Lea had managed to get a decent night's sleep. The initial shock had passed, and the thought of easing her family's and friends' concerns had given her comfort. The idea of being able to visit her homeworld sounded great, and she couldn't wait to spend some time in a familiar setting.
"Lea~! You look so cute in that dress!" Asmodeus gushed over her when she and Diavolo made their way to the castle's entrance hall. Lea was wearing a white summer dress, its sleeves reaching up to her elbows, the hem ending a few inches above her knees. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, a few loose strands framing her face. "I knew it would look great on you..! Even though I hadn't even seen you when I picked it, but anyways!" Asmodeus beamed. "The design complements your figure perfectly~"
"Uhm... Thank you." Lea felt a slight flush creep up onto her cheeks as she smiled awkwardly at the fifth brother.
"Well, Lea, you do look lovely." The demon prince gave her an approving smile, his eyes admiring the way the dress fit her body. He was probably just being polite, but his words still made the warmth spread onto Lea's ears.
"How come only Lucifer and Satan are allowed to come to the human world with you?" Asmodeus pouted. Apparently, alongside Lea, Lord Diavolo and Barbatos, only the two demon brothers were going to the human world with them, and the group was preparing to make their leave at the demon lord's castle's entrance hall.
"We're not going on a vacation, you know." Diavolo laughed at Asmo's sulky expression.
"I'm going with them because we'll need people of intelligence to research this matter." Satan replied with a straight face.
"And what does that mean?" Asmodeus snapped, his voice rising a few octaves. "Are you trying to say that-"
"That's enough, you two." Lucifer's voice echoed in the hall, his eyes shooting a warning glare at his brothers. "Tch..! Where's Solomon?" He sighed, more than ready to get going already.
"Here." Silver haired man in dark robes walked into the hall, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Why are you smiling?" Lucifer frowned.
"Just because." Solomon shrugged, his grin remaining intact.
"Lea, this is Solomon." Diavolo introduced him to Lea. "He's a human sorcerer, and takes part in the exchange program; He has been in the Devildom for the past year. He's well knowledgeable with curses and hexes, and has offered to help us research this matter."
"Hi." Solomon's grin softened when his eyes landed on the young woman.
"What?" Lea's eyes widened in surprise. "You're a human as well? Oh, right, Lord Diavolo did mention something about human exchange students..."
"Yes." Solomon nodded. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise." Lea returned the smile.
"All right, then." Diavolo clasped his hands together. "Shall we get going?"
"Barbatos, are you ready?" Lucifer asked the butler, who had appeared at the doorway. "Barbatos will teleport us to the human world." He explained to Lea.
"Yes, I'm ready." The butler replied, his eyes scanning the room. "Now, miss Lea, if you'd be so kind as to focus and keep your mind clear— I'll be able to transport everyone without issue as long as you're thinking about the place where you'd like to go. I'll send you and the young master off first."
"Alright." Lea closed her eyes, the familiar surroundings of her university campus popping up in her mind. "Okay, I'm ready."
"Very good." Barbatos nodded. "I'll now send you to the human world."
When Lea opened her eyes, she was standing in front of the main building of her university campus. Diavolo was standing next to her, the demon prince looking around him with curiosity. The rest of the group followed soon after, and when Barbatos had assured that everyone had arrived safely, they took a moment to gather their thoughts.
"All right, then." Lucifer glanced at his companions. "Lea has some things to take care of, so she'll head out with Lord Diavolo. The rest of us are here to find clues regarding the ritual site, and we'll visit the place where the event took place. We'll meet back here in two hours." As the group murmured their approval, Lucifer turned his attention to Lord Diavolo and Lea. "Good luck." Lucifer nodded before he and his group departed.
Because of the curse, Lea couldn't wander too far away from the demon prince's presence— And if she had understood correctly, while in the human world, they'd have to remain in close proximity to each other.
"Where should we go, Lea?" Diavolo asked, still eyeing the environment with interest.
