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

It was a monochrome gown with a white base and black embellishments, adorned with an impressive deep red bow at the chest. It was a gown personally prepared by Sagan, so perfect that Neferi felt she couldn't bear to wear it.

Neferi shook his head nonchalantly.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about something for a bit."

"It doesn't seem like it to me."

Manila lightly pinched Nefi's cheek.

"Neffi, your facial muscles are already stiff enough normally; if you keep going like this, it'll look like you're wearing a mask. Is it really appropriate to have such an expression when attending a banquet with Master?"

"This...is not good."

"Right? So if you have any difficulties, don't you think it would be better to express them now?"

It seems that Manila is trying to become Nefi's confidante in her own way.

Neferpitou thanked her for her kindness. But after all, this was something she couldn't even bring herself to tell Sagan, and it wasn't something that could be explained in just a few words.

Manila, as if reading her mind, looked at her face in the mirror and said:

"Is it about that magician who caused such a ruckus in the street before... the one who looks exactly like you?"

Upon hearing this, Neferi trembled.

Manila probably didn't witness what happened firsthand, but it seems the story has become a rumor, and even she knows about it.

Manila smiled helplessly.

"Your expression is stiff, but your thoughts are written all over your face in no time."

After she finished speaking, a pair of emerald green wings wrapped around Nefi's body from behind Manila.

Is she a relative or friend of yours?

"...No, I don't think we know each other."

Nefair had never seen her in his elven village. If she really did live there, given that she shared the same hair color as Nefair, it was impossible for her to have disappeared without a trace.

"...However, that person disgusted me greatly."

"Yes, after all, I heard she suddenly started a fight in the street."

"...I don't want to become like her."

Nefi finished speaking in a barely audible voice, but Manila rubbed her face against Nefi's cheek.

Just like Sagan did before—rubbing his face against hers.

"Fool. How could Neferpitou be like her?"

But Manila didn't know that.

Nefie understands the language of "Black Nefie" and can wield her power as if it were her own.

Nefi was momentarily at a loss for words, prompting Manila to continue, puzzled:

"If you're really worried, then come to me anytime. Big sister can turn you back into the original Neferpitou anytime... Or do you not believe me?"

"No...that's not true."

"What's there to be afraid of? Nefi, you have me, your master, and Far and everyone in town with you."

A surge of heat welled up in Neferpitou's heart.

Nefi, who was once so lonely that he gave up thinking, received warmth from Sagan, Manila, and everyone in town.

Indeed, she is no longer alone.

"...But if I keep begging from others like this, I'm afraid I'll start to hate myself more and more."

Just as Nefi finished speaking sadly, Manila reached out and tapped her on the head.

"Nefi, how can this be called 'begging'? This is called 'dependence'."

"rely……?"

Just as Neferpitou's eyes were wide open, Manila gently patted her head.

"That's right, dependence. You know what? It's really heartbreaking when your best friend won't depend on you, isn't it?"

Are begging and dependence two different things?

Nefi, who was always alone in the elven village, couldn't tell the difference between the two.

Back then, she would inevitably be beaten and scorned if she "begged." So "dependence" would probably suffer the same fate, because the mere existence of "the cursed Nephria" was already a sin.

Such a Nefi gave up 'begging' or 'dependence' at a very young age.

—Mr. Sagan is different from those elves.

Neferi understood this, but she hadn't thought about this behavior for a long time, and had even forgotten the concept of it.

She didn't know how to deal with "dependence".

Manila, as if she could read Nefi's mind, said:

"Let me put it another way, Mr. Sagan, suppose you were in Neferpitou's current situation, what would you do?"

"If that kind of thing happens, I hope he can say whatever he wants so I can support him... Ah."

As he finished speaking with great excitement, Neferpitou gasped in surprise.

"So you understand now, don't you? You don't find it troublesome or annoying, do you?"

"……Won't."

As long as Neferi moves forward by his own will and doesn't stop or give up halfway, then it will no longer be "begging" or one-sided parasitism.

