NOVPUBAs night fell, Lanci returned to the accommodation Saint Kray Temple had arranged for him.
This two-story classical-style building, with its creamy-white walls, looked especially warm under the gentle glow of the street lamps, harmonizing beautifully with the deep blue tile roof and dark brown window frames.
"Autumn has arrived, but home is still far away."
Lanci sighed as he looked north. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
His gaze fell upon the unique architectural style of the monastery, with marble towers and flying buttresses dotted here and there, amidst winding paths through verdant groves and a clear stream meandering through the grounds, its sound particularly melodious in the quiet of the night.
Since arriving in the Cerryti Empire, his days had been fulfilling.
Yet, he felt unhappy amid the turmoil of these trouble times.
"I know it’s hard for you to bear such a heavy burden alone in a foreign land, but I’ll be with you. You can tell me anything on your mind."
Talia could sense Lanci’s loneliness, so she conveyed to him in her thoughts.
Whenever she saw Lanci full of vigor, she wanted to tease him, but whenever he felt down, she couldn’t help but treat him kindly.
"Can I really say anything?"
Lanci’s spirits immediately perked up, and he even seemed a bit nervously eager.
"..."
Talia felt her blood pressure surge,
"And maybe you shouldn’t say anything."
She feared she wouldn’t be able to restrain herself and might end up dragging Lanci to the entryway and throwing him to the ground.
"Then I won’t say anything."
Shrouded by a chill, Lanci quickly became more docile and sped up his pace in the courtyard.
"Back in Nanwantina, when I first watched you make those two cards, I realized they were really suitable for use on you; one could make you kneel and apologize, the other to make you talk less."
Talia recalled the cards labeled [Basic Etiquette] and [Friendly Exchange], realizing they were perfectly crafted for Lanci.
"Why didn’t you use them on me?"
Lanci, far from scared, asked curiously.
"Did you think I would stoop to using your magic against you? My own spiritual magic will someday be powerful enough to tame you into willingly obeying me."
Talia warned him with an air of pride.
Equipped with both mind-reading and Demon Sound, she was indeed the mightiest Demon King.
"Talia, you really are beautiful."
Lanci responded.
"...What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?"
Talia was unclear about Lanci’s intention, feeling somewhat flustered.
"You also think beautifully."
He chuckled wryly.
A mere loan-shark Demon King, yet he talks of taming her.
"So, are you saying I’ve got you under my control, and those six seals belong to me now? If it doesn’t need to be repaid, can it be called a loan? That’s called pure profit."
Talia, slightly stunned, swiftly understood the situation and retorted with a mix of shyness and anger.
"What twisted logic."
Lanci seemingly had no rebuttal.
"That’s Demon Race logic."
Talia corrected him.
"..."
Marrying a genuine Demon Race wife, enjoying the life of Duke Migaya.
Thus, even a fake fiancée would be safer if portrayed by a sensible human woman.
Lanci pushed open the heavy doors of his residence, stepping into his home in the Cerryti Empire.
A milky-white sofa sat next to a delicate bunch of orchids, adding a vignette of vitality to the parlor.
"Meow meow! The Divine Beast makes its appearance!"
Cat Boss cheerfully called out, emerging from the shadows and rolling on the sofa, eager to enjoy domestic life.
Having stayed in Lanci’s shadow all day, it felt frustrated, but now it was excited every day, filled with anticipation about Lanci’s tales of the National Guardian Beast and Divine Spirit Beasts.
Of course, before that, it had to make dinner.
Through the French windows, the meticulously maintained garden could be seen outside, with small paths adorned with warm yellow ground lights, resembling a string of bright pearls; the very path they had walked earlier.
"Lanci Meow, buy some groceries, I remember we’re running low at home meow."
Cat Boss rested briefly, comfortably sprawled on the sofa, and waved a paw at Lanci.
It then got up from the sofa and strolled towards the kitchen to start the preparations.
"Alright."
Lanci glanced briefly in the direction of the kitchen Cat Boss headed to, then climbed the stairs.
Besides a relatively smaller living room on the first floor, the second floor layout was more geared towards living; he entered a study surrounded by bookshelves, in front of the desk sat a very comfortable leather chair, through the window he could soak up the night view of Saint Kray Monastery.
After sitting down, Lanci started using the magecrystal screen embedded in the wall to operate the school’s faculty ordering system, where he could find the Brilda Box Fresh franchise stores on campus.
Having been at Saint Kray Monastery for four days now, he was no longer as unfamiliar with the school as when he had first arrived, no longer requiring Nara’s secretary to order for him.
"..."
Unbeknownst to him, Talia had silently appeared behind Lanci, arms crossed, watching his skilled selection of ingredients.
Every time she prepared to say something, her lightly parted lips paused, and she watched again.
Lanci, this guy, was like the worm in her stomach, deeply understanding what she wanted to eat that evening.
This was actually quite abnormal.
If it were Hugh, having lived with her, Talia, for a long time, he naturally also knew her food preferences.
But Lanci’s understanding went beyond that, even pinpointing her preferences in different times and circumstances.
"You’ve had a hard day, Master, leaving you hungry all day."
Two minutes later, having completed the order, Lanci turned back and spoke to Talia.
