Dormitory Bedroom.
Pastel trembled.
Life’s greatest crisis, life’s greatest crisis.
An assembly order from His Majesty the Emperor, commanding everyone beneath me to gather above!
Aah!
This is the fear I felt when I realized the decree was to gather magic stones, yet I had not a single coin in my wallet.
A call order issued right after offending the supreme dignity in a classist nation!
“Please save me! Please!”
Pastel clutched her head. As she shook her head rapidly, her mini pigtails flailed about.
I didn’t do anything wrong!
I really, really didn’t!
Even hearing that His Majesty the Emperor could be behind the Imperial Bank made me think, “Oh, surely not,” while contemplating auction collusion, but I meant no harm!
Anyway, I was already being a bit brazen by calling out for a single gold coin! The railway company is offering one gold coin! Waaah! So cheap! So! So! I thought and executed it, but I meant no harm!
Ugh.
I meant no harm.
I had intentions.
Aah!
It’s like I danced on the shadow of His Majesty the Emperor!
Thump thump Pastel…!
Complete blasphemy!
If it were His Excellency Viscount Craft, would it not be considered a severe act of treason?!
Despair.
Despair.
At the end of her despair, Pastel reflected.
Why am I not the supreme dignity!
If only I had been born as the Emperor!
This is my fault for being born into a lower class!
God, oh God!
Please let me be born as the supreme power in my next life!
I’m not asking for much; just a bit more luck with the lottery here would suffice!
“Calm down, hmm.”
The demon, attempting to calm the frantic mini pigtails by placing a hand on Pastel’s pink head, hesitated as the flailing pink pigtails obstructed the action.
The demon contemplated catching this dizzying mini pigtail to stop it, but then gave up.
“First, try to calm down. It might not be a big deal. Since they didn’t forcibly take you, it probably means that they genuinely want to meet. Craft is undeniably a high noble, so there shouldn’t be any unfortunate incidents if you are common or of lower status.”
“Huh!”
Is that so?
The pink hair stopped and calmed down.
When I think about it, it really is so.
I, High Noble Craft.
Unless it’s treason, the possibility of an issue arising due to a royal command is very low.
I’ve never plotted treason, so I’m very, very safe.
“Huuh!”
Pastel wiped her forehead unnecessarily.
“That’s right! I’m the safe, safe Pastel!”
Being born into the Viscount family was the greatest luck of my life!
The demon tidied Pastel’s disheveled pink hair.
“I don’t know if you are the safe, safe Pastel, but it probably won’t be anything. The Emperor I know was quite discerning.”
The Emperor, huh.
Now that I think about it, he was also the young man my mother took around during her prime.
My emotions suddenly became complicated.
How deeply did my father confess his love to my mom to win against the Great Demon and the Crown Prince?
What is love that it can become so desperate that one can even let go of their child?
“Young Craft?”
“Huh!”
Geez.
Pastel rubbed her cheeks and shifted her thoughts.
“By the way, knowing that His Majesty was that sort of person makes me worried in another sense!”
Her hands trembled slightly.
“Could it be instead of my mother?!”
Considering Pastel’s remarkable popularity, it wouldn’t be surprising if His Majesty became infatuated.
Historically, it’s extremely common for an Emperor, who bears the obligation of producing heirs, to take a younger partner…?
Geez.
Geez.
“That’s unlikely.”
The demon’s expression grew serious.
“It probably isn’t so.”
“Probably!”
Pastel gasped in disbelief.
Probably! Probably!
“Waaah!”
In an instant, she grew teary-eyed.
A crisis of being confessed to by a parent generation!
14-year-old Pastel, being confessed to by the 3n-year-old His Majesty the Emperor.
That’s a bit…!
Quite a bit…!
An event I wish never to happen in Pastel’s life!
Completely completely!
The demon looked flustered.
“I spoke incorrectly. There’s no way that could happen. The Emperor has married and has children, so he wouldn’t still be attached to past sentiments.”
Since the demon has neither a wife nor a child, it felt somewhat persuasive yet somewhat unpersuasive.
“Even if he still harbors past feelings, he wouldn’t engage in disgraceful behavior that could provoke ridicule in the high society. Besides, a sane person wouldn’t confuse mother with child. The Emperor I know is sane enough.”
Is that so?
Is His Majesty sane?
The demon clenched a fist.
“If he makes any strange propositions, I will punish him. I’ll discipline him so much that he won’t feel that way again.”
Ugh.
Pastel gasped, covering her mouth.
“Demon, are you higher than His Majesty?!”
The demon chuckled.
“I’m not just a regular demon but a Great Demon; would I be lesser than an Emperor?”
Completely reliable!
“I’ll only trust the demon!”
