Chapter 7

"Ah, how adorable. Lady Presia, you look good in anything."

Hahaha, praise me more.

Fulfill my need for approval!

Wearing a black and pink mini dress, I twirled around, and Tiana, who was standing nearby, clapped in amazement.

There were many maids in the room besides Tiana, and they all seemed to be laughing happily.

Some had horns, some had tails, and some had animal ears.

Indeed, they all had some non-human features.

But no one tried to harm me, and many were kind and took good care of me.

In the human world, I was taught that demons hated humans and would attack them on sight, but that wasn't the case at all.

I even thought they were kinder than the people in Orlacion.

"Shall we tie your hair, Lady Presia?"

"Twintails would be nice!"

"Wouldn't the shoes with ribbons be cuter?"

The maids happily decorated me, suggesting this and that.

I just went along with it.

When you're a child, you look cute in anything.

Oh, it's so much fun to get dressed up. In the temple, I could only wear the white vestments of a holy maiden, so this feels so fresh.

– It had been a few days since I was recognized as a pet by the Demon King.

Being a human child, I was of interest, and I had to live in the Demon King's castle with a collar around my neck.

But human adaptability is a scary thing, and I gradually got used to life in the castle.

Oh well.

The food comes even if I don't say anything, and there's snack time.

No one complains about my pink eyes.

I can sleep in and take naps as much as I want.

Plus, I get to wear cute clothes and be praised.

I started to think that pet life wasn't so bad... but then I always get a shock.

This is, after all, the Demon King's castle, managed by the Demon King.

"Here, Lady Presia."

After changing, I was given a bunny plushie.

Twintails, black and pink mini dress, and holding a bunny.

The room became noisy again with squeals.

"Oh, human children are so cute~!"

"They're like angels."

"I could look at them all day~"

Everyone smiled and sighed.

Tiana smiled.

"The Demon King will be pleased with this!"

"..."

Ugh, that's right.

After all, this is the Demon King's castle in the demon world, and I am the Demon King's possession.

Even if I'm treated well, it's because I'm that man's pet, and he's interested in me as a child.

So if it turns out that I'm actually fifteen and a former holy maiden... oh, I get chills. I don't even want to think about it.

– I might even be killed.

That was the only and worst downside to this life.

"The Demon King is said to be returning today. It will be very exciting."

Tiana smiled and said that.

The Demon King is apparently very busy. Since the day I was collared, I hadn't met him again.

Oh well, I don't care if he comes back.

I thought to myself and felt exhausted.

◆

"Hey, Tiana. Can you take off this collar?"

During snack time.

Clinging to Tiana's skirt as she prepared the sweets, I said with big, pleading eyes.

"Oh, no, that's not good. Without the collar, the Demon King can't come to your aid if your life is in danger."

Tiana looked at me with a troubled expression.

She didn't seem willing to take it off.

"Take it off, take it off, please~"

I put away the big, pleading eyes and started to whine and throw a tantrum.

My fifteen-year-old pride was long gone.

"Hmm, is it the collar you don't like?"

Tiana tilted her head and picked me up.

She sat me down on a chair.

"In the human world, collars are seen as something for pets. But in the demon world, they're standard accessories..."

"Waaaaaah"

Damn it.

Tiana, no matter what, you're still under the Demon King's command!

I let my guard down...

She seemed to have gotten used to handling me, as she didn't mind my fake crying and stabbed a piece of cake with a fork.

"Here, Lady Presia, ahhh"

"Ugh... I don't... ahhh..."

The cake was delicious.

The strawberries were so good!

...It's no use.

No matter how much I cry or how dire the situation, I still get hungry.

I took the fork Tiana offered and finished the cake.

"Here, there's also a juice with lots of fruit."

Even as I sniffled, I took the juice.

Sipping the juice through the straw, the room suddenly brightened as if stars had scattered.

"Oh, Demon King! Don't suddenly teleport into the room!"

After blinking in surprise, Tiana curtsied, holding her skirt.

There, by the window, stood the man I hated the most.

"Sorry, I failed the coordinate setting."

He said it without any remorse and walked over, his black coat billowing.

