After settling Liass's invasion, Duanmu Huai turned around and wanted to lead the army straight into a fight to the death with the demon race.
The reason was simple.
First, in warfare, speed was paramount.
Second… he really couldn't handle this situation.
Standing in the banquet hall, looking at the smiling Ann, the silent Gurēa beside her, and Lia on the other side, Duanmu Huai's head started to ache.
The reason was also simple. Lia had agreed not to attack Sais, but she had put forward a condition: Duanmu Huai had to attend her banquet. Duanmu Huai had given her face. After all, he knew that with a single order from the queen, she had mobilized all of Liass's elite legions. For her to withdraw without a word now would indeed be absurd. So he gave her that courtesy. As an Inquisitor, one also had to understand social etiquette.
But… damn it, I really don't understand this kind of social etiquette at all!
Looking at both sides standing before him, Duanmu Huai didn't even know what to say!
Since Ann and Gurēa had already come, Duanmu Huai naturally couldn't chase them away, so he introduced both sides to each other.
Ann and Gurēa greeted them politely as before, while Lia, as a queen, also returned the courtesy perfectly.
However, once Lia heard that Ann and Gurēa were Duanmu Huai's fiancées, a knife immediately appeared behind her smile.
"Have the two of you ever slept together with my dear?"
The question was so direct that not only did Gurēa blush instantly, even Ann was startled and hurriedly shook her head.
Seeing their reactions, Lia immediately smiled.
"I've already been pampered by my dear several times, you know!"
Ann and Gurēa's expressions immediately darkened.
They were good-tempered, but they weren't the kind who would just take a punch to the face without hitting back.
That said, Lia really did have her own confidence. Unlike Magikoe, who only cared about studying, Lia, as Liass's princess (now queen), lacked neither etiquette, strategy, nor bearing. So while Magikoe might feel inferior when facing Ann, Lia certainly wouldn't. Liass's territory was about the same size as Manalia's, and it was just as wealthy. Who was she afraid of?
Not to mention that the other party's country didn't even border hers—offending Lia wasn't something to be afraid of at all.
From this point alone, Lia was indeed extremely aggressive.
"Only once. Not several times."
Duanmu Huai quietly interrupted Lia. That one time between him and Lia could strictly be considered an accident—if Kanami hadn't begged him, he would have twisted Lia's head off long ago. Although Lia was indeed quite affectionate in front of him, calling him "dear" nonstop, Duanmu Huai still knew what mattered.
Lia was close, but Ann and Gurēa were his fiancées. And his relationship with them was indeed closer. So being familiar was one thing—spreading rumors was another. He'd still sue you for slander.
"I didn't, but Kanami did!"
However, Lia's shamelessness exceeded Duanmu Huai's imagination. She directly pulled Kanami over, looking smug.
"I made Kanami stay by my dear's side all the time. If she's with my dear, it's the same as me being with him! If my dear slept with her, it's the same as sleeping with me!"
"..."
Good grief. This logic completely stunned Ann and Gurēa. They subconsciously looked at Kanami, who was bright red and hanging her head, wishing she could dig a hole in the banquet hall floor and crawl into it.
What choice did she have?! Queen Lia had ordered her to write everything down every single time, from beginning to end, and submit a report. Kanami was of course speechless about Lia's orders, but what could she do? She couldn't refuse, could she?
How shy Kanami had been while writing it—yet when the ruler commands death, the subject must die. As a ninja utterly loyal to Lia, even with her face red as if it were bleeding, Kanami still had to write down her feelings and experiences at the time and send them back…
As for what Lia did with those reports, Kanami didn't dare ask, and didn't dare think about it.
Kanami didn't dare say anything, but Lia spoke enthusiastically and fluently, acting as if she were the one who knew Duanmu Huai best!
Thankfully, all of them were of noble status, and Duanmu Huai himself carried a strong presence, so no one dared approach them. Otherwise, if someone came closer and heard Queen Lia talking about this kind of thing…
Even Duanmu Huai was blushing from listening—mainly because Lia was far too direct.
Too big, too rough, too painful…
He was actually quite depressed about it himself. First, the specs were what they were. Although Duanmu Huai didn't know how others did it, he had at least watched plenty of videos. He knew his size and build really weren't something ordinary people could compare to. Just take the positions in those videos—many of them he simply couldn't use, afraid that if he pressed down directly, the other party would stop breathing.
Second… Duanmu Huai truly had no experience. It wasn't really Ann's fault for being scared— even Kanami couldn't withstand him for long.
Although Duanmu Huai had watched countless videos, his body type was completely different from the male leads in those films. How was he supposed to learn?
