For his sake, Isaac speaks again. It’s important for them to be on the same page.
“…So here’s how things stand: Right now, this country is gripped by fervor due to the Daughter of God, and they’re ready to go to war with Ellmeyer, using the fiend dragon as justification. It’s likely that the holy king is the one who’s holding them at bay. As a result, people are grumbling.”
“Huh? You mean the citizens are the ones who want war?”
“The country has always been protected by the holy king’s barrier. They don’t think they could lose.”
They must have been afraid of the fiend dragon at first, but the Daughter of God has stripped that fear away. The prevailing mood is that the demon king has threatened them, so they’re more than ready to respond in kind.
“Some are probably against war, of course. The house of Fusca, for one; they’re the principal consort’s family. However, they’re a rich, distinguished bunch. Regular citizens tend to think that people like them don’t have their best interests at heart. With the atmosphere as it is, there’s no way anybody else can speak up.”
“I get that. Everyone’s all ‘Three cheers for Lady Sahra,’ and it made today quite a slog… Does Aileen think there’s going to be a civil war, too? Maybe she’s trying to do something about it.”
“She said she was going to play Cupid for the holy king and his principal consort.”
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?” Auguste looks puzzled.
Ignoring him, Isaac crosses his arms and mutters to himself. “I heard they don’t get along, because of some messy love triangle with the Daughter of God. Is that what she’s scheming? True, being at odds with her in this situation is a bad move. Besides, the fact that the holy king is still besotted with the Daughter of God is hurting his reputation. And because of that, the general who married her has more influence than the king…”
“……”
“The principal consort must have a good head on her shoulders. There’s no way Aileen would suggest this otherwise. In that case, taking them down from the inside is our best bet… But without the Daughter of God, the fiend dragon would… Oh, the holy sword, huh? That’s a danger to the demon king, too, so there’s no way Aileen would leave that out of her sight. But if she still needs to steal it…that’s gotta mean she hasn’t found it yet… Auguste, where did you see Serena?”
“Oh, um… She was with General Ares, I guess, yeah…” Auguste falters, averting his gaze slightly.
“What, was she hurt or something?”
“No. She seems fine, it’s just… She suspected something extremely humiliating…”
“—Oh, that you’d become a eunuch? Why didn’t you just show it to her?”
“How could I possibly do that?!” Auguste yells in response to the demon king’s outrageous suggestion.
The demon king nods back gravely. “You’re right. I wouldn’t have the courage to do it, either.”
“Please don’t casually tell your subordinates to do things you can’t…!”
“So she’s split up her group. Man, with Lilia Reinoise involved, that’s really gutsy. She’s always skating on thin ice… I wish she’d think about the people who have to cover for her.”
“Isaac.”
When he looks up, the demon king is smiling at him a little coldly.
“Your guesses are correct. I met the principal consort, and when she saw me she seemed startled. She knows who I am, or at the very least suspects it… In this country, where practically no one knows me.”
“Meaning she actually has intel about other countries.”
“Yes. However, when she heard that the holy king had given his permission, she fell silent. She’s a discreet, intelligent woman. Even though having the demon king as a guard must frighten her. She’s far better than that Daughter of God, or whatever that other woman is. I can see why Aileen likes her. Anyway is it all right if I kill you?”
“Why?! How did we get from that to this?!”
“It’s probably because you understand Ailey too well, Isaac…,” Auguste mutters. Isaac stiffens. He hadn’t meant to give that impression, but the demon king’s eyes are fixed on him, and he feels as if he’s being tested.
