The Little Demon King is Too Bothered by Her Brave Dads

‘The title Prince is a bit distant, after all,’ Lakius continued.

It had made me pause for a moment.

Laki.

I knew how much that nickname meant to Lakius.

That would also be the case for “Laki”…. The name by which the late empress, now deceased, used to call him.

It was described in the original story.

How starved for love Lakius was. How attached he was to his mother, the only person who ever loved him.

And so, after the empress’s death, he allowed only one person to use his precious nickname.

That person was…….

‘The original heroine.’

Remembering that, my heart sank.

‘I can’t help it in a public place, but at least when I’m alone with the lady.’

After a long pause, Lakius glanced over at me.

He gulped and turned to me.

‘……Could you please call me Laki from now on?’

I couldn’t believe how cute and adorable he was at that moment.

‘Then please call me Tati too!’

When I answered with my own nickname… I remember how his face lit up.

‘Well, I suppose that makes me a little less likely to get my head cut off by him, doesn’t it?’

I grinned inwardly until Lakius interrupted my reminiscing and brought me back to the present. 

“By the way, do you think it’s really alright that I come to this birthday party?” Lakius asked me anxiously.

“I don’t think my masters will be too happy about that…….”

“Mmm…….”

…..To be honest, I agree with the opinion that my three dads wouldn’t like it very much.

I mean, they’re oddly distrustful of Lakius.

But.

“It’s okay, I can handle my dads!” I said as I pumped my fists triumphantly. “It’s my birthday, and I want to spend it with the people I care about.”

“…….”

Lakius’s red eyes wavered briefly.

And then.

Cautiously, he asked me, “…… Am I someone important to you?”

“Of course!” I exclaimed and nodded.

What an absolutely obvious thing to say. You’re going to be my lifeline in the future!

Then Lakius rolled his eyes and smiled prettily.

It was the same smile he’d had when he’d suggested we call each other by our nicknames.

‘……Hmm, it stings a little when he likes it that much.’

Feeling a twinge of guilt, I looked away.

Then Lakius turned to me with a cheerful voice.

“By the way, can I give you a present later at the birthday party?”

“You have a present for me?”

“Yes, of course. It’s your birthday, isn’t it?”

Oh, gosh.

I lamented inwardly.

Such a sweet, innocent child, and I was already calculating ways to save my own life.

I’m starting to feel a bit repulsed by my shady character…….

But then.

“Tati, are you hurt?”

Lakius suddenly bent his head towards me.

‘Heuk.’

I gulped.

No, why does he suddenly have to stick his face in my face? People get flustered – No! surprised!

At the same time, Lakius reached out and touched my forehead.

Unlike my hand, which was still the size of a ten-year-old’s, his hand was firmly in the middle of puberty.

“You don’t have a fever…….”

“Of course, I don’t have a fever – I don’t even have a cold.”

I said sharply, causing Lakius to speak soothingly.

“Your expression suddenly darkened, and I was afraid you were unwell.” 

He then asked in a gloomy voice, his eyebrows drawn down, “…..Did you feel bad because I suddenly touched your forehead?”

Ugh.

Clearly, this guy is well aware that he has an incredibly pretty face. There’s no way he could use that beauty so effectively otherwise!

“I don’t feel bad about it,” he mumbled. 

And I, who am only a girl, can’t resist the beauty of Lakius……. Embarrassed, I tugged on his wrist.

“Forget it, let’s go find my dads.”

Lakius stared down at his wrist in my grasp, then nodded, looking strangely pleased.

“Okay.”

……Seriously, you never know what’s going through his mind.

I gave him a sideways glance.

Just a moment ago, I was the one throwing a tantrum. I couldn’t figure out why he was so content, and I couldn’t understand why.

And then.

I stiffened.

The world is a big place, and tastes vary.

They say there are some people, albeit in the minority, who have a secret taste for being bossed around…….

You don’t think that’s true, do you?

‘No. What do you think I’m going to do with that innocent boy?’

I fumed inwardly, stamping my foot.

* * *

Walking down the corridor with Lakius in tow, strolling occasionally, I bumped into Nora.

“Nora!” I exclaimed, jumping up and running into her arms.

She reflexively hugged me back.

“Oh, my gosh, I don’t want you to fall when you’re running so fast.”

“Why should I worry about that? Nora will pick me up anyway.”

I smiled broadly, and Nora’s expression instantly softened.

“My Little Miss, you’re so cute, what can I do?”

“Hehe.”

I buried my head in Nora’s arms.

Even though everyone outside was forced to call me Princess, I was still “Little Miss” when I was at home.

It was the same title I had been called as a child.

I like this one much better. It feels more intimate.

Pulling me into her arms, Nora curtsied to Lakius.

“His Highness, the First Prince.”

“Hello, Nora.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve been raised by three dads for so long. The servants, who were initially nervous about the First Prince’s status, seem to be quite comfortable with him now.

Especially Nora, who is my nanny and sees his face often as he comes and goes. They had become so familiar that they now greet each other.

“How does your new wooden sword fit in your hand?”

“Very well, thank you.”

Lakius gave a small nod.

Then Nora raised an eyebrow at him.

“That wooden sword, it was chosen by the Lord himself, and he examined it carefully, from the center of gravity to the length.”

“Really?”

Lakius looked surprised.

But I wasn’t surprised at all.

After all, the three dads were serious about teaching Lakius. In fact, it was inevitable.

The three dads were desperate for an heir, and here was Lakius, a child so talented that he could be the hero of a whole world.

How could it not be genuine?

Except.

‘Well, I’m not really teaching him because I like the First Prince.’

‘I only took him on as a pupil because I don’t have anybody else.’

‘Don’t be misled, I only accepted him because of his circumstances.’

…..The problem is that they’re being unnecessarily grumpy in front of Lakius.

‘Seriously, Dads aren’t honest with themselves, right?’

I sighed heavily, suddenly feeling a sense of crisis creeping up on me.

Anyway, when will I be able to awaken as a demon? When will I be able to control my demon energy, let alone awaken it?

I had done everything I could.

I read every book in the townhouse library.

Eventually, with permission, I even searched the Imperial Library.

I even got to know the manager of the Imperial Library so well that we greet each other and sometimes have tea together!

But nothing came of it…….

‘Well, it’s not like I’m hiding my power from myself.’

At least the number of demonic seizures has decreased considerably lately.

In the beginning, I vomited blood every single day, but these days, it’s about getting sick two or three times a year?

‘Well, I’ve improved a lot at this level!’

Trying to stay positive, I dropped both my shoulders once again.

‘…… However, the movements of the demonic world are suspicious.’

The Bartoloa Clan. 

Although it is true that they are incredibly unlucky, it must be admitted that they are quite capable. They didn’t become the eternal number two in the Demon Realm for nothing.

By now, they should have stabilized the entirety of the Demon Realm that the warriors had turned upside down.

And yet, the Demon Realm remained silent.

The dads were probably relieved to know that all five demon lords had been destroyed…….

But I knew of the existence of the Bartoloa Clan.

Maybe that’s why I sometimes felt my heart grow cold, as if I’d swallowed a large block of ice.

“Tati.”

Just then, someone called out to me, his voice full of concern.

It was Lakius.

‘Heuk.’

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked back at Lakius.