A/N: What to say other than I updated sooner than expected? orz.
Anyway, first of all, I want to say thanks to RyuNoMe for having mentioned that little story mistake I did in the last chapter. It's been corrected/removed. Sometimes, these sorts of errors may happen since I'm not used to writing in a medieval/fantasy setting, so if you guys do notice mistakes regarding the story setting, feel free to mention them; I'll gladly correct them.
Other than that, you guys are the best. Some of you write the best reviews I ever had. It's to the point where I'm looking forward to reading those regular reviewers' comments because they usually write long and fun ones. I'll just mention those special people; Shinobukun, Psykoakuma, RedScars and also RyuNoMe when you don't forget to review (because your reviews are always long and well thought). There was also Chrislayer-Sama who gave me good, long reviews but they became my beta reader, so it's even better than that now. And of course, I also appreciate those who write small, encouraging words regularly!
Unfated Passion
Miku avoided her mother's austere look as she dug into her meal. It was like that every day now. That woman, whom the princess categorically refused to call her mother anymore, was entirely convinced that she was having an affair with the Queen of Demons, while her dear husband liked to believe otherwise despite the various pieces of evidence that they had. It wasn't unanticipated that the atmosphere was oppressive every time they were all in the same room. Nevertheless, Miku was able to contradict every suspicion her mother threw at her, and she did it with such tact that it made the Queen very frustrated; so much so that her facial features were visibly hardening, her teeth were gritting, and her hand was clutching her fork tightly. There was such abhorrence in her eyes that the teal-haired girl could barely recognize the woman who gave birth to her. She hadn't known until just recently that her mother cared so little about her. She had never been this hostile towards her before. Cold, yes… but certainly not to this extent. Either she was one hundred percent sure that she was having sexual intercourse with Luka and she genuinely hated her for that, or there was a darker reason behind it, one that she wasn't aware of.
Miku looked away and nervously ran her fingers through one of her twintails. It was another excellent reason for her to leave the Kingdom tonight. She was confident that it was the best choice now. To leave and to never come back... it was a bit frightening to escape without a plan, but she had come to realize that it was better than being in constant danger here. Besides, if what Luka said about Gakupo doing anything to bring her life to an end was true, then it would be in her best interest to leave the castle as soon as possible. However, where would she go? She had been outside only for business before, and she had always been escorted by the most skilled guards. Now she would be alone with a succubus who could mess with her mind however she wanted to, and the princess couldn't say that she fully trusted her yet. Though, she supposed that it was still better than escaping all by herself. She didn't have the luxury to think about what was right and wrong anymore.
After finishing her plate, Miku left the dining hall without looking at her parents even once. Luka would be here in a few hours. She needed to prepare her bag and perhaps bring a lot of money and food with her. It would be reckless not to after all.
Since she wasn't looking where she was going, too lost in her own thoughts, she bumped into someone and nearly fell backward, but a strong hand quickly pulled her up before the accident could happen. She blinked as she then met with vibrant blue eyes. It was that clumsy guard! What was his name again? Len? She was surprised that her father didn't expel him after what happened in the throne hall.
The young boy then pulled away from her, a blush quickly spreading on his face as he realized that he was actually standing in front of the princess again. He politely bowed in front of her, visibly nervous. It was the second time something like had happened. Bumping into the princess twice… How more gauche could he be?
Miku only smiled at him to show that she didn't mind. However, after realizing that the guard shouldn't be here right now, she peered at him with a frown. As far as she was aware, either the guards were watching all the possible entrances, or they were training intensively for the war. Walking around recklessly in the castle was slightly suspicious.
"Are you not on duty, guard?" She questioned him seriously.
Immediately, Len tensed up and looked away, scratching the back of his neck anxiously.
"U-Um…yes, I…I was about to head there…" He muttered with a loud gulp.
The princess didn't buy that. He was lying; it was plastered all over his face. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to meet with his eyes, but he was determinedly avoiding her stare. Miku doubted that he was planning anything malicious, but his behavior was positively odd, and she simply couldn't let it slip.
"Spill it. Unless you wish for me to tell the King and the Queen that you are acting suspiciously; they might not be as considerate as I am."
Apparently, the blonde boy didn't seem to like that idea, especially since he must already know that there was nothing more chilling than the King's wrath. Eventually, he gave up on hiding the truth. Beforehand, he looked around as if he didn't want anyone listening on them, and as soon as he made sure that they were alone, he exhaled deeply and looked at daughter of the Hatsune family with a weak grin.
"I…I was searching for someone," He admitted sheepishly. Though, after seeing that the answer didn't fully please the impatient princess, he decided to be more precise; "I was searching for…a certain maid."
"A certain maid?" Miku repeated with a blink. It already happened in the past that guards had secret liaisons with maids, but the King recently prohibited it because he thought it was diverting their attention too much. Anyway, that boy was most likely a bit too young to have such an improper relationship with anyone.
"A-Ah, she is my childhood friend!" Len elaborated, probably knowing the hasty conclusion his vagueness could have led to. "She is actually the reason why I became a guard, but I haven't had the occasion to talk to her yet. I-It is kind of pathetic, right?"
