Chapter 36
Gerald von Zeier.
A Sword Master from the human realm who had been roaming and stirring up the Demon Realm since his teenage years.
His fame was well known in the Demon Realm.
Why?
Because whenever someone is praised, those who love showing off inevitably become curious. They want to see what makes that person so special—and also check if there’s anything they can drag down.
The Third Holy Evil, Lurarisa, was jealous. But jealousy always drives you to make up for your shortcomings.
If someone was truly greater, you had to surpass them.
Gerald, whenever he fought demons, was simply one of those working hard for the empire’s wealth—just like his father, Julius von Zeier.
From what people observed, he was a man of great compassion. Even though he had come to conquer the Demon Realm as a Sword Master, he couldn’t just walk past the weak without helping them.
Maybe that’s why. Many crossed over to his domain. And in the great demon subjugation five years ago, many of those same people died in vain.
After that tragedy, it seemed he would shrink back into silence. But now, he was even married.
Anyway, it seemed wise to leave this place quickly.
Just then—
“Scheming, you say? That’s insulting.”
Bonya stepped forward. Curtis was pleased that she was taking his side.
“He’s the one who invented the water purifier. How can you speak like that to someone who worked so hard for the people of the estate? Allow me to introduce him.”
With Bonya cheering him on, Curtis felt encouraged.
“Thank you, Bonya. I’m Curtis, of the Brooks Merchant Guild.”
“Bonya?”
So that’s her pet name.
Gerald glanced at Sinclair.
“Ah, well, it just didn’t feel right to call her by her real name.”
Sinclair hurried to explain, but to Gerald, it sounded like a flimsy excuse.
The sound of Curtis calling her “Bonya” buzzed in Gerald’s ears, like a mosquito whining in the dark—irritating and unbearable.
From the moment he entered, he had disliked Curtis.
White hair, brilliant red eyes, dark skin, and a well-trained body—he was clearly no ordinary man.
Tch… so she’s smitten with his looks.
And indeed, Sinclair, with her violet hydrangea-like aura, looked far too fitting beside that gleaming silver hair.
To escape from the wild leaps of his raging hormones, Gerald thought it best to simply deal with them quickly.
“Speak openly.”
“…?”
Curtis bit his lip.
It seemed Gerald already knew he was a demon. Perhaps he could rely on the man’s generosity?
“I did not come to stir up trouble.”
“Coming here at all is trouble.”
“I had no choice.”
“You have neither manners nor shame.”
Unbelievable—being spoken down to by someone so much younger.
“I’ll leave, then.”
Curtis shot to his feet.
“As expected. Irresponsible.”
Gerald crossed his legs, looking up at Curtis as though examining a bug.
“What? Irresponsible?”
At those words, red flames flickered in Curtis’s eyes.
How dare he call him irresponsible?
He had poured all his effort into inventing the ion water purifier, losing sleep to produce a hundred units and bring them here.
Suddenly, Gerald leapt to his feet, sword drawn. A faint scent of cinnamon wafted from Curtis’s body—the trace of a demon.
“Who are you?”
Sinclair immediately stepped in front of him. Gerald was taken aback.
“How dare you show such disrespect to my guest?”
Could it be? Did she love a demon?
Or had that man cast a spell on her, one strong enough to block Gerald’s magic?
Or was it… love?
“He’s my business partner.”
At her words, Gerald sneered.
“Ha. Don’t use business as an excuse to see each other. I’ll grant you a divorce. Both of you, leave my estate immediately.”
He sheathed his sword and was about to leave, when he froze—there stood the large teddy bear.
“…A divorce?”
The bear toppled forward, and from behind it appeared Theodore. His face was flushed, eyes brimming with tears, shaken by what he had overheard.
“Theo?”
Sinclair panicked at his sudden appearance. Theodore looked at her, struggling to hold back sobs.
“Stepmother, are you really going to get a divorce?”
“Huh?”
