Interlude: Olive’s Scheming

"This is the finest selection, prepared exclusively for Lord Maor. Please, do savor it."

My name is Olive. I was born into a noble family—one with a pedigree that stands alongside the dukes.

But after failing to win favor with the prince, I’ve been backed into a corner. Now, my only option is to curry favor with this man.

The man sitting beside me—his name is Maor, apparently. I’m doing everything I can to catch his interest. If night falls and the situation calls for it, I won’t hesitate to use a woman’s weapons.

After all, this man supposedly has deep connections within the Demon Lord’s army. If I can win him over, I’m sure he’ll offer his assistance in countless ways.

The glory of our ducal house must be upheld—nothing is more important than that.

...Although, come to think of it, there was once a reason I needed to raise our family’s prestige, wasn’t there?
Now, I can’t even remember what that reason was.

Across the table sits Maor’s maid, quietly sipping her tea. I don’t bother sparing her a glance.

She’s undeniably beautiful—one of those rare girls whose looks alone could silence a room. Even from my perspective as a duke’s daughter, well-versed in judging people, she ranks near the top.

Perhaps she’s Maor’s mistress.

"Hmm. This has quite a refined taste. Don’t you think so, Ains?"

"I suppose so, yes."

Lord Maor pays me no attention at all and starts chatting casually with the maid—Ains, I think her name was.

And yet, the maid doesn’t even seem interested. Her replies are half-hearted, dismissive.

How insolent! For someone of such low birth to behave so casually before her betters—how infuriating.

"It is an honor if it suits your palate, my lord. By the way, Lord Maor, might I ask—"

I try to reenter the conversation.

"I’ll have this cucumber sandwich. You take the egg one."

"Fine."

Again, the maid gives a dull, uninterested response.

And Maor doesn’t even spare me a glance. It’s maddening.

Worse, every now and then, the maid gives me these fleeting, sympathetic looks—as though she pities me.

What nerve. It makes me look like some kind of fool.

"...Ains. You’ve been answering absentmindedly for a while now. Are you tired?"

"Not particularly, my lord."

Snap.

I can almost hear the thread of my patience breaking. The warmth and concern in his voice—toward her—is the last straw.

"...By the way,"

I turn toward the maid, forcing myself to stay composed.

"Lord Maor, may I ask—who is that woman to you?"

"Hm? Ains? Ah, right, you two haven’t been introduced yet, have you? Well, she’s Ains—something of a useful assistant to me, I suppose. And this is Olive, daughter of the ducal house here in the Kingdom of Liner. If I recall correctly, she’s the current king’s niece."

"That is correct, Lord Maor."

I bow gracefully as he introduces me.

"For now, we’ve got some time before the scheduled meeting, so I’ll be staying at Olive’s estate. Ains will be accompanying me as well, so keep that in mind."

"Eh? Really?"

The maid’s surprised voice sounds so calculated it makes my skin crawl.

I can tell—she’s putting on an act. A performance designed to draw Lord Maor’s attention just a little more.

She’s a crafty one.

"That woman will be joining us as well, then?"

I shoot her a cold, cutting glare. There’s no need to hide my hostility now that it’s clear she’s an enemy.

"Yeah. Treat her as a guest too."

"...Understood."

No matter how much I disagree, I can’t speak out against Lord Maor in front of him. I can’t afford to lose his favor. For now, I just have to swallow my pride.

"Um, i-it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance..."

—!!

She knows. She knows I can’t object, and she’s enjoying this—mocking me in her heart.

I can tell. Behind that timid act, she’s sticking out her tongue at me.

I glare at her with all the fury I can muster.

"Lord Maor, this pudding is the most famous in the region."

...

I managed to leave the maid behind at the estate and take Maor out alone. But even so, he seems disinterested—barely listening as he quietly sips his tea.

I brought him to a stylish café to set the mood, but it’s having no effect at all.

I force a smile, doing my best to please him, yet his expression remains flat and unreadable.

"Lord Maor, regarding the matter you requested, I’d like to conduct a detailed discussion with the count afterward. Would you be willing to accompany me to his estate?"

"...Very well. I understand."

Still the same blank look.

He gives curt, purely businesslike replies, allowing no room for warmth or connection.

—He’s a fortress. An unyielding wall of ice.

I can feel my composure starting to fray.

Just then, one of my attendants leans close to whisper something.

"My lady, your younger brother appears to have entered this establishment—with a guest."

"Stein?"

My dear Stein? What is he doing here—and with company?

"Yes, my lady. Over there."

