Chapter 12

"Celly! I-I'm sorry, I'll bathe when you're done-"

"You don't have to do that, come join me."

"Um…" I gave in, not having anywhere else to go.

"…How's-how's Wolfram?" I asked her.

"He's fine, he just needs time to let some steam out."

"Right…" I lowered myself into the bath.

"I'm not angry at you either. But…women in the demon castle have to act like those above us dictate, no matter our status. Anissina for example may be the sister of Densham Von Karbelinikoff but Densham can decide when it's time to marry and to whom. Thank goodness he's a believer of love otherwise..."

"I understand."

"Listen, no matter what, in this game of men don't become a man to try to level with them. Out smart them as a woman. Win as a woman."

Wow...

"O-okay-"

"And let me tell you one last thing: Don't become Demon King." She then got out of the bath.

This place, it's reality, is that of the medieval times or something. I guess I shouldn't be surprised this was how it was...


After I got dressed I met with everyone at the table. No one said anything. Then again it was always quiet. Murata looked at me but I looked down at my plate. For some reason I felt extremely uneasy about what I've done around him, more than Wolfram.

I looked at Wolfram. He caught me from the corner of his eye and 'hmph'd.

"Wolfram I-" He sharply turned his head away from me.

"It was a mistake and I'm sorry." He growled.

"No offense but I think your uncle is fishy-"

"If you wanna talk about who's 'fishy' I say it's you!" He yelled, out of his seat pointing his fork at me.

"Wo-"

"No, I knew she was untrustworthy and look at what she's done!"

"You flipping out like that isn't helping either!" I yelled back.

"So you want a fight, then let's fight!" He swept his utensils off of the table.

"Wolfram that's enough!" Gwendell scolded.

"Caren don't touch-!" Günter tried to warn. I knew what the knife meant, and remembered the spork's meaning. So I picked them all up, surely that didn't mean anything. Everyone groaned.

"What?"

"Picking them all up means you will fight him to near death in order to have a shared relationship with Yuuri." Günter explained.

"I didn't think it'd mean anything to pick them all up at once!"

"We fight tomorrow morning." Wolfram said.

"Lord Brat, she hasn't made a treaty with the elements-"

"Then you have a lot of work to do."


After dinner Günter tried to instill in me the basics of swordsmanship and to make a treaty with the elements. I recited what he told me to but nothing happened.

"Günter forget it, just go to bed. Wolfram has been trained all his life, no way I can beat him. He really is a brat, irrational."

"Or passionate."

"…Yeah, we all know he's in love with Yuuri but…"

"Is his majesty in love with him is the question."

"You're wondering about that too?!"

"We're wondering about the lack of a wedding. But yes, Lord Brat is trying to keep him as long as he can. However, it's only a matter of time."


"I'm going to wipe the floor with you." Wolfram warned.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"You accepted the invitation!"

"If it was a written one, you're damn right I wouldn't have!"

"Prepare yourself!" I managed to block his attack.

"Woah! Can you not try to kill me?!"

"HAAAAAAARGH!" I dropped my sword.

"Wolfram I refuse to fight!"

It felt like slow motion. The words have come out but he was still moving. I stood my ground, having faith he'd stop. His expression changed from intimidation to horror. But the sword hit the top of my head.

"Ow!" I touched the area. No blood.

"Are you out of your mind!"

"You know you didn't want to fight me. I know you love him. I don't. I like someone else in fact."

"Because of you you're the concubine."

"You were emperor once but that changed, so can this. I dropped my sword because I trust you. It could have ended badly but you got my point. Now do you trust me?"

"…Fine."

"Okay."

"Yozak!" We heard Yuuri call. Turning, Yozak was standing with the others.

"I bring news your highness."

"What is it?"

"The king of Small Simmarron is headed to Big Simmaron, or he's already there."

"Can we go see him now?!" Yuuri asked.