The princess stared at him incredulously. It was no wonder why he couldn't be a suitable guard; if he did that just to get closer to that girl… the King would throw him out if he knew. To think he was putting himself in constant danger just to have the chance to meet her again; it was totally reckless —not that Miku was really in a position to judge him. She was also ready to risk her life if it meant seeing a specific flirtatious demon again.
Feeling some sort of compassion for the guard, Miku sighed and decided to grant him his wish; it was quite admirable that he went that far just for that purpose. She might as well reward him for his efforts. She wasn't known for being heartless like her parents after all, and that boy seemed quite determined. It would be sad if he weren't able to see her even once.
"What is her name? I might be able to help you meet her."
Len immediately showed great disbelief, as if he couldn't believe what the princess just said before his whole face illuminated at the thought of possibly being able to see his childhood friend again.
"Her name is Rin!" He exclaimed a bit too loudly, unable to restrain his eagerness, his voice even trembling from the enthusiasm.
Miku's eyes widened in shock. Rin… Her Rin? Her personal maid? Her closest friend? It couldn't only be her. The young maid had never talked about him before, so she was a bit skeptical. Not that she knew much about her blonde friend anyway since she rarely spoke about herself. The only things that she was aware of was the fact that she liked dessert a bit too much, and she absolutely loved those cheesy, almost cringe-worthy romance novels. Perhaps it was her own fault for not asking about Rin's past, but she had been afraid to press one of her more sensitive buttons, especially after the tragedy she had gone through.
Trying to compose herself, the princess took a breath and silently motioned for him to follow her, which he did without asking any questions. Her friend was most likely at the library at this hour; she was spending most of her days there after all. Since it would take a few minutes just to get there, she decided to make small talk with the earnest guard, clearing her dry throat;
"Rin is actually a friend of mine, and she is also my own personal maid," She stated with a smile. "If you noticed my surprise when you spoke her name, it is only because she had never talked to me about you before, so I was a bit taken aback."
"Never?"
Miku was slightly amused by his disappointed tone of voice.
"Well, I suppose Rin is quite the reserved one when it comes to her personal life. She never really opened up to me despite us apparently being close friends, so it is not that surprising that she never said a word about you."
She had always wished for the maid to be more relaxed and less tense with her, but even after all those years, she still had difficulty only calling her by her first name. It was exasperating at times to always hear her call her "princess" despite how many times she had told her not to. Even scolding her didn't do much, but she didn't wish to force her either.
"Anyway, how did you know Rin was here? We took her into custody as soon as her family tragedy happened. I believe she did not have time to talk to anyone about her living here as a maid."
"She wrote me a letter even though I could not read it. I had to see someone for that, they told me everything in the letter… everything that had happened to her." Len clarified seriously. "After I learned what those vile demons did to her, I couldn't just let it go. I had to do something, and it is why I decided to become a guard. I wanted to become strong and protect her. Even though, in the end, I make quite the clumsy guard who gets easily scared…"
The teal-haired girl remained silent. It certainly wasn't that simple. Even though it was quite admirable of him to go that far for his childhood friend, it sounded like it was a bit too much. Or perhaps she was only being selfishly envious here; instead of a genuine guard coming to save her, it was a perverted demon who could not be fully trusted and who had a distinct lack of emotions. Nevertheless, she began to like Luka because of who she was anyway —even though she could become quite unpleasant company sometimes—, and Miku firmly believed that the succubus was growing fond of her. She was showing more emotions, and it was just making the curious princess even more infatuated.
"Rin needs more emotional support than strong arms to protect her," Miku shook her head in disbelief. "Though, I guess she will be happy to see you."
Once they finally arrived, the princess opened the door and wasn't surprised to see the young maid at her usual spot, several books piled up on the cluttered desk. She seemed to be so absorbed with her novel —it was like she was devouring every page with her eyes— that she didn't hear them at all when they approached her. Even the clattering sounds of Len's heavy armor didn't make her stare up. Amused, Miku put a hand on her shoulder, and just like she often did in situations like this, Rin jumped in surprise and looked at the princess with profound shock for a few seconds before she relaxed in her chair, still obviously trying to recover from the gentle fright, a hand on her hammering heart.
"Y-Yes? Is there anything you need, princess?" Rin asked politely, wondering if she came to bother her because she needed her maid services.
"Not me personally, but there is someone else who wishes to see you," Miku elucidated as she pointed towards Len who had courteously taken some distance.
Confused, the younger girl stood up and looked behind her. She scrutinized the guard standing in front of her carefully. It was as if she couldn't recognize him at first, but astonishment soon appeared on her face as she finally realized who it really was.
"L-Len…?" She uttered hesitantly.
The blonde boy nodded and opened his arms for a hug, and Rin immediately embraced him, burying her face in his shoulder despite it being uncomfortable because of the cold, steel armor. However, she probably did that to hide the tears that clearly threatened to fall down her cheeks. When she finally calmed down, she stared at Len with such relief and happiness that it was almost breath-taking to see. Miku swore that she had never seen her friend look so joyful and… free.
The princess sat down and let them catch up with each other. Seeing her interact so happily with Len made Miku realize that maybe Rin's place had never meant to be by her side… to be imprisoned in the castle with her. Even when she tried so hard at times she could barely get her to smile, whilst that boy achieved it so quickly and easily. Honestly, while she was glad for Rin, it felt a bit like a stab in the chest. It wasn't because she was jealous; it was only making her wonder if they ever had been genuine friends; that maybe the maid had been so kind to her because she thought she had some sort of debt towards her. Or perhaps it was just her princess title that still made Rin uncomfortable, and she couldn't blame her for that.
