I Took the Demon King as My Wife

Larhas, boasting a vast expanse of land, was an infamous city in the Empire.
As befitting the frontline city bordering the demon realm, wasn’t the quality of the land also similar to that of the demon realm?
The land of Larhas was barren and desolate.
The only vegetation was poisonous herbs with thorns, and the underground was filled with large deposits of dangerous heavy metals.
Everyone unanimously called it a cursed land, the wasteland of hell.
It had been a long time since able-bodied people had left the city. Now, Larhas had become a city of impoverished individuals who lacked even the strength to escape.
Hearing that the lord treated warriors fairly well, mercenaries who had been injured during the war and had nowhere to go settled here, and fallen nobles who had fallen out of favor with the 20 dukes had hidden here to sustain their lives long ago.
Besides these, whether prostitutes, butchers, or heavy metal miners, those residing in Larhas were mostly eccentric individuals who couldn’t mix with ordinary people.
The Akamp family, which had protected this cursed land for generations, was a family born as warriors to the bone and was also a historic family that had been with the Empire since its establishment by the First Emperor.
The 7th Hero and the 10th Hero. Two heroes had been produced from the Akamp baronial house. Their military prowess was proven and truly famous.
Though no other family wanted to set foot on that cursed territory, only the Akamp family steadfastly protected this wasteland…

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.
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“That’s what I’ve heard and understood.”
“Hahaha! My, being praised so highly, I don’t know how to react!”
At Eilena’s systematic explanation, Kavern laughed heartily, his beard twitching.
“…Seems like you said more negative things, though…”
Hans glanced sideways at Eilena sitting next to him. She maintained a calm demeanor with her eyes gently closed.
“Oh my! Not at all. Well, everything you said was accurate, but what’s good or bad about facts? Right, haha!”
Kavern went on and on with praise for her, saying it was a hundred times better than those hunched dukes who only offer empty praise to one’s face.
Hans could only flash an awkward smile in response.
After a moment, Eilena, who had taken a sip of the tea served by the lord, exhaled a warm breath and said,
“First of all, there are mainly two things we aim to achieve from this inspection. Perhaps you’re already aware?”
“Ah… yes, I received a letter from His Majesty a few days ago, so I have a general understanding.”
At Kavern’s response, Eilena smiled slightly and continued.
“Yes, then this will be quicker. First, we will begin the territorial inspection starting tomorrow. Though the inspection is this one’s responsibility,” she gestured to Hans, “I will also accompany him. Of course, the lord should accompany us as well.”
“Yes, of course I will!”
At Eilena’s words, Kavern clenched his fist and spoke with confidence. Eilena continued her explanation with a satisfied smile.
“Secondly, based on the inspection, we plan to slightly modify the territory’s policies. In this process, we will also listen to the residents’ grievances in advance to have some level of consultation. After that, extensive construction will take place. We will request necessary support, and as soon as the materials are procured, we will begin construction immediately.”
“By construction, you mean…?”
“For now, we’re thinking of large warehouses, trading posts, and multiple inns. After the border is opened, Larhas will become a crucial trading hub above all. If there are any other necessary buildings or machines, we’ll add them as needed.”
“Ah! I see!”
Kavern laughed with a bright voice.
Her words were like a beam of light shining on his territory, which had been steeped in poverty and darkness.
“Ah… but.”
After her confident final words, a mumbling voice of doubt followed.
To this, Eilena carefully asked Kavern if there was a problem.
“As you know, our territory’s financial situation is not very favorable. Once the buildings you mentioned are erected and the border is opened, the situation will improve, but…”
They couldn’t even establish the foundations to earn that money immediately.
Perhaps feeling a bit wounded in his pride, Kavern didn’t go on to elaborate.
No matter how infamous the land was, for him as the lord, it was his one and only hometown and pride. It was a bit embarrassing to keep bringing up the harsh reality rather than speaking of the few merits that hardly existed.
Eilena, who had been silently watching him trail off, rummaged through her belongings and brought out a small box, placing it silently on the table.
“This is…”
“Please check it.”
To the puzzled Kavern, Eilena smiled slightly and turned the box towards him.
Eventually, as the lid adorned with elaborate decorations opened, a small seal hidden in red cloth was revealed.
“Th-this…!”
After examining the seal carefully, he was astounded by the clearly engraved white lion emblem.
“As I briefly mentioned when I introduced myself earlier… I’m here more as the Emperor’s proxy than as the Baroness Elbain. That seal was personally bestowed by the Emperor, and he has delegated all authority to me, so you need not worry about that.”
“Ah, I see…!”
At Eilena’s confident voice, exclamations of admiration continuously poured from Kavern’s mouth.
And simultaneously, as if suddenly recalling something, he closed his mouth and bowed his head to her.
“I apologize. To think I acted so imprudently towards the Emperor’s proxy… I will definitely address you with higher respect from now on, Your Regency.”
Kavern instructed the knights behind him to tell all personnel in the castle to address her as “Your Regency” from now on.
Eilena waved her hands, saying there was no need to go that far, but Kavern pushed forward relentlessly.
In reality, being the Emperor’s proxy carried that much weight, and the small seal she held in her hand was a tremendous item that could raise and lower the continent.
Though she might have a vague understanding, the lord, who had lived his entire life devoted to the imperial family, knew better than anyone how immense the power of that silver seal was.
And he also clearly understood what it meant to personally receive such an item.
“Well… if that’s the case.”
After much contention, Eilena finally pretended to give in and accepted his deference.
The lord did not withhold his praise, saying how humble she was for rejecting his respect several times.
However, Hans could see it. Her eyes smiling as if she had planned all of this.