“Stepmother… are you going to leave me and the Schlesen estate behind?”
He tilted his head back and burst into tears, clutching the teddy bear’s paw tightly.
“No, Theo. You’ve misunderstood.”
Sinclair rushed to him, desperate to deny it. But Gerald wasn’t so quick.
“Yes.”
“Wh-why?”
“That’s…”
Just as Gerald began to answer, Sinclair shot him a sharp glare, scooped Theodore into her arms, and backed away.
Gerald turned his eyes on Curtis.
“You. Speak.”
“…?”
“Is she not the woman you love?”
Curtis looked at Bonya.
Do I love her?
Wait—
His heart thudded violently.
So this was love.
The reason he had worked so frantically to build the water purifier and bring it to her.
The reason he had endured humiliation and hardship, just for her praise.
Had it been that time she slapped his right cheek, when he was struck dumb?
Or was it when she slapped his left?
Or perhaps when she hugged him from behind until he couldn’t breathe?
No… maybe even earlier. When she warmed up alone, or when she leapt nimbly to kick at trees.
But the woman who stirred his heart so deeply was now anxiously comforting a boy far younger than himself.
In her arms, the child’s red eyes blazed with the same fire as his own. She whispered gently into Theodore’s ear, soothing his pain.
“I do love her… but she doesn’t love me.”
Gerald’s gaze followed Curtis’s, landing on Sinclair—torn, unsettled, wiping Theodore’s tears, patting his shoulders as he sat on her knee.
“Are you not her lover?”
Curtis wanted to say “Yes!” immediately, but his mouth wouldn’t move. Strange, for someone so used to lying.
Instead—
“I wish I were. But she is my teacher. And my master.”
“Master?”
“Ha… did you fight with her, then?”
Curtis shrugged, wrinkling his nose. He disliked the taste of this truth on his tongue.
Gerald couldn’t comprehend how anyone could fight with such a fragile woman. But since the demon’s presence could complicate matters, he dragged Curtis aside.
“Why are you here?”
With Bonya gone, Curtis shook off his grip. No need for politeness now.
“You’re a demon.”
Curtis smirked.
“Gerald von Zeier. Your reputation proves true—you’ve got sharp eyes.”
“Why did you approach her?”
For a moment, Lurarisa considered telling him about the prophecy of the savior of the Demon Realm. But he thought better of it. Humans were not to be trusted.
“By chance?”
“Resting by the river?”
Gerald recalled Sinclair’s earlier words and asked.
“That’s right.”
“And you fought with her?”
“She’s bold. Beat me up for trespassing on her land. Can you believe it—me?”
“…She did?”
Well, his sister Janice had also seemed delicate, yet she was stronger than anyone.
Gerald smirked in delight. And relief.
So it was all a misunderstanding? Truly?
“She’s an extraordinary human woman. Even my magic doesn’t work on her—”
“…!”
Gerald’s eyes widened.
“Someone must have… blessed you?”
“That’s your problem to solve, not mine. And since you didn’t cut me down on the spot, you’re no loyal dog of the Emperor. So… until next time.”
And with that, Curtis vanished.
…Tch.
Gerald was less concerned with Curtis’s rude exit than with Theodore, still crying at the annex entrance.
This wasn’t how he wanted to say goodbye.
He knelt, using the teddy bear’s paw to wipe Theodore’s tears, while watching that familiar yet unfamiliar woman trying to cheer the boy with her playful antics.
* * *
Soon, Theodore had cried himself to sleep.
I sat there, holding him, torn with worry—how to solve this mess without hurting Gerald or Theodore further.
To Theo, I whispered all the comforting words I had once wished my own mother had said, back when she had left me behind with her packed bags. Of course, my mother had never spoken such words.
But I would. I had to.
If this little boy wasn’t to be scarred by the mistakes of adults, I had to do what I could.
Thankfully, Gerald—despite declaring divorce so firmly earlier—had gone along with what I suggested, for Theo’s sake. That alone was a relief.