Anyway, Miku now understood the right thing to do. She stood up and coughed to attract their attention, to remind them that she was still here.
"I apologize for interrupting this moment, but you two should leave the castle together. Neither of you are secure here," The princess specified and looked at Len. "Honestly, after the King of Demons' execution accident, I am surprised that my father did not throw you out since you visibly lacked professionalism. I am confident that he is planning to use you only as a sacrifice for the war. It would be in your best interest to leave. Besides, even if we do not know each other, I am sure you can adequately take care of Rin…"
The teal-haired female met with the young maid's astounded eyes. She then looked at Len to make sure he would be alright with the idea of escaping together, and he merely nodded at her with a grin. Besides, Miku wasn't worrying too much about their future since Rin could read and write, so she could easily find an excellent job since those were two highly sought-after qualities that so few villagers had.
"Anyhow, I will give you some money, so you two should be all right if you—" The princess' breath got caught in her throat as soon as she felt small arms wrap around her. Rin was hugging her. It was the very first time her blonde friend was giving her such an affectionate gesture. It left Miku speechless for a moment, and it also made her think that perhaps she indeed had been holding Rin captive with her, that maybe it was why she seemed so happy about escaping.
Maybe it was why things had always been sort of awkward between them.
Then, the maid pulled away as if suddenly struck by lightning. She then stared up at Miku with sudden worry.
"Are you not in danger here as well, princess? M-Maybe you could leave with us…"
The princess bit down on her lip. As much as the idea pleased her, she couldn't do that. It was too risky.
"I can convince the guards to let you leave, but they certainly would not let me out." Miku murmured and gave her a reassuring smile. "I have my own… saviour coming for me… I guess, so you should not worry about me."
"Your own saviour…? Is it the Queen of Demons? Can you truly trust her?" Rin asked skeptically. Len seemed very shocked to hear that, but he didn't say anything out of respect. "Y-You can still try to find a way to come with us!"
"She cares about me, Rin, or at least I think she does… I do not think she will try to harm me in any way," The princess whispered uncertainly, but soon affectionately pinched the younger girl's nose as she noticed that it didn't ease her worries in the slightest. "I will be just fine! I am not one of those helpless princesses who is waiting for her brave knight in shining armor to save her, just like in those silly novels that you read. You should worry more about yourself!"
After silently debating whether she should really believe her or not, Rin finally nodded, giving her the benefit of the doubt. Miku then lovingly ruffled her blonde hair.
"Anyway, I will package some food and money for you two. I am sorry for rushing you to leave, but I must escape tonight as well, so it is now or never since it is the only time I can help."
Rin and Len stared at each other irresolutely. It was noticeable on their faces that they were wondering where they would go, and Miku couldn't really help them with that since she didn't know much about the outside world either. She doubted that Luka knew anything about it either, which only served to make the princess worry more about what exactly they would do. One thing was certain, though: none of them should stay here if they wished to live. Death was near, and it was unpreventable.
Eventually, Len looked at the teal-haired girl with a determined look on his face.
"We will get by. I am sure Rin is just as appreciative as I am that you are helping us leave when times are so rough."
The maid quickly agreed with him. Miku honestly only wished for her friend's safety, and Len appeared at the right moment. She wasn't the one who would usually have faith in fate, but she allowed herself to believe in it just this once. She then told them to wait for her at the castle's gate and went to prepare their traveling bag. She gave them half of the gold she had planned to take with her; it would even be enough for them to settle in a house if they desired to. She also stole some expensive bread and cheese from the kitchen and made sure to stuff her own sack with the same luxurious food as well. Thankfully, there hadn't been anyone around when she did that. Even their skilled chefs, who were regularly preparing food for the next day, didn't seem to be present. Either she was fortunate, or bad karma was waiting to strike back.
Once everything was settled, she re-joined Rin and Len who had been quietly chatting near the gate; they were probably still trying to catch up with each other. Miku apologized for interrupting them again and gave the bag to the blonde guard who fixed it to his armor's belt. They both thanked her, but the quivers in the maid's voice didn't go unnoticed by the princess who quickly stared at her with a frown. Tears were starting to well up in Rin's eyes as she bowed gratefully in front of her.
"T-Thank you for having taken care of me. W-Without you, I do not know what would have had happened to me…" She murmured emotionally. "I…I am so sorry for not having noticed it sooner, t-that you were always there for me and I…I…"
At this point, the blonde was mumbling words unfathomably. Miku couldn't blame her since she was also beginning to get emotive. However, she was hiding it surprisingly well, a small, nostalgic smile parting her lips. She was well aware that they were currently exchanging farewells; she understood perfectly well that they would never see the other ever again. It was why she couldn't ignore the sharp pain in her chest; she was going to lose her only genuine friend after all; one of the few people she ever cared about. It hurt more than she thought it would have. She had often doubted the authenticity of their friendship, but it was pretty evident now that they always cared about each other, but were always too awkward to express it as they should have.
