Chapter Text
It was New Year's Eve in the demon kingdom, the clan was proudly celebrating the victory of the dragons in the flying race, the orcs were enjoying the great stay and the shows made by the stone golems, while the demons and the other races were celebrating enthusiastically. Meanwhile, King Morewant was feeling exhausted from all the activities he did at the concerts, although he raised enough money to pay the rent for at least 3 months, he felt sorry because he forgot to invite Chief Brave, he said this while holding an invitation card.
On the other hand, in the laboratory, the water demon wrote delicately in her diary what she experienced in the flight race with the Lady boss, about how she saw the ocean and felt comfort and relief with herself and with her "sister", while she was writing she also began to remember the words that the boss said to her, "Do you also have a big family?", that question hovered over her head repetitively, she wondered if her colleagues were like her family, however, she felt confident that her king and the other demons, those who do see her as someone who does care about people, and who think that the demons can be more than what they seem to be, if they see her as someone from their family.
At that point, knocking began to be heard on her door and she heard a somewhat serious voice wanting to warn her about something...
- Water demon? Are you in there? I would like to chat with you.
It was Morewant, who wanted to congratulate her for her participation in the flying competition with the boss. With a little calm, she got up from her seat and went to the door to open it, the king in a black shirt, skull helmet and long beard he enthusiastically hugged the damsel with aquatic hair and voluptuous body, so that later she returned the hug before separating.
- What do you want, my good king? The water demon asked.
- I wanted to congratulate you for your participation in the commemorative flight competition, you and the boss were amazing, the way you almost managed to win gave us the respect of the orcs, as well as the new alliance that is being formed between the other races. - Morewant explained with enthusiasm. - And the best part is that we were able to raise enough money to pay the rent of the tower for the next three months.
- Oh, really! The demon exclaimed in surprise. - I think it's excellent, I really like how the kingdom has improved lately, the alliances, new friendships, economic improvements, everything has started to go wonderfully.
- Hehe, yes, completely wonderful. He said Morewant.
Then the demon king sighed and sat in a chair near him, his expression was serious and discouraged, as if he remembered something, or someone, with nostalgia.
- I wish he was here to see it.
The water demon felt a little confused, she approached her king a little with curiosity and asked him delicately:
- Who? Fire demon?
- Emm… yes, but I was also referring to someone else. The demon king responded, gently scratching his head and giving a small sigh. -No, I don't really think it's any of your business, it's just that I was referring to another person, I was referring to...
- The old king, right? The water demon interrupted.
Then Morewant remained silent, as if something made him remember that scene that made his life turn 180 degrees, the one where the new king of the demon clan was crowned, that scene that was still stuck in his head as a reminder of everything he is now, the demon king gave a silent sigh, and turned to look at the water demon. - Yes... to the old king... Morewant responded with slight sadness on his face.
The water demon, seeing her king's expression, approached him delicately and raised her hand to his cheek. She wanted to know more about him and thus be able to find some way to comfort him with that problem. She felt that her king had problems with himself considering what had happened to him years ago.
The king carefully cleared the water maiden's hand, and began to tell her everything he experienced before that fateful day. - Before being the demon king that I am now, I was a royal guard, a brave man who was in favor of the king, I had some colleagues who also protected him, The Black Brave, a formidable and robust brave who was the father of Chief Brave, and also the Loyal Brave, my old friend, the one who loyally followed the king, no matter what... The king responded. - One day, we were warned of an attack on a military camp and the three of us went to see what was happening... it was not until, in the middle of the road, we found out that the king had died...
The water demon listened carefully to everything the king said, intrigued to know more about him, and asked him to continue with the story.
- After hearing that news, my colleagues called me a traitor and that caused us to fall into an ambush. After what happened, I woke up in a small demon village, and then I met Morewant, the one before me. I questioned him about whether one of his subjects was the one who killed my king, and he told me that a demon with certain "unfinished business" took his life.
- And how did you feel about it? The water demon asked.
- Devastated... The demon king responded. The guilt of letting him die in vain consumed me completely. Why wasn't I there to protect him? Why did I let him be killed just like that? These questions were running through my head while I mourned his loss, but it wasn't until the Black Brave arrived, when everything began to get worse. He massacred almost the entire village and I decided to intervene and ask him to stop, but he didn't listen, so he in front of him, after having confronted him when I wanted to let him go, he grabbed my arm and...
