Hey, everybody! Finally getting close to the end. There's only one bride to go. I was wondering though, maybe I will create an alternative version. Like, a series of one-shots about "what if" scenarios where Diablo choose only one "heroine". Just like a game with multiple endings, except that this time, the harem ending came before the individual ones. Well, it's only an idea for the moment.

I know it's a little early but I will say it right now: Happy New Year!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Chapter 11 - Rafleisha

"It's been a while, Your Majesty. What do I own you the pleasure of your visit?"

"I came to speak with you Rafleisha, about something really important."

"Oh! I see. It must be something really serious for Your Majesty to come personally. And without your companions too, truly unusual. I wonder what could it be?"

"All in good time. First, can we change to a place where we can speak in peace?"

"...Certainly, please follow me Your Majesty."

Rafleisha lead Diablo towards a familiar house, the same one he used when spent a night as a guest. The same one where Rafleisha almost pushed him down(refer to Volume 8). After the bridal night with Shera failed, Diablo went back to the guest house but Rafleisha was there. She insisted on paying him back for saving her life and she kissed him, almost going with the "full course" but Rem heard the noise and put a stop to it before things could get serious. It was the time when Diablo got the closest to losing his first time, even more than when he was with Lamnites.

"Here again, huh?"

"This room is not being used since there are no guests at the moment. But if I'm to be honest, I just thought it would be fitting to use this room to continue what from where we left last time."

"...Look, you are not completely wrong but you are not completely right either. It's more complicated than that so listen to the end. And don't interrupt until I'm finished."

"...Your Majesty is certainly very straight today. Well, I don't really dislike that. Please do go on, Your Majesty."

"..."

Diablo was only able to respond calmly because he already anticipated that Rafleisha would react like that. She was just like Lamnites in that aspect, she obviously concluded he was there to finish what they started last time they met, and he didn't blame her for it. It was actually really close to it anyway, he just needed to explain that it was not something for pleasure(not entirely at least) but to avoid unnecessary damage to his surroundings.

…..

"What a surprise. For a ritual like that to exist."

"It came from my world, it's no wonder you never heard of it."

"But still, as expected from Your Majesty. Gathering so many brides in such a short time, your exploits in the fight against the Fallen also reached even our forest."

"...Did I gave off such a womanizer feeling?"

"No, that's not what I meant. It's just what I said last time, women will naturally gather around an individual such as yourself, Your Majesty. A strong and handsome man that appeared when all seemed lost, it's only natural to desire such an outstanding person. Though Your Majesty was rejecting me last time, it might be shameless of me to say but I'm happy that Your Majesty came to me today."

"...To be honest, I believed you were only trying to repay me for saving you last time. I saved you on a whim(actually I didn't want to see someone dying in front of me), I didn't do it for your body. As such, I felt I should reject you, these were my thoughts at that time."

"Oh, so that was it. I feel relieved. I thought that maybe Your Majesty disliked me or maybe my looks weren't in Your Majesty's tastes."

"...No such thing."

"But may I ask Your Majesty a question?"

"Go on."

"Was there another reason for Your Majesty to reject me last time? I understand that Your Majesty had no need for thanks but I still believed that Your Majesty would just 'dig in' without holding back."

"...I already said it. Even if I am the Demon King, it doesn't mean I will jump at every woman I lay my eyes on. I'm not an animal in heat."

"I see now. My deepest apologies if I offended Your Majesty with my last question."

"I don't mind."

"That's a relief."

"Rather, I need you to think carefully about the matter of my proposal. Because of how it works, you won't be able to stay with your female lover anymore."

The Dark Elves were a race with only females. They mated with other races since there are no male Dark Elves, though in most cases there were no feelings attached. As such, it's normal for the Dark Elves to form relationships between women.

"..."

"I won't force you and you don't have to feel indebted to me. Use your own feelings in your decision. This isn't like you are deciding the fate of your race, so you don't have to push your emotions aside."

"My own feelings… Now that I think about it, Your Majesty also did something similar last time. Your Majesty had no obligation to help us but still did it nonetheless. Your Majesty also encouraged Queen Shera to deny her engagement saying that she shouldn't accept it if she didn't want it."

"Because it's the truth. There's no need to just stay quiet and accept something you don't wish for being forced on you. You should not allow others to deny your will for their own benefits."

"...I see. Huhu!"

"What is it?"

"It's nothing. I just thought that Your Majesty really is kind. Even if other people fail to see it."

(I don't think I'm particularly kind. It's just, I still have japanese virtues. This world's common sense is too heartless compared to my world's common sense. I mean, even a NEET like me is kind in this world's eyes.)

