As the Demon King, I have married a slave elf. How should I express my love?

"Yeah, I guess so. But there's nothing I can do about it. I'm short-handed right now. As long as you can help me find what I need, you can do whatever you want with the rest."

After observing them for the past few days, Sagan discovered that Varefal not only did not attack the two, but also did not harbor any hostility.

Having someone like her help find Magasiia's legacy shouldn't be a problem.

—Although, if I could, I'd still prefer to go with Neferpitou alone…

But Varrefar is a magician after all, and dragons might be able to spot clues that only they know. She could certainly be of help in exploring the legacy of Magasilia.

Frankly, Sagan wanted someone to help him manage Magasiia Castle.

If such a person were Barbarossa, his nemesis, he certainly wouldn't report the truth. Nefi's friend Manila isn't a magician, so she's useless. As for her other friend, Shesty, she's a paladin of the church, so there's no need to consider her either.

Therefore, if Farah is capable, he would be happy to hand over the management of the castle to her.

Sagan cared so much about the true nature of the demon race and the Mark of the Demon King that he went to such lengths.

Sagan cleared his throat and said:

"Besides, obeying the Demon King should be beneficial to you. Those people outside have recently realized that going against me is not worth it, so, in short, how should I put it..."

"...What are you trying to say?"

Varefal asked, puzzled, and Sagan looked away before speaking:

"No matter what your true identity is, as long as you join me, everyone will be more cautious and won't bother you anymore."

Simply put, he wanted to bring her under the protection of the Demon King, just like Neferpitou.

In fact, since Varrefal's attack, no one has dared to harass Sagan's territory again. Aside from the occasional lost person or paladin intruding, the magician should no longer be facing direct conflict with Sagan.

—After all, if you can't even take care of this child, how can you take care of Nefi for the rest of your life?

So this was just going with the flow, not out of pity for the little girl because she was homeless. Absolutely not.

However, when he glanced at Varefal, he saw her looking incredulous, her gaze shifting between Sagan and Nefair.

After a while, perhaps finally believing what she had said, she cautiously nodded.

"All right."

"Uh, um."

Sagan nodded, but Varefal glared at him with dissatisfaction.

"...But I don't call you 'you,' I have a name."

"Hmm? Oh, you don't like that way of addressing me? Fine, then Varefal, join my ranks."

But Varefal still had some complaints, muttering to himself.

Then she spoke hesitantly:

"...Just call me Fa'er."

This was the first time Varefal—no, it was the first time Varefal had taken the initiative to show goodwill.

Sagan then scratched his cheek and repeated himself.

"Uh... then I'll leave it to you tomorrow... Farr."

"understood."

With the arrival of their new tenant, Sagan and Nefi realized that they had taken another step closer to each other.

◇

"...I can't stand it, he falls asleep right after eating. It seems that even among dragons, the little brat is still a little brat."

Despite muttering to himself, Sagan still put Fal on the bed in the guest room.

During dinner, Sagan chatted with Nefaire, but Fael dozed off while holding a spoon, so Sagan had to carry her to her room.

Neferi landed and helped her take off her robe, covered her with a blanket, and even found a hanger to hang the robe up to prevent it from getting wrinkled.

"I think she must be very tired lately. Every day here must be a first-time experience for her."

Neferi said this with a smile, while Sagan's face hardened.

"But she was in enemy territory. Who would be so careless as to just sleep with someone like that?"

This wasn't something Sagan said, but something Far said himself.

But Neferpitou chuckled and shook his head.

"Wasn't it Mr. Sagan who made her understand that we are not enemies?"

"what?"

Nephew seemed somewhat excited, his pointed ears trembling.

"She was indeed very wary of us at first, and she must have been very scared, but now that she knows she can relax, she can sleep so soundly."

She looked up at Sagan with a shy expression.

"Actually, I used to be just like her."

The scene of Neferi's arrival flashed through Sagan's mind.

Sagan didn't know how to talk to the girl he liked, and spent the night in a fluster. He didn't even have time to prepare a room for her, so they ended up sleeping together in the Throne Room.

It seems that Far has finally agreed to accept Sagan in the same way.

"That's just because...you know, you belong to me. Of course, I should cherish what's mine."

"You're right. Thank you."

Even though Sagan inadvertently described her as "something" again, Neferpitou's response sounded blissful.

Recalling the awkwardness of that time, and Nefi's gaze at this moment, he felt inexplicably embarrassed again, and had no choice but to turn his gaze away once more.

"But Neferi, are you really not bothered?"

"mind?"

"What I mean is, I don't think I've ever discussed the matter of keeping Fa'er with you..."

This question surprised Neferpitou, who widened her eyes and perked up her ears, clearly showing her astonishment.

But soon after, a faint smile appeared on Neferpitou's lips.

"Of course not. Everything will be as you wish, Mr. Sagan."

"Oh, I see..."

With a sense of unease, Sagan's gaze fell on Fael this time.

"...Hey, this kid is still holding a spoon in his hand."

Farah, still fast asleep, hadn't let go of the spoon in his hand. Sagan then reached out to take the spoon away.

But at that moment...

"Uh, hello..."

For some reason, Fael grasped Sagan's fingers.

—Her hands are really soft.

Those were not quite like Neferpitou's slender, warm fingers, but rather like a child's soft, supple hands.

Then, she let out a desolate murmur.

"Father……"

It seems she probably dreamed about her relatives.

The faint whispers didn't sound like the kind of sounds a dragon would make if it wanted to kill Sagan.

Although she didn't know the nature of the relationship between dragon parents and children, it seemed she was thinking of her own dragon. And the way she murmured in her sleep was no different from that of an ordinary little girl.

—I just can't do anything with kids like this...

Sagan never knew what family should be like.

Sagan tried to play the role of the eldest brother, but it reminded her of her father. Sagan couldn't help but feel a little frustrated, wondering if she was really that old.

However, Sagan did not shake off the small, frail hand that was holding her fingers.

Seeing this, Nefi couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it's just..."

"I feel like I have another child."

--Child, child, child, child?

She was not referring to the "little devil" that Sagan was talking about, but rather to her own child—born to Sagan and Nefertari.

—We haven't even kissed yet, so what are you talking about, calling us children!

Sagan never even considered holding hands, let alone having children.

Seeing Sagan's wide-eyed expression, Neferi realized what she had just said, and a blush instantly spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.

"No, no! What I mean is, Mr. Sagan, since you're willing to take Fal in, it's almost like adopting a child..."

"Ah, uh, um, I, I understand, of course I understand, you don't need to worry about that."

Sweat dripped from their foreheads. They could no longer look each other in the eye.

After that, Neferpitou silently reached out and grabbed Sagan's hem. Sagan hooked her hand with her own finger, and Neferpitou carefully grasped that finger as well.

—How should I put it, this feeling is so warm…

Holding Pharrell's hand in her right hand and Neferpitou's hand in her left gave Sagan an indescribable sense of comfort.

Family

That's probably what Neferi was trying to say. They certainly had that kind of knowledge, knowing that it referred to the relationships between siblings, spouses, and caregivers.

But neither Sagan nor Nefi really understood what it felt like to have family, so they didn't think of the word at the moment.

When Sagan thinks of family, the first thing that comes to mind is children holding hands with their parents. Although she has never experienced that feeling herself, she has at least seen it on the street.

—Maybe one day, we can be like them?