At that moment, Neferi felt as if he had finally taken a step forward.

"I will discuss this with Mr. Sagan."

This is Nefertari's problem alone.

Regardless of who that "Black Nefarian" really is, and what changes getting involved with her will bring, these things will have to be settled sooner or later.

—Even so, I still want Mr. Sagan to know about this.

Then stop worrying about it alone and find an opportunity to tell Sagan everything.

As soon as Nefi finished speaking, Manila patted her head as if rewarding her adorable younger sister.

"Very good, that's right. If you ever feel sad or want to cry, you're welcome to come to my place anytime. I'll keep it a secret from your master and won't tell anyone."

"If that opportunity really comes, I'll have to trouble you then."

Nefi's sincere answer surprised Manila, who stared wide-eyed.

But then, she gave a smile as if she had some kind of mischievous idea.

"Hehehe, you really have to come! I'll prepare lots and lots of underwear that fit you perfectly."

"I think that's unnecessary."

When confronted with a friend who pulled out a bra with rope bindings from who-knows-where, Nefi firmly refused.

Illustration p066

◇

A few hours later—

Sagan and his gang gathered on a luxury cruise ship that seemed capable of withstanding voyages for months.

Lake Sforonggide, the largest lake on the continent, is where the luxury cruise ship moored on its surface is the venue for the banquet hosted by Bifron in "The Demon King".

Looking out the cabin window, Fa'er sighed with admiration.

"Is this the ship?"

The lake outside the window is so large that it seems to be able to contain an entire town or even a small island; as soon as the boat leaves the shore, the land gradually becomes blurred and disappears into the distance. Judging from its depth, it would probably be possible to dive to the bottom of the lake using magic.

Sagan and his men were taken to a large cabin that was fully furnished.

In the hall, roughly the size of a castle entrance, were partitioned off bedrooms to accommodate the number of people. Fa'er had just peeked through the hall's window. It was a fixed window, so it couldn't be opened, but it offered a view of the scenery from almost the height of the main deck.

In terms of class, this can be considered a first-class cabin.

In one corner of the living room stood a refrigerator made of ice that, by magic, would not melt. Inside, it was stocked with rare delicacies and desserts such as ham, cheese, and chocolate, and even chilled wines—a complete selection. One could stay here for several days without ever leaving the room without any problem.

Besides Fal, who was standing by the window, there were four other people in the room: Sagan, Nefi, and Raphael. The others were sitting in chairs.

Shessty hasn't arrived yet.

If she, as a paladin, were to interact with the "Demon King" Sagan in public, who knows what kind of enemies she would make? Therefore, the two decided to meet at the venue.

Sagan wore his black robe as usual, while Nefie and the others changed into formal dresses—although Manila was in charge of arranging them all—Nefie wore a monochrome dress, and Fael wore a short, wavy dress.

The moment Neferpitou made eye contact with Sagan, the tips of his ears turned red and he lowered his head.

When Neferpitou was taken to change clothes earlier, Sagan was a little worried because of her troubled look, but it seems that she is alright now. But it's less like her worries have been resolved... and more like she has made up her mind about something.

Because of this, Neferpitou looks even more beautiful now.

—She's cute even in her usual maid outfit, but she's absolutely stunning in her formal attire!

But how could this feeling be expressed in words? Sagan had no other way to vent her feelings except through admiration.

The sun had already set, but there was still some time before the banquet began.

They have been waiting here since just now.

Sagan's gaze fell on the emblem on his right hand.

—Is that guy Bivron already on this ship?

From the moment I boarded the ship, the Demon King's Mark throbbed like a fever. Perhaps similar Marks would react in this way if they came close to each other.

But if we're talking about unease, Nefertari should feel the same way. Sagan, on the other hand, can't afford to look as worried as she does right now.

Sagan looked at Far with satisfaction.

The young daughter's amber eyes sparkled with joy, clearly showing she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

"Is this Fa'er's first time on a boat?"

"Yes. Because I never need to take a boat."