I Just Wanted A Soft Life, Not A Demon Husband

Chapter 165: The Cuter Child and the Bratty Syrenthis Demon

Elyn’s POV

I walked through the palace side by side with Aziren. Not holding his hand this time—we had decided that dragging his entire temperature zone against mine was unnecessary—but close enough that I could sense his energy radiating quietly like a contained sun.

I kept sneaking glances at him, and every time I did, he would look back, amber eyes shining like tiny lanterns, and smile. That smile—it was like he had just aimed a perfectly aimed arrow straight at my chest. I swear it was physically painful how cute he was. More so than Azerion, and I had never thought I’d say that about anyone who looked like a small human crossed with a very polite fireball.

I made a small noise of satisfaction and snapped my fingers.

Versha appeared out of thin air, bowing with her usual eight-eyed elegance, which somehow made Aziren’s eyes widen even further. His mouth opened slightly in the cutest little "oh" I’d ever seen. I couldn’t stop the soft smile creeping onto my face.

"My lady, you called?" Versha asked, her voice smooth and polite, each word weighted with care.

I nodded and said, "Yes. I... um... I need gloves or fire-resistant clothing. I have a new friend now."

Versha’s gaze shifted to Aziren. He waved shyly at her, cheeks faintly pink from either warmth or embarrassment. She nodded slightly and said, "There are tailors in the castle. I will make sure they bring something suitable for you, my lady."

I smiled and said, "Send it to my office, please."

She bowed, and just like that, she was gone. Poof. Out of sight. I had to resist glancing around, expecting her to have left a trail of glitter or some other minor magical sign she’d been there, because she moved with that kind of unnerving precision.

But the only thing I saw was spiders on the floor... okay, that’s how she poofed. I should have known.

I turned to Aziren and asked, "Do you want to see my office?"

His eyes sparkled, his little hands clenching in excitement. He nodded eagerly.

I laughed softly. "Alright, let’s go."

We walked side by side, his small, careful steps perfectly matching mine. I couldn’t help sneaking little smiles at him. There was something endlessly charming about a child who could radiate danger—literally—and still look like a tiny angel in need of supervision.

When we reached the office, I opened the door and stepped inside. Aziren’s eyes scanned every detail with the slow wonder of someone discovering a whole new universe. And I was about to tell him to make himself comfortable and admire whatever he wanted when I paused.

I heard the footsteps of a child... yes, I know it’s a child. I’m that good, after all. They paused at the door to the office and opened it.

I turned my head and saw Azerion, who was staring with wide eyes, and his mouth slightly open. He was staring at Aziren with all the shock and betrayal he could muster.

Aziren, for his part, waved shyly. The contrast between his bright, innocent amber eyes and Azerion’s intense gaze that stared at him with suspicion was hilariously dramatic. I could almost hear the strings of an ominous soundtrack playing as the two of them stared at each other.

Azerion scowled. "Who are you?" he demanded.

Aziren tilted his head, blinked at him, then whispered shyly, "I’m Aziren."

"What are you doing here?" Azerion asked him.

Azerion turned to me and I nodded, giving him the go-ahead. "The queen is my friend."

Azerion looked like someone had thrown him into a fire or taken all the sweets he had stolen from him. His eyes widened in shock, blue orbs now staring at me.

"You don’t want me anymore?" he asked softly. "That’s why you brought the other one?"

I blinked. My brain tried to process that sentence while my heart lodged somewhere around my throat. "What?" I asked, stunned. Did he just... accuse me of emotional infidelity with a child?

Before I could answer, a small flutter of wings entered the room. A raven swooped in through the open window, transforming mid-air as Rin took over the form.

She stood next to my desk, looked at Aziren, then at Azerion, and shook her head at Azerion.

"Oh my," she said with delight. "It seems the queen has finally replaced you. I told you you were a brat, and bratty demons don’t stay with the queen."

What the fuck?!

I gave Rin a glare, which she didn’t even pay attention to. She was busy smiling smugly at Azerion, whose face crumpled.

Tears gathered in his eyes, threatening to spill at any moment.

"Wha...?" I muttered.

Aziren tilted his head curiously. "Why are you crying?" he asked softly. "Don’t cry," he said, sniffling.

Oh no, Aziren was a sympathetic crier. He was looking at Azerion, seeing him sad, and instinctively reflecting it. My mind did an awkward somersault. I wasn’t prepared for this... at all.

Azerion’s sobs grew louder. "You... you don’t like me anymore!" he wailed. "I... I’m sowwy for being bwatty!"

Snort poured from his nose as he cried loudly. His speech had digressed all over again.

"I’m weally sowwy. I not be beat again," he said, sobbing.

I stood frozen, heart thudding in my chest. I had no idea how things had even taken a turn like this.

I turned to Rin, who was also staring back in shock. "I didn’t mean for this to happen, my lady," she said instantly, hands raised in surrender.

Aziren’s tiny hand reached toward Azerion, patting him on the arm.

"It’s okay, don’t cry," Azerion told him as he cried too.

I was so shocked at the display that I just stood rooted to the ground. How was it that the sympathetic crier was calming Azerion down?

If I had a camera or a phone now, I would have videoed it or maybe taken a picture, but alas I had none, and I couldn’t let this crying fest go on.