"Perhaps it is not farewell, perhaps we will see each other again one day," Miku spoke softly, wanting to remain optimistic despite it being almost impossible. She gently pulled the younger girl in her arms, giving her one last hug. "Stay safe, Rin..."
"Y-You too…" The blonde sniffled as she pulled away.
Now that their goodbye was done, the princess went to explain the situation to the guards who were protecting the gate. She lied by telling them that the King was expelling them, and that he had wanted her to personally escort them to the exit. They didn't seem to ultimately believe her at first, especially since Len was still wearing his royal armor when he should have customarily given it back. However, Miku persistently and stubbornly tried to convince them otherwise, and they finally had no other choice but to give up and let them pass, almost as if they feared the princess' wrath. She may be small, but she could be quite frightening when annoyed.
Miku then gave the two blondes a thumbs up to signal that they could finally start their journey. She silently watched them leave. Was it really the best choice? To let Rin go with that boy she barely knew? He didn't seem like a bad person, and her friend had seemed genuinely happy to see him. It couldn't possibly go wrong. Maybe she was only needlessly worrying.
The teal-haired girl exhaled deeply. It was now time to prepare for her own departure. Luka should arrive at any moment. She couldn't make her heart stop pounding from nervousness, and she couldn't avoid the ball of conflicting emotions that was slowly forming in the pit of her stomach. She didn't have the luxury to worry about whether traveling with that damned succubus was a good idea or not; she didn't have a choice. It was that, or she would die. She knew it, and yet, she was still tempted to remain in this prison of hers despite how much of a hard time her parents were giving her. She was aware that a part of herself wanted to stay here; she desired to become Queen to make the Kingdom a better place to live in, but it would also mean marrying a man she would never love —not that romance had ever been one of her favorite topics… She had always thought that she would never fall in love, that she was wholly immunized to that kind of excitement, but Luka proved her wrong. There was actually nothing more thrilling than being with the person you liked. All the burning emotions and passion she felt whenever she was with the succubus were unmatchable.
Miku grabbed her own bag filled with food and money before heading to her father's workplace where she stole a roughly drafted map. It was hard to read, but it was still safer than traveling without one for sure. She then entered her own room and tried, once again, to convince the two guards who were watching the balcony entrance to leave. She told them that they were done with their shift and that others would replace them soon. They didn't even question her, visibly too bored with their job to even care about how far-fetched it sounded.
Miku grinned victoriously to herself before rummaging through her wardrobe, searching for something simpler to wear. She only had long, expensive dresses that would get in her way too much; she had nothing that would be appropriate for voyaging. The most suitable one she saw was a dress that arrived at the level of her knees. It seemed like she didn't have a choice. Pants certainly would have been more comfortable, but she had never been allowed to wear any because her parents thought it wasn't feminine or ladylike enough, which the princess couldn't help but find highly ridiculous.
Once she was done changing, she sat down on her bed and took several deep breaths. Apart from the time she had been captured by an evil incubus, she had never felt this anxious in her entire life. She knew that deep down she was looking forward to it, but she was also frightened. Scared of making the wrong choice. Scared of the unknown.
A loud thud on the balcony immediately caught her attention. She abruptly stood up to greet the succubus, but soon stopped in her tracks as she met with emotionless purple eyes. The King of Demons. He was accompanied by one of the ugly imps.
Miku wanted to scream for help, but it felt like her vocal chords were paralyzed. Her entire body was frozen in place.
"Thank you for getting rid of the guards for me!" He exclaimed with his natural suave voice. He soon chuckled when he noticed the shock and fear in his future victim's eyes, a devious smirk parting his lips. "Oh? Were you expecting someone else by any chance?"
By "someone else", he most likely meant Luka. It looked like he was aware of them meeting up today. The princess took a few steps back and silently glared at him, which only seemed to amuse him further. He eventually approached her at light speed, one arm pulling her close while his other hand clasped over her mouth to silence her in case she would call for help.
Miku couldn't breathe. The only thing she could feel was deep fear and panic.
"If you struggle too much or scream, I will end your life before you even have the time to blink an eye, so you should remain calm, little bird. Just some friendly advice," Gakupo whispered in her ear, bringing a sharpened knife against her throat, relishing in the fear he could sense from his prey. "Do you know why I am here? To make you understand that you messed with the wrong person… to make you understand that you are completely vulnerable without my dear Queen's help. Is it not hilarious? After the odd complicity you two shared, Luka finally decided to betray you. It is because of her that I am here right now; it is because she so kindly told me your exact position. Rule number one; never trust a demon, no matter how sweet the words and promises they share with you are."
Miku's eyes widened for a few seconds before she tried to calm down, inhaling deeply. She didn't believe that. He was probably only trying to destabilize her even more. "Demons know how to play with human emotions. Thus they are easily able to manipulate them. They enjoy making them suffer emotionally as much as they like hurting them physically". She couldn't forget those words she had heard so many times in the past. No matter how frightened she was at the moment, she had to remain calm and rational. There was no way Luka would betray her when she was the one who had been pressuring her into leaving with her yesterday. She wasn't dumb.
"I was actually waiting for your mother to execute you, but she was taking too much time," The incubus explained with a bored yawn. "I have been brainwashing her during her dreams, but where would the fun have been in her killing you anyway? It is much more amusing if I am the one doing it after all! I suppose it was only in case I would be unable to reach you, but you have made the task so much easier by getting rid of the guards on your own."
