I Just Wanted A Soft Life, Not A Demon Husband

Chapter 134: Five Minutes and a Thousand Bad Ideas

Elyn’s POV

I had no idea when my feet moved. I’m not even sure I was conscious of the fact that I was moving. I just did it without thinking.

I rushed down the remaining steps two at a time. I moved urgently, crouching next to Vaelory, whose face was scrunched up in pain.

"My lady—" Rin started sharply.

"You shouldn’t—" Azerion cut in at the same time.

Seraphielle clicked her tongue. "Really now, you are the queen. You shouldn’t be kneeling next to your servant."

"I don’t care," I said, already reaching for Vaelory.

She was sitting awkwardly, one leg bent wrong, her hands clenched in the fabric of her dress like she was trying to hold herself together through sheer will. Her face was pale, lips pressed tight, pride clearly warring with pain.

"Vaelory," I said gently. "Look at me."

She blinked, startled, then immediately tried to straighten. "I—I’m fine, Your Highness. I can stand—"

"No, you can’t," I said, not unkindly. "Just relax, I’ll support you."

I moved to put Vaelory’s hands over my shoulder, to assist her in getting up.

Rin made an aggravated sound at that. "My lady, you really should not be doing things that are not suitable for someone of your position."

"She’s my maid," I replied, firm. "And that makes her my responsibility."

Azerion frowned at that. "But that doesn’t mean you should be crouching next to her or even supporting her."

"I’m already doing it," I told him firmly.

Seraphielle arched a brow, amused. "How noble of you."

I ignored her and shifted closer to Vaelory. "Put your hands on my shoulders. Slowly."

Vaelory hesitated, eyes flicking nervously between us. "I don’t want to trouble you—"

"You’re not," I said. "You’re injured."

"I can do it," Rin said immediately, stepping forward. "My lady, there is no need for you to do something like this. At least let me help the human who can’t walk in heels and can’t seduce the person she’s interested in."

Vaelory bristled at that. "You cannot walk in heels either," Vaelory told her.

"That’s still to be determined. You don’t know that," Rin told her.

"Oh, I know that, and I’m sure of it," Vaelory told her.

"Stop bothering the queen and put your weak muscles on me," Rin told her.

I was confused. Perhaps these two became friends while I was away? I had no idea.

I met Rin’s gaze for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

Rin moved with brisk efficiency, crouching opposite me. She guided Vaelory’s hands up and over her own shoulder, muttering under her breath as she adjusted her grip.

"It’s a wonder how a human as weak as you is even able to survive until now."

"I was able to survive because, unlike what you think, I’m not that weak."

"You just twisted your ankle from falling like an idiot."

"You are the idiot. It’s because I’m not used to walking in heels," Vaelory argued.

I did not even have the strength to listen to them argue right now.

"Is there a healer we can call?" I asked Rin.

Seraphielle gave me a look. "A healer?" she asked me.

"Yes, a healer. She is injured, and she needs a healer to make her better," I told her.

"Oh no, Your Highness," Seraphielle said to me. "She doesn’t need a healer. She twisted her ankle, not shattered it. A healing potion will do."

"And you just happen to have one," I said.

"Of course I do." She snapped her fingers, just like how Zorathys always does, and I was beginning to suspect that there was something with the gesture here.

Anyway, a vial filled with a purple, shimmering liquid appeared out of thin air.

She uncorked the vial and held it out against Vaelory’s mouth. "Drink."

Vaelory eyed it suspiciously. "Is it going to burn?"

"A little," Seraphielle said cheerfully. "But you’ll live."

Vaelory grimaced, then drank. She coughed once, eyes watering, but within seconds the tension eased from her posture. She flexed her ankle experimentally, then looked up in surprise.

"Oh," she said. "The pain is gone."

"Obviously," Seraphielle replied, standing. "I don’t carry faulty potions."

Rin immediately let go of Vaelory, and the both of them moved as far as they could from each other, putting distance between them.

Seraphielle turned to me then, head tilted, eyes bright, and I knew at that point that I wouldn’t like what was going to come out of her mouth.

"If I fall, will you pick me up too? My legs ache terribly," she said to me.

I stared at her.

"No."

She laughed, utterly unbothered. "The way you reject me is so wicked," she said dreamily. "I love it."

I turned back to Vaelory and Rin, ignoring her words, my tone sharpening. "Get rid of that ridiculousness on your bodies. All of it. I’m giving you five minutes."

Both of them nodded instantly.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Yes, my lady."

They moved at once, practically sprinting toward the corridors, Vaelory clutching her dress as Rin barked instructions at her about necklaces and clasps.

I exhaled slowly.

"Now," I said, turning. "You can leave."

Seraphielle blinked in shock. "Leave?"

"Yes."

She frowned. "I cannot leave when my heart is in the castle."

"Your heart?" I asked her with a frown, and she nodded.

"Yes. You," she told me.

I gave her a flat look. "Aren’t you married?"

She nodded serenely. "Yes."

"That doesn’t concern you at all?" I asked her.

"Not in the slightest," she replied. "Marriage is a contract. This"—she gestured vaguely between us—"is destiny."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Seraphielle, I’m busy."

She stepped closer. "Too busy for me?"

"Yes."

I met her gaze steadily. "Come back after I’m done with my work. Then we can talk about... whatever this is."

She studied me for a long moment, then smiled slowly. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Very."

Seraphielle adjusted her dress—unnecessarily—and then her breasts, very deliberately. "Then I’ll make sure I’m dressed for you alone."

She leaned in.

I stepped back, putting a clear distance between us.

She paused, then laughed softly, straightened, and blew me a kiss, which I dodged respectfully, but that didn’t deter her. She winked at me and licked her lips while giving me a sultry look.

Then, in the blink of an eye, she disappeared. Purple dust spiraled where she stood, glittering briefly in the shape of a heart before vanishing into nothing.

I stared at the empty space for a second longer than necessary.

Then I sighed loudly.

Meanwhile, Azerion was taking lessons in seduction, and I had no idea.