The Demon King.

Chapter 48

He lead her to the table and sat her down on the rug. Then he sat at the opposite side of the round table, crossing his legs.
Nel finally snapped out of her trance and awed at how unconventional the place looked.

"How did you get all this done?" She asked as Xavier opened one of the pots, releasing steam.

"No it wasn't me. I asked Dom to get this all done." He said as he plated some of the spaghetti in the plate in front of her. And then put some for himself. She tilted her head.

"But you did put her up to it." She said and picked the fork on her right and took some in her mouth.
"She not bad. It's great." She nodded and smirked before taking another one.

"I actually took care of that. I wouldn't let Dom cook for you." He chuckled, avoiding her eyes. She stopped and looked at him with the fork still in her mouth. Then she slowly took it out.

"When did you do it?" She asked with a blank stare. It's not possible he did all that while she stood with her eyes shut.

"Before we left. But it wasn't really for this purpose." He said with a nervous smile. She nodded and took another fork. The taste of the food was almost addictive. And he did it alone.

It's just spaghetti, Nel.

"It's not my birthday, Xavi." She said with a small smile, remembering she was actually kidnapped by him that day.

"I... took you..."

"Kidnapped me." She corrected and blinked innocently. He looked at her apologetically and sighed.

"I... kidnapped you on your birthday. Jewels told me about it. And I thought I'd make it up to you. Didn't want to waste time doing that too." He said quietly. He hasn't touched his portion and Nel had gone one - third of her food. He looked at his plate and clenched his fist under the table. He now felt more horrible that he felt that night. Some dinner wasn't going to make it up to her.

"Xavier," She called for him to look up at her.
"I don't hate you. I never did. Maybe the little anger I harboured when I saw what you did to my friends and grandmother. But other than that I don't hate you Xavi." She said with a small smile that seemingly glowed in his eyes. She looked like an angel. His princess. Of course she wouldn't hate him. He just had to not repeat his stupid mistakes.

"I'm sorry. I was being impulsive and I just wanted..." He began frantically talking and she hushed him.

"Xavier. Was this for my birthday or to apologize? Don't apologize. I understand." She looked him in the eye firmly then nodded. He nodded back.

Let her just be at peace.

She finished her food and sat like a cat, staring at the cake. Xavier notice after some time and chuckled.

"Do you want some?" He took the table knife from the side, running his finger on the edge then stopped at the tip. She looked up at him and nodded with a smile before scooting closer to the cake.

He was about to cut it but he stopped.
"Candles. No candles on the cake." He sighed and stood up. Nel let her eyes follow him as he huffed and shook his head.

"They aren't needed Xavier." She said and laughed. "We don't really need candles. It's fine." She said again and relaxed her shoulders. Why was he being a child?

"No. I want you to make a wish." He looked at her and Nel had to blink to see well. Was he pouting? Xavier... She would never have thought of him pouting. But he did look like a child now.

He suddenly conjured up eight candles. He beamed and rushed to put them on the cake. Then he snapped and they all lit up in tiny blue flames, matching the aesthetics of the cake, bright blue.

He then bent and rest his chin on the table behind the cake. The lights cast a beautiful shade on his face and blue eyes, making them brighter.

"Make a wish." He whispered. Nel smiled at how cutely childish he looked and nodded. She closed her eyes for a while before blowing out all the light with one puff.

"Already? What did you wish for?" Xavier blinked in surprise.

"Nope. Not telling." She said and smiled while leaning back.

"Why?" He whined and sulked.

"It'll spoil the fun. And plus it might not come true." She said with a wider smile. Nel had so much on her mind. She didn't want to think but at that moment, she couldn't help it. Her existence, she's going to have to learn a lot to begin with. And the gnawing feeling that she's a chess piece so important in this huge mess of a game...

"You zoned out. Here." Xavier handed her a sizeable piece of cake. "What's up?" He broke her train of thoughts, making her look up at him.

"Oh nothing." She laughed nervously. "I was just wondering if we would watch anything. Can't be only eating, right?" She beamed while eating the cake with her hand instead of the fork on the plate.

"Oh that's true. We have many options." He grinned and stood up to set the projector. Then they pick out a comedy/thriller movie and sat on the floor before she slept off. And he decided he'd sleep there with her too.

(・o・) (・o・) (・o・)

Jerome opened the door of the house for the girl to enter and then shut it quietly. He then walked her up the stairs to the room opposite the one he kept his sister in.

"You will be staying here." He simply said and opened the door for her to enter.
The room was a sharp contrast to what the other parts of the house she's seen looked like. This room gave serenity with it's cotton candy pink sheets and white walls. Like a child's room

"It's... beautiful. Do you have a child your highness?" She asked curiously and moved to the bed to touch it. It was as soft as the sheets looked. It was already dipping and she hardly felt it under her fingers.

Jerome looked at her for a moment. She could be a spy for all he knew but.. of course he knew how to handle that.

"Two... Two daughters." He said as she awed at the vibrant color of the room. Impressive choice for a man.

"Two girls. The second is Queen Yolanda's demon grandchild. Where are they?" She boldly asked again.

She turned back to him and he was already leaning on the door frame with his legs crossed and hands folded.
She expected he gave her a small space to stay that would be almost shabby. This only gave her the impression that he honestly wants something from her. But he hadn't said anything yet so she gave him the benefit of doubt.

"One leads a normal human life. The other is in King Royale's custody." He said and she widened her eyes. King Royale? The one she heard about that...

"You don't have to worry. They're about the same age. And I trust he won't do anything to her. Talk less of harm her." He said calmly and she slowly calmed down.

"Nolita. Right?" He looked at her queerly and she nodded sitting on the bed.

"Yes, your highness."

"Jerome." He corrected and she widened her eyes. Really? If she had known she would get some respect from him if she left the realm, she would have done that a long time a go!

"Jerome." She repeated after him, noticing the salty taste she had in her mouth after saying his name. Without his title.

This is crazy.

"You won't be staying here for long. You do know you will do a lot for me regarding this coming battle." He said to her and she sulked. Of course he needed her for something. So much for benefit of doubt. But then she whipped her head back up. There will be another battle?
But she dare not ask. He definitely knew what he was doing.

"Of course... Jerome." She said with a tight lipped smile. He nodded and continued.

"You will be King Royale's messenger. And probably more than that. Just rest easy here and get used to the human realm. See you later." He gave her a small smile and shut the door right behind him when he left.

She sighed and got up to look around.

This should not be hard mother.