11 — Chapter 11

Three days had passed since the runaway incident with my stepdaughter, the Hero Angelica, was resolved.

I was currently traveling to the royal capital of the human-ruled Kingdom of Masgenia, accompanied by a large contingent of guards.

To be honest, the guards were mostly for show. I was stronger than any of them, so I was more than capable of protecting myself. However, showing up entirely alone wouldn’t have looked right, so it was more accurate to say I’d gathered them to maintain appearances.

Of course, the other side was just as wary.

A line of famous adventurers and mages serving the royal family had gathered. Frankly, if I slaughtered everyone present right now, the humans would have no choice but to surrender. Not that I had any intention of doing such a thing.

Standing before me, my secretary Torualina addressed the human side.

“Presenting His Majesty, the Demon King Garto Ryuzen.”

Unlike her usual self, she spoke with deep respect, fitting for today’s diplomatic affair.

“I am the Demon King Garto Ryuzen. I ask that your King step forward as well. Establishing a non-aggression pact requires mutual trust.”

In response to my words, an elderly King made his appearance. He didn’t look particularly frail, so it seemed he still had plenty of years left in him.

“Demon King, is this talk of a non-aggression pact you notified us of beforehand truly genuine?” the King asked.

“Indeed. There would be no point in devising such an elaborate deception. Everything is exactly as written in the documents.”

“In other words… because you remarried the Hero’s mother, you will no longer attack humans or the nation of your spouse’s race—is that it?”

Among the humans, some still looked skeptical, while others simply stood there in a daze.

“It is true. As proof, I have brought both my wife and my stepdaughter with me.”

Behind me, Lateia offered a cheerful wave.

Angelica, her face bright red, kept her head down. She had insisted until the very last minute that she wouldn’t come, but Lateia had somehow managed to soothe her into participating.

A human priest directed a question toward Lateia.

“Um, could you tell us the story of how you and the Demon King met…?”

“The other day, Garto brought my daughter Angelica home after she was defeated in battle. That was when he proposed to me. I was moved by his devoted feelings, so I decided to remarry~”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the venue. I noticed a few of my own guards whispering as well. Quiet down.

“You were aware that your suitor was the Demon King, correct?”

“Yes. But what matters is whether or not you can care for the other person. In that regard, I can truly trust Garto~”

“Did you take into account that the conflict with the demon race would come to an end?”

“Oh, he did mention something like that at first, but in the end, he told me it was love at first sight. I have no doubts about that. Garto is a very sincere person.”

I could hear the humans whispering things like “She’s bragging” and “Total lovey-dovey talk”.

Personally, I found it more an honor than an embarrassment, but Angelica remained hunched over.

“Your Majesty! We find absolutely no traces of magical manipulation on Lateia! It appears she is merely expressing her own true feelings!”

As if I would ever use magic to brainwash someone. At best, such spells only cause vague behavioral changes, like attacking anyone in sight. It is impossible with magic to brainwash someone so perfectly that they don’t even realize they are being controlled.

“Next, we would like to ask the Hero, Angelica. How did you feel about your mother’s sudden remarriage—especially to the Demon King?”

“I thought I was in a living hell.”

I really wished she’d watch her choice of words a bit more.

“They’ve only just remarried, so there are still many things I’m unsure about regarding the future. However, having spoken with him, the Demon King has a decent personality, and I know he would never do anything to make Mama sad. I suppose that much is alright.”

Thank goodness. At least a few words of support followed.

“So, does the Hero also trust the Demon King?”

“That’s a separate issue. Having the Demon King in the home of the Hero is nothing short of torture.”

I suppose I couldn’t expect everything to go my way.

“Even so, I can tell Mama is having fun. If Mama is happy and her life gains some extra spark, then I’ve decided to accept the remarriage.”

“Understood. Thank you very much. We have heard the opinions of the Hero and her mother!”

The human ministers were nodding; it seemed they were satisfied.

The King began to speak once more.

“Hero Angelica and your mother, Lateia—thanks to the courageous actions of you both, this conflict has reached its end. As King, I offer you my heartfelt gratitude.”

“If anyone was courageous, it was Garto for confessing his feelings.”

“I think Mama was courageous too for saying yes so easily… If anything, I’m the one who didn’t really do anything.”

“If you hadn’t gone all the way to Garto’s place as a Hero, Angelica, I never would have met him. Your actions had meaning too.”

In other words, the fact that she pushed herself to reach my throne only to be effortlessly defeated was what gave everything meaning. If I didn’t frame it that way, it could pass as a heartwarming tale.

“Very well. As the head of state, I shall sign this non-aggression pact.”

The opposing King wrote his name.

I followed suit and signed my own.

“From this moment forward, the Kingdom formally enters a state of non-aggression with the demon race! All guild requests involving the subjugation of demons are to be rescinded immediately!”

“All bosses stationed in various regions are to disarm and return to our lands! Anyone holding humans captive must release them at once!”

The King and I held up the parchment of the treaty together, displaying it to the reporters.

With that, a major task was complete.

It was a truly extraordinary day, marking the cessation of hostilities with the humans.

Since peace was at hand, I would strive to be an even better family man!

First and foremost, I had to get on good terms with my stepdaughter! I had to make sure she saw me as a proper father!

A family wasn’t just me and Lateia. Angelica was part of the family too. As long as the relationship between Angelica and me remained strained, we couldn’t call this a healthy household.

Granted, these days there are plenty of biological parents and children who are at odds with each other, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable for a remarried family to stay that way.

So, what should I do to be seen as a father?

Perhaps showing her my strong and dependable side would be best.

With those thoughts in mind, I headed to the changing area to take a bath that evening, only to find a basket with a note pinned to it.

‘The Demon King must put his dirty clothes in this basket! If you put them in the same basket as mine, I’ll take you down! —Angelica.’

Aaaaagh! The “don’t wash my clothes with Dad’s” problem has arrived!

Furthermore, there was another note attached to the back of the basket.

‘The Demon King must not bathe before I do! —Angelica.’

She must have moved this one to the back after finishing her bath, deciding I didn’t need to see it anymore.

This seemed less like a “stepdaughter” problem and more like a “teenage daughter” problem, so I decided to set it aside for now…