Summoned To Have Tea With The Demon Lord, I Guess I'll Defeat Him

Chapter 22: Scented

  Lord Windwood accepts us into his entourage with no hesitation. He's so happy that we've "found" Lilah that he barely questions where she was. Any good cop could find the holes in her cover story, but it seems we're all just letting it slide.

  She acts different around him: demure, polite, quiet. When she calls him "Papa" and apologizes for being gone, I can't believe this is the same girl who instigated our kidnapping not two days earlier.

  Lord Windwood tries to wine and dine us, but we refuse the alcohol. For some reason, he doesn't serve any tea. Our conversations are as mundane as they come, yet a fascinating insight into this unusual world.

  "Please, let me show you to your rooms," the halfling maid interrupts our after-dinner conversation.

  "Rooms? More than one?" I ask.

  "Of course," Lilah says in her faux-polite tone. "What do you think we are, a cheap inn?"

  "Only the best for those who found my precious daughter," the lord agrees.

  "Papa, you're embarrassing me."

  "We'll be spending a little more time together, but please, take free reign of the second floor," he says. "I have a library up there, should you wish to do some reading before bed."

  So we take off down a long hallway, round a bend, and take a staircase up to the second floor. I can't believe Lilah leaves a place like this to spend time with the Thieves' Guild. Ornately-framed pictures line the walls and a consistent spread of windows overlook a garden. Moonlight and torchlight illuminate our path.

  "Miss, if you would," the maid asks of Izumi, gesturing to the first door.

  "Thank you!" She bounds into the room with delight.

  The next room is mine, and lastly, Mamoru—

  But my stomach begins to churn as I inspect my temporary quarters. I've felt like this before. Oh. Oh no. A distant shout from Izumi's room means she's realized the same thing. Almost simultaneously, we both rush out into the hallway.

  Contractually, Mamoru can't continue on any further. His jerky movements have slowed, and he angrily tries to take one last step forward before that invisible hand drags him back to our feet. We lock eyes and I can see fire in them.

  The maid doesn't seem very surprised, however. "Another curse, is it?"

  "Might as well be," he grumbles, getting to his feet.

  "Adventuring contract," Izumi explains.

  "I see." She really doesn't seem interested. "Then I assume the young man will be staying in one of your rooms?"

  "For better or worse," I agree.

  "To which of you is he betrothed?"

  "What? No, neither of us!" Izumi protests. "We're just members of the same party!"

  "For better or worse," Mamoru echoes.

  "Then I suppose he will stay with the party leader?"

  "I don't want him."

  "I don't want him, either."

  "I'm standing right here!"

  "Don't remind us," Izumi says.

  We're at a stalemate. The maid smiles, an out-of-place expression that I swear carries a hint of sarcasm. "Please call for me should the need arise. I'll trust you two to make the right decision."