It’s enjoyable to be revered.
While it’s somewhat disappointing if that reverence is bought with money, it still feels exhilarating if it’s someone else’s money.
Just like now, as I entered the Count Makenas’s villa and received a uniform greeting from the lined-up maids.
“Welcome, Your Excellency the Viscount!”
“Ugh.”
Pastel trembled with a slack-jawed grin. Hugging her body with her arms, she fidgeted and became slightly weakened in her legs.
“Oh! I still haven’t caught up to that unattainable power of capital. For such an opponent to treat me this way… Pastel, Pastel…”
Stumbling, she leaned lightly against the demon.
“The feeling of being intoxicated by power.”
The demon, looking flustered, supported her body.
“Don’t get intoxicated in strange ways. Lately, you seem to be getting stranger and stranger.”
“It’s turning more and more purple.”
Complete demon corruption.
Is this the price of unleashing the Great Demon’s seal?
“I’m scared.”
Along with playful words, she rubbed her cheeks against her suit.
At this rate, she might just turn purple.
The demon slightly narrowed his eyes.
“Then at least let’s unleash some pink paint.”
“Pfft!”
What does that mean?
Pastel looked up at the demon, her pink eyes wide.
“That’s childish! Demon! Maintain your dignity! Saying such things while wearing a suit is so silly~!”
The demon looked displeased. He wore a slightly wounded expression.
“You’re dissatisfied even when I try to match your level. What does it mean to be silly? Communicate with proper language. Conversation is mutual respect.”
Ugh.
“If you don’t understand the meaning of being silly, then you didn’t match my level! You doubled the silliness! The demon, who made a silly remark without matching my level, is doubly silly!”
With a resigned expression, she pushed away from the demon’s embrace.
“Really now. There’s no one who can match your level but me.”
She shook her head.
“What nonsense are you saying so confidently? I’m the one who’s adapting to your level.”
“Ding ding ding!”
She shook her finger from side to side at the astonished demon, glaring at him with her pink eyes.
“It’s because you got rejected by your mother.”
“No.”
The demon’s expression changed into one that seemed to have many words to say. Then he sighed and pushed his bangs back, as if wondering what he would say to a child.
Is that the expression of a lovesick man who was rejected?
Silly~.
Honestly.
There’s no one who can match your level but me.
“Hehe.”
This is the greatness of Pastel, who can even make the Great Demon repent!
Pastel wriggled her body.
I’m absolutely great!
“Viscount Craft.”
Huh?
As I turned around, the butler, who had forgotten about his presence, gently approached. It seemed he was breaking the air of rudeness after Pastel got lost in her own world.
“I will guide you to the parlor.”
“Ah! I’m so sorry!”
Pastel clasped her hands together and bowed her head. Her pink hair swayed.
The butler, as well as the maids who had been lined up and watching, sighed in relief.
Ahhh.
I took the formalities too casually.
Is this the side effect of power?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Ugh.
I suddenly thought of a quote that pricked my conscience.
Pastel was guided straight to the parlor.
“The Count should be here soon.”
“Yes.”
The butler bowed and left.
Pastel’s expression became serious. Sitting on the sofa embroidered with gold threads, she crossed her legs in a posture the demon often took.
“Demon, what should I do? Life is too enjoyable.”
It made me momentarily forget the emotional turmoil caused by dad.
Oh?
Is this an escape via power?
Becoming confused by dad’s audacity to abandon his child, claiming love is great…?
Stop.
I was about to start dating to try and understand what love really is, but the demon vehemently opposed it without even guessing at my true motives.
Ugh.
Suddenly feeling twice as eager to date.
But thanks to that strong opposition, I regained a bit of composure and contemplated that it might not be a great choice for popular Pastel to start dating.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who can’t differentiate between romantic feelings and friendly feelings.
Since I’m acting all close with Pastel, wouldn’t everyone think I like her?
I’ve even received several confessions.
“Sorry! I don’t date friends! If I called you a friend, it means I don’t see you as a romantic interest! A friendship cannot turn into a romantic relationship! This is the principle of a popular person! If a ornamental cherry blossom becomes a cherry blossom (not) for viewing, it turns into chaos!”
Ant Friend is spouting off.
“Hey! Look over here! Hi, Ant Friend! That piece of bread looks delicious! Do you love me too? Just as I thought! You feel the same way! It’s something special, right? Uh-huh!”
The shoes stomp.
“Ahhh! Ant Friend! To think you’d step on your diligent Ant Friend and kill her! You’re such a bad kid?! Totally, completely bad!”
Added to the blacklist.
Anyway.
Even so, trying to get to know love by hastily getting engaged with someone I don’t know just because I saw their portrait seems, as the demon said, not quite right.
After fidgeting for a while, I eventually thought,
“I don’t know! No matter how I think about it, Dad is weird! If he loves Mom, shouldn’t he also love me, who looks like her?!”
