Rella was in the bedroom in labour as Tanjiro stood guard, Muzan appeared, casually drinking a cup of coffee and smiling.
"Well, well. A decorated demon slayer." Muzan smiled. "Must be my lucky day. Care for a cup, Tanjiro Kamado?"
"Don't think you are getting near that baby." Tanjiro snarled.
"On the contrary," Muzan tilted his head. "I thought it would be more effective if you found out yourself her hardship. No longer with the prince, she gives birth in an impoverished hovel. I could give that child a comfortable life."
Tanjiro scoffed. "As if I would believe that."
"Actually, we have an agreement." Muzan held out the contract. "And my agreements are always honored. If not, I'm going to have to involve the Crown, and that won't be good for the baby at all now will it? Imagine being forced to on the throne as an infant in a puppet government? So by all means…make my job easier, demon slayer. Make me king."
"That's not gonna happen." Tanjiro's hand went to his sword.
"I like your confidence." Muzan sighed. "But all I have to do is alert the government. She did, after all, break into my shop."
Tanjiro gave a hollow laugh. "Let me guess, to steal a contract."
Muzan shrugged. "Who knows what she was after."
"You know, no one's buying into your crap." Tanjiro growled. "No one would put Rella in the stocks for protecting her child."
"Perhaps. But alerting the government will put that baby on the throne and make me king." Muzan leaned in. "So by all means, Tanjiro."
Tanjiro just glared into his eyes, the flame in his heart growing hotter.
Muzan sighed, breaking the eye contact. "I like you, Kamado. You're not afraid of me, and that's either cocky or presumptuous. Either way I'd rather not make enemies with you just yet.."
"So she can keep the baby?"
"Not just yet." Muzan held up a finger. "There's still the matter of my agreement with Miss Cinderella."
"Tear it up."
Muzan snarled. "That's not what I do. You see, contracts, deals, well they're the very foundation of all civilized existence, so I put it to you now. If you want Rella to have that baby," He leaned in close to the demon slayer. "are you willing to make a deal with me?
Tanjiro groaned. "What do you want?"
"Oh I don't know just yet." Muzan smiled. "You'll owe me a favor."
Tanjiro sized Muzan up. "Deal."