I Took the Demon King as My Wife

The three people opened the door and entered the mansion.
“Welcome home, Master.”
As if they had been waiting for him, people lined up from the entrance all bowed their heads in unison.
A crowd of at least twenty people formed a double line stretching all the way to the central lobby.
“Um… ah… no….”
At the outpouring of welcoming voices, Hans flinched and stepped back.
However, while he hesitated, Eilena linked her arm through his like threading a fishing hook and dragged him forward.
Hans, seemingly surprised, awkwardly matched her pace as they passed through the crowd that looked like displayed statues.
The two headed straight to the dining room, following Wesley’s guidance as he chattered away in front of them.
“Oh….”
When Wesley flung open the dining room door, Hans involuntarily let out a sound of admiration at the completely changed interior.
The colorful stained glass had been changed to ordinary glass windows.
The large chandelier that had been precariously hanging from the ceiling had been replaced with a simple light fixture.
The red carpet on the floor had been completely removed, and the antique table and chairs had been replaced with plain wooden furniture.
‘That’s still there….’
Except for the large landscape painting hanging on the wall, everything else from the dining room he had seen before now only vaguely remained in his memory.
Hans walked around the dining room, eagerly looking around.
Eilena rolled her eyes at the doorway as if briefly scanning the interior, then nodded slightly.
After peeking into the kitchen area, she spoke to Hans, who was tapping the long table.
“Keep looking around. I’ll quickly check the other parts I requested and come back.”
“Ah… that.”
Whoosh.
Before Hans could answer “Sure,” Eilena turned around sharply, her skirt hem fluttering.
“That… she really….”
Hans complained alone about Eilena’s departing footsteps.
He looked at the empty space she had left with disapproving eyes.
Wesley, who had been watching the scene silently, smiled and took a step closer to him.
“Master, how… do you like the changed dining room?”
“What? Ah… yes, I like it very much. You’ve worked hard.”
Hans answered, slightly backing away from his face that had come close. At this, Wesley shook his head vigorously and said,
“No, no, I didn’t do anything. Madam requested to change this and that, and I just followed her instructions. I didn’t do any of the hard work.”
“Is… that so?”
Hans opened his eyes wide in surprise. Wesley laughed heartily and continued,
“The previous dining room was extremely aristocratic and full of luxury, so she requested items that could maintain proper dignity while being modest. Even each piece of furniture was pre-selected by Madam.”
“Ah… yes….”
Hans expressed pure amazement mixed with bewilderment.
While he had been busy with wedding preparations, she had somehow prepared everything so meticulously.
Hans thought once again that her title was not given without reason, and he inadvertently glanced at the empty dining room entrance.
Then he withdrew his gaze and looked around the dining room interior as if appreciating the overall changed atmosphere.
The atmosphere was indeed distinctly different from before.
It was amazing how changing just the window frames and a few pieces of furniture could so drastically alter the feeling of a space.
‘The smell has… changed too….’
Hans, sitting at the changed table, sniffed and raised his chin.
The stiff wooden smell tickling his nose was that of an unremarkable cheap table.
The smell that used to fill the house when he entered after rolling around outside with his father as a child.
The smell from chairs made of old wooden boards hastily put together and the old table with creaky legs.
It was the musty wood smell that permeated the entire unremarkable rural village.
“……”
Hans touched the polished, worn chair and looked at the window where bright sunlight was pouring in.
How could even that light be so identical?
All the changed things made memories of his childhood vividly resurface.
“Somehow….”
He missed it.
If his parents hadn’t passed away, would they be living in a house with just this kind of atmosphere now?
If his hometown village had survived, would such an interior banquet hall have been built in the village community center?
Could everyone have been invited to this large mansion to eat, drink, and share memories of the past?
“……”
After staring blankly at the light for a while, lost in nostalgia, Hans dropped his head and let out a faint sigh.
‘I should stop thinking about this….’
He knew that if he kept reminiscing any further, regret would follow and torment him without his realizing it.
Regret makes people stop, and hope makes people move forward.
‘Son, time only flows forward. So don’t regret the past, but be a person who lives envisioning tomorrow.’
His father’s words clearly resurfaced from the memories he was recalling.
Hans stroked the side of his numbed heart and slowly pushed his chair back to stand up.
“Wesley?”
“Yes, Master.”
“My room… no, has my room… changed too?”
“Of course.”
Wesley smiled and gestured for him to go to the room.
Hans momentarily paused, watching Wesley’s back as he took the first step.
Then he followed him out of the dining room.
‘Now is the time to move forward.’
Hans gently closed the old photo album in his heart.
With a resolute determination not to open it again for the time being.
*
Eilena was touring every corner of the house under the guidance of a middle-aged woman.
This woman, who introduced herself as ‘Dora,’ was the person who would be in charge as the head maid of the mansion. She was also in a marital relationship with Wesley, the head butler.
“As you requested, all the stairs have been completely replaced. Additionally, the handrails you mentioned have been replaced with new ones with extended joints.”
Eilena, following Dora’s guidance, climbed the stairs, pressing each step firmly with the tip of her shoe as she went.
Dora followed behind her, maintaining a certain distance.
“Hmm… indeed, it feels much more stable now.”
She didn’t let go of the changed handrail, meticulously examining every part with a thorough gaze as if inspecting everything.
“Ah, by the way, what about the magic lighting?”
“Yes, that part has also been addressed. We maintained what was already there, and prepared oil lighting around your room, the bathroom, and generally the spaces where you will likely spend a lot of time.”
“I see. You’ve done well as requested, thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Dora smiled and bowed her head. Eilena let out a slight chuckle.