Miku gritted her teeth. She should have guessed that he was the reason why her mother had been acting so hostile towards her. He was talking so arrogantly as if he was proud of his plan. Everything about his behavior was greatly pissing her off.
Suddenly, an inhuman sounding growl vibrated through the room as an angry, familiar voice spoke. "I knew you were planning something. Let her go, Gakupo!"
Luka. She was here.
Since the King seemed slightly taken aback by his Queen's furtiveness, Miku chose this moment to strike him in the ribs with her elbow as hard as she could. It was enough to make him loosen his grip around her, and the human gladly took the opportunity to rush towards the succubus' side, with said woman immediately going right in front of her, as if trying to shield her with her body.
Gakupo's amusement and haughtiness were immediately replaced by murderous anger; his facial features were hardening considerably, completely degrading all his seductive traits.
"My, my, would you look at that? Our so impassive Queen became infatuated with a filthy human! How disgraceful!" He exclaimed with apparent derision. "It would have been more… tolerable if she were only your sex toy that you used to satisfy your filthiest desires, but you have become quite fascinated by her, have you not? This is revolting... completely unacceptable."
The two demons were glaring ferociously at each other. Miku knew that Luka never appreciated him, but she could clearly notice the strong abhorrence she felt towards him merely by looking into her icy blue eyes. She swore that she had never seen her so livid before.
Soon enough, Gakupo violently charged at his Queen who quickly dodged his attack by grabbing his wrist, evading a fatal injury; the knife was barely pressed against her chest, right near her heart. However, the angry incubus kept on forcing, the apparent muscles on his arms contracting. Miku could quickly tell that Luka was barely able to match with his strength, her hands trembling violently as she wholeheartedly struggled to keep the edge of the blade away from her.
The princess immediately understood that she had to help her. Her nervousness left her in an instant as she looked around and grabbed the first thing that caught her eye; a table lamp. She then walloped the King in the back with the fragile object that easily shattered in several small pieces from the strong impact. Even though it didn't seem to have injured him too much, it had still been enough to make him drop his knife, which Luka seized without a second thought, disarming him.
Enraged to have let his guard down, Gakupo swiftly turned around and grabbed the human by the neck, vigorously squeezing it as he lifted her off the ground, giving the princess his darkest look.
Miku couldn't breathe at all. Her whole body was going numb as the seconds passed, her vision becoming increasingly blurred. She could barely see as Luka was irresolute about whether to stab him or not, almost as if she couldn't find it in herself to do it even after everything he had done. The teal-haired girl closed her eyes as she felt all her remaining strength slowly leaving her body. Was she going to die now? In front of the person that she liked? Was she going to die when she didn't even have the time to do anything about her growing feelings?
The door then abruptly opened as a few guards entered the room, probably because they heard all the ruckus. They seemed shocked to see the dreadful scene before them, but after regaining their composure, they assaulted Gakupo without delay, who finally let go of the vulnerable princess. She fell on her knees, huffing and coughing as she tried to catch her breath. Just a little bit more and she was certain that she would have passed out.
Much to everyone's disappointment, the incubus managed to escape with the imp who had been waiting for him on the balcony. One of the guards then quickly ran out of the room to alert the King and the Queen while the others turned to Luka who took a step back, visibly outnumbered.
"S-Stop… haa… d-do not harm her…!" Miku managed to exclaim despite still struggling with simply breathing properly. "S-She… she… tried to protect me… p-please, let her go…"
"B-But your highness! We cannot do that without the King's order!"
The princess then stood up, one of the guards rushing to her side to help her, but she immediately slapped his hands away with a growl. She couldn't let that happen. They would most likely throw Luka in the dungeon and execute her after gathering information from her. She would love to carry on with the plan of escaping from the castle, but it seemed to be pretty risky and dangerous doing it now; the guards were all keeping a close eye on the succubus, one of them firmly holding her hands behind her back.
There was no way it could be possible.
Miku met with Luka's eyes, and the demon suddenly smirked at her, giving her a nod as if telling her that she had a plan in mind. Understanding that maybe they could actually get out of here, the princess furtively grabbed the bag that she had left on her bed.
"Please, stop being so rough on me, handsome man. I would prefer if you could be gentler and softer… I am quite the sensitive woman, after all…"
The princess blinked in surprise as the guard immediately let go of the succubus' hands, his face flushed at the blatant sexual innuendo. He was completely flustered. Miku couldn't believe something like that worked. Perhaps it was because she used her powers on him, or maybe it was simply because she spoke in such a seductive, chilling voice? However, she didn't have much time to question it since Luka dashed towards her and held her in her arms to carry her bridal style, which successfully made the confused princess gasp.
"Hold onto me!"
Miku obeyed and wrapped her arms around her neck, clutching the bag in one of her hands. She shut her eyes in fear as the succubus jumped out the balcony and landed on the ground without any difficulty despite the absurd height. It never failed to astonish the younger female. If it were for her, she would have broken some of her limbs for sure. Everything was going so fast that the next moment she blinked her eyes, she was in front of two imps who had seemingly been waiting for them.