You couldn't even teach this hand-in-hand, okay.
Let alone that this was online instruction.
He was actually quite awkward himself. On one hand, Kanami's endurance wasn't strong enough—every time, before Duanmu Huai had even properly enjoyed himself, she would already be unable to go on. On the other hand, he wasn't even sure whether Kanami had enjoyed it.
Duanmu Huai also wished he had some kind of cheat ability like a "+X Eagle Hand," but unfortunately, it seemed he really had no talent in this area…
So upon hearing this topic, he couldn't endure it any longer—he decisively slipped away.
"Ah...…"
In the distance, watching the four girls having their "friendly exchange," King Gandi also let out a long sigh, then looked at his daughter with a look of disappointment.
"Look at them, then look at you."
At this moment, King Gandi was truly heartbroken. He was desperately hoping his daughter could spark something with Duanmu Huai, but unfortunately his daughter wasn't very willing… well, he could understand it, but understanding aside, the problem still had to be solved.
"What, what does it matter?"
Magikoe stood to the side, pouting as she turned her head away.
"This isn't my fault—it's just that he doesn't like me!"
"Can't you take the initiative and talk to him?"
"But I already have a boyfriend!"
"Ah...…"
Hearing Magikoe's reply, King Gandi could only sigh again and again.
Actually, Magikoe's boyfriend Alex was also top-tier talent within Sais. The young man was handsome and dashing, conducted himself with grace, had a strong sense of justice, and wasn't weak either. His relationship with Magikoe was proper and restrained—they hadn't even held hands. It was understandable that his daughter liked him.
Unfortunately, now wasn't the time for Magikoe to be willful.
From Duanmu Huai's interactions with Lia, King Gandi could see that their relationship was far from ordinary. Precisely because of this, he felt deeply anxious. Don't be fooled by the fact that Duanmu Huai had halted Liass's attack this time—that was because of the demon invasion. If the demon race hadn't attacked Sais, and Liass wanted to attack, Duanmu Huai probably wouldn't have cared at all.
After all, King Gandi had once heard Duanmu Huai say that the Inquisition only concerned itself with heretics, xenos, and demons. Internal human conflicts were for humans to resolve themselves and had nothing to do with him.
Whether that was true or not, someone in his position always preferred to believe it.
No matter the facts, Duanmu Huai having a good relationship with Liass's queen was indisputable. If Sais didn't pay some kind of price, the scales in Duanmu Huai's heart would definitely tip toward Liass!
Oh right—he had also heard that the princess of Helman was a stunning beauty…
Thinking of this, King Gandi suddenly felt immense pressure.
He also had insider information. He knew that Helman's princess didn't seem particularly capable herself—she was just beautiful and good-natured, which was why she had been pushed forward as the heir.
After all, that kind of person was easy to control.
And if those Helman bastards took the opportunity to curry favor with Duanmu Huai by sending that princess over, then Sais would end up being the most disadvantaged of all!
How could that be allowed? By then, Sais might not even fall to the demon race— it could end up being carved up by Liass and Helman!
Yet his daughter's unwilling attitude gave him a terrible headache.
After all, this wasn't an ordinary political marriage. And honestly speaking, he knew his daughter's personality well—serious and rigid. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been dating Alex for years without the two of them even holding hands.
Asking her to proactively throw herself at another man really was making things difficult for her.
But… this concerned the very survival of Sais!
Hearing her father's sigh, Magikoe also looked frustrated. She wasn't stupid—of course she understood why her father was sighing. But deep down, she really couldn't get past this mental hurdle.
As Sais's princess, Magikoe had always been under immense pressure. Sais was founded on magic, and her father, King Gandi, was the most powerful mage in the kingdom. As his daughter, Magikoe naturally couldn't disgrace him. Thus, from childhood, she had shut out the world and devoted herself entirely to studying magic books. That was why she developed such a rigid and serious personality. Take romance, for example—other girls her age, upon meeting a suave and handsome man like Alex, would have long since fallen head over heels.
But Magikoe couldn't! She had to study seriously and had to take first place in the final exams, so as not to disgrace the title of Sais's princess!
There wasn't even enough time to read—where would the leisure come from to date?
Men would only affect my exam results!
So normally, at most, Alex would invite her out for a stroll. She had never once taken the initiative herself.
Let alone throwing herself at a man!
And besides, how was she even supposed to do that? The books never taught it!
But Magikoe also didn't want to see her father worrying. So she secretly made a decision.
After going back this time, I must find a few books and study properly!
(End of Chapter)