‘They are undoubtedly suitable as subordinates.’
Not only did the couple resemble each other, but both were the type of people who knew exactly what to do.
They were impeccable. In the short time, she could feel that Wesley was quite capable, but Dora, this woman, was even more outstanding.
“What about the clothing?”
“We left the ones with traces of your wearing them as much as possible, and the rest were briefly sorted to match general taste.”
“Well done, what about the books?”
“We’ve reorganized them all by type, publication year, book thickness, and also considering your height, Madam, placing them in order of importance from the center slightly downward. We did separate out some that were too old or useless, but we haven’t thrown them away yet. You can decide directly after seeing them.”
“Good.”
The conversation flowed without interruption.
When she asked one thing, Dora would provide a concise answer, selecting just what was necessary without being excessive or deficient.
Moreover, without any sign of having to think, answers immediately popped out as soon as questions dropped from her lips.
Even during her time as the “Sovereign of the Green-Fingered,” she had rarely seen such a talented person.
“Indeed, you’re worthy of the Emperor’s recommendation. I’ve only met you for ten minutes… but I think you’re quite remarkable.”
“You flatter me.”
Dora immediately bowed. Even this was very pleasing.
Eilena continued climbing the stairs with a conventional smile.
“…Hmm?”
Suddenly, upon reaching the end of the second floor, she felt something different under her foot and looked down.
“This….”
She noticed a plank that was clearly a different color from the rest of the stair boards, which had all been replaced with new ones.
Eilena immediately asked Dora,
“Head Maid? Why was this part left as is?”
“Ah….”
Dora, who was following, checked the plank she was pointing at and let out a short cough. Then, with a slight smile, she answered,
“The workers doing the construction said this part was repaired so perfectly that it would be a waste to tear it up. So they suggested leaving it as is.”
“…What?”
“I don’t know what reason only that part had been replaced for, but according to my husband, it was indeed so well repaired that it would be better to leave it. So we left that part as is.”
“…Ah.”
Eilena couldn’t hide her surprised expression as she turned her head.
Unlike the stiff and neat sensation of all the new planks, this one felt a bit softer and even somewhat cushioned.
It was the part she had stepped on and collapsed the day before, and the part her husband had been fixing from dawn that day.
“……”
Eilena silently stared at the whitish plank.
At the time, she had thought that he, whom she didn’t trust, wouldn’t be able to fix it well, that he was just doing unnecessary work.
To think that he, whom she thought could do nothing well except swing a sword, had such an unexpected other talent.
She felt a little, just a little regretful for having judged him prematurely.
Of course, this regret was only about her own hasty judgment.
“Ah… by the way….”
Behind Eilena, who was deeply lost in thought, Dora clasped her hands lightly and broached a subject.
Eilena came to her senses and finished climbing the stairs to listen to her.
“Madam, you don’t have a personal attendant yet, do you?”
“Hmm?”

“The master will probably be served by my husband as his personal attendant, but you still….”
“Ahh…!”
At Dora’s words, Eilena nodded vigorously as if she had belatedly recalled something.
“Well, don’t worry about that part. I already have someone in mind for my personal attendant.”
“Ah… no, have you hired someone separately?”
“Hmm… rather than that….”
With a meaningful answer, Eilena slowly moved toward her room. Dora followed her, blinking her eyes, and asked,
“Madam, could you explain in detail…?”
“Among the people employed, isn’t there a child named Ryuku?”
“No… h-how did you know that?”
Dora stared at her blankly with an expression that couldn’t hide her surprise.
Eilena stopped in her tracks, slightly turned around, and said to Dora,
“Well… I have my ways of knowing.”
“…My goodness.”
“Anyway, make that child my personal attendant.”
“Ah… yes… I understand….”
Dora looked at Eilena with eyes that clearly showed she didn’t understand at all. Eilena patted Dora’s stiffened shoulders and smiled.
Then she turned around, headed to her room, and waved her hand gently at Dora.
“Please call her to my room now!”
“Ah… yes….”
Dora answered as if muttering to herself, blinking her eyes.
A little later.
As per Eilena’s request, a maid called ‘Ryuku’ was promptly delivered to her room.
-Knock knock.
“Come in.”
With Eilena’s answer, Ryuku slowly opened the door and entered.
“Hello. I am Ryuku, who will serve Madam from today.”
Ryuku bowed her head to Eilena, who was sitting on the bed.
Eilena, who had already changed into comfortable clothes, glanced at her and smiled.
“Hmm… yes. Your name is quite unique. Are you from the eastern continent?”
“……”
“Ryuku? Why aren’t you answering?”
At Ryuku’s sudden silence, Eilena completely turned her head to look at her.
Then, Ryuku, who had been bowing deeply, slowly straightened her posture.
Her eyes, which had been gently closed, opened to reveal glowing pink irises.
The maid immediately frowned and slightly opened her protruded lips.
“Stop playing around… Demon King….”
As she spoke, her round ears gradually became pointed and rose up. The third eye hidden in the middle of her fair forehead opened, flickering with a golden light.
At the sight of the maid who had fully revealed her true appearance, Eilena chuckled and said,
“I see… sorry for teasing you, Ryuku.”
“Demon King…!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll really stop now.”
Eilena calmed the indignant maid and rose to approach her.
She placed her hand on the maid’s shoulder and spoke in a more serious tone,
“I’m glad you arrived safely, Ku.”
“I’m more glad that you are safe, Demon King.”
Former Four Heavenly Kings.
Succubus clan. Eldor Ku Heltalas.
The most cherished confidant of the Sovereign of the Green-Fingered.
She now stood before her lord again as ‘Ryuku,’ a maid of the mansion.