CHAPTER 07
#7. After Dying from Overwork, I Became a Princess of the Enemy Nation (7)
Lette muttered with a resigned smile.
“Of course the Duke of Ismenios would arrive like that.”
“Ugh, this is why I hate him.”
Minte grumbled as she took the lead as a guard knight.
‘Where did I hear that name… Ismenios?’
It’s not exactly a name you easily forget—it was flashy.
Meanwhile, the Demon King gently adjusted his hold on me and spoke sweetly.
“Well then, Elysion. Shall we go greet your guests?”
“……?”
“Duke Phobos Ismenios is here. He said he’d bring his younger sibling this time.”
Wait.
That name… so familiar from the battlefield… Why is it coming up again now?
Erebus pointed at the dragon and added an explanation.
“He’s more famous under the name ‘Drakon,’ the dragon tamer.”
“……”
I looked up at the ceiling.
Another major figure from the demon side in the Charon War.
Up until my death, he was the lunatic who incinerated an entire mountain with dragon fire.
‘That maniac is here to see me?’
Why??
And what’s this about bringing his little sibling?
* * *
“Infinite glory upon the great Erebus! I am Phobos of House Ismenios, at your service.”
“Raise your head, Duke.”
Before me and the Demon King, Duke Phobos Ismenios knelt on one knee and offered a formal greeting.
We received the demon noble party in the reception room.
The Demon King still held me in his arms like a fragile glass doll.
I looked fearfully at the visitor.
There was a boy standing next to him—slightly taller than me—but I had no mental space to spare on him.
‘To see Drakon this close…’
He had been a living nightmare in the war of Charon.
A monstrous being who controlled dragons.
I had fought desperately, casting protective barriers to shield Charon.
But the so-called Drakon torched every gap I missed with his dragons’ breath.
Countless people of the Holy Nation were burned alive.
‘And yet… how can he look so cheerful? So shameless?’
Not even slightly intimidated in front of the Demon King, smiling like it was nothing.
He had the same hair and eye color as Erebus and was similarly tall.
But while Erebus was a composed, dignified beauty, this man exuded a carefree, sly aura.
That messy, curly black hair practically screamed “reckless personality.”
‘He’s probably the type who acts on his own whims. Definitely.’
I started to worry—what if this man recognized me from the battlefield?
Unconsciously, I curled deeper into the Demon King’s arms, clinging like it was my lifeline.
The Demon King looked oddly pleased by this reaction.
“Aww. You’re shy, Elysion.”
“……”
…That’s not it, okay?
This was pure instinct—a survival response telling me to cling to the safest thing nearby!
‘So stop looking so happy about it!’
Flustered, I quickly turned my head.
And locked eyes with the Duke.
“Ah.”
He stared at me as if struck speechless.
Then, slowly, a nostalgic smile spread across his face.
Like someone looking at a dried flower pressed in an old book—lost in wistful memories.
“Ah… Truly… You resemble Her Majesty the Queen so much.”
The room fell into a heavy silence.
The kind that tries to hide old wounds by not speaking of them.
Drakon quickly cleared his throat.
“It must fill Your Majesty with joy to see the Princess growing so well. She’s already quite refined.”
“Hm. Elysion is growing quickly. Too mature for her age, even.”
…Wasn’t he the one who said I was too childish just a few moments ago?
The Demon King gently scolded Drakon.
“Still. I invited you, but riding a dragon here? Are you insane, Phobos?”
“It’s a royal audience! I had to arrive in style!”
“Sigh…”
“Of course, I also brought someone I wanted to introduce.”
Drakon looked over to the boy kneeling on one knee to his left.
“Your Majesty, you saw this one when he was a baby. My youngest brother, Ares Ismenios—he’s seven this year.”
Your brother?
…Not your son??
The boy didn’t speak until his older brother gave him permission.
Though his voice was still high-pitched, he carried himself with restrained intensity.
“Infinite glory to His Majesty Erebus and Her Highness the Princess. I am Ares of House Ismenios.”
“Raise your head, Ares.”
As the boy slowly lifted his head, sunlight glinted off his dark auburn hair.
It was so muted, it looked nearly black in the shadows.
Like mine, his small black horns were adorably tiny.
Though their hair colors were different, he and Drakon looked strikingly alike.
‘If the older brother is sly, this one looks proud and haughty.’
His eyes blazed a fiery red.
Despite his young age, his gaze was intense and sharp.
He looked straight at me, like he was ready to devour me.
‘Wh-What the—?’
I shrank back under that stare.
I’d experienced many kinds of looks—admiration, disappointment, hope, resentment…
‘But what is this? What does he want from me?’
If I had to compare…
It was a little like how Talos used to look at me, sometimes.
I shook my head quickly.
‘No way. There’s no way a kid this young could resemble him.’
Even if I hated demons, drawing that comparison felt unfair.
Then the demon boy spoke clearly, still staring at me:
“By order of His Majesty Erebus, I have come to be Your Highness’s playmate.”
…What?
‘Who said I wanted a playmate? And how dare you decide without even asking me!’
Sure, I might be in the body of a child princess—but I was an adult in truth.
I didn’t need some random playmate, especially not a brat.
‘I’ve got enough stress trying to figure out how to escape this place!’
Kids like this slip under your skin way too easily—and that’s exactly what I hate.
‘The temple used sick children to train me, too. I’ve seen too many hurt kids. I hate it.’
Don’t get attached. Don’t get attached…
I repeated the mantra silently, putting on my coldest, most sour expression.
The boy mirrored me—same frown, same pursed lips.
From his expression alone, I could tell he had a fierce personality.
‘Pfft. That dragon tied up outside probably resembles Drakon more than this kid does.’
Drakon messed up his little brother’s hair with a grin.
“Ares! You were so eager to meet the princess—why the cold act now?”
“Brother!”
“It’s true, isn’t it?”
“I—I never said that!”
“You sang about it at every meal.”
“No I didn’t!”
“C’mon, you totally did.”
The once-proud boy crumbled into embarrassment.
He glared furiously at his brother.
I clicked my tongue internally.
‘At this rate, he’s going to kick Drakon’s shins out of sheer rage someday…’
Drakon kept going, completely unfazed.
“Princess, my little brother may be a wild child raised only in our domain, but he’s quite usable.”
“……”
“Feel free to boss him around. He’s tough, so no need to hold back.”
“……”
“Work him to the bone if you like—our family’s fine with it!”
He gave me a wide, radiant smile.
As vivid as my memories of him burning Charon to ash.
But honestly…
‘That kid looks like he’s going to breathe fire right now.’
The demon boy’s cheeks flushed red.
He was clearly furious, puffing up and glaring at his brother.
Then he caught my gaze—and his expression twisted awkwardly.
‘Wait… are they trying to assign me a playmate—or are they handing me a baby dragon to take care of?’
Honestly, anyone would find that theory highly reasonable.
