The grand parlor, one of the countless parlors of the castle, was the largest and most opulent one; The room exuded an aura of refined elegance, its luxurious decor a testament to the castle's grandeur. The room was expansive, with high vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate golden trim, embellished with masterfully crafted designs that seemed to tell a story of ancient times. Large, arched windows were draped in luxurious, heavy curtains. Sumptuous furnishings adorned the room, offering both comfort and regal beauty. Plush, high-backed armchairs and sofas were upholstered in rich, deep red velvets, accented by gold detailing that glistened in the ambient light. Their ornate wooden frames were expertly carved with intricate patterns that mirrored the architecture of the Devildom. The furniture was arranged around low, intricately carved tables adorned with delicate yet detailed sculptures and vases filled with otherworldly blooms. A majestic fireplace stood grandly at one end of the room, its marble mantelpiece home to various art pieces and decorative figurines.
Diavolo gestured for Lea to make herself comfortable on one of the sofas, himself taking a seat across from her. They had barely sat down when Barbatos already appeared to serve the tea— Swiftly and gracefully, he prepared the tea and skillfully poured it into delicate, gilded cups, each with an intricate design. The soothing aroma of the brew filled the room, adding a serene atmosphere to the luxurious surroundings. As they sipped the tea, Lea felt a sense of relaxation envelop her— She was grateful for the opportunity to unwind and collect her thoughts in the comforting ambiance of the parlor, and she had to admit that Lord Diavolo's company was rather pleasant, too.
"So, Lea—" After a moment of companionable silence, Diavolo began the conversation in a friendly tone. "I must admit that I'm quite curious about you. I was hoping that maybe you could tell me about you and your life in the human world— If you're comfortable, of course." He quickly assured her, noting her surprise at his request.
"About me?" She blinked a couple of times as she pondered what to say. "I… I don't know, I'm afraid that I'm not a very interesting person..!" Her response was a mixture of bewilderment and modesty. Realizing how foolish she probably sounded, Lea secretly cringed into her tea as she pretended to take a sip, trying to mask her slight embarrassment.
Diavolo couldn't help but laugh at her modest reaction. "Ah, I'm sure that's nonsense!" His laughter was genuine and warm, aiming to ease the tension in the room. "Your presence here is nothing short of fascinating." Diavolo's warm smile carried a sincere curiosity. "Besides, I must admit that I don't know that much about the human world— not as much as I probably should— so I'd love to learn more about the place you call home."
Lea hesitated, wondering what would be interesting enough to share with the demon lord. "Well… I studied fine arts at university." She finally started, the words coming slowly as she pondered where to begin. "A dream of mine was to become a famous illustrator someday—" She admitted, looking almost a bit embarrassed. "But… Being used as a human sacrifice in an occult ritual wasn't a part of the plan, so… I guess we'll see." Lea's self-deprecating humor tinged her words as she spoke, taking another sip of her tea.
Diavolo listened intently, placing his teacup onto the table as he leaned in with genuine curiosity. "You're an art student? How fascinating!" He smiled, enthusiasm evident in his words. "What type of illustrations do you like to do?"
"Uhm… Watercolor, mostly." Surprised by Diavolo's excitement, Lea couldn't help but to feel a bit perplexed at first. But, soon the look on her face softened, her eyes brightening with a flicker of passion as she told him about her art. "Watercolor is such a captivating medium, the way colors blend and flow…" She let out a soft sigh, as if reminiscing a fond memory. "I tend to focus on nature and fantasy themes."
"Fantasy, you say?" Diavolo's eyes sparkled with delight. "Your realm of creativity must be filled with marvels and wonders. I'd love to see your artwork someday, Lea."
Lea blushed. "I-I'm flattered, but... I'm afraid my art isn't that impressive." Then, her expression turned slightly somber as she continued. "I… I'd show you my art, sure, but…" She had plenty of pictures on her phone, but there was a small issue; "I seem to have left my phone in the human world. Or lost it there, to be more specific." Lea sighed.