I follow his gaze—and indeed, at a table in the corner, sits my brother, chatting amiably with a woman.

And that woman is—

...That maid.

How bitterly vexing. Seeing her getting friendly with my brother is infuriating enough—and I specifically told the servants not to let that girl out of the house!

"Oh, isn’t that Ains?"

Maor noticed the maid and began walking toward where Stein and the others were seated.

I completely missed my chance to call out and stop him.

"What’s this? You were here too? Not even saying hello—how cold of you! And this kid—who’s he, huh?"

"!! L-Lord Maor, is it really you? I am Stein, Olive’s younger brother. It’s an honor to meet you."

Stein rose to his feet in perfect posture, offering a proper greeting. As expected of my brother—his manners truly are impeccable.

"Hm. Well then, nice to meet you, kid."

Maor gave a casual wave of his hand and greeted him cheerfully. Then, without hesitation, he started chatting and laughing with Stein and the maid, looking genuinely at ease.

He’s never shown me that kind of smile.

A hot mix of anger and humiliation welled up inside me.

"...If I may ask, Lord Maor, what brings you here?"

"Ah, I had one of your acquaintances reserve me a seat for the meeting. With that settled, I can slip in without any trouble."

Maor suddenly began talking about the meeting.

I nearly froze in shock. His attendance at that conference was supposed to be a closely guarded secret within our kingdom.

"L-Lord Maor! After this, you’re scheduled to meet with the person we discussed earlier—!"

Realizing things could get dangerous if he said more, I interrupted, even at the risk of offending him.

"Ah, right. That’s true. Well, can’t be helped, I suppose. Anyway—Ains, I’ve got a bit of business to take care of, so I’ll be heading out. Don’t go sneaking off on your own, got it? Stay at Olive’s estate and wait for me there."

"...Uh—yes, sir."

"Good. See you later, then."

Waving lazily to Ains—and not saying a single word to me—Maor turned and left the café.

Unable to contain myself any longer, I strode straight toward the maid.

"Ah—"

Ains looked like she was about to say something, feigning confusion. But I knew better. Every movement, every tone of that act was carefully calculated.

"Stein. I’d like to ask what’s going on here, but unfortunately, I have important matters to attend to. You should return home at once."

The sight of my brother and that maid together made my blood boil. I demanded they both leave immediately.

After all, Stein is the next head of our ducal house. To be seen in public with some unknown servant girl—it would bring disgrace upon our family name.

"...Where I go and what I do is none of your concern, Sister."

The words struck me like a slap.

In the past, my dear Stein would have done whatever I asked without hesitation. But now—he was rejecting me.

"Hmph. You’ve grown bold, haven’t you? Fine then. Just don’t cause me any trouble, understood?"

I turned sharply on my heel and began to walk away.

But... why? Why were tears falling from my eyes?

I never wanted things to turn out like this. I never wanted to fight with him. Everything I’ve done—everything I’ve worked for—was for our family’s sake.

Yet now, all I could think was that I never wanted Stein to see me cry. I hate this weak side of myself.

"Everyone, please settle down! Quiet, please!"

The voice of the master of ceremonies echoed through the hall. I barely paid it any mind, continuing to speak softly to the man beside me.

"Lord Maor, I trust you were able to attend the meeting without issue?"

"Hm. Indeed. On that point, I shall commend your efforts."

Maor nodded magnanimously.

"Well, it wasn’t just my doing, but still—you could at least show a little gratitude."

"I understand."

I smiled at him.

Ah... finally. At last, a word of praise from him.

Inside the chapel, several long tables were arranged in a large square with the center left open, forming the main assembly area.

Using my father’s connections, I had managed to slip Maor in among the Liner Kingdom’s delegates under the guise of a ducal representative.

Though, truth be told, I still didn’t fully understand why he was so intent on attending this meeting.

All I knew was that a holographic projection of the Demon Lord was scheduled to appear, delivering a message to all attendees.

After a while, I noticed Maor frowning slightly, then nodding as if in recognition of someone. I followed his gaze.

At the far end of the hall sat a girl whose presence was strangely indistinct—vague, almost as though she was fading from memory even as I looked at her.

I was certain I’d never seen her before... and yet, she seemed oddly familiar.

A peculiar feeling stirred within me.

When it came time for introductions, that same girl stood up and spoke.

"Ah—hello, everyone. I’m Sonia, First Princess of the Sugarcreek Kingdom. This gathering has been made possible through the efforts of Bishop October and many others from the Church. I’d like to express my gratitude to you all..."

