The Legend of the Flower Demon Lord

BOOK 3: Chapter Two - A Hero's Journey Begin

Volume Three

Chapter 2 – A Hero's Journey Begins

A glint in her eye giving away a flurry of emotions, Ellie's pale white hand twitched slightly as it inched forward. Her gaze fixed upon the gap in armor that revealed the hero's bare neck, a shivering breath releasing from her fluttering pink lips...

"Ah, what a graceful hand, princess." The hero's eyes shined, "Please give me the honor of placing a kiss upon such delicate skin..."

The "princess" froze as her hand was taken in his, a slight kiss brushing against her skin.

Fighting against her instincts, Ellie released a sigh, then proceeded to examine the man before her once more. Sure, she could blast him away, giving away her identity and wiping that idiotic expression off his face. Those sparkling eyes would widen in shock, growing dark and dull. His smile would fall, his face setting in determination and horror as he prepared to face her.

Or...she could wait and see just how slow, just how idiotic he could be. How long would it take the hero to realize the Demon Lord he set off to defeat was the very "princess" whose hand he was reverently holding in his after having placed a tender kiss?

That...that, she would very much like to see, indeed.

"Ah, princess...you finally smiled."

The hero felt his heart melting as the princess smiled for the very first time, not being able to hold back a dopey smile of his own.

For some reason, he did not see the darkness behind that smile.

It might take quite a while indeed...Would the princess, no, Ellie, be patient enough?

*

"Here, take a seat."

After failing to convince Ellie to leave with him, the hero momentarily gave in. He had confidence he could protect her even if the Demon Lord appeared. So, pulling out a chair in the fine dining room with all the grace of a gentleman, he calmly invited her to take a seat.

Ellie gingerly sat as she carefully eyed the man. With a silly grin, he placed two sparkling glasses of pure crystal on the table, as well as a large bottle of some liquid.

"...What's this?"

"Wine! Well...Hehe, not just any wine. Apparently, this is a very precious wine that has been aged for one hundred years. Made with the special fruit that can only be found in a certain remote village, it was that village's very own treasure."

"Why would you have it then?" Ellie's face was incredulous as she glanced sideways at him.

"Well..." The hero, Tristan, scratched his head with an embarrassed expression, "I happened to pass by the village on my way here, and when they found out I was the hero, they sort of pushed it onto me...I was unable to refuse no matter how much I tried, so I figured we might as well enjoy it together." At the end, a bright smile adorned his features.

"...You want me to drink this?"

"Yes!"

"I only drink water."

"Eeeh? How can that be? You're a princess! Don't you need to be able to drink a glass of wine or two at social occasions? How have you survived until now? That won't do! Let this hero teach you how to drink. I'm sure your parents will be surprised when I return you."

Unable to believe such a thing, Tristan was practically pouting as he spoke, although he finished with the same bright hero smile as usual. If he hadn't thought Ellie a princess, he would probably be tugging on her sleeve as he tried to convince her with those puppy-dog eyes sparkling.