I tucked a blanket over the sleeping child, then gestured for Gerald, who sat lost in thought, to follow me out.
* * *
We went to the salon on the second floor, where I had once counseled Gerald before.
I sat by the piano, unable to face him directly. With a little distance between us, perhaps he would better hear me out.
He entered, taking a seat near the door.
“I apologize. I was selfish.”
Gerald folded his arms, leaning back into the sofa, staring silently at me.
“I was irresponsible—to Theodore, to the Schlesen household, and to you.”
“If you know, then leave. Before we grow any closer.”
To Theo, I was probably the first person he had truly grown attached to. Cutting off that first bond like this—it felt cruel.
“I’ll leave only after I’ve lifted Theodore’s curse. Once he’s ready in his heart to let me go.”
“….”
But Gerald said nothing.
“Of course, if you find someone you love, I’ll cheer for you. I’ll make sure Theo learns to like her too. But if that woman ever dares hurt him, I’ll protect him from her.”
Thinking of the nanny, Mori, I spoke in circles. Gerald frowned.
“Why do you care so much for the boy?”
“He looks lonely.”
“…!”
“I want him to know joy, to discover all the fun things in life.”
“Why?”
“Because I was alone too. People don’t realize how hard it is to be alone.”
I thought of Sinclair’s past abuse. If only she hadn’t been abused, if even one person had listened to her—she wouldn’t have devoted herself so blindly to the Owen family and the Emperor’s orders.
“There’s one thing I want to ask you.”
“…?”
“Are you divorcing me because you’re in love with another man?”
“What?”
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
“A man?”
I slapped my forehead.
“My God. Did you think I was asking for divorce because I’d fallen in love with someone else?”
“Wasn’t it so?”
“…Are you some kind of altruist?”
“…?”
“This is a political marriage. In noble society, divorcing your spouse just because they love someone else—that’s absurd.”
Gerald cleared his throat.
“I’m no altruist. I’m a perfectionist. My wife cannot have another man at her side.”
“Ah…”
So it was fine for him to have other women, but not for me? What a raw deal.
But now wasn’t the time to argue.
“Understood. Until the divorce, I’ll not harbor feelings for any man.”
“Good.”
Gerald rose to leave.
“One thing, though. Just curious—do you realize that love isn’t something you can force into or out of existence by effort?”
“…?”
“I’ll try my hardest not to fall for anyone. But if I do… I’ll try even harder not to show it. If that happens, I’d hope you’d show some mercy.”
“…Absolutely not.”
He was firm.
Wow. Stingy.
“I’ll do everything to keep such feelings away. But if they happen… I’ll at least hide them well. Would it kill you to show a little generosity?”
Even I knew I sounded pathetic.
But thinking of the nanny Mori—was this really necessary?
“No.”
And with that, Gerald left.
Sigh. I had dodged divorce, but why did it still feel so unsettled?
* * *
Gerald carried Theodore in one arm, the teddy bear in the other, and for once felt joyful.
She had no man.
His lips curled into a smile.
Then—
“Father.”
Gerald quickly looked down. Theodore had woken.
“Are you really going to divorce Stepmother?”
“…What?”
Taken aback, Gerald stared at him.
“But you can’t. Not until I grow up.”
“Why?”
“Because… when I grow up, I’m going to marry Stepmother.”
Gerald was so shocked by Theodore’s sudden confession that he lost all words.
* * *
In Lurarisa Castle, Demon Realm.
Curtis—Lurarisa, the Third Holy Evil—couldn’t sleep.
He had fallen for a mere human. But that human seemed to love a scrawny red-eyed boy more than him.
The more he thought about it, the more enraged he became.
How could he win her heart? How could he outshine that little brat and be loved more? The thoughts ached in his head, and his heart throbbed painfully.
Damn it, he should have arranged their next meeting!
“Argh! Infuriating!”
And so, the Third Holy Evil, Lurarisa, spent yet another sleepless night.