He seemed to be able to use teleportation magic, moving instantly to wherever he wished. I couldn't do that, so I was a little... no, quite envious. Could I learn it with practice?

"How is Presia?"

"Yes, she seems to be in good health today. We were just fitting her for clothes."

Tiana smiled happily.

"I see."

The Demon King came to where I was pouting.

I didn't want to interact with him, so I turned away.

But then, he suddenly picked me up.

"Whoa!"

He sat down in the chair I had just been in and placed me on his lap.

"Defying your master, what a cheeky pet."

He pinched my cheek.

S-stop it, you pervert!

"H-Hey, let go!"

"No."

After he immediately refused, I pulled his hand away from my cheek and retorted.

"Your Lolicon tendencies, Demon King! Pervert!"

For a moment, I thought I might have gone too far, but the Demon King didn't react at all.

He didn't seem to get angry even when I was rude.

I patted his hand on my stomach, but he didn't let go.

Instead, he seemed to find it amusing that I had puffed up my cheeks.

He looked at me as if I were a small animal he was observing...

Since he wouldn't put me down, I reluctantly sipped the juice.

Ugh, I'm so uncomfortable.

Put me down.

As I pouted, he whispered in a teasing voice.

"Hmm? You know some pretty advanced words. You sound like an adult."

"Buuuuuufff!!"

I accidentally spat out the juice.

"Hey, that's bad manners."

The juice went down my windpipe, and I started choking.

I thought I might die.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of my chest.

"W-Well, I'm a smart five-year-old..."

I finally managed to say that, and Tiana, who was serving, hurried over with a towel.

I had just gotten a cute dress, and now it was dirty...

"A-Are you okay?"

"Cough, I'm not okay..."

Tiana wiped the dirty dress and said angrily.

"Oh, Demon King, it's troublesome when you bother me during meals."

"I see."

The Demon King was smiling.

He still didn't seem to regret it at all.

◆

I feel like my mind is being dragged down by my five-year-old body.

My actions have become more childish than before.

Even now, despite being so angry at the Demon King, I started to doze off on his lap from exhaustion.

"Oh, are you sleepy? Shall we take a nap?"

Fortunately, I had already changed into comfortable clothes for sleeping.

I nodded and rubbed my eyes, and the Demon King picked me up and stood up.

"Tiana, you should take a break. I'll watch over Presia."

"Oh."

What?

I'm fine, I can sleep on my own.

I thought I would finally be free during nap time, but I was carried to the bed and even put to sleep by the Demon King.

As I was laid on the bed, he stroked my head.

The Demon King sat on the bed and looked down at me.

His black eyes stared at me, making me feel uneasy.

Hmm.

Why am I being put to sleep by the Demon King...

Even though I was sleepy, my face must have shown my dissatisfaction.

The Demon King smiled and asked me.

"What's bothering you so much?"

"...Take off the collar."

"I already said no. It's also there to protect you."

The Demon King shook his head.

"If you're in the demon world, you should wear it obediently. Besides, the effect of that collar is..."

The Demon King started to say something but stopped.

Even when I urged him to continue, he didn't seem willing to say what he was about to say.

Pfft.

What's the deal?

"Then I'll go back to the human world."

When I said that, the Demon King frowned.

"You were kicked out by your parents, right? I heard that those with magic are persecuted in the human world."

"...Yeah."

"I don't think you can manage well as a child with magic. Even if you go back, it won't change anything."

...Well, that's true.

I didn't really have any plans before coming here.

I just wanted to go somewhere far away.

No one would hire me because I have magic.

But I want to go back to the orphanage, just once.

I want to see the teacher and everyone.

"...Are you going to do something terrible to me anyway?"

I glanced up at the Demon King.

"No."

The Demon King shook his head.

"I would never do such a thing. I told you to be loved and pampered by me."

"..."

"Being pampered by me here isn't so bad, is it?"

He ruffled my hair.

As he gently combed my hair, my eyelids started to feel heavy.

Sure enough, a five-year-old body.

He stroked my cheek with his thumb, and I felt ticklish, pressing my cheek into the sheets.

"Mmm..."

"Go to sleep now."

The Demon King smiled a little.

Despite thinking he was surprisingly good at stroking, I fell asleep.