Chapter 346: The Cave Officially Belonged to the Children
Chapter 346: The Cave Officially Belonged to the Children
Elyn’s POV
It was quite obvious to me that Lithovar was annoyed by the words of the children. He had been the shady one though so why was he annoyed.
"Perhaps..." Zorathys drawled, "...you intend to add to your list of crimes by attacking my Queen?"
The cave fell quiet.
The faceless demon slowly tilted his head toward him.
"The Queen is human."
Before I could even process those words, every single person in the cave turned toward him. Including the children. Except me.
"So?" Thalira asked.
The demon remained motionless.
"So?" Retheris echoed.
"...What does that have to do with anything?" Azerion asked.
Velira folded her arms.
"She’s our queen."
The demon’s voice echoed inside all our heads once more.
"She is not fit to rule demons just like..."
Velira blinked.
"Are you?"
The question was so straightforward that even I nearly laughed. The demon remained silent.
Then another voice suddenly rang through the cave.
"No one disrespects Her Highness in my presence."
I turned in surprise.
"...Vaelory?"
She was standing. Hadn’t she fainted earlier? She smoothed her dress with remarkable dignity before pointing accusingly at the faceless demon.
"Especially not a demon who doesn’t even begin to scratch the beauty of my beloved."
Retheris gasped dramatically.
"VV!" He placed both hands over his heart. "I knew you loved me."
Rin leaned toward Retheris and whispered very loudly, "...The beloved she’s talking about isn’t you."
"It is."
"It isn’t."
"It definitely is."
"My heart says otherwise."
"Your heart is wrong."
"I disagree."
Vaelory frowned.
"I wasn’t talking about you."
Retheris looked genuinely offended.
"...Then who?"
"Now child that is none of your concern." Rin and Vaelory said at once.
They looked at each other then put even more space between themselves.
Meanwhile, Lithovar somehow looked even more annoyed than before. If that was even possible without an actual face. I honestly didn’t know how everyone remained so fearless. The poor demon had looked ready to explode several times already, yet everyone kept talking to him as though he were merely a slightly grumpy neighbor.
I, however, was beginning to notice something. No, I’d been noticing it for a while now. This demon didn’t simply dislike humans. He disliked Zorathys. Perhaps dislike wasn’t even the correct word. There was bitterness in every sentence he directed toward him. Every glance, every word, every comment. And somehow I had the feeling that if Zorathys hadn’t accompanied us today, this conversation would have gone very differently.
The disrespect directed toward him was impossible to miss. Even toward me. Yes, I was human. I had never denied that. But hearing someone dismiss me so casually irritated me far more than I expected.
Still, before I could say anything, I found myself looking around the cave. Everyone, absolutely everyone, had somehow taken my side without hesitation. Even Vaelory, who had fainted less than ten minutes ago. Even Rin. Even the children.
My chest warmed unexpectedly. I wiped a nonexistent tear from my eye. Oh the love these demons had for me.
It almost made me emotional and if not for the fact that I remember everything I go through at their hands I would have shed a tear.
Lithovar’s voice echoed once more, colder than before.
"I will not tolerate such disrespect."
The temperature inside the cave seemed to drop. Even the glowing Lunacite Stones dimmed slightly. Several tiny golems immediately stopped moving. The birds perched along the cave ceiling became restless.
Then everything changed.
The demon suddenly went silent. He couldn’t speak. His entire body stiffened. The lights throughout the cave steadied. The birds that had fallen dead moments earlier suddenly fluttered back into the air as though nothing had ever happened.
I turned and Zorathys smiled lazily. He hadn’t even looked at the demon. Instead, he addressed the children.
"You may all enjoy the cave." His ruby eyes lazily drifted toward the faceless demon. "Touch anything you like."
The demon tried to speak. Nothing came out. He attempted to move. Nothing happened. He had become completely rooted to the spot. Only his very obvious frustration remained.
Aziren gasped happily.
"We can touch everything?"
"Hm."
"Really?"
"Hm."
Thalira’s eyes sparkled.
"Everything?"
"As long as it belongs to him."
Retheris grinned.
"I suddenly like this cave."
The children erupted into excited cheers. Within moments they scattered in every direction. Aziren immediately chased after one of the tiny pebble golems. Velira hurried toward another shelf filled with unusual stones. Thalira was already examining tools she probably shouldn’t have been touching. Retheris had somehow found an enormous hammer.
"...Can I borrow this?"
Lithovar looked ready to commit several crimes. Unfortunately for him, he still couldn’t move.
Brixton too was playing with his friends like he did not care what position his master was currently in.
Vaelory looked toward the immobilized demon.
"I almost feel sorry for him." She said.
"You fainted because of him." Rin remarked.
"And that is exactly why I can only almost feel pity for him but I do not." Vaelory replied her.
While everyone busied themselves, Zayrion quietly walked toward me. He adjusted his glasses.
"Your Majesty."
"Hm?"
He glanced toward the others before making a small gesture.
"May I tell you something?"
I bent down slightly so he could reach my ear.
"What is it?"
He whispered so quietly that even I barely heard him. The moment he finished, a smile spread across my face.
"...Really?"
He nodded. "Please."
I couldn’t help smiling wider.
"That’s actually a wonderful idea."
He looked pleased. I raised one hand and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Approved."
His tails swished happily behind him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
He gave a small bow before hurrying off to join the others.
I watched him go with a smile before straightening once more. Then I deliberately cleared my throat. Loudly. Very loudly.
"Ahem."
I looked around the cave with exaggerated interest.
"Oh..." I murmured thoughtfully. "This cave certainly is..." I pretended to search for the perfect word. "...Very cave-like."
Beside me, Zorathys slowly turned his head. He regarded me for a long moment. Then, with that same lazy smile tugging at the corner of his lips, he asked,
"Do you perhaps have something to say to me, firefly?"