The Possessed Evil Woman Wreaks Havoc - Chapter 71

Munch.

As I finished my fifth tart, Nigel looked at me with a gaze full of disbelief.

“How old are you to be eating so many sweets?

I swallowed the tart in my mouth and replied, “You must have dulled taste buds from old age, but I’m not there yet.”

I resisted the urge to stick out my tongue at Nigel.

I was six hundred years old. I couldn’t afford to act childishly.

“Besides, I don’t know when I’ll get to eat again, so I’m just stocking up now.”

Once this matter was settled, who knew when I would return to the middle realm again?

There had been enjoyable moments while I was in Isabella’s body, but… not enough to change my overall opinion of the middle realm.

I probably wouldn’t return here of my own will.

Understanding my words, Nigel wore a complicated expression.

Hmm. Was he making that face because he would miss me?

I wasn’t particularly fond of visitors, but I could make an exception for Nigel.

Putting on a benevolent expression, I said, “If you really want to see me, come to the Demon Realm.”

“Hey! It’s not that serious, okay? Friends can go a long time without seeing each other!” Nigel snapped back.

“Fine, if you say so.”

He was embarrassed. I shrugged.

I adjusted my position on the sofa, making myself comfortable, then picked up a book from the table.

It was one of the pulp novels I had taken from the bookstore last time.

Nigel sat across from me, glanced at the book in my hands, and asked, “Is that interesting? How can a demon enjoy something like that?”

“It’s interesting. Especially the way the demons in these books act—it’s fascinating.”

“Fascinating?”

Nigel repeated, and I nodded.

One common theme among novels featuring demons was their general lack of understanding of real demons.

Especially this book.

“The demon that appears as one of the male leads acts nothing like a demon.”

Two men competing for a single woman. They called this a love triangle, didn’t they?

In the Demon Realm, love triangles were nearly impossible to form.

“In situations like this, demons usually don’t try harder to win over their rival. Instead, they just eliminate the competition.”

“…That’s too barbaric.”

“Respect cultural differences. Besides, it’s efficient.”

If someone was unable to make a choice, removing the options was also a solution.

Nigel looked at me in disbelief.

“Didn’t you say your subordinates wrote these books? Bring me one with more realism next time.”

“…If they write it your way, it won’t be a romance novel—it’ll be a thriller. No one would read it.”

At that moment, a loud cry echoed through the room as the door burst open.

Kkamang!

“Blackie, please don’t run!”

Jessie followed close behind, holding a towel.

I had asked Jessie to give Blackie a bath, but it seemed he had bolted before getting properly dried.

Blackie leaped straight into my arms.

He was adorable, but water dripped from his soaked fur, dampening the book I was holding.

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue and channeled a small amount of magic. In an instant, Blackie’s fur dried completely.

“Huh? Miss, what did you just do?”

“Holy power.”

“You used holy power to dry Blackie’s fur? Holy power is… surprisingly useful.”

Jessie immediately believed my casual excuse.

Grrr.

Blackie settled on my lap and bared his teeth at Nigel.

Nigel scoffed at the sight. “Where did you even pick up that thing?”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Oh, come on. It’s obvious just by looking at it. Why is that—beast acting affectionate toward you? You do realize that’s no ordinary animal, right?”

Aware of Jessie’s presence in the room, Nigel refrained from calling Blackie a demonic beast and used a different term instead.

“It’s not being affectionate—Blackie is naturally very loving.”

“Can you do something about your selective perception? It’s only affectionate toward you.”

At Nigel’s remark, I pouted slightly.

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

As a ruler in the Demon Realm, I rarely had to be mindful of others.

Naturally, I only became aware of my surroundings in truly urgent situations—or when absolutely necessary.

In all other cases, if ignorance worked to my advantage, I feigned obliviousness.

And sometimes, I genuinely failed to notice things.

Grrr.

Blackie growled at Nigel again.

Nigel sighed and spoke, “There’s no need to be wary of me. I’m not interested in taking your place. Honestly, I’d have to be insane…”

“Wait. Are you two actually having a conversation?”

“Do you think that’s possible? I’m just reading the situation.”

Jessie, who had been tidying the room, widened her eyes at our conversation.

