After Laura De Farnese had given the order to clean up the postwar outcome—I had passed this task onto her because it was extremely tiresome to do myself—I went to look for Lapis Lazuli.

Lala was organizing documents in the quarters at the rear end of our forces. Once I entered the room, Lala stopped what she was doing and stared at me.

“……”

“……”

The moment I was about to open my mouth, she took the initiative.

“This one is disappointed.”

“……”

“—This one was disappointed.”

Lapis Lazuli put down the stack of paper.

And glared straight at me.

“Your highness had treated this one like a common lover. What this one desired from your highness was to be treated as a companion of authority, never did this one desire for a lovers relationship chained down to one another. Why did your highness carelessly try to steal this one’s game and prey?”

“……I am sorry.”

“Yesterday, did your highness say that your highness loved this one?”

I nodded my head.

“Does your highness still love this one?”

“Surprisingly, it seems so.”

“……Haa.”

Lapis Lazuli let out a small sigh.

“Let us establish rules.”

“By rules, you mean?”

“Do not ask for affection from this one, and this one as well, will not yearn for affection from your highness. The most important thing to your highness and this one is taking hold of power in the demon world. In order to achieve that, a cold attitude that is capable of going through blood and tears is necessary.”

“I agree completely.”

“…… Things have become a mess.”

Lapis Lazuli pressed her fingers on her forehead and closed her eyes.

“Love is nothing more than a weakness. The excess baggage of emotion that serves no purpose. For your highness to truly consider this one as a woman is a surprise. Before this one is a woman, this one is a mere peasant succubus who wishes to secure success.”

“Lala. I have something to say regarding this matter as well.”

I smiled faintly.

“I am not the only one with excess baggage attached to their emotions. Lala. You do as well. It is regrettable, but you are not in the position to be so confidently reproaching me.”

“This one apologizes, but this one is unable to understand what your highness is talking about.”

“Are you not in love with me as well?”

“……”

Lapis Lazuli slowly knit her brows.

“Is your highness sane? There is a limit to overinflated egos.”

“Think carefully. If I were to fall into being a slave to love, if anything, it would be beneficial for you. If I were to be bound, made to submit, and forced to kneel by each and every one of your words, then eventually, you will take a position more superior to Demon Lord Dantalian. Thus, on the day that I obtain the seat of power, you, having already placed me into your hand, would be the true greatest authority, would you not?”

Lapis Lazuli shut her mouth.

The smile on the edge of my mouth grew wider.

“But you did not do so. No, you were unable to even entertain that notion. Instead of feeling delighted at the sight of myself obsessing over you, you felt displeasure. Why do you think that was so?”

“……”

A long period of time passed.

A certain shock was contained within Lapis Lazuli’s blue eyes. As if she was witnessing an overwhelming natural landscape for the first time.

“……Your highness is right. This one had no reason to refuse your highness’ courtship. Why would this one……”

“That is because you love me.”

I took a step towards her.

Our gaze grew closer by that much as well.

“However, before loving someone else, we love authority more. Therefore, we love the person who also loves the same authority as ourselves. Like how a musician would be attracted to their lover who appreciated music. Like how a poet would be attracted to their lover who was infatuated by poems……”

Exactly the same as themselves.

Towards the person who strongly yearned for authority as much as themselves.

Towards the person who understood as much as they did on what authority was.

Us being drawn together was inevitable.

“Lala. I love the you, who loves authority.”

“……”

“Your cold tenacity, your merciless pragmatism, and your attitude that does not allow even the slightest bit of carelessness and tolerance. I love them all. However, at the moment you lose your pure aspiration towards your lust for power, I will love you no longer.”

“……This one understands.”

Lapis Lazuli’s eyes slowly became thin.

“The sight of your highness regarding something other than authority as precious, this one had felt disappointment towards that. Because this one had perceived that the part of your highness that this one loves was waning.”

Lapis Lazuli closed her eyes.

Slowly, as if she was trying to appreciate something.

“So this is…… my love.”

“That is so.”

Another step.

“We are the same. The two of us both love authority the most. Therefore, when we see the other person disregard power, an uncontainable rage stirs inside of us.”

“What your highness has said is correct. Authority has the prime value. Nothing can be said against this.”

Lapis opened her eyes.

Lala’s usual cold gaze was there.

“Although this one does admit that she loves your highness, this one has to apologize. In the end, your highness is not more precious than authority.”

We are the same.

A step closer.

Perhaps it wasn’t appropriate to refer to this emotion as love.

It was not love.

It was not friendship.

The same kin.

The feeling of ascertaining the fact that a person perfectly akin to myself existed in this world.

Not like Laura De Farnese, who had only recently stood up on her own, but two people who have already discovered themselves and were completely developed. These two met and recognized who the other person was, and confirmed their kin.

Up until now, I was a unique race in my own world.

Only I existed, and I alone formed another type of humanoid race distant from other Homo sapiens.

But now, I had met Lapis Lazuli and discovered the second of my kind.

In other words,

Love for humanity.

We were currently perceiving a love for humanity that consisted of solely us two.

“Do you know what is the best part about being a Demon Lord? It is the fact that I barely have to sleep. There was a time that I had stayed up for four nights in a row agonizing over something. At the time, I very much disliked the idea of falling asleep and having my worries be cut off mid-way.”

Taking the final step closer towards her.

We had finally reached one another.

“Normal people would say that dreams are pointless. That among the things in one’s life, something like dreams was not needed. However, I’m a bit different. Dreams not only made my life feel useless, but it made it powerless as well. I have always been swept up in this emotion.”

“Even though it may only be by half, this one is still a succubus.”

Without anyone having to take the initiative.

She and I slowly drew our bodies together.

While I wrapped my arm around her back, she moved her own arm around me as well.

Like two venomous snakes coiling around each other.

“This one can control your highness’ dreams.”

“You shall make me perfect.”

“Yes. This one shall make your highness perfect. And this one as well, shall become perfect through your highness.”

Our faces grew closer.

Our breaths too, grew closer.

“You are my weakness. However, if we pay enough attention, if we do not forget what race we are originally from, then not a relationship where we reveal each other’s flaws, but a relationship where we cover each other’s shortcomings instead.”

Solely for a more mighty authority.

Solely for a more exalted authority.

Thus, not a fiancée, but—

A partner.

The two of us were partners.

“Lapis Lazuli. I love you.”

“This one too, loves your highness. Lord Dantalian.”

Our lips met.

A virtuous sound effect rang in my ear.



[You’ve sincerely reached a communion with the other party!]

[Lapis Lazuli’s affection went up by 50!]



Instead of paying attention towards something like a notice window, I pushed further into Lala’s touch.

Her cool yet soft skin was pleasant.



A bit deeper.



While exploring each other’s warmth, while confirming each other’s existence.

I to myself, and her to herself, each person simply filled each other.

Like a dog chasing its shadow.

Avariciously.