Luka sternly ordered the pair to take them away from here, which they obediently did without even questioning her once. However, Miku hadn't been ready for what had been coming next; it was now one of the winged creatures' turn to carry her. She couldn't restrain a shriek as he started flying while firmly holding her. She tried not to squirm as a nauseating odor invaded her nostrils. The imp stank so much that it was almost unbearable, but most of all, she thought she would pass out; they were many feet above the ground, and Miku couldn't really find it in herself to trust any demons right now, especially after what just happened. She would most assuredly die if he dropped her.
The only reassurance she had was the succubus smiling calmingly at her alongside her. She had probably noticed how pale and freaked out she was right now. It was still unexpectedly sweet of Luka to try soothing her; it was just further proof that she had become softer with her these days. It was silly that her heart was currently thumping in her chest when now definitely wasn't the right moment to be thinking about romance.
Miku made the mistake of looking behind. The Kingdom was getting smaller as they were moving away. It was done. She left for good. She couldn't go back on her decision anymore. She couldn't ignore the gentle pang of regret in her chest. Had it really been the best choice? She supposed so. If it weren't for Luka's help, she would be dead right now. Moreover, it was also too dangerous to stay in the castle when Gakupo brainwashed her mother. It was for the best; she liked to believe that it was. Besides, she should remain optimistic; maybe it was finally her chance to start a whole new life, to be free from all her royal duties. Despite caring for her people's future, freedom was always something she envied and desired. Nevertheless, she couldn't avoid the excruciating guilt she felt about leaving the villagers in a time of war. Not that she had much of a choice anyway…
Eventually, they landed on the ground far away from the castle, leaving Miku with the need to sit down on the grass for a few minutes as still shaking from the recent adrenaline. She felt both nauseous and exhausted.
Luka took this moment to aloofly instruct the smelly demons to return into their territory, not showing even one ounce of gratitude towards them. The pink-haired female then stared at the fatigued princess, seemingly unconfident about what she was supposed to do in that kind of situation, but she thought that letting her cool down a bit was probably for the best since she stayed silent, staring off into the distance. Something like that would have easily been enough to traumatize any faint-hearted humans after all.
"U-Um… a-are you all right?"
Miku's eyes snapped back open. She had thought for a second that it was Luka asking her that question out of worry, but the voice sounded too high-pitched and unconfident to belong to her. It was then that she noticed that there was someone else with them; a very frail girl with short green hair. It was the half-human who tried to help her while she was captive! If her memory served her right, she was named Gumi.
The princess stared up at the fragile looking girl with profound confusion plastered on her face. What was she doing here? Did the succubus decide to be compassionate by bringing her with them? Miku certainly wasn't going to complain about that. On the contrary, she was glad to see that the half-human was safe despite the numerous bruises on her skeletal body. She really had thought that they would have killed her.
"Nice to see you again," The teal-haired girl attempted to be friendly, forcing out a small smile.
Gumi's face then went a deep shade of red as she fidgeted nervously. She seemed uncomfortable with friendly gestures as if she was utterly unacquainted with them.
"S-Same here…"
"She is only here because I need her," Luka suddenly interrupted them, arms crossed over her chest. "She knows a place where we could be safe, but let us talk about our plan tomorrow since I think you need some rest right now, little maiden. There should be a small village nearby; maybe we can find an inn there."
"I… I do not think it is safe to enter a village with a demon, though…" Miku voiced out her concern, knowing well enough that it could quickly become catastrophic. Gumi could easily pass for a human since she didn't have horns or perceptible pointy ears, but it certainly wasn't Luka's case; everything about her screamed "sex demon".
The Queen of Demons gave an indifferent shrug as she suddenly lifted the hood of the robe she was wearing over her head. Perhaps it was successfully hiding half of her face, but it still looked somewhat suspicious. Though, the princess didn't feel like arguing right now, so she decided to keep silent about it despite being greatly bothered by it. She could only hope that they wouldn't get interrogated, and that if they ever did, Luka would take full responsibility.
"Nevertheless, we should get going. Can you walk?" The succubus asked the human with an almost judgmental frown.
"I…I only needed some time to compose myself... I should be all right now."
Without further ado, the three of them started walking towards the nearest village. It was only a bit perceptible; they could only see a small point of light on the horizon from where they were. Judging by the distance, it would take around an hour just to get there. It was already very dark outside, and the only sounds that they could hear were the crickets and the leaves rustling in the wind. They could also occasionally hear the wolves howling far into the distance, which was anything but reassuring.
Neither of them spoke a word. Luka seemed too lost in her thoughts for Miku to even think about striking a possibly awkward conversation with her, while Gumi looked too timid to do so; each time the teal-haired girl tried to meet with her eyes, she would automatically avoid her with a blush. Miku then thought that it would be unfair to make her even more uncomfortable, so she decided to keep her distance for now even though she was dying to know more about her. Gumi was plausibly one of the few half-humans to have ever existed. It was almost inconceivable that a demon and a human ever loved each other to the point of wanting to give birth to a child and raise them. Though, Miku supposed that it was more of a curse than a blessing since the green-haired girl apparently didn't have a comfortable life because of how immoral people thought that it was.