Even if his daughter looks strikingly similar, he shouldn’t coldly distinguish between his wife and daughter like a scholar!
If he can’t differentiate, it’s still a crime!
Pastel was starved for love.
So instead, she decided to savor power.
Savoring power.
Ugh.
It’s surprisingly delicious.
Life is becoming enjoyable!
The great ruler, Pastel, sighed.
“I’m having so much fun. At this rate, I might really turn purple.”
Earlier, it was said jokingly, but a truly electrifying future.
Oh dear.
Does something feel off about the description?
“It has been peculiar from the start, but it has worsened lately. I’m glad you’re aware of it now.”
The demon rubbed his chin.
“In my opinion, it seems that etiquette and respect have broken down. It would be good to begin respecting the hierarchy of teachers and guardians.”
Pastel stopped fidgeting. After thinking deeply, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
“Isn’t that the demon’s hope?”
The demon shrugged.
“Think what you want. However, you should know that things which seem unnecessary in the world exist for a reason. Such is the hierarchy.”
Pastel crossed her arms and pondered like a model student.
Then she smiled broadly.
“I don’t want to!”
The demon looked displeased.
“Are you planning to solve the problem?”
Hehe.
“Your reaction makes me feel like I don’t want to do anything.”
“Haa.”
The demon placed his hand on his forehead.
“What do you want me to do?”
I don’t know~.
The cause is the demon, so please take responsibility later.
#
Walking through the corridor with Count Makenas.
Although he wasn’t in a suit, his fashion covered in gold accessories remained unchanged. Instead, he looked just like a wealthy trader, which somehow fit well.
Pastel couldn’t help but admire.
“That fashion back then wasn’t complete. It feels like my insight is opening up.”
“Is that so? Some nobles are accustomed to old customs and tend to belittle things, but the Viscount has an eye for luxury.”
Count Makenas fiddled with his gold bracelet. The appearance was more focused on splendor than practicality.
“This ritual bracelet likely worn by priests in ancient times. What’s important is that the design is very sophisticated, so even in this day and age, it doesn’t feel out of place. It’s a special luxury item with both historical and practical value.”
“Wow!”
It looks extremely expensive!
Pastel’s heart raced at the price tag attached to the gold bracelet rather than its appearance.
Thump thump.
Count Makenas smiled pleasantly. He opened the gold bracelet and offered it to her.
“Would you like to try it on?”
Ugh.
With trembling hands, she accepted the gold bracelet. When she placed it on her thin wrist, it was very loose, but its weight was palpable.
That weight.
It’s telling me that the price tag suits me very well.
How good would it feel to adorn myself with something like this!
Is my thought that a pink and white combination wouldn’t match the gold bracelet just an illusion?
Shouldn’t I accept this to fulfill my duties as a popular person?
Count Makenas looked disappointed.
“Oh dear. It doesn’t suit the Viscount’s appearance. How unfortunate.”
What?
Pastel weakly returned the gold bracelet.
When they reached the end of the corridor, they arrived at a separate space where a collection of gold items was stored.
There were various gold-colored decorations densely placed all around.
There were treasure boxes overflowing with gold coins, a small model of an airship made of gold, and even a gold-embossed world map.
Pastel’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
Though I came for collusion in auction and business, my mind feels like it’s drifting elsewhere.
As her gaze wandered, she spotted a bookshelf and paused. Leather-bound books were packed tightly.
Huh?
An eye-catching intellectual collection.
“Would you like to read one?”
Pastel, wearing a clever expression, discreetly pulled out a book.
The thin, tanned leather texture was felt. Upon opening it, gold melted into beautifully written letters filled the pages.
Wow.
This book suits a smart person like me.
Count Makenas pulled out another book.
“This book is made from demon skin.”
Demon skin.
“It’s a collection made during the war. Each book contains the life and end of one demon.”
He gestured toward the bookshelf.
“The current market price has dropped, but its future value is promising. With increasing funding for historical research and the growing number of museums, considering its data value, the market price should rise significantly in the long term.”
Demon skin.
Pastel felt her hand tremble.
The book fell.
Count Makenas hastily caught it. His puzzled eyes looked at Pastel.
“Viscount? What’s wrong?”
Pastel shivered, trembling hands looking at the pages before turning to the genuinely bewildered Count.
Their eyes met, and a moment of silence passed.
“Do you dislike demons?”
Count Makenas looked even more puzzled.
“What age are we in? I have no ill will towards demons.”
Pastel swallowed hard.
“Why would you do this?”
Count Makenas, not understanding, fell into thought. His expression appeared as if he had been caught up in a life question.
Then, as if he concluded, he opened his arms wide.
“Because I love them.”
The surrounding golden collection spread out before them.
“All of this.”
