Chapter 2 - Rem

Diablo waited for Rem's return in his room. He asked Shera to tell Rem to go to his room first thing when she comes back. He considered asking for Shera's help but felt that he should do this one-on-one after all. It's not like he could just drag all the brides one after the other to speak with the next one.

After waiting for a few minutes, he heard a knock on his door.

"Diablo? Did you call for me?"

"Yes, I did. Come in, I allow it."

"Excuse me."

The little pantherian entered the room and closed the door behind her. She came in with stiff footsteps and looked a little nervous.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"N-no! It's... It's nothing. So... what did you want to talk about?"

(It doesn't look like it's nothing though.)

However, Diablo didn't voice his worries. If she was a little shaken like this, maybe it would be easier to convince her of what's to come and what should be done about it.

"Well, if you say so. I have something important to talk about. I already spoke with Shera and she agreed."

"! So it was this after all? Mou! And I had said we should this together...! That stupid Shera!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I-I mean! You two did it right?! Shera was so skipping so happily when I greeted her too! Even though I said we should do this when we are together to be fair... she stole a march. And she was even the first one to get married to you too..."

"W-wait a second! That's not what happened! You are misunderstanding! We just spoke about something!"

"...really?"

"Yeah! I'm serious! Have I ever lied to you?"

"...Ok, I believe you."

Rem wasn't sure a simple conversation could make someone so happy but she decided to trust Diablo and listen to his talk before jumping to conclusions.

"W-well! *cough* Let's restart! The thing is..."

More explanation…

"...Are you serious, Diablo?"

"I'm always serious."

Though Diablo was putting a strong front, he was actually scared of her expression right now. It was an invisible pressure that not even a Demon King could exert.

"...Please tell me you are joking. Otherwise I won't know what to think of this."

"...Sorry."

"So it REALLY is all true?"

"...Yeah."

"And Shera not only agreed but was also happy about it?"

"...It IS Shera."

"..."

Diablo could almost see her vein popping up in her forehead.

(T-this is bad! But I can't falter here! She is only the second one! I have to harden my resolve even more!)

"...Is it really the only way?"

"Hm?"

"Is there really no other way of solving the problem with your magic?"

"If there was, I would have already done it. I am the Demon King but that doesn't mean I will ogle every woman I lay my eyes on."

"..."

"Rem?"

"*sigh* Fine..."

"Hm?"

"I said it's fine."

"Eh? Really?!"

"I can't say I'm happy about this but... I do agree with Shera that you will not leave us aside or neglect us because of this. I believe in you, it's just that... I don't think I won't show my desire to monopoly you."

"! That's fine too. Even if I had a hundred wives, I wouldn't throw you two aside. And..."

"And?"

"I promise that I will still care more for the two of you than for the others."

"! I never thought I would ever get happy with favoritism..."

"I don't like showing favor either..."

"Thank you, Diablo."

"...Yeah."

Rem was smiling like a flower in full bloom. She rarely showed smiles as passionate as this one so Diablo was fascinated for a moment.

"Well, let's get started then."

"...Right."

"What is it?"

All of sudden, Rem just stopped moving. She shyly looking at Diablo, without taking a step forward.

"Me and Shera were always the ones to make a move... And since you were the who proposed this... I wanted you to take the initiative this time Diablo."

"Ugh!"

"...Is it no good?"

"...No, it's fine. I will do it."

"...Thanks."

With heavy silent steps, Diablo approached Rem, who had already closed her eyes and lifted her head in anticipation. He slowly extended his hand and gently grabbed her shoulders. He gradually lowered his head and...

"Mnn..."

"Nnnn..."

Just like with Shera, he by accident(?) used his tongue. Rem flinched but didn't back away nor reject him. In fact, Diablo could see she was enjoying it. The other time they kissed it was merely a contact between lips to form the contract, this time though, there are clearly feelings mixed in between.

However, Diablo managed to create some distance. He remembered what happened with Shera and decided that he couldn't build their expectations just to shoot them down right after. He had to learn some restraint to avoid making his partners excited which also made it more difficult to reject their advances.

"Well, I guess this is it."

"I-I see! I do feel a little different, like my senses sharpened and my magic is stronger. But... we don't really go further than this, huh?"

"...Don't worry. I promise you two will be my first ones and that you will be together at that time."

"!Thank you."

"Well, I will be going to sleep now. I will have to work hard from tomorrow on. Some of the candidates are not even in this country after all."

"W-wha! For real?!"

"...Unfortunately."

"...Hah..."

"Well, I have to do this alone but I promise I will be back soon. And I... "

"...never break my promises, right? As I said before, even if I feel uneasy about all this, I will trust your judgement."

"Sorry about the trouble."

"Huhu. I barely even see you apologizing but today you are on a roll, Diablo. They do say that marriage can soften up a man."

"..."

Diablo watched as Rem left his room with these parting words. He felt relieved but at the same time, desperate. While he knew thought that Rem would be hard to convince, he also knew that she was one of the people who he interacted the most. As such, he was more familiar with her(and vice-versa) but the candidates from outside the city weren't going to be so easy.