THDK Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Demon King Arrives in a Pinch! (Part 3)

The boy looked at me as if I were something disgusting. His eyes were just like my mother’s—cold and filled with silent disdain.

“Aren’t you angry? Did you… poison it or something?”

“…I would never do that.”

“I don’t trust you.”

With that, he raised his foot. His target was the cake, which still retained a faint semblance of its original shape. The sweet, delicious strawberries were crushed, looking almost like blood.

“Stop!”

I shouted instinctively. In an instant, the boy’s body was flung to the ground. I froze in shock, only to realize that Nox was now standing in front of me and the cake, shielding us.

“I came to see what the commotion was about. Explain yourself, Alan.”

“D-Demon King!”

The boy, now identified as Alan, quickly knelt before Nox, his body trembling.

“That human was trying to poison you, so I stopped him…”

“Poison, you say?”

“…Ah…”

Nox turned his body toward me, then shifted his gaze to the cake on the floor. Slowly, he knelt on one knee, scooped up a piece of the cake with his bare hands, and ate it.

“Nox!?”

“Demon King!?”

My voice overlapped with Alan’s.

Everyone around us watched in silence as Nox continued to eat the cake. His red tongue licked the cream from his fingers, and I couldn’t look away. The Demon King, who was supposed to only eat the finest dinners prepared by chefs, was eating the ruined cake without hesitation. My heart was deeply shaken by this.

Once he had almost finished, Nox stood up, wiped his hands, and turned his gaze back to Alan.

“There’s no poison in this.”

“B-But, Demon King… That human is the hero…”

“Silence. Don’t cause a scene without evidence. Aren’t you ashamed, acting like this as the captain of the knights?”

Alan’s body, only slightly larger than mine, trembled faintly. Alan was the captain of the knights? He looked about the same age as me.

“…I apologize.”

Alan, now scolded, wore a sad expression. Nox told him to leave, and Alan reluctantly walked away. Nox watched his retreating figure for a few seconds before turning his attention back to me.

Nox’s crimson eyes met mine as he approached. The ruined cake was no longer on the floor.

“Did you make that, Sol?”

“…Yeah.”

“For me?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“I see. It was delicious.”

A large hand rested on my head, ruffling my hair. At that moment, the tears I had been holding back spilled over. Nox picked me up as he always did, patting my back soothingly.

I had been so, so sad when the cake was ruined. But I thought I shouldn’t cry, so I held it in. Yet, because Nox was kind and ate the cake for me, I could finally cry honestly.

Whenever I’m sad or in pain, it’s always Nox who helps me. I buried my face in his chest, rubbing it against him. In his arms, I feel like there’s nothing to worry about. A sense of security envelops me.

“I want you to make it again.”

“…Okay.”

He said it was delicious… He wants me to make it again…

Every word from Nox seeped into my heart, filling it with warmth. All my worries vanished. Leaning into Nox, I whispered, “Thank you.” In response, he kissed my forehead. Feeling my heart race and the comfort of his embrace, I closed my eyes.