I Just Wanted A Soft Life, Not A Demon Husband

Chapter 202: Of Wine, Wicked Kings, and Pastries That Betray

Elyn’s POV

Rin and her father immediately bowed the moment Zorathys dismissed them.

And I don’t mean the kind of bow that came with, ’I will take my leave now, Your Majesty, thanks for dismissing me.’

No, theirs was different. It was quick and efficient and basically screamed ’we value our lives too much.’

Then they turned and walked away into the sea of demons, black fabric and jewels disappearing into the shimmer of the ballroom.

I watched them go before slowly turning to Zorathys.

"Why were you rude to them?" I asked.

He did not look even slightly guilty.

He lifted his glass and swirled the purple liquid lazily. "I was not rude."

"You dismissed them rudely. That was you being rude," I told him.

"Yes, I dismissed them, but I don’t recall being rude to them," he told me.

"Don’t recall?" I asked him with a scoff. "You implied they were unworthy of standing in my presence."

"Yes."

I stared at him, and he took a slow sip of his wine.

"There was no need for you to even be speaking with them," he continued as if explaining something obvious. "Immediately after Rin introduced her father, they should have disappeared from our sight."

I crossed my arms. "Zorathys," I called out to him. "You shouldn’t be rude to people."

"I am not rude," he replied smoothly. "I simply do not like what I do not like."

I stared at him for a full second.

Then I chuckled because that was true.

"You really do not like what you do not like."

He smirked at that.

"Yes."

There was no shame in his answer.

He took another sip of his wine, looking entirely pleased with himself.

I glanced at the glass curiously. I wanted to try it. I wondered what wine could be purple in color and why Zorathys would like it.

"Is it good?" I asked him.

He nodded once. "Yes."

"What does it taste like?"

He gave me a sideways look. "Do you want to try?"

I hesitated.

Then nodded.

He stepped closer, enough that I felt the shift in the air around him. His shadows coiled lazily at his feet and then shifted to mine too as Zorathys lifted the glass.

Instead of handing it to me, he brought it to my mouth.

I blinked.

But I leaned forward anyway, and I took a small sip.

I should not have let my curiosity get the better of me. I immediately regretted every decision that led to that moment.

The liquid burned.

It wasn’t fire-demon burning like how Aziren’s hands were when he held me. This was sharp and bitter and far too bold for something that looked so beautifully purple.

I pulled back instantly and coughed.

Zorathys chuckled softly at my reaction.

"What was that?" I demanded, pressing a hand lightly to my chest.

"It was wine," he replied calmly.

"That was not wine."

"It was."

"That was an attack on me," I argued.

He raised a brow, his lips twitching.

"It is from the Kitsunegawa Territory."

I blinked again.

"The fox demons?"

"Yes."

I stared at the glass suspiciously. "That is basically just alcohol."

He nodded. "I can’t argue with that."

"That was terrible."

"It was not, firefly. Perhaps you just do not have what it takes to appreciate its taste," he told me.

I glared at him. "That just burned my throat, Zorathys. I cannot appreciate it at all."

He chuckled again.

"You are being dramatic, firefly."

"I am being honest because that," I said, pointing at the glass in his hands, "is definitely not something one drinks and appreciates."

He took another sip as if to prove a point.

"I appreciate it. Like I said, it’s a you problem," he told me.

I shook my head and coughed again because I was still suffering from the aftereffects of the alcohol.

Zorathys flicked his fingers softly and immediately, five demons appeared at his side.

One carried a tray of delicate pastries arranged in careful spirals.

One held a tray of deep red wine that glowed under the chandelier light.

One carried folded silk napkins.

One held crystal glasses of water.

And the last held a tray of soft pink wine that shimmered faintly like diluted starlight.

Zorathys looked at them.

Then at his hand.

Then back at them.

"I signaled for one," he said flatly.

All five bowed lower.

None moved.

I bit back a smile.

He exhaled slowly through his nose, then he picked up a glass of water from one tray and handed it to me.

I accepted it gratefully and took a long sip. I felt relieved immediately.

"Yes," I said with satisfaction. "This one does not try to assassinate me."

He smirked and then took a napkin from another tray and handed it to me without comment.

I dabbed at my lips.

Then my eyes drifted to the pastries.

They were golden and layered, each one twisted into a delicate spiral. Thin sheets of pastry folded over each other, dusted lightly with powdered sugar that shimmered faintly under the lights. A glossy glaze brushed the top, and tiny crushed nuts were scattered along the edges.

I picked one up. It felt warm in my hands.

I took a bite.

The pastry flaked apart instantly, layers melting on my tongue. It was buttery and lightly sweet, with a filling inside that tasted like spiced honey and roasted nuts.

I closed my eyes briefly.

"That is wonderful," I murmured.

Zorathys gave a small smile at that.

I held the pastry toward him. "Try it."

He looked at it as if I had offered him a political treaty.

I raised a brow, and then he sighed, but he leaned down and took a bite. A very tiny bite too.

I watched as he chewed once, twice, and then his face scrunched up. He lifted his wine and took a sip, using it to wash the taste of the pastry away.

I sighed.

"You are impossible."

"Like I said, I don’t like what I don’t like," he replied to me.

I stared at him. "One day, I am going to get you to eat more food."

He gave me a slow, amused look. "I would like to see that day."

"It will come."

"We’ll see," he told me calmly.

I turned back to the pastry and took another bite just to prove a point.

The demons holding the trays remained perfectly still, awaiting further instruction.

Zorathys waved them off with a slight flick of his wrist.

They bowed deeply and dispersed instantly into the crowd.

I glanced around the ballroom.

The music flooded the room. Demons of all kinds moved across the polished floors. Fire demons flickered faintly with ember-like light along their shoulders. Fox demons laughed loudly near one of the columns. A group of long-necked demons—I was very certain they were from the beast demon territory—leaned together in quiet conversation.

I scanned them curiously.

There were so many types.

So many territories.

So many stories I did not yet know.

I swallowed the last of my pastry and wiped my fingers lightly with the napkin.

My eyes caught sight of a demon across the hall—a woman with delicate antlers curling from her temples, silver markings along her skin that glowed faintly.

I leaned slightly toward Zorathys. I was about to point out that demon over there and ask him what type of demon she was.

Before I could finish, the soft echo of approaching footsteps reached us.

I turned just as Zorathys took the last sip from his wine, and his shadows took the empty glass from him.

A couple approached us, and they looked beautiful together. One of them I knew, but the other... I hadn’t met her yet.

They bowed before me and Zorathys.