Diablo read novels where the main character was transported to another world before. In most cases, the main character got used to killing his enemies, even if they weren't monsters. Diablo on the other hand, avoided killing as much as possible, even if it was someone who tried to kill him(Edelgard) or betrayed him(Alicia). This showed that he was indeed kind, but Diablo failed to reach this conclusion. Right now he was more worried about Rafleisha rejecting his offer due to already having a lover in the village.

"I will accept Your Majesty's proposal."

"I see- Eh?"

"Did I perhaps say it in a low voice? Then, once again, I will accept-"

"No, I heard it loud and clear. It's just, what about your lover?"

"She will understand. If it's Your Majesty, then she will definitely understand."

"..."

"Do I seem like a cold person?"

"No, it's-"

"It's fine. I understand it looks that way. To begin with, it was more of a 'teenager love' relationship. Even if we were together, it's not as if we exchanged vows and swore to stay together forever. I do love her but I love Your Majesty even more, regardless of how short our time together was. If Your Majesty is fine with such a cold woman, please do treat me well."

"...Like I said, I don't really think you are such a cold person. Maybe just a little, but it's because of a difference in culture isn't? In this village it's not something particularly rare, right?"

"So you realised, as expected of Your Majesty."

"But there's one last thing I want to ask."

"What is it? I will answer to the best of my ability."

"You said you love me, but what sparked it? Was it really only because I saved you life before?"

"That was indeed what started it but there is more to it."

"I can't really imagine what else could have caused it."

"It's actually very simple. It's because it's you, Your Majesty."

"...What?"

"Your kindness in saving me and my village without asking for rewards, your overwhelming power that defeated the Fallen, your courage to not back down even when the entire Elven Kingdom was against you, everything about you. I also confirmed with our talk just now, even if Your Majesty normally acts in a arrogant and provocative manner, Your Majesty will still be a caring person to his family."

"...Did I show that kind of behaviour?"

"Your Majesty was not intimidating ever since you proposed. As if showing that Your Majesty will not look down on his own brides. Your Majesty was in truth, acting unlike his arrogant self to make notice that, right?"

"...That's right."

Rafleisha was completely right. Every time Diablo proposed to another girl, he dropped his arrogance and was reasonably polite. Diablo had decided long ago that even if he was the Demon King, didn't mean he was going to look down on his own family. He was opening an exception for them.

"Your Majesty that acts like a Demon King but cares for others, or Your Majesty that openly shows his gentleness, I'm fine either way. I love both sides."

"...Kuh!"

Diablo had conflicted feelings about how this would go before he talked with Rafleisha. Rafleisha came really close to pushing him down before and she also praised him, so he at least knew she liked him a little. On the other hand, Rafleisha said she had a lover in the village. Diablo had no way of knowing if this was going to work out. Now that it did work, he was still perplexed. He wasn't expecting Rafleisha to feel like this, he barely interacted with her after all. But when he thought about it, he also barely interacted with Mei before, at most he exchanged greetings with her when they weren't married.

"...If you say you are sure, then I won't question you. Let's begin the ritual."

"Certainly, Your Majesty."

"And the ritual is only about the kiss, NOTHING ELSE."

"That is a shame but I can expect Your Majesty to go further later, can't I?"

"...Yes, and I don't intend to make you wait too long. So bear with it, will you?"

"If it's something so simple, then I do not mind. Do take your time, Your Majesty."

"Right..."

Just as he finished talking, Diablo put his hand under Rafleisha's chin, lifting it. Now that she was looking straight at him, Rafleisha closed her eyes and waited for him. Unlike last time, Rafleisha was passive right now. She was waiting to see what her soon-to-be-husband could really do. Then, the contact finally came…

"Mmm!"

Diablo went straight for her tongue using his own tongue. He already knew from last time, Rafleisha was also a carnivore, just like Lamnites. With that in mind, she would probably feel dissatisfied if Diablo kissed her like he kissed Lumachina, a simple and short kiss. He had to tackle the problem from the front and seize the initiative while he could, then control the flow to keep her from going further than necessary.

"Mnn..."

The only sounds in the small house were the wet sounds from their tongues and lips mixing together. There was also some saliva escaping their mouths ad dripping down their chins. Diablo felt something burning inside of him, something that...he unfortunately had to bury, at least until he fulfilled his promises to Rem and Shera. He did felt somewhat nostalgic, like it's been a while since he last had such an intense kiss. And long at that, he kept kissing Rafleisha for about ten minutes, before they finally ran out of breath and had to make a pause.