- And what happened next? The water demon asked intrigued.
- He stabbed himself... with his own sword. That king responded seriously. - And not only that, but he also showed it to everyone, even the Brave Kingdom, it was he who called me, “The new Morewant”, after that day everything changed for me, you already know the rest, I became king, I fought with you in the war and now we are here, but after all, I don't feel good at all...
The water demon felt genuine pity for her king, she saw him showing what he felt and thought, remembering what the boss told her previously, she approached her king in order to silently console him, she gave him a small hug from behind, and later looked him in the eyes.
- You don't have to regret something that in itself was not your fault. The water demon said as she placed her hands on the king's cheeks. -Everyone admires who you really are, and you also have a family with you.
- Who? The king asked.
- Us... the whole kingdom is like your family, right? The aquatic damsel responded. - The entire kingdom sees you as the one who seeks a better future for us, you seek what is justice for those who need it most. Besides, you are our king after all.
- But you don't understand. The demon king spoke. - Since I became king, I have not been able to rest peacefully lately, not only because of paying taxes, but also because I wondered, What happens if I see him in my dreams? That simple question, but the guilt I feel for his death is something that affects me behind my mask, I don't even know if I look the same as I used to see myself years ago.
- And then why don't you take it off for a moment? The water demon asked.
- Take it off?! The king exclaimed. - No, never, you don't want to see how I look right now.
The water demon felt confused by the king's reaction, as if he did not want to show what was behind his skull mask. Instead of driving her away, the king's terror interested her even more to know what was hiding behind.
The king felt severe anxiety, he did not want anyone to know how he saw himself after so many years of wearing that green cranial mask, without revealing what he looked like after assuming the throne. How would he think people would react if he showed his horrendous, sleepwalking face naked? How would his colleagues, his subjects, even his second in command react when they saw how emaciated from sleep the king was himself? He was terrified of the idea of showing how bad his own face was to the public, especially to that lady who was in front of him.
- I know you're terrified of showing your true self. The water demon said. - But there is nothing to worry about, because I am here, with you.
Morewant gave a small sigh and remained calm for a moment, he felt the determination to show what he truly looked like to the second in command who had accompanied him since the beginning of his reign. With great determination, she put both hands on the helmet and delicately took it off. The water demon was perplexed when she saw the king's appearance. He had scruffy, unkempt hair, a mustache, and large dark circles under his eyes that reached almost halfway down his cheeks.
The water demon was somewhat perplexed by how he looked, he looked as if he were a living dead, she kept control of the matter and brushed her palm over one of the exhausted king's cheeks. She tried to comfort him silently and calmly approached him.
- I look horrible, Right? replied the demon king.
The damsel cautiously approached him even closer and gave him a warm and comforting hug, placing her arms between the king's neck and sliding towards his back, the king returned the hug, squeezing her gently and obtaining her warmth, as if it were a snake tired from hunting so much, then the water demon approached Morewant and told him the following.
- It doesn't matter how you look now, nor how you looked yesterday, nor how you will look tomorrow, in the end, after all, you are still Fair Brave. The water demon responded delicately towards the king.
Morewant smiled from ear to ear, showing gratitude for the comfort she gave him, and then gave her a small, warm kiss on one of her cheeks. The water demon began to turn red like a ripe tomato, as she tried to process what happened.
- Thank you, my queen. The king responded.
- You're welcome, my king. The aquatic demon responded with some relaxation.
At that moment, knocks began to be heard on the door, and then a calm voice was heard outside, as if it were another person wanting to tell the two of them something. It was the Bloody King along with the boss, who wanted to tell the king something.
- Morewant? Water demon? Are you both there? The Blood King asked excitedly. - I want to let you know that there is still food at the festival that I think you would like to try. Do you want to come?
- Ehh, yeah, just one more minute. The demon king responded. -Hey, would you like to come with us to enjoy the demonic new year festival with us?
- Yes, of course I would like to. The water demon responded.
- Excellent.
At that, the king put his mask back on and began to open the door cautiously. He and the water demon left the room where they were both, comforted by everything that happened between them, and going in peace towards the demon clan's new year festival.