A/N: Don't forget to check out my original novel: Can I Magic Please. It's like really good. 😉
ANYWHOOO. ENJOY THE CHAPTER
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Night had settled quietly over Coleus.
The castle halls had finally grown calm after an exhausting day of meetings, politics, reports, and enough stress to make even Demon Lords reconsider leadership positions.
Moonlight spilled softly across the royal chambers.
And for perhaps the first time in a long while—
Loki was actually asleep.
Deep asleep.
The reason for this miracle was simple.
Inside the endless mental landscape of his soul—
His Manas stood with folded arms.
[You are truly pathetic, Master.]
Loki's voice echoed back lazily.
"Listen. I spent all day dealing with economics."
[A terrifying battle indeed.]
"It was."
The Manas sighed dramatically.
[Very well.]
Golden symbols rotated throughout the mental world.
[Temporarily lowering active sensory processes.]
[Reducing external awareness.]
[Shutting down excess perception.]
Loki immediately pointed at it.
"Yeah yeah. Just knock me out already."
[…One day you will appreciate my brilliance.]
[One day.]
Darkness followed shortly after.
And thus—
The impossible occurred.
Loki Arashi slept.
Peacefully even.
His breathing remained calm as moonlight illuminated the room softly.
Then—
The door quietly opened.
Velzard stepped inside.
The White Ice Dragon closed the door behind her gently before silently approaching the bed.
Her icy blue eyes rested on Loki's sleeping figure.
For a moment—
She simply watched him.
There was something strangely peaceful about seeing him like this.
No overwhelming aura.
No smug grin.
No absurd confidence.
Just… Loki.
Sleeping quietly.
Velzard sat beside him slowly.
One hand brushed lightly through his hair.
Her gaze softened almost imperceptibly.
"You really are strange," she whispered softly.
A being who challenged Guy Crimson without hesitation.
Who casually recruited Primordials.
Who laughed in the face of monsters.
And yet—
Could still smile so genuinely.
Could still protect others so naturally.
Could still somehow make even ancient beings feel drawn toward him.
Velzard slowly leaned down over him.
Then gently—
She pressed against his chest and whispered near his ear.
"Wake up."
Loki stirred faintly.
"…Five more minutes…"
"No."
"…Cruel…"
His eyes slowly opened.
Then immediately widened.
"…Velzard?"
The position registered instantly.
Velzard calmly sat atop him while staring directly down at him.
Loki's brain short-circuited briefly.
"…Uh."
A faint smile appeared on Velzard's face.
"You finally woke up."
Loki blinked several times.
"…What is happening?"
Velzard tilted her head slightly.
"I came to see you."
"At midnight?"
"Yes."
"That is concerning."
Velzard ignored the comment completely.
Instead—
Her fingers lightly traced against his chest.
"It has been enjoyable watching you."
Loki looked genuinely confused now.
"Huh?"
"You grow constantly."
Her voice remained calm.
"But what fascinates me most…"
"…is how naturally you move forward."
Her eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
"When you challenged Guy…"
"…something stirred within me."
Loki swallowed slightly.
This conversation felt dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Velzard leaned slightly closer.
"I want you."
Loki's brain fully stopped functioning.
"…Excuse me?"
Velzard spoke with terrifying calmness.
"I wish to be with you."
No hesitation.
Just absolute honesty.
Which somehow made it far more destructive.
Loki stared at her blankly.
On one hand—
Panic.
On the other—
Velzard.
His soul was currently losing a very difficult battle.
"…This is a lot to process."
"I gave you several seconds."
"That is not enough time!"
Velzard looked mildly puzzled.
"It seemed sufficient."
Before Loki could even begin recovering—
The chamber door opened again.
Both of them froze.
Then—
Testarossa walked in.
She took one look at the scene.
Then sighed.
"I knew it."
Velzard narrowed her eyes slightly.
Testarossa smiled beautifully.
"I had a feeling Lady Velzard would attempt something like this."
Loki looked between the two women in immediate alarm.
"…Attempt?"
Testarossa calmly approached the bed.
"And naturally…"
"…I refuse to be left behind."
Loki felt danger approaching at catastrophic speed.
