~chapter 3~

As irritated as I was at him for interrupting our conversation, I have to admit that he is quite handsome.

"Gwendal, this is the new maou, Yuri Shibuya."

"Your Majesty, this is my older brother, Lord Gwendal von Voltaire."

"Maou? This is?" he look at me disgusted.

What does he mean 'this'? That is just being rude.

"A lord? This is?" I looked him in the eye and retorted back as sarcastically as possible. Conrad looked at me amazed. Even Gwendal himself was kind of shock by my courage. Well, I guess not many people dared to stand up against him here. But having lived with Bob…

"So, this is the new maou?" Another voice came from the back. I looked up and see a pretty blond boy walking down the stairs.

Wow, he could definitely fight with Tamaki in terms of looks. They both have that shining prince aura…

"Ha, she is just a dumb woman." With that he strutted away.

I raised an eyebrow at Conrad expecting an answer, he look at me apologetically and said, "That's my younger brother, Lord Wolfram von Bielefeld."

Right… a prince… That explains the arrogant kiddy attitude.

Gwendal excused himself as Gunter arrived at the castle with the soldiers and fusses over me.

Guess not everyone here is that bad.

Conrad led me to a room to clean up and left. I changed into the dress laid out on the bed. It's a black lacy dress, with intricate floral designs embedded in gold tread.

Just as I had finished changing, Conrad appeared to bring me to the dinner hall. He stares at me, making me slightly embarrassed. I blushed when he won't look away.

"Pardon me. Your Majesty is just so beautiful." He praised me with no hint of shame, though I have to say he does seem like a Casanova who have been with countless girls before me.

I coughed to break the silence building in the room.

"we should get going or we will be late for dinner."

"Right, please follow me Your Majesty."

~At the dinner hall~

Gwendal, wolfram, and Gunter all already there. As I took my seat, the atmosphere stiffens. Conrad started introducing the others again to ease the atmosphere when a blond beautiful lady walked in.

"Oh my, it's been such a long time since we last met." The princes and retainers all turned to greet her.

"Mother" "Lady Celi"

"Mother? But she look so young."

Gunter heard me and explained, "Demons age slower than humans and live longer, so they often do not look their age."

But having 3 grown up sons, she must be quite old right.

Lady Celi proceeded to catch up with the three princes. I sat back and watch their interaction, when she suddenly ran over and gave me a hug, "Ahh, you must be Her Majesty. You're so cute~~"

Gunter rushed over and tried to get her away, "Please don't get so close to Her Majesty, ex-Her Majesty."

"Ex-her majesty?"

"Yes, Lady Celi is the 26th maou."

"Hello Queen Yuri, It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Cecilie von Spitzberg."

"It's nice to meet you too. But you look too young to be passing the throne."

The room turn quiet at my comment. There is definitely something going on here.

The lord brat break the silence, "I do not plan to accept her as the new maou! Besides we don't even know if she is the real maou or not"

"Then will you be the next maou, wolf?"

"No of course not. Gwendal is the best candidate as king."

"But that is not up to you to decide, Wolf. You know that, whoever defy the Great One will be punished severely."

This conversation is really getting on my nerves. They are the one who called me here, forcing me to leave my home, and now they are doubting me. Besides, what is this about getting punished by the Great One? No one even mentioned this to me.

I tried to calm my nerves and asked, "Punished?"

"Yes, that applies to you too, Your Majesty."

"You know, I did not agree to all of this. You can't just push this on me and expect me to do as told."

"HA! As expected, this women is not even serious about ruling as a king." Gwendal interrupted the conversation for the first time.

"Lord von Voltaire, what you just said is rude towards Her Majesty. She is just confused, that's all."

As Conrad tried to stand up for me, lord brat stood up and point to me accusingly, "Just what proof do you have of her being the maou, and I won't stand for Lord Weller's one-sided confirmation of her. She is just a low life raised among humans. I won't stand for this slut raised among those improper and disgusting humans."

I responded before I could think it through. I punch him in the face with all my might, and he flew across the table, slamming into a wall. I moved forward and draw Conrad's sword in the blink of an eye, pushing sword against the lord brat's throat.

"Enough! I will not stand for anymore insults. If I ever hear you speak another criticizing word to me or anyone, it will not be just a punch. Got it?"

Everyone looked shocked at what just happened, the lord brat barely able to keep his consciousness.

"Got it?" I asked again, glaring at him. He nodded at me.

~End~