It was miserable how the princess would have been one of those individuals who would have judged Gumi for who she was before. She used to loathe demons so much after all; to the point of thinking that they were all malevolent and desired to kill every human that existed. However, after meeting the Queen and after gradually falling for her, she had realized that she had been utterly wrong. Demons, although very rarely, were still able to care for others —that much was evident now. Luka cared about her even though she had a tough time expressing it properly. Just thinking about it was filling the human with a welcome warmth. She guessed that now that they would spend most of their time together, she would be able to learn more about her and perhaps understand more about those burning feelings that kept on growing inside her each time she was with the succubus.
When they finally reached the village, Miku couldn't restrain a sigh of relief from escaping her lips as she saw that no guards were watching the entrance. It seemed like a very deserted place that was built only for travellers since it looked inferior in appearance. There were just a few people strolling around, and most of them were carrying bags and swords.
Thankfully, they found an inn hidden in a dark alley. It looked shady, but they didn't have the luxury to complain about it.
Once they entered inside, the smell of strong alcohol immediately made Miku cringe. Drunk people were chatting and laughing loudly. It was more than enough for the princess to qualify this place as unpleasant and noisy.
Without losing time, Luka approached the inn owner, but the teal-haired girl was fast enough to grab her wrist, stopping her from doing so;
"L-Let me take care of this…" She suggested. The succubus was suspicious enough as it was and she was concerned that she would try to use her powers on the man to force him to give them rooms, which would doubtlessly attract too much attention.
"Fine, but take two rooms."
"It would be best if we all shared the same one, though. We should save up as much money as we can."
"This is out of the question. I do not wish to sleep in the same room as the half-human."
Miku's eyes widened at the rude remark directed at Gumi. However, it didn't even make the girl flinch; it was as if she was so used to hearing such unfairness that it didn't bother her anymore. The princess was tempted to get annoyed at Luka for it, but she restrained herself. It was so ridiculous! She was all right with sleeping with a human, with having sex with one even, but was bothered at the thought of resting next to someone who was half her kind. It didn't make sense at all!
Huffing, Miku went to see the inn owner and decided to take two rooms anyway. She was pretty sure that it would be bad sleeping with a pissed off succubus anyway. Soon enough, she noticed the lustful, almost impatient look Luka was throwing at her, and she instantly understood the real reason why she didn't want to share a room with Gumi. She was pretty sure that the demon planned on ravaging her as soon as they would be alone. She hated herself for looking forward to it, a shiver running down her spine at the thought. It wasn't her fault if the shameless staring Luka was giving her right now was enough to make her mind foggy with anticipation. God, she had wished to have a nice and peaceful rest, without anything indecent happening, but now she was getting turned on merely by the succubus licentiously looking at her. It wasn't fair at all.
Wanting to tease her a bit, Miku smirked and threw one of the room keys at the Queen.
"Well then, if you are so disgusted by humans, I suppose I will sleep with Gumi!"
Shock was the first emotion to appear on Luka's face before it was quickly replaced by frustration and annoyance. It certainly was an amusing sight.
As if understanding that she was currently a third wheel to the pink and teal duo, the green-haired girl looked down at her feet nervously.
"U-Um, I…I am fine sleeping in a room all by myself…" She mumbled almost inaudibly.
"Good, because you will do just that." The succubus spoke through clenched teeth and gave her the key that was initially meant for her.
Now that it was all settled, Luka took Miku's arm and led her to their room. The princess wasn't planning on objecting as she was actually looking forward to it as much as the other female was. It wasn't hard to tell that she had become addicted to having sex with her. It wasn't only because the succubus always made her feel ecstatic, it was also because those were the only times that she could be close to her to the point of seeing all those new, unexpected sides of her personality that were so easily getting her hooked.
As soon as they entered the room, Luka made the human sit at the edge of the bed. Confused, Miku stared at her with a raised eyebrow as she kneeled in front of her. However, her throat immediately tightened when she saw the avid hunger in the succubus' blue eyes. Her breathing was also a bit ragged as if she was anticipating what she was about to do to her a bit too much.
"I want to eat you now."
The human's face flushed at the straightforwardness. By eating her, she meant giving her oral, right? She felt a sudden surge of heat go through her whole body. The fact that Luka was getting so excited just thinking about shoving her face down there was only arousing Miku even further. Now she was also getting oddly impatient about it.
It was why she didn't protest when the succubus asked her to lift her dress. As soon as she did, her panties were pulled down almost hastily. She gasped as Luka grabbed her waist to pull her closer to her face. She then spread her legs and didn't waste time burying her face between them. The hot, irregular breathing against her intimate part immediately made Miku twitch with eagerness, a tingling sensation spreading around her thighs and crotch. God, she didn't know if it was all because of the growing excitement, but she was overly sensitive right now. Only the feeling of Luka's warm breath on her clit was already making her want to moan.
Much to her relief, the succubus finally started to eat her meal, keenly licking her soaked entrance, teasing with her tongue as she circled it, avoiding the sensitive areas, which successfully made Miku feel even edgier and more frustrated. She wanted her to touch her now, she wanted her to lick and suck her so badly; she really couldn't wait.
"L-Luka, please…" She whimpered frantically. "I…I want it now…"
"Hmm? What is it that you want, dearest?" Luka asked with a mischievous smirk, looking up at her with amusement. It was most likely payback for what happened earlier about the rooms. That, or she really wanted to hear indecent words come out from her mouth.