"Wait wait wait."
Testarossa ignored him completely.
Her eyes remained fixed on Loki with unmistakable affection.
"Lord Loki."
Her voice softened slightly.
"You are extraordinary."
Loki immediately pointed at her.
"See this?"
"This is exactly the kind of pressure that causes emotional damage."
Testarossa smiled gently.
"And yet you continue enduring it magnificently."
"That is not helping."
Velzard looked mildly annoyed now.
"You are interrupting."
Testarossa smiled without warmth.
"Not at all."
The air temperature dropped sharply.
Loki instantly intervened.
"Absolutely not."
The pressure vanished immediately.
Both women looked toward him.
Then—
Unexpectedly—
Testarossa slowly sat beside him as well.
"I simply wish to remain by your side tonight."
Velzard nodded calmly.
"As do I."
Loki stared at the ceiling.
This had escalated beyond his ability to manage.
'…Loki.'
Inside his soul—
The Manas immediately answered.
[Yes, Master?]
"Help."
[No.]
'Traitor.'
[I warned you repeatedly about your life choices.]
Loki mentally cursed it.
Meanwhile—
Velzard rested quietly against one side of him.
Testarossa against the other.
The room itself had become strangely peaceful now.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Dangerously comfortable.
Loki looked between the two impossibly beautiful women beside him.
Then sighed quietly.
"…You two are unfair."
Testarossa smiled softly.
"And yet you still accepted us."
"…Yeah."
And on that night. Loki fought his most intense battle to date.
---
Morning sunlight poured gently through the massive windows of the royal castle.
The atmosphere throughout the halls felt… strange today.
Servants blinked in confusion.
Demons exchanged uncertain looks.
Even the air itself somehow felt lighter.
And the source of this abnormality was currently seated at the breakfast table.
Velzard and Testarossa.
Both women looked absurdly pleased with themselves.
Shizue noticed it immediately.
Ultima noticed it immediately.
Carrera noticed it immediately.
The three exchanged subtle looks across the table.
Something happened.
Something definitely happened.
Velzard calmly sipped tea beside Loki with the faintest hint of satisfaction in her eyes.
Testarossa meanwhile sat close enough to Loki that their shoulders touched constantly.
Far too close.
Far closer than usual.
Loki himself looked oddly resigned to his fate.
Which only made everything more suspicious.
Carrera narrowed her eyes.
"…What happened?"
Testarossa smiled peacefully.
"Nothing."
Ultima pointed immediately.
"That answer alone confirms something happened."
Velzard calmly buttered a piece of toast.
"Your imagination is rather active this morning."
Shizue looked between the two women carefully.
"…You both seem really happy today."
"We are," Velzard answered instantly.
Testarossa nodded elegantly.
"Very."
Loki slowly lowered his face into his hands.
This was becoming painful.
Ultima stared harder now.
"…Lord Loki."
"Yes?"
"…What happened?"
Loki immediately answered.
"Moss is handling paperwork today."
"That has nothing to do with the question."
"I know."
Testarossa smiled beautifully while placing another plate before Loki.
"Lord Loki should eat more."
Velzard nodded in agreement.
"He requires proper rest and nutrition."
Loki almost choked on his drink hearing that.
Carrera's eyes widened.
Ultima slowly turned toward Shizue.
"…Something definitely happened."
Shizue's face turned slightly red.
"I-I think we should respect their privacy…"
"That means something happened," Ultima declared confidently.
Testarossa simply continued smiling.
Velzard remained perfectly calm.
Neither explained anything further.
Which somehow made it worse.
Breakfast itself continued peacefully enough afterward.
Though Loki quickly realized both Velzard and Testarossa had become significantly clingier than before.
Velzard rested quietly against his shoulder whenever possible.
Testarossa constantly adjusted his collar, hair, sleeves, or literally anything she could use as an excuse to touch him.
Loki was suffering.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Slightly physically.
At one point—
Carrera leaned toward Ultima and whispered:
"…Did they win a war or something?"
Ultima whispered back:
"No."
"They look too happy."
Meanwhile—
Loki stared blankly into the distance while chewing toast.
His life had become deeply complicated.