“Yes.”
The pink eyes sparkled.
“Honestly, I think it’s quite pathetic to turn to one’s daughter because one was rejected by their mother!”
The demon nodded.
“That’s true. In such a case, it’s best not to look at such a person. It’s disgraceful for past affection to be transferred from mother to daughter, and even if such feelings arise, expressing them at such an age difference is even more disgraceful.”
Completely, completely relatable!
“Really, really!”
Pastel clenched her fists tightly.
“Though it’s a bit harsh! But! I don’t want to be in the same space as that kind of person!”
The cherry blossom leaves falling also have presence!
The demon actively empathized.
“Well thought out. If such a guy exists, let me know. I won’t let them approach you.”
“Wow!”
Pastel cheered, spinning around.
Relief! Relief!
I’m glad I have the demon!
Please protect me for life!
#
Docking Station for the Airship.
“Shall I accompany you even now? I have met His Majesty once.”
Melissa, who came to see her off, was worried.
“It’s fine! Pastel can do well alone!”
“Even if that’s true, meeting with His Majesty the Emperor will surely be quite nerve-wracking. That’s why it is customary for young children to meet their parents when making such appearances.”
“It’s fine! It’s fine! Brave Countess Pastel isn’t afraid of such things!”
Pastel waved her free hand, not carrying any luggage.
“And the demon is here too!”
In the direction she pointed, the demon in formal attire was confirming the schedule with the captain of the royal rapid boat.
“Is that so.”
Melissa ceased her speech. It seemed ambiguous whether this Countess Pastel intended to conceal the identity of the Great Demon.
“You have a trustworthy servant. I have a maid whom I follow and trust, though not as much as my mother. Thanks to my inevitably busy mother, I was able to receive a lot of care in her stead.”
“You have two mothers! How wonderful!”
Melissa smiled gently.
“It really is so.”
The farewell from Melissa and Ellsior, who had been blankly sitting beside her occasionally saying “Yeah,” came to an end.
Ellia stealthily approached. After checking to see if anyone was eavesdropping around, she quietly spoke.
“I’ve sent all the news. By the time you return, you’ll receive feedback from everyone. I’ll also proceed with the railway business accordingly.”
“Yep!”
It’s the Demon Lord, Demon Lord Pastel!
Is this a precursor to corruption?
Thump thump.
Actually, Ellie thinks it’s an act!
Someday I’ll make her call me the Demon Lord!
Having exchanged goodbyes with other friends, Pastel boarded the royal rapid boat.
It was just an airship, but the floor was entirely marble, and the white walls were engraved with golden patterns. It was extremely splendid and luxurious. It undoubtedly shouted “Royalty!”
“Wow!”
This is all from taxes!
Wow!
For Pastel, who lived a frugal life in the impoverished student council room, it was a cultural shock!
I want to be such a powerful person too!
As a student, another pure dream was added.
Being treated as a high-status individual, she was personally guided to the airship by the captain and assigned a room so large it felt like a waste of space.
Once the outsiders all stepped out, Pastel quickly dashed to the enormous landscape painting hanging on the wall.
The painting, depicting the blue sea and coral reefs, filled her vision.
“Demon! Demon! How much is this?!”
The scent of a million times in taxes!
The demon turned his head away from examining the tea set.
“Don’t look at the price tag first when admiring a painting. What matters is the artist’s intention and your free interpretation.”
Pastel spread her arms wide. No matter how far she spread them, her hands couldn’t reach either edge of the frame due to its immense size.
“Wow!”
Her mouth hung open.
“How much is this?!”
“You’re not even listening.”
The demon gave up and examined the landscape painting.
“Oh, it’s likely quite expensive. This is a piece by Nastasha.”
An unfamiliar name!
But if the demon is impressed, I can guess its level.
“So how much is it?!”
The demon crossed his arms and gently tapped his forearm with his fingers, narrowing his brow.
“At the very least, it’s worth the value to buy the bankrupt railway guild at its original price and still have leftover money.”
Ugh.
Pastel’s pink eyes trembled.
Does the royal family have so much money that they can hang such paintings in the rapid airship’s passenger cabin?
How much tax did they collect?
Is this the true power of a ruler…?
Pastel felt considerably diminished.
In reality, Countess Pastel was merely a ruler of the outskirts.
Ugh.
“This isn’t a price reasonable for a rapid airship. Is this room purposely prepared by the royal family for Viscount Craft when he comes to meet?”
Huh?
“It seems one gold coin was a disappointment.”
Pastel stared at the landscape painting with trembling eyes.
Could it be that this is an indirect expression of “We aren’t short on money, but if you do so, it would be a bit disappointing?”
Aah!
Please save me!