"Ah!" The look on Diavolo's face lit up as he remembered something. "That reminds me..! Barbatos, could you-" He didn't even need to finish his sentence when the demon butler already leaned in to hand him a small package. "Thank you." He gave Barbatos a nod of appreciation, then redirecting his attention to Lea again. "You'll need one of these; Your own personal D.D.D." He handed her the package with a warm smile.
"Oh?" Lea blinked in surprise as she opened the box. "A phone? Thanks..!" What was revealed from the package was an ordinary looking smartphone— Or rather, a D.D.D, as he had called it.
"I asked Barbatos to set it up for you." Diavolo explained with a warm smile. "He downloaded some apps you might find useful and added our contacts so that you can reach us at any time."
"I see." Lea nodded appreciatively as she unlocked the phone's screen, exploring its interface with curiosity. By a quick look, the interface didn't seem radically different from a human world smartphone. "Here's the contact list… and the message app…" She muttered half to herself as she scrolled through the menu. "Hm..? But what about this?" One of the colorful icons caught her attention, but she couldn't tell right away what it was. "My demonic… farm?" She squinted her eyes as she read the tiny text below the icon.
"Ah, it looks like Barbatos downloaded some games for you as well..!" Diavolo chuckled. "I'm obsessed over that game, so he probably suspected I'd ask you to give it a try as well."
The name suggested it was some kind of a farming game, but Lea didn't have a chance to ask any further details when Diavolo already had pulled out his phone.
"You can build your own farm and have all kinds of cute creatures living there." The excitement was evident in his voice as he explained the functions of the game, sitting right next to her on the sofa so she could see his phone screen. "I've been playing this for ages. I kept begging Lucifer to give it a go as well, but he didn't seem too thrilled about the idea..." He sounded almost apologetic as he said this, handing his D.D.D to Lea so she could take a better look at the game.
Lea had to admit, the little, cute characters on the screen looked adorable. But, as much as she enjoyed his enthusiasm, Diavolo was getting almost a bit too close for comfort— He was practically in her lap as he leaned closer to show her his game, the warm scent of his cologne enveloping her senses. His excitement was evident, but she had a feeling it had less to do with the game itself, and more about his wish to connect with her.
"Hey, um, Lord Diavolo?" Lea asked, a bit nervously.
"Hm? What is it, Lea?" He gave her a sweet smile, the dim lights in the room casting a soft glow on his amber eyes.
"Well, I, uh..." Lea stammered. She wasn't sure how to phrase her question without sounding rude.
"I know. I'm sitting too close." He laughed, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "I was just excited to show you my game. I don't get to talk about this with the brothers, so I was hoping you could play with me. But, if I'm making you uncomfortable, I'll back off." Diavolo gave her a reassuring smile, raising his hands in defeat. "And don't worry; I'm not offended."
"N-no, it's okay." Lea couldn't help but to return his smile, the warmth of his words making her feel more at ease. "I'd love to play the game with you."
"Great! Let's see what's going on at my farm, then..." Diavolo's eyes were filled with an almost childlike glee as he resumed the game, eager to show his farm to his guest.
"He's been playing this for ages, but he only has two friends..?" Lea bit her lip as her eyes trailed on the phone screen. "The other one has been offline for 342 days— Lucifer, most probably— and the username 'butlerbarb' has to be no-one else but Barbatos..!" She barely knew Diavolo, but seeing his empty friend list made the bottom of Lea's stomach sting. "I guess it really is how they say; It's lonely at the top." She thought to herself as she handed the phone back to contentedly smiling Diavolo, stealing a sidelong glance at him while he was busy browsing his D.D.D. "It's difficult to believe that he really is a demon— And the future king of demons, not to mention. From everyone I've met here this far, he seems the most harmless one."
As the two spent the evening together, the conversation flowed easily between them; Diavolo's enthusiastic questions and his gentle words of encouragement coaxed the information out of Lea effortlessly. With time, her apprehension gradually faded away, and she found herself sharing the details about her life and interests, occasionally exchanging jokes and laughs with the demon prince. Lea's contemplation of the demon world and its inhabitants had only just begun, but Diavolo's gentle demeanor had already left a mark on her perceptions; His kindness and warmth stood out, casting a different light on the demon world and its inhabitants.