"...Hah...hah...hah..."

"*pant* *pant*"

"In..."

"In?"

"Incredible!"

"Wha?!"

"That was amazing, Your Majesty! I never had a kiss that felt so good before!"

"O-Ou."

"So this is Your Majesty when he gets serious. A shame I couldn't see this last time. Truly a shame."

"Wait a second."

"If a kiss was this good, then doing more will certainly-"

"Calm down!"

"Eh? Ah! I'm terribly sorry, Your Majesty! I was a little lost in my thoughts."

(That was not 'a little', no matter how I look at it. And her thoughts were certainly going in a dangerous direction.)

"The ritual is already done and right now I can't go beyond this with you. I promised Shera and Rem that they would be the first ones, but I have get all the brides before I can fulfill that promise."

"...I see. Please forgive me for overstepping my limits, Your Majesty."

"I wouldn't call it overstepping limits' but whatever. And can you change the way you call me? It doesn't feel being called like this by my own wife. Some of the others also started calling me without formalities, not in public though."

"Is that so? Then I will do the same. May I call you Diablo-sama?"

"Isn't it the same as before? When I wasn't the Elven King?"

"Indeed. But since Diablo-sama asked that I should be a little patient regarding spending a night together, I ask that Diablo-sama also be patient now. I will call Diablo-sama without formalities, eventually."

"..."

Rafleisha made a small "teehee" sound, showing the tip of her tongue, while winking with one eye. It was a cute gesture, unlike her normal "neutral" self.

(Is it some kind of small revenge for making her break up with her lover?... No, if I think about the fact that she almost never jokes around, maybe I should think of this as her way of showing she trusts me. Showing a side she normally keeps hidden from others is a definitely a sign of trust.)

"Well, now that we did what had to be done, let me ask this. Will Diablo-sama spend the night here? Or will you leave immediately?"

"I will depart right away. There's only one candidate left so I'd like to end this as soon as possible."

"I see, that's a shame. I was thinking of preparing a special 'service' if only Diablo-sama decided to stay for the night."

"...You do remember that I made a promise, right?"

"I know, I know. I was just teasing you a bit. I felt a little lonely, you see? Diablo-sama came suddenly, proposed to me and then had to leave on the same day? I thought we could at least share a bed, even if we only slept together without doing anything."

"...That is my fault indeed, but as I said before, I will make it up for you. I have been avoiding using my magic, except for the one I use to fly and travel around of course, to lower the chances of damaging the surroundings. Even if I already shared my power with all the other brides, the chances of something happening are still not zero and I want to do this thoroughly and as quickly as possible. So please wait a little longer."

"I understand. Actually, just hearing Diablo-sama saying 'please' is already enough for me. I never thought I would live to see this. Oh, I don't mean to offend you, Diablo-sama."

"...None taken. Don't worry about it too much."

"Thank you for your benevolence."

"...You really are speaking in a formal way, huh?"

"Huhu! I know Diablo-sama intends to depart right away, but could at least take some provisions? Since Diablo-sama went through the trouble of coming here, I could at least provide some food for your travel."

"...And now you are changing the subject. Well, whatever. If you could provide some food I would be thankful."

"Then, please follow me."

Rafleisha took Diablo to the exit of the village, where there was already one dark elf waiting with a sack on her hands. Seemly, Rafleisha intended on giving him a parting gift right from the start, so all she had to do was ask someone to bring it over, there was no need to wait for someone to make it.

"Then, Diablo-sama, please have a safe trip."

"I will, but there's one last thing for me to do here."

"What could it be?"

"Here, Shera asked me to deliver this to you."

"Queen Shera did?"

"I don't know about the details. But knowing Shera, it may not be that serious. Also, she would be happier if you called her just 'Shera' from now on. Since you are both my wives now."

"Oh! I will it to heart then. Thank you very much for bringing this letter, Diablo-sama. Once again, I wish you a safe trip."

"Yeah. I will see you soon."

Diablo said these words because he had promised that after he 'did it' with Rem and Shera, he would go to the others to avoid making them wait too long. Little did he know, he was going to them way sooner than he thought.

"...Interesting. So Rem-sama and Shera-sama were planning this, huh? As expected from the first wives, they really do have the most fascinating ideas, just like Diablo-sama. It's a most fitting surprise for our dear husband."

Diablo felt a sudden chill in his spine, but decided to ignore it. Recently he was getting a lot of chills, unnoticed by him, it was always after the wives read their letters.

Author's note: I updated the cover image for the fanfic. Hopefully there will be no problems, well, only time will tell. Again, Happy New Year!