The princess pursed her lips tightly. She didn't want to say it and give her the satisfaction of winning. Besides, even though she was starting to get used to having sex, saying such obscene words remained far too embarrassing for her.
"Well? I am waiting…"
Miku shut her eyes, a blush creeping on her cheeks. It looked like Luka really didn't plan on touching her until she said it even though she was quite impatient herself, the lust only getting more apparent in her eyes as seconds passed. It wasn't fair. It was the pink-haired female who had wanted to do it the most at first, and now she was cornering her into pleading with her.
Giving up, the princess inhaled sharply and said precisely what the other woman wanted to hear, her face only getting redder out of shame:
"I…I want you to lick and suck my clit… a-and maybe y-you could also put your f-fingers inside…"
Miku felt like she was going to die from the embarrassment. She couldn't believe she said it! She made a mental note to try embarrassing the succubus afterward. However, her humiliation was soon forgotten and rewarded as Luka hastened to give her what she wanted, taking her bud of nerves in her mouth and eagerly sucking on it.
The princess gasped as gentle jolts crossed her body, her limbs gradually going numb from bliss. The way the succubus used her mouth never failed to amaze her. She was teasing her clit in the perfect way; varying between licking it avidly and sucking it gently. She wasn't even using her powers on her this time, and yet it was still giving her such a mind-blowing experience. She wasn't sure what was making her so much more sensitive; all the embarrassing slurping sounds Luka was making on purpose or the look of insatiable hunger on her face as she was utterly and shamelessly eating her out. Whatever it was, everything about the situation was making her heart race and her skin glisten with sweat.
Miku's back then arched as soon as the demon entered two digits inside her, hitting her famous spot almost instantly, still teasing her clit with her tongue at the same time. It wasn't like that unbearable and intense pleasure that Luka sometimes gave her by using her powers, but it was still insanely satisfying. She had the time to enjoy every moment of it, to experience the growing tension and delight as she was dangerously approaching her climax.
"A-Ahh… g-goodness, L-Luka…!" She moaned out, unable to stop herself from making noises. "F-Feels so good… ahhh…!"
Then it was finally the moment Miku enjoyed the most; the pleasure suddenly and drastically increased as she reached her orgasm, her mind going blank as her body was shuddering excessively. She couldn't restrain a groan of disappointment as soon as the overwhelming sensation completely faded out. She had wished for it to last longer...
The teal-haired girl let herself fall onto her back, staring inattentively at the ceiling as she was trying to catch her breath. It was then that she remembered about the deal they had made yesterday. After everything that happened today, she had forgotten about it entirely! She then quickly sat up, staring at Luka with newfound energy and excitement. She won it; and thus, she could do anything she wanted to the impassive Queen!
"A-About the deal… we promised that the winner could do whatever she wanted to the other and…w-well…I…I actually always have been curious about—"
"Let us save that for another time," Luka interrupted her before she could finished her sentence. "You must be exhausted after what happened with my King. Moreover, it would be best if we left early in the morning."
"I…I am not tired anymore! Please, let me—"
"Perhaps you are not, but I certainly am!"
The succubus' voice had sounded so stern that it actually succeeded in making the stubborn princess flinch. She silently sulked. It was always like that. Luka would push her away as soon as they were done having fun. At times, it almost seemed like sex was the only thing that she wanted from her; that she was protecting her only for that purpose. That changing behavior of hers was honestly hard to deal with. Either she was letting her approach her or she was coldly pushing her away. Miku didn't know what to think anymore.
The demon sighed heavily as she went to lay down next to her. Miku didn't even have the time to open her mouth to voice her opinion about the situation before Luka unexpectedly pressed her lips against hers, completely silencing her with a peck. It had been so fast and unforeseen that the human unfortunately only had time to feel shocked. However, she felt like she could still feel the warmth of the kiss on her lips, and just that was enough to make her heart pound. It wasn't fair. The succubus couldn't just push her away and then kiss her like that afterward! It wasn't fair at all! It was as if she was toying with her feelings right now.
"W-What do you think you are—"
Again. Silenced by another kiss.
This one was longer and fiercer, and Miku gladly responded to it this time by firmly locking their lips together, making them linger there for a few seconds before slipping her tongue inside her mouth. If Luka was going to play this little game with her, then she might as well participate. Though her determination wavered as soon as the pink-haired female pressed her body against hers, her hands unpredictably fondling her small breasts through her clothes. God, this was too much… Miku felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest, an overwhelming warmth completely assaulting her. It was just a kiss; it was considered very chaste compared to all the things that had already done, and yet there were so many intense feelings invading her right now that it was making her lose her right mind.
Eventually, Luka pulled away and affectionately pressed her lips against her forehead for a few seconds before turning around on the bed, as if she didn't want the human to see her face right now.
Miku was left totally flabbergasted, her mouth still hanging open as her brain was trying to process what just happened.
"Luka… do you feel some sort of affection towards me?" She inquired curiously, unable to restrain herself from asking that question anymore. She knew that it was rare for demons to feel that way about anyone, but it wasn't impossible.
There was a long moment of silence before the succubus answered, her voice quivering ever so slightly;
"All I know is that you are not leaving me indifferent…"
Perhaps Miku hadn't gotten to touch the other female like she had wanted to, but she honestly believed that she got something much better than that; an insight of how Luka truly felt about her.