Wondering why she reacted that way, I glanced at Jessie. She slowly approached and whispered in my ear.

“Miss, that new servant seems rather arrogant.”

“Arrogant?”

“Yes. At this level…”

Jessie made a slicing motion across her neck.

“Kill him?”

“No! What kind of era do you think we’re living in? Nobles can’t just kill commoners at will these days. I meant that an arrogant servant like him should be dismissed from the mansion.”

Ah.

Now I understood Jessie’s reaction.

Well, from her perspective, it might look that way.

I explained to Jessie.

“Fluffy is my friend.”

“…It’s Nigel, not Fluffy. I know you’re messing up my name on purpose!”

Seeing Nigel get worked up over something as trivial as his name, I clicked my tongue.

“As you can see, he’s quite sensitive. Jessie, teach him properly.”

Jessie, however, seemed distracted. She muttered something to herself, then suddenly lifted her head and stared at me.

“So… miss, you’re saying that…”

Her eyes sparkled unusually.

I sensed something strange in her gaze.

“Miss, are you secretly bringing your childhood friend into the mansion by disguising him as a servant?”

“Why does that version of events sound so exaggerated?”

“Kyaaah! Isn’t this way too romantic?”

“…Stop with the delusions.”

Jessie was now adding details I hadn’t even mentioned and running wild with her imagination.

Considering how absorbed she was in romance novels, I could easily guess what she was thinking.

Imagining Nigel and me in that kind of relationship—

Ugh.

I felt sick just thinking about it.

Nigel’s expression wasn’t any better.

I quickly corrected Jessie. “That’s not it. Nigel and I have nothing like that between us. We’re just old friends.”

“Huh? But he’s so handsome. You’re saying you’re just friends?”

Jessie’s reaction made me pause for a moment.

Why was she calling Nigel handsome?

Nigel—Fluffy—had a face that was barely passable at best, didn’t he?

When I voiced my thoughts, Jessie looked absolutely shocked.

“No! Miss, your friend Fluffy is incredibly handsome!”

“Even if I want to respect your taste, facts are facts.”

“Are you two forgetting that I’m standing right here?”

Ignoring Nigel’s comment, I continued, “No matter how much I say I look at the inside rather than the outside, Nigel is just… never mind.”

Seeing my strong denial, Jessie finally started to waver in her belief.

“Nigel is my old friend. He didn’t have a proper job and was wandering around, so I took him in.”

Perfect explanation.

“Ah. So he was ho— Oh, oops. I mean, he’s just the right level to be a servant for you, miss.”

Jessie finally dropped all suspicion.

She resumed cleaning the room while Nigel, sitting across from me, stared at me with an incredulous expression.

“Wandering around? No proper job?”

“Am I wrong? You didn’t have a normal job.”

The leader of a demon-worshipping cult couldn’t exactly be considered an ordinary profession.

Nigel seemed to acknowledge my words, albeit begrudgingly.

“Fine. I guess that’s one way to put it.”

He then gave me a long look before speaking again.

“Bella, let’s be honest. You do care about appearances.”

“What nonsense.”

“I can tell just by looking at him.”

I instantly knew who Nigel was referring to.

With a stiff expression, I glared at Nigel. But he didn’t stop.

“You just have absurdly high standards. Everyone below that threshold looks the same to you.”

“Jessie, bring me another plate of tarts.”

After sending Jessie out of the room, I spoke again, “You’re usually perceptive. So why are you bringing him up in front of me?”

Nigel knew full well that I didn’t want to mention Zachary’s name. Instead of answering, Nigel shrugged and changed the subject.

“Out of everyone I’ve ever met—humans, angels, demons—you’re the most unpredictable and selfish.”

“Out of everyone I’ve ever met—humans, angels, demons—you’re the most unpredictable and selfish.”

“I could shave off all your fur, you know.”

“And yet, you still have a surprising tendency to take care of others. If not, we wouldn’t even be ‘just friends’ right now. My life would be much more peaceful without you.”

“…What’s your point?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to fix the mess that is your love life.”

I stared at Nigel in disbelief.

Did he just say “love life”?

How many times must I repeat this?

Zachary and I were not in that kind of relationship.

Holding hands a few times and kissing a little didn’t make it love.