The Possessed Evil Woman Wreaks Havoc - Chapter 61

Behind the stage, people bustled about frantically.

I plopped down on the floor and stared blankly ahead.

If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be wearing a dwarf costume and performing in a human play, I would have immediately assumed they were insane.

After all, in the demon realm, I had always been a figure of demonic power and the object of every demon’s reverence.

“Master… please, stop causing trouble in other territories. Do you know how many demons avoid you, not out of fear but because they don’t want to get entangled with you?”

“Master, have you ever considered that violence isn’t the solution to every problem? No? Then maybe start considering it now!”

Hmm. My butler’s voice echoed in my head like a phantom.

The butler had managed my castle and its affairs in the demon realm for about five hundred years. He also oversaw the territory’s management, so I couldn’t fire him lightly.

That’s why he could survive even after saying such things to me.

The butler had a tendency to exaggerate, so I ignored about half of what he said.

Still, my current predicament was a blow to my pride as a demon.

Why did my dignity as a demon always seem to erode whenever I came to the middle realm?

Perhaps I simply wasn’t compatible with this world.

Thud.

At that moment, someone plopped down next to me. Turning my head, I saw the child who had asked me a question earlier.

The child began chattering away.

“My name’s Becky. I’m eight years old.”

“I am Bella. I… am twenty years old.”

In reality, I was over six hundred years old, but revealing that truth might scare this fluffy creature to death. So, I gave Isabella’s age instead of my own.

“Then you’re my older sister?”

Becky counted on her fingers for a moment before looking at me with a shocked expression.

“You’re an adult, aren’t you? Why are you playing a dwarf? That’s usually a role for kids!”

It would take too long to explain. Normally, I’d ignore such questions out of laziness, but…

For some reason, the child’s innocent, sparkling eyes made me hesitate. I didn’t want to see this fluffy creature’s spirit dampened.

“I have my reasons. It wasn’t my choice.”

I gave a vague answer.

“Not your choice? But you’re an adult. Don’t adults only do what they want to do?”

“Even adults sometimes have to do things they don’t want to. Even if you were the emperor, that wouldn’t change.”

“Ugh. That’s awful!”

Becky pouted, clearly displeased with my response.

The child’s round head looked unusually soft and fluffy, and before I knew it, my hand moved to pat it.

The warmth radiating from her parting was soothing.

However, I could feel hostile stares directed at me from nearby.

It was the other children playing the dwarfs in the play.

Being glared at was nothing new to me, but this was the first time I’d been on the receiving end of collective hostility from fluffy creatures.

I turned my head and made eye contact with one of them.

The moment our eyes met, the fluffy child glared at me with slanted eyes.

Of course, it wasn’t intimidating in the slightest.

“Hey, fluffy. Do you know why the others are acting like that?” I asked Becky next to me.

Then Becky whispered in my ear, “They think you’re a cheater.”

“A cheater?”

What was she talking about? Did I look like someone prone to sharp, underhanded dealings?

“A cheater! Someone who got the role unfairly!”

Ah, thankfully, it wasn’t what I initially thought.

I corrected her, “You mean they think I pulled strings to get the role.”

Becky nodded and continued, “Yeah, because you suddenly appeared and… um… it’s usually really hard to get a dwarf role…”

Becky stammered through her explanation, and after hearing her out, I summarized, “So, because the dwarf roles are so competitive, and I appeared out of nowhere, they suspect I used underhanded means to land the part?”

The play was incredibly popular, and every role in it was highly coveted.

When I accurately interpreted Becky’s explanation, she nodded vigorously and said, “Exactly! I’ve spent half my life practicing for this role!”

“Didn’t you say you were eight years old?”

So she’d been practicing for four years?

I couldn’t help but chuckle. What a funny little fluffball.

Still, I figured I should clear up the misunderstanding.

“I didn’t pull any strings to get this role.”

As if I’d stoop so low for something like this. Honestly, I wanted to storm over to Belial and rip out his hair for putting me in this situation.

“Then everyone’s just being silly.”

Becky glanced at the other fluffy children, who were still shooting daggers at me, and muttered under her breath again, “They’re all so dumb.”

I gave Becky a sidelong glance. The pure, untainted soul I saw behind those sparkling eyes was oddly irritating.

With a soul that innocent, life in this harsh world would be tough.

