The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Sixty Eight

The appearance of a Pheonix rushing straight for the Bardell residence caused an uproar in the city, garnering the attention of many who knew that the missing Kent Bardell had tamed a Pheonix Ora and Azrael along with their siblings who they had been hosting in the home they'd built for Kent travelled as fast as they could to the Bardell residence where the Bardells were staring at the large bird that was patiently sitting there.

"You took your time." it huffed at the two men who had rushed as soon as they saw the flaming streak across the sky. "Levi Bardell." it looked to the man it had addressed. "Your son, my master, has sent word. He instructs you to attend court in a week. He will be visiting the royal family to establish diplomatic relations between the United Races Legion and humans."

"Did you just..."

"He also instructed me to inform you that he will not be going as your son, but as the adopted child of the Demon King, as Prince Kent Arnag Mazgannek, future ruler of the Demon Kingdom and head of the United Races Legion Empire."

"You're saying..."

"Yes. Four years ago while my master was wiping out the Goblin Horde of the demon forest, the Demon King came across him and immediately brought my master to the Demon Kingdom where they adopted him as the sole heir to the Demon Fiefdom." it ruffled its feathers almost as though it was showing pride, puffing out its chest. "As a responsible prince, my master took over the duties that were bestowed upon him immediately and established diplomatic relations with the Beast Kingdom first, then the rest of the races, successfully establishing the Empire."

"He will also be returning the children that the demon King stole from the school to form a harem for his beloved son and extends his apologies to the families affected. He assures that the children are unharmed and untouched as he has ordered his other beasts to watch over them until they are returned. They will also compensate the families accordingly for this disturbance. The Demon King was unaware of human customs and took the children simply to please his son, as the princes of the various nations have been unable to win my master's affections and he thought that my master'sobjection was simply because they are not human." it shook its feathers again and turned to Ora and Azrael. "My master sends you these as an apology for not coming back sooner."

They stared at the strange bracelets that had appeared on their arms. "What is this?" Ora asked. He was pleased to have gotten something, but seeing it immediately merged onto his skin and sink away, and the same happened to Azrael.

"Ah, those are a Demon invention. They are betrothal beads. They are given to spouses to confirm that they are married. Instead of having weddings, the head of the household gives these to their spouses. You should also now be able to feel the master's touch and hear his voice through them since you accepted his betrothal to you."

"Accepted? We haven't even said anything yet."

"It will only merge into your skin if you fully and wholeheartedly accept your spouse." Kent's voice rang through the beads, shocking them.

"Kent?" Sicily grabbed onto Ora's arm, shouting at the beads that now looked like a tattoo on his skin.

"Stop screaming, Mother. I am not deaf." 

"Where did you go?" She cried as she spoke to Ora's arm. Passersby could not hear the voice from the tattoo and stared at her strangely.

"Did that bird not explain it to you?" The sigh they heard was somewhat shocking. Before he disappeared, Kent never behaved normally. Thus, he never showed any signs of impatience.

"Is that your family, my Prince?" A deep voice spoke suddenly. "Why not activate the visual function of the beads as well?"

"Ah, right. I forgot about that."