I Just Wanted A Soft Life, Not A Demon Husband

Chapter 167: Hide and Seek Between Pillars and Stone

Elyn’s POV

"Ready or not, here I come," I said loudly.

I stepped out into the corridor properly this time, letting the heavy quiet of the castle swallow my footsteps. The air here always felt alive—warm stone, faint magic, the distant hum of a place that had existed long before I ever stumbled into it. Somewhere in that vastness were two very small demons who apparently believed they had mastered the ancient art of hiding.

I smiled to myself.

"All right," I called, drawing out the words as I walked forward, "where could you two possibly be hiding?"

My voice echoed softly, curling around pillars and vanishing down branching hallways. The east wing opened up before me—tall arches, obsidian columns threaded with silver, and enough shadowed corners to make the game at least theoretically challenging.

Theoretically.

I took a few steps, deliberately slow, my gaze sweeping the corridor with exaggerated seriousness. "Hmm," I murmured aloud. "I don’t see anyone. Maybe they’re too good at this."

But that was a lie, because I already knew where one of them was.

Azerion was pressed flat against one of the grand pillars, his small body doing absolutely nothing to blend in with the white marble and dark stone around him. One hand was clamped over his mouth, his shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter, blue eyes squeezed shut as if that alone might make him invisible.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

How he thought that was a good place to hide was beyond me.

I paused, tilting my head slightly, pretending to consider the hallway. My eyes flicked directly to him for half a heartbeat before I forced them away again. I shook my head faintly, as if disappointed in myself.

"Nope," I said lightly. "No one here."

Azerion’s eyes flew open. I could see it from where I was. But the same couldn’t be said for him. His hand stayed over his mouth, but I could see the delighted look written all over his face.

I turned in a slow circle, peering behind another pillar that was very clearly empty. "Wow," I continued, laying it on thick, "you two are really good at hiding. I might never find you."

Azerion’s shoulders shook harder. A soft, muffled snort escaped him before he could stop it.

I sighed theatrically and began walking away, my steps carrying me out of the east wing entirely. "I guess I’ll have to look somewhere else," I said to the empty air. "Maybe the other wing?"

Behind me, I heard the faintest sound of movement and a giggle swallowed in panic.

I smiled.

I hadn’t even taken a few steps down the connecting corridor when a realization hit me with such force that I almost laughed out loud.

Oh.

Oh, these children were terrible at this.

The west wing opened into a broader space, where the pillars grew thicker and the ceilings rose higher. One particular column caught my attention immediately—not because it was empty, but because it very clearly wasn’t.

Aziren was hiding behind it.

Or, more accurately, attempting to.

The pillar was adorned with a carved gargoyle near the top, its stone face twisted into a dramatic snarl. Aziren was pressed against the base of it, his small frame peeking out just enough that I could see his hair and shoulder.

The gargoyle’s expression looked vaguely offended to be part of this.

I stopped a few paces away and clasped my hands behind my back, pretending to think very hard.

"Aziren," I called softly, drawing out his name like a song, "where are you?"

There was a sharp intake of breath.

Then a very distinct, very unrestrained chuckle burst out from behind the pillar.

I watched as Aziren’s hands flew up to his mouth in horror, his eyes going comically wide as he realized his mistake. He pressed himself flatter against the stone, as if that might undo the sound.

I turned away immediately.

"Oh," I said, feigning confusion as I examined the opposite wall. "I thought I heard something, but I guess not."

I walked a slow circle around the area, deliberately avoiding looking directly at him. "You boys are really good at hiding," I said again, letting my voice carry just enough to reach him. "So good, in fact, that I might just give up."

I sighed, long and exaggerated. "It’s hopeless."

"No!"

Aziren’s voice rang out loud and clear, echoing off the stone.

I froze.

"You shouldn’t give up!" he said earnestly. "Only losers give up!"

I turned slowly, unable to stop the smile that spread across my face.

Something warm settled in my chest.

In that moment, it struck me with perfect clarity: demon or not, they were just children. And children, no matter the realm, were exactly the same.

"I won’t give up," I said gently. "Especially because you told me not to."

"Good," Aziren said from where he was.

He had no idea I could see him. His flammable hair and shoulder were not doing the job very well after all.

"Because losers—" he continued, but I cut him off.

"I know," I said. "Only losers give up."

I made a thoughtful humming sound, as if resuming my search, and wandered off again. I counted my steps silently, letting a few full minutes pass as I peeked behind pillars that were very clearly empty, leaned into alcoves, and muttered things like, "Hmm, nothing here," and, "Wow, where could they be?"

Meanwhile, Aziren vibrated with poorly contained excitement as I searched.

Finally, I turned and moved toward where he was hiding.

"Found you!"

Aziren shrieked with laughter as I scooped him up—rookie mistake. His heat burned me, and I quickly let him down. He was too excited, though, and didn’t notice.

My fingers found his sides and I tickled him quickly so as not to burn myself. He squirmed and flailed, his laughter ringing out as I did so.

I laughed too. "You did very well," I told him honestly. "I almost didn’t get you."

His grin was radiant. "Hehe."

"I’m going to find Azerion now," I said.

Aziren nodded eagerly. "Okay!"

I turned back toward the east wing, already knowing exactly where Azerion was. Still, I played my part, calling out softly as I walked.

"Azerion?" I said. "Where could you be?"

I slowed my steps as I approached the pillar he was hiding behind, pretending to peer down another corridor entirely. "You might be even better at this than Aziren," I added. "I don’t think I’ll ever—"

Azerion was trying very hard to contain his giggle. If only he knew I already knew where he was.

I spun around and caught him around the waist, lifting him slightly off the ground. He squealed, kicking his feet as I tickled him, his laughter bright and unrestrained.

"Found you," I said, grinning.

"I almost won!" he protested between giggles.

"Almost," I agreed.

When the laughter finally died down, I set him down gently. Together, we walked back toward the office, the castle seeming a little less vast and a little warmer with their voices filling it.

"All right," I said as we reached the door. "Now it’s your turn," I told Aziren.

"Azerion and I will hide," I continued, squeezing Azerion’s hand. "And you’ll seek."

Aziren nodded eagerly, already turning away.

"One..."