After breakfast concluded—
Loki escaped.
Or at least he tried to.
Unfortunately—
Moss appeared beside him almost immediately while they walked through the castle halls.
The Primordial's subordinate walked with his usual composed expression.
Though today—
There was visible curiosity in his eyes.
"Lord Loki."
"Hm?"
"…May I ask something?"
Loki already sounded tired.
"You're going to ask anyway."
Moss adjusted slightly.
"Lady Testarossa appears unusually happy today."
"She does."
"…Did something happen?"
Loki looked at him silently for a moment.
Then—
He placed one hand on Moss's shoulder.
"Moss."
"Yes, Lord Loki?"
"You're still too young to understand."
Moss froze.
"…Too young?"
"Yes."
"I see."
Internally—
Moss was deeply offended.
Quite literally older than entire civilizations.
Too young?
The disrespect was unbelievable.
But outwardly—
He maintained composure perfectly.
"…Understood."
Loki nodded seriously.
"Good."
Moss thought silently to himself.
Lord Loki truly says outrageous things casually.
Eventually—
The two arrived at a large chamber deeper within the castle.
The royal dressing room.
And naturally—
Testarossa was already waiting inside.
She turned gracefully upon their arrival.
"Lord Loki."
"…You were waiting?"
"Of course."
Loki immediately sensed danger.
Testarossa approached him calmly.
Then looked him up and down critically.
"…Absolutely not."
Loki blinked.
"What?"
"You cannot address the nation dressed like that."
Loki looked down at his clothes.
"What's wrong with this?"
"It lacks dignity."
"It's comfortable."
"It is criminal."
Moss quietly stepped aside.
He had no intention of involving himself in this battle.
Testarossa clapped her hands lightly.
Several attendants immediately entered carrying elaborate royal attire.
Loki stared at it in horror.
"…No."
"Yes."
"That looks restrictive."
"It looks regal."
"It looks expensive."
"It is."
Loki sighed deeply.
"Testarossa…"
"No."
"I haven't even said anything yet."
"You were about to refuse."
"…Correct."
Testarossa smiled triumphantly.
Then without hesitation—
She began pushing him toward the changing area.
Loki resisted slightly.
"Testarossa."
"Yes?"
"I can rule nations while dressed comfortably."
"No."
"That feels subjective."
"It is objective truth."
Moss watched silently as the mighty Demon Lord who challenged Guy Crimson lost completely to fashion.
Truly terrifying.
Several minutes later—
The doors opened again.
Loki stepped out wearing formal royal attire.
Black and crimson layered clothing fitted elegantly around him.
Gold accents traced the edges of the coat.
The overall appearance maintained Loki's natural intimidating presence while adding unmistakable royal dignity.
The room went quiet briefly.
Even Loki blinked slightly looking at himself.
"…Huh."
Testarossa looked deeply satisfied.
"Perfect."
Moss adjusted his glasses.
"…You look fitting of a king, Lord Loki."
Loki clicked his tongue.
"Traitor."
Moss wisely ignored that.
Testarossa stepped closer and adjusted Loki's collar carefully.
Then smoothed part of his sleeve.
Then fixed his hair slightly.
Then stared at him proudly.
"…Wonderful."
Loki sighed.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"Yes."
At least she was honest.
Eventually—
The three exited the room together.
Outside—
The rest of the entourage already waited.
Velzard stood calmly nearby.
Ultima leaned against a pillar.
Carrera looked bored.
Shizue stood beside the princes.
When Loki emerged—
Everyone paused slightly.
Even Carrera raised an eyebrow.
"…Okay."
"You actually look cool."
Ultima nodded slowly.
"Annoyingly king-like."
Velzard's gaze softened almost imperceptibly.
Testarossa looked immensely proud.
Naturally.
She considered this her achievement.
Then—
She stepped beside Loki elegantly.
Her eyes met his.
"Lord Loki."
"Hm?"
"Are you ready to address your nation?"
The castle halls fell quiet.
Beyond those walls—
Thousands of people currently waited anxiously in the capital square.
Waiting to hear what kind of king their Demon Lord truly intended to be.
Loki looked ahead calmly.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Yeah."
"I'm ready."
---
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