"I guess we should stop by my room in the student dormitory? I could pick up some things I might need and call my parents." Lea suggested.
"Lead the way, then." Diavolo flashed her a smile, following the young woman's lead.
The university campus was buzzing with life, the students walking to and from their classes or lounging around on the benches. Some students stopped and stared, their eyes widening in surprise and awe as the tall, handsome man passed them. Lea couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions; Diavolo, the crowned prince of the Devildom, had decided to wear a casual outfit, a simple black suit and a dark red coat, yet he still stood out from the crowd, his mere presence commanding respect.
"Hm? What is it?" Diavolo tilted his head when he heard Lea giggling.
"Ah, well..." Lea shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "It just occurred to me that you have this… important person -aura."
"Important person -aura?" Diavolo looked at Lea in confusion, somewhat perplexed but equally amused by her choice of words.
"Yeah, even here in the human world, where none of these people have any idea who you are… They're all looking at you, wondering if they should know you from somewhere."
Even in the human world, where Diavolo's demonic identity and status was concealed, the allure of his presence still managed to capture the attention of those around him. His presence exuded an air of authority and charisma that was hard to ignore. As Lea observed him, she couldn't help but be drawn to his magnetic aura as well.
"Ah, I see…" A demure smile spread onto Diavolo's face as he pondered her words. "I haven't even noticed that, I guess I'm just so used to it." His response showed a hint of humility and self-awareness, acknowledging the unique effect he had on people— and demons— around him. His meek smile only added to his enigmatic charm, leaving Lea even more intrigued by the mysterious aura that surrounded him. "So… Is it a bad thing?" Diavolo asked after a short moment of silence. "My aura, that is." He added when Lea gave him an asking look.
"No." Lea smiled and shook her head. "It's just something I need to get used to."
Lea's dormitory was located just a few minutes' walk from the university's campus, and it didn't take long for them to reach their destination.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Lea gave Diavolo a sheepish smile when they arrived at the door of her room. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, making space for the demon prince to enter.
"Oh, what a cozy little place you got here..!" Diavolo smiled when he took in the surroundings. The room was small, yet the simple decor and neat interior made the space feel welcoming and inviting.
"Well, I would've used the word 'cramped' instead of 'cozy', but… yeah, I did my best to make this place a little less depressing."
Lea's room was a testament to her personality, her sense of style and taste apparent in every detail. The walls were decorated with pictures, mostly her watercolor work, a few abstract drawings and a large painting depicting a lush garden. Lea had always loved nature, and she had spent many hours sketching and painting her surroundings.
Diavolo's eyes scanned the walls, taking in the artwork. "You've made all these yourself?" He asked, his eyes widening slightly.
"Ah, yeah, most of them." Lea felt a slight warmth creeping up onto her cheeks.
"You've got talent, Lea. This one is my favorite." He pointed at the small painting of a pink sheep. "It's so cute."
"That one?" Lea chuckled. It wasn't exactly one of her best works, but the fact that the demon prince liked it made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. "I'm glad you like it. Thank you."
"Are these paintings for sale? Because I'd definitely buy them."
"W-what?" Lea stammered. She hadn't expected that reaction..! "No, but... you can have that one, if you like." She referred to the small painting Diavolo had been admiring.
"Are you sure?" The demon prince gave her an asking look. "If it's important to you, then-"
"Not like that, no." Lea shook her head. "You can have it, really."
"In that case, thank you. I'll treasure it." Diavolo replied, taking a moment to appreciate the art work in his hands. "Your drawings are quite unique, the style is so soft and whimsical... and I can feel the warmth and kindness in each stroke."
Lea looked up at the demon prince, a bit puzzled at his remark. "You can... feel warmth and kindness?" She asked.
"I can." Diavolo replied with a soft nod. "My senses are very keen, so I can read people and objects. You can think of it as a sixth sense, if you'd like." He smiled.
