"Thrust Knight Crenina, why are you here? According to the report, you should be on a search mission in a border town right now."
Ledyah gently pushed Noah, who was clinging to her, away and casually struck a pose befitting the Demon King.
But her slightly flushed skin and slightly rapid breathing betrayed that her heart wasn't as calm as she pretended.
"How cruel, Ledyah! We've been best friends since birth. Couldn't it be that I missed you and dashed all the way back from the border?"
Vampire Princess Crenina Violet dropped her respectful demeanor. Her slender hand wiped fake tears from her cheeks, and she let out exaggerated sobs now and then.
At her waist hung a long, slender sword—wider than a rapier but narrower than a straight sword—a rare weapon called the 'Thrusting Straight Sword'.
"'She's actually two hundred years older than me, an old lady...'" Ledyah muttered under her breath, turning her face away with a blank expression.
"'What did you say, Ledyah? Want to fight?'" Crenina's expression shifted instantly. Veins bulged on her pale forehead, and her hand tightened slightly on the sword hilt.
"'Demon Lord~, could you introduce me to this rude lady?'" Noah interjected, unable to bear being ignored. She smiled, but her eyes held no warmth as she gazed at the vampire princess, who returned an equally polite yet icy smile.
Of course, she had heard Crenina's self-introduction earlier. But being interrupted and ignored made her angry, so she deliberately used "rude" to describe her.
"'Are you deaf, human Holy Maiden? Your excessive development must have ruined your eyesight and hearing too. Who allowed you to butt into my talk with Ledyah?'"
Crenina grinned, baring her fangs, her crimson eyes wide as saucers.
"'A mere cow with a bust over 100, daring to cause trouble on the Demon King's turf?'"
"'Crenina!'" A single reprimand from the young Demon King made the vampire princess's arrogance shrink.
"'My apologies, Your Majesty the Demon King.'" She bowed respectfully and performed a knight's salute again.
"'However, if this big-breasted, brainless pest annoys you, permit me to pierce her skull—I've been curious about a Holy Maiden's taste anyway.'"
Crenina licked her lips seductively, her eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
"'She is... a guest of honor at the Demon King's Castle, Crenina. Show respect.'" Ledyah's firm gaze suppressed Crenina's fire. The vampire princess froze as if struck by lightning.
"'No way, Ledyah—you've been bewitched by her?'" Crenina blinked in disbelief, her pupils trembling violently.
"'A defeated Holy Maiden? A captured slave? How did she become a guest of honor at the Demon King's Castle overnight?'" The Lolita-dressed girl couldn't accept it, muttering under her breath.
"'Though it's embarrassing to say, I must tell you the truth: it's real.'" Ledyah lowered her head, shyly fiddling with the black hair at her temple. Her crimson eyes sparkled with a girl's pure infatuation.
"'Moreover, she will become my wife and future queen of the entire Demon Race nation.'" The young Demon King declared this settled fact to the sword-wielding vampire, her voice shy yet unwavering.
"'Hah?'" Crenina wore an expression of utter confusion, her brows furrowed into a rough scowl.
"'Her? As your queen? Ridiculous! What merit does this cow have, seducing men with those vulgar meat lumps?'"
"'Ledyah, have you gone mad?'" Crenina's voice turned icy calm. Her eyes, cold as an ice cellar, pinned Ledyah with a terrifying stare.
To Crenina, "human," "Holy Maiden," "big breasts"—each word stacked like debuffs, dancing on her landmines.
She'd rather the Demon King marry a village girl than see this pervert-oozing woman rise to power.
"'Oh my? Compared to Miss Nina's chest, flatter than a sewer, I'm quite attractive. At least, the Demon Lord is head over heels for me.'" Noah smiled her perfect, fox-like smile, voice dripping with seduction.
Her grin carried a hint of victor's mockery.
"'Poor Miss Nina, watching peers blossom while she thumps her hard ribs—bam, bam, bam—her chest as flat as a plowed field. How pitiful.'"
"'But I envy you—you can see your toes without bending, can't you?'"
"'You! You!'" Crenina trembled with rage. Her sword hand shook uncontrollably, fists clenched tight. Without Ledyah present, she might have stomped her feet.
"'You ill-mannered woman, good for nothing but your chest! I'll never let you become Ledyah's queen!'"
"'Rather than you as Ledyah's spouse, I'd rather—'" Her furious words slammed to a halt like emergency brakes. Both smiling Noah and blank-faced Ledyah stared at her, astonished.
"'In—in short!'" Crenina's face flushed red as she fumbled for words, failing to wrap it up.
She glared fiercely at Ledyah, pressing her flat chest, and shouted: "'Ledyah! Which do you prefer—my chest or hers?'"
"'?'" This question left Ledyah stunned and Noah speechless.
"'Is this really all you've worried about?'" For the first time, Noah met Crenina's eyes straight on. Her gaze held pitying kindness, like caring for a fool.
"'Y-yes, so what?'" Hot-headed Crenina didn't care anymore. Too late to back down, she doubled down.
"'Nina.'" The usually taciturn Ledyah spoke slowly. In all her vampire life, Crenina had never heard such tenderness in her voice.
"'If you asked a young man, you might get different answers. But...'" Ledyah touched her own bosom—though not as huge as Noah's "extra-large cup," it was still a "large cup" pillow. "'Asking me, there's only one answer.'"