After a moment of contemplation, I decided to speak.

“Listen, fluffy. Let me give you some advice. Those fluffballs over there aren’t just dumb… let’s call them short-sighted. Do you know why they’re short-sighted?”

“Uh… because they suspected you without evidence?”

“No. They suspected I used underhanded methods and displayed hostility toward me.”

“……?”

Becky looked at me with a puzzled expression. For her benefit, I elaborated on my explanation.

“If someone is capable of such underhanded dealings, it means they have power, wealth, or connections—or at least one of the three. When you meet such a person, what should you do?”

“What should I do?”

“Instead of displaying hostility, it would be more advantageous for you to befriend them. That way, you could benefit from their underhanded dealings in the future.”

“Ah-ha!”

Becky nodded as though she had grasped my point. Seeing her appear wiser, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Was this what parenting felt like?

“If you take my advice to heart, you’ll grow up to be someone like me.”

An adult demon, to be precise. Even if Becky grew into a fluffball, I wouldn’t dislike her.

Becky seemed to be deep in thought as she gazed at me. Then, suddenly, she scooted closer and clung to my side.

Perplexed by the warmth radiating from the child pressed against my ribs, I asked, “What’s this about?”

“I just felt like getting close to you, Sister.”

“Even though I didn’t cheat?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

What an astute fluffball. I decided not to push Becky away as she clung to me.

***

After a long wait, the play finally began.

The scene where the dwarfs appeared was in the second act, so I waited backstage.

Belial had taken on the lead role of the princess in “The Princess and the Nine Dwarfs.”

From backstage, I watched Belial perform.

Belial was passionately acting out the scene where the princess was driven out by the new queen.

“Ah! Mother, I never imagined you could be so cruel to me!”

Belial’s clear—why was it so clear? The voice perfectly suited “Lia Green’s” appearance. However, knowing Belial’s true form, I wanted to cover my ears.

Belial’s performance was actually good. Even to someone like me, unfamiliar with acting, his skills were impressive.

‘What an odd lunatic.’

I clicked my tongue as I watched. Why would a demon lord take such pleasure in human entertainment?

“Wow…”

Hearing an awestruck murmur, I turned to see Becky watching Belial with her mouth agape.

“Fluffball, are you impressed by that?”

At my comment, Becky shot me a glare. Her ferocity was almost amusing, and I grimaced.

“Even if I want to impress you, Sister, there are some things you just shouldn’t say. How can you speak that way about such a talented actress?”

“Hmm…”

I’d only said what was true, but arguing with a fluffball seemed pointless, so I kept my mouth shut.

Seeing my silence, Becky’s expression softened, and she began speaking again.

“Sister, do you even know how amazing the actress is?”

“Not really.”

At that, Becky launched into an enthusiastic tribute to Belial, her little head working overtime.

“They say Lia Green is a once-in-a-millennium talent!”

Hmm. More like experience than talent. After living twenty thousand years, it’d be odd not to have at least one talent.

“And do you know how many men are enamored with her? Even nobles!”

Becky’s eyes sparkled with admiration for Belial. I felt conflicted.

Belial had committed countless sins over the years, but this was by far the worst. Manipulating an innocent child’s heart like this…

Becky’s praise didn’t stop there.

“And it’s not just princess roles! Lia Green can even play elderly characters flawlessly.”

That’s probably because Belial is over twenty thousand years old. He could probably play a skeleton convincingly, too.

I thought to myself.

“When I grow up, I want to be like Lia Green!”

“Hmm. Don’t aspire to that.”

Hearing Becky’s declaration, I responded reflexively out of genuine concern for her future.

The thought of Becky emulating Belial was too cruel, even for humanity, which I generally disliked.

“You think it’s impossible, Sister?”

However, Becky seemed to misinterpret my words. Deflated, she drooped like a wet sponge.

“I might only be a dwarf with no lines now, but one day I’ll be a big star!”

Despite her words, Becky’s voice lacked any confidence. To restore her fluffiness, I spoke up.

“What nonsense are you spouting, fluffball? That’s not what I meant—”

Just then, applause erupted from the audience, cutting me off.

The first act had ended, and the crowd was clapping for the actors.

I glanced toward the audience and froze, blinking slowly.

Why is Gabby sitting in the audience?