"That's amazing..." Lea murmured, a hint of awe in her voice.
"So, were there some items you wanted to pick up here?" Diavolo glanced at the young woman.
"Ah, yes..!"
Lea took a moment to collect some of her belongings. Once she had informed her family and some of her closest friends about her absence, there were no more outstanding issues that needed her immediate attention.
"Okay, I'm done..!" Lea said, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
"Hm, looks like we still have plenty of time before we have to meet with the others." Diavolo glanced at his D.D.D. "So, where would you like to go now, Lea?"
"Uhm... I don't know." Lea bit her lip, pondering her options. "We can go grab a coffee, if you want?" She suggested.
"Sure." The demon prince nodded.
They headed out from the building and turned to the small cafe located just a few blocks away from the campus. The place was filled with people, students enjoying their free time and relaxing between their classes. Lea had spent many nights at the cafe, either studying or enjoying the company of her friends. They ordered their drinks and found a table at the corner, a secluded spot offering a nice view of the café's interior.
"Oh, Lea!" A familiar voice rang through the room.
Lea's eyes lit up, a smile spreading on her face when her friend approached their table. "Hey, Amanda." She greeted the petite woman.
"Oh, my God! Where have you been?!" Her friend placed a hand on her shoulder. "We haven't seen you in days, we thought you'd dropped out or something! And then, suddenly, you show up here, with... a guy? Who's this?"
"Oh, uh, this is-" Lea started, but her friend was quick to interrupt.
"Aah, he's cute, I'll give him that!" Amanda gave Diavolo an approving nod. "Nice catch, Lea!" She patted her shoulder.
"Oh, no, he's not-..." Lea felt her face heating up— Of course her friend had to jump into such conclusions..! "He's a friend of mine, his name is Diavolo."
"Diavolo? Sounds foreign. Are you a foreigner?" Amanda turned to the demon prince, giving him a quizzical look.
"I guess you could say that." Diavolo averted the question with a chuckle.
"You don't look like a student... What are you, a professor?" Amanda's eyes widened in surprise. "Lea! Are you dating your teacher?!"
"Amanda, no! I'm not dating anyone, I already told you, he's just a friend of mine!" Lea shook her head vigorously, a blush creeping onto her ears. "But hey, it was nice seeing you, Amanda." She tried to give her friend a hint that it was her time to be on her way, but she was too occupied staring at Diavolo, her mouth agape.
"O-oh, right. It was nice seeing you, Lea." Amanda stammered.
"I'll talk to you later, okay?" Lea smiled at her friend, who was still staring at the demon prince.
"Oh, r-right, of course! I'll see you later. Nice meeting you, Diavolo." Amanda waved her hand awkwardly.
"Likewise." Diavolo shot her a friendly smile. "What an interesting person." Diavolo grinned after Lea's friend had left.
"Oh, that was nothing." Lea chuckled, demurely taking a long sip of her drink as she tried to calm down her racing heart.
"So... she seemed to assume that we're dating, huh?" The demon prince flashed a cheeky smile.
"Well, I mean..." Lea stammered, her heartbeat suddenly increasing its pace again. "This is quite a common place for me and my friends to hang out, and the fact that I'm here with someone other than my friends, a guy, to top it off, well, of course they'd come to a certain conclusion."
"Hm... You do have a point." Diavolo chuckled.
The two of them continued their chat for a while, exchanging stories and sharing their views about their worlds. Diavolo listened eagerly to everything the young woman had to say, the demon prince clearly enjoying their conversation. Seeing Lea in her own world, more relaxed in familiar surroundings, Diavolo couldn't help but be fascinated by her; Lea's personality was a pleasant mix of playfulness and confidence, and her smile was as radiant as ever.
Spending time together, just the two of them, chatting and enjoying each other's company, Diavolo could almost completely forget about the situation at hand, losing himself in the moment. With her, he felt more like a normal demon, and not a prince and the heir of a powerful bloodline.