I Just Wanted A Soft Life, Not A Demon Husband

Chapter 221: Best Dressed And Velira Is Apparently Obsessed With How Beautiful The Queen Is

Elyn’s POV

"That is true," I said slowly, still staring down at the demogazine.

That felt like an understatement.

Rin’s grin immediately returned in full force, sharp and entirely too pleased with herself.

"My lady," she said, practically vibrating with excitement, "just as we planned... you got best dressed."

I blinked once.

Then I looked up at her.

Then back at the demogazine.

Then back at her again.

"...We planned that?" I asked.

Rin looked offended.

"Of course we did," she said. "Do you think fashion victories of this magnitude happen by accident?"

Vaelory nodded enthusiastically beside her.

"Every detail was considered," she added proudly. "From the silhouette to the embroidery to the hair—everything."

I chuckled. I was just messing with her. It was obvious from the first time we started preparing for the ball that Rin had planned for me to get best dressed.

"You did well," I told her. "You, Vaelory, and Versha."

Rin placed a hand dramatically over her chest.

"My lady acknowledges our greatness," she whispered.

"Yes, yes," I said dryly. "Try not to let it go to your head."

"Too late," she replied immediately.

I snorted at that.

Then I continued flipping through the demogazine.

Page after page turned beneath my fingers.

And very quickly, I noticed a pattern.

"...Why," I said slowly, "am I on almost every page?"

Rin tilted her head as though the answer was obvious.

"Because you are the most important person at the ball," she said.

I gave her a look.

"Zorathys was the most important person at the ball," I told her.

"No, Your Highness," Morthen said, adjusting his glasses. "You were. Hence why you are on every page of the demogazine."

Rin nodded in agreement.

"You were the highlight," she added. "Everyone was watching you."

What a way to boost my ego.

I flipped another page.

Another image of me. I flipped again and noticed that it wasn’t just me but also Zorathys, and in each image of him alone, he looked bored and halfway asleep—but handsome nonetheless—and he was never looking at the camera but somewhere else.

I didn’t dwell on that too much and flipped the demogazine again, then stopped.

I was at the middle, and the image there was one of me and Zorathys dancing.

It took up both pages.

I didn’t even realize my fingers had gone still until a few seconds passed.

Rin and Vaelory leaned closer.

"That’s my favourite," they said at once.

I ignored them, my gaze fixed on the image. I didn’t remember the demorazzi being inside the ballroom.

I didn’t remember anyone else at all.

The image captured us in motion.

Zorathys’ hand rested firmly at my waist.

Mine was in his.

The black silk of my gown flowed around me, the gold embroidery catching the light. The embroidered stole trailed behind me in a soft arc, frozen mid-motion.

His coat moved with him, shadows curling faintly at his feet like they had been caught mid-breath.

But none of that was what held my attention.

It was our faces.

I was looking at him. My expression was soft as I did, and I remembered the feeling. But also, Zorathys was focused on me too. He was completely focused on me, and even a tiny smirk pulled at his lips.

My fingers lifted slightly and hovered over the page before settling against it.

I traced lightly along the edge of the image.

The paper was smooth beneath my skin.

But then I paused and withdrew my hand.

I couldn’t get attached. I couldn’t get pulled in by this just because we looked good together.

I planned to leave the demon realm after all.

I flipped the page again, choosing not to linger on that image.

The next section featured smaller images.

This section focused on other demons. I noticed Seraphielle and her husband, Aurelixa and her husband, and... wait, it was mainly the dukes and duchesses of the demon realm.

And each of them looked as beautiful and as handsome as I remembered they had looked during the ball.

Each image was accompanied by short descriptions, analyzing their outfits, their posture, even their expressions.

But compared to the pages before...

They barely took up space.

Before I could say anything, I heard a knock at the door.

I paused, wondering who it was, when I felt that sensation wash over me.

I shuddered as the hairs on my body stood on end.

I didn’t even need to speculate.

There was only one demon who could cause such a reaction in me.

Seraphielle.

The door opened before I could even say anything.

I was shocked she even knocked, because most times she just appeared in the office without using the door.

But this time, she was with someone else.

The little girl peeked out from beside her mother, her eyes bright and curious. Seraphielle and her husband had done a good job birthing a child as beautiful and cute as Velira.

I looked back up at Seraphielle.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Seraphielle lifted her chin slightly, her expression perfectly composed.

"I came," she said smoothly, "because my daughter refused to stop talking about you, Your Highness."

I blinked.

"...Me?"

She gestured lightly toward Velira.

"She spent the entire previous day insisting she wanted to see you," Seraphielle continued. "She even cried at one point."

My brows lifted slightly.

Velira shifted, clearly unbothered by this revelation.

"She said," Seraphielle went on, her tone as elegant as ever, "that Your Highness is beautiful. That the demogazine is filled with your beauty."

"And," Seraphielle added calmly, "that she wishes to learn what it means to be beautiful... from you."

I slowly lowered the demogazine.

Then I looked at Velira, who looked back at me with wide, eager eyes.

I pointed at myself.

"...Me?" I asked.

She nodded enthusiastically.

I blinked.

"...You want to learn how to be beautiful... from me?"

Another nod.

Stronger this time.

I narrowed my eyes slightly in suspicion.

There had to be something else behind this, right?

Velira wouldn’t just come because she wanted to learn how to be beautiful from me.

But before I could say anything more, I heard footsteps.

Azerion stopped in front of the office, and his smile immediately fell when he saw Velira.

"You... what are you doing here?" he asked as he folded his arms across his chest.