‘Hmm…’
Wise or scheming… somehow, he thought the latter suited her better, and Hans gently shook his head.
*
After the simple first meeting, the couple was guided by the lord to their designated guest room.
“Quite spacious.”
Hans muttered as he looked around the room.
Being a relatively recently built special room, the interior was clean, and facing south, it was bright inside even without lanterns.
And above all, it was spacious. Although he said “quite,” it was actually exceptionally spacious.
Inside, there was a small bathroom as well as a separate room with a desk and sofa, and beyond the bright window was a small balcony.
Though not extremely luxurious, it was a space worthy of being called a special room.
While Hans was examining the room, peering here and there, Eilena immediately headed for the large bed in the corner.
And a maid carrying a large bag followed her.
-Thud.
After placing the bag on the large bed, she immediately opened the wardrobe next to it and began organizing the clothes.
“Ah, hand me that. It would be better to change into that for dinner.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The maid busily organizing the clothes was none other than Ryuku. She was Baroness Elbain’s personal attendant and the only person accompanying them on this journey.
Originally, many were planned to accompany them, but due to the mistress’s words that having more people would only make things chaotic without adding any value, only one person was decided to join the journey.
Naturally, that person became her only subordinate, and no one expressed dissatisfaction with her decision. Not even her husband, Hans.
“Wait, is that all the luggage?”
Hans, who had already surveyed the room, came to the side of the two who were unpacking and asked.
“Ah, no, there’s more downstairs…”
Ryuku, who was neatly folding her mistress’s clothes one by one and placing them in the wardrobe, paused her task to look at him and reply.
At Ryuku’s addition that the castle’s knights would move them, Hans scolded her for assigning a task to others that he could do himself.
Then he abruptly said he would go get them and left the room.
Ryuku barely managed to convey an apology to his retreating figure and bowed her head. Once he disappeared, she slightly raised her head and revealed the eye hidden on her forehead.
“As expected… he’s so uncouth.”
The three pupils glared at the empty doorframe.
Eilena, who had roughly finished organizing the luggage, closed the bag and casually said to her,
“What can be done, it’s his nature.”
Eilena gave her a slight warning to be careful with her words, saying that even if he was foolish, he had a good ear for hearing.
Ku scratched her head slightly in embarrassment. It was true, but… somehow, her tone sounded like she was taking his side.
It might have been her imagination, but her already anxious heart was stirred with unnecessary worry. Ku, heading back to the wardrobe, suddenly stopped her steps and turned to look at Eilena.
“But… will it really be okay?”
“What do you mean?”
Eilena answered casually while keeping her gaze fixed on the bag from which she was pulling out items. Then Ku looked at her with a disapproving expression and said,
“You’ll have to… share a room with that guy…”
Her voice trailed off in concern. However, Eilena still spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“It’s fine. I understand what you’re worried about, but… the situation you’re concerned about probably won’t arise.”
“How do you know that! All men are beasts, and what’s more, human males are in heat 365 days a year, all four seasons! Human men are all perverts and lechers.”
Ku mentioned her appearance, saying that Hans would surely harbor lecherous intentions and be eyeing her covetously.
Eilena merely listened silently to the maid who was slandering the master of the house.
By the time she had finished organizing everything, she sat down lightly at the edge of the bed. Ku hurried to her side and sat down.
“Ask for another room, Eilena. The lord seems to like you, right? He would do at least that much.”
“That would be putting the cart before the horse. The lord thinks we’re a couple who adore each other, so how could I go to him and ask for separate rooms? That would be the most suspicious thing.”
“But…”
Ryuku still couldn’t shake off her evident discomfort.
Then Eilena let out a faint sigh and added,
“If he had such intentions, he would have done it long ago. With my magical powers sealed, I wouldn’t be able to offer much resistance, and with no one to complain to, why would he restrain himself until now only to commit such an act after coming to his friend’s territory?”
“Th-that’s true, but…”
“And that guy… he’s not that kind of person…”
“What…?”
At the last words uttered almost like a murmur, Ku, who had been listening quietly, opened her eyes wide.
Eilena was staring blankly into space with an indescribable expression.
After a moment, as if belatedly realizing what she had said, she hastily tried to take back her words and changed her statement.
“I-I mean… what I’m saying is, that guy isn’t worthy of being such a character. He may be large in size, but his mind is no different from a ten-year-old child’s, a callow youth.”
“But…”
Even with the hastily added revision, Ku still wore a dissatisfied expression.
Silently glancing at her with a pitying look, Ku carefully brought up a topic she had been withholding.
“You never know what’s inside a person, Eilena… That’s why, back then…”
Back then.
At this single phrase, Eilena’s pupils suddenly sharpened. Her shoulders jolted at the sudden sinking feeling in her chest.
“N-no! I shouldn’t have said anything!”
Seeing her reaction, Ku, clearly alarmed, waved her hands vigorously.
Eilena quickly erased the aching emotion that had settled over her and composed her expression.
“It’s alright, Ku. It’s all in the past, isn’t it?”
She smiled and patted Ku’s shoulders.
“Ah… I-I’m sorry, I really went crazy, saying unnecessary things…”
Despite her reassurance, Ku couldn’t relax her tense expression.
From the beginning, marriage was an extremely burdensome affair for her lord.
She knew all too well how terrifying it was for her to live under the same roof with a man she couldn’t defeat or resist.
She couldn’t forgive herself for uttering such reckless words.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Ku continued to apologize.
“It’s alright.”
Eilena willingly accepted her apology.
However, there was a considerable gap between accepting an apology and saying it’s alright.
Ku knew. Her lord was lying right now.
Perhaps, tonight would not be alright for her at all.