The grand, ethereal halls of Luminous Valentine's castle were bathed in a soft, eerie glow, the dim lighting reflecting off the intricate gothic architecture. Chandeliers swayed gently from the high ceilings, casting long shadows on the velvet-lined floor. Luminous, the ancient Demon Lord and ruler of the Holy Empire of Lubelius, stood at the grand window, looking out over her vast empire. A faint smile graced her lips as her silver eyes gleamed with mischief.
"So, Rimuru Tempest," she mused softly to herself. "A being of immense power, yet... so puzzling."
Not too long ago, she had uncovered the truth about Rimuru's past life—how the ever-mysterious slime had once been a human male before their reincarnation. But the more she thought about it, the less convinced she became. After all, Rimuru's current form was feminine, slender, and graceful, almost too perfect to belong to someone who had once been male. A nagging curiosity burned inside her. She needed to confirm it for herself.
Rimuru had agreed to visit her castle to discuss a potential alliance between their nations. That was her official excuse, at least.
Rimuru arrived at Luminous's palace, the powerful slime effortlessly assuming a human-like form. Their striking blue hair and soft, angelic face remained gender-neutral, though Rimuru's features always seemed to confuse people. Today, they wore their usual black coat, flowing around them in waves, which made them look even more ethereal.
"Luminous, you wanted to see me?" Rimuru asked, stepping into the room with a relaxed smile.
Luminous turned slowly, her piercing gaze locking onto Rimuru's form. Her eyes gleamed with an intensity that immediately made Rimuru feel slightly uncomfortable.
"Yes, Rimuru. There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Something... personal."
Rimuru raised an eyebrow, already sensing that this conversation wasn't going to be about diplomacy.
"Personal? What are you talking about?"
Luminous moved gracefully across the room, her long, flowing dress making her seem like she was gliding rather than walking. She stopped just a few inches away from Rimuru, her eyes scanning the slime's face with a focused intensity.
"I heard about your past life," Luminous said, her voice silky but inquisitive. "That you were once... a man."
Rimuru blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah, that's right. Why? Is that a problem?"
Luminous tilted her head, her lips curling into a small smirk. "I find it hard to believe."
"Huh?" Rimuru took a step back. "What do you mean you don't believe it? I literally told you it's true."
"Mmm, maybe so," Luminous said, stepping closer, undeterred by Rimuru's retreat. "But the way you look now... it's hard to imagine you as a man."
Rimuru scratched the back of their head, confused. "Well, I'm a slime now. Gender doesn't really matter to me."
"But your form, the way you choose to present yourself... You look so feminine, so delicate. There's something almost too perfect about your appearance. Are you sure you were ever a man?"
Rimuru sighed, exasperated. "I'm sure. I mean, it's not like I have any reason to lie about it, right?"
Luminous's smirk widened as she leaned in even closer, inspecting Rimuru's face from mere inches away. "I wonder..."
Before Rimuru could react, Luminous's hand reached out and gently brushed against their chest. Rimuru jumped, eyes wide in shock.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Luminous, what are you doing?!"
The Demon Lord ignored Rimuru's protests, her fingers deftly pressing against Rimuru's chest with a calculating precision, her eyes narrowing as if searching for some hidden truth. Rimuru flailed a little, trying to back away, but Luminous's grip was surprisingly firm.
"I'm just checking something," Luminous said calmly, her voice betraying no embarrassment. "You say you were once a man, but I have my doubts. Maybe you're just... a flat-chested girl, hiding behind this slime form."
Rimuru's face flushed with a mixture of irritation and disbelief. "That's ridiculous! I'm not hiding anything! And besides, this body is completely genderless!"
Luminous's hand continued its thorough examination, but after a few moments, her expression became slightly puzzled.
"Hmm... There's definitely no... ahem, roundness here," she muttered, almost to herself.
"Of course there isn't!" Rimuru shot back, finally swatting her hand away. "I told you! I'm not a girl, and this form doesn't even have any... well, any of that stuff!"
Luminous straightened up, her eyes still gleaming with curiosity, though there was a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Interesting. I suppose you're telling the truth after all."
Rimuru crossed their arms, still feeling a bit flustered. "I've been telling you the truth the whole time! What, did you think I was secretly hiding something from you?"
Luminous chuckled softly. "You can't blame me for being curious. After all, you're a fascinating creature, Rimuru. A slime, yet so human-like in appearance. And now, with all that power... I had to make sure."
Rimuru shook their head in disbelief. "You Demon Lords are all so weird. I swear, I'm starting to regret coming here..."
Luminous smiled, her fangs peeking slightly from her lips. "Oh, don't be like that, Rimuru. You should feel flattered that I took such an interest in you. Few beings can claim the attention of Luminous Valentine."
"Yeah, well, next time, how about you ask before getting all handsy?" Rimuru huffed, still crossing their arms in annoyance.
Luminous waved her hand dismissively. "Very well. I'll refrain from touching you without permission... for now."
There was an awkward silence before Rimuru finally sighed, the tension leaving their body as they relaxed.
"Fine, fine. Just... no more of that, okay?"
Luminous gave a playful smile. "Agreed. Now, shall we get back to the real reason you're here? I'm sure there's much to discuss regarding our nations."
Rimuru nodded, still somewhat wary but willing to let the strange moment pass. "Yeah, let's talk business."