So that girl was the princess of our neighboring kingdom, Sugarcreek.

As I looked around, I noticed the reactions from the audience—smirks, mocking stares, and even lecherous glances, simply because she was a woman.

And yet, she smiled calmly as she took her seat again. Her composure was remarkable. I couldn’t help but envy that kind of strength.

During the short recess, Maor suddenly left his seat. I panicked for a moment, but he returned soon after, looking oddly cheerful. I sighed in quiet relief.

When the meeting resumed, the Demon Lord’s hologram appeared just as planned. Everything went smoothly, though I couldn’t help but notice Maor had decided to nap through one of the most important moments of the entire event.

What on earth was he thinking...?

Then, breaking the tension, the Sugarcreek princess raised her hand.

"Excuse meee—may I ask just one question?"

That voice... why did it sound so familiar...?

"Welcome, Princess Sonia. Please, come this way."

"Thank you very much, Lady Olive."

The princess of a neighboring kingdom—whom I had only met at the assembly—had come to visit my home.

Apparently, she had gone out of her way to meet me because we were close in age.

It seemed that those who truly understood my value could recognize it. My pride swelled.

I showed her into the room and served tea myself.

…And yet, I couldn’t shake a strange sense of déjà vu.

"…By the way, Princess Sonia, you mentioned that you wished to speak with me?"

"Yes. There is something I truly wish to discuss."

"…Though we met at the assembly recently, have we encountered each other elsewhere…?"

I voiced the mysterious feeling I’d been carrying toward Princess Sonia. Perhaps we had met at some party or noble gathering in the past.

The moment I murmured this, Princess Sonia raised a hand—and her face suddenly changed.

Truly changed.

"Kyaa!"

Startled, I let out a scream.

The girl before me smiled faintly, her lips curling with a hint of malice.

"Greetings, Lady Olive."

Before I knew it, Maor’s maid, Ains, stood before me.

"Y-You are… Ains, Maor’s maid! W-Why have you disguised yourself as Princess Sonia!?"

I summoned every ounce of courage I had to demand an answer.

But the woman before me was a witch—capable of transformation magic. With her unnatural beauty and confidence, it was impossible to tell if she was even human.

"Ains is merely a temporary name. I am the one and only true Princess Sonia."

The witch smirked as she spoke, as though peering straight into the deepest corners of my soul.

Her expression seemed to say, without words: I know everything about you.

"…Hii!"

Paralyzed with fear, my legs gave out, and I sank to the floor.

"…"

The self-proclaimed Princess Sonia looked down at me with a cold, appraising gaze—like a merchant calculating the worth of a trinket.

"Very well. The reason I wished to meet you, Lady Olive, is to ensure that you sever all connections with the Demon Lord."

"The Demon Lord?"

The witch’s sudden words made no sense.

The Demon Lord… what could she possibly mean?

I knew a hologram of the Demon Lord had appeared at the assembly, but there was nothing that should have tied me directly to him.

"Yes. You’ve been approaching Lord Maor quite actively, haven’t you? Because you’re aiming for the Demon Lord himself."

Her eyes glinted with a wicked light as she interrogated me.

Instinctively, I knew that even a single lie here could cost me my life.

"!? N-No! That’s a misunderstanding! That Maor is a man of influence with ties to the Demon Lord’s army. I only sought to gain his favor to secure certain advantages! I merely did my utmost to entertain him properly!"

I answered with every ounce of sincerity I could muster.

"…Oh. So you didn’t know that he really is the Demon Lord, did you?"

…Huh? What?

Maor is the Demon Lord?

"Th-That he’s the Demon Lord…?"

The truth slowly sank into my mind.

The king of demons—one who could cast me into hellfire tens of thousands of times—had spent several days right beside me. And I had acted in ways that might have angered him.

…clatter clatter…

The blood drained from my face. My teeth began to chatter uncontrollably, and my heart pounded as though it would burst.

"I-I won’t tell anyone about the Demon Lord, Princess Sonia! P-Please, spare my life! Just my life!"

I dropped to my knees, begging for mercy. Tears streamed from my eyes, unstoppable. My mind was completely blank.

"Fuu… Belial."

The witch let out a sigh and muttered something under her breath.

"…You summoned me, Princess Sonia?"

In an instant, a boy in a tailcoat appeared behind her. He dropped to one knee and bowed deeply.

"…!"

I lifted my eyes, and the moment our gazes met, I knew—he was a demon. Not just any demon, but one who saw humans as nothing more than insects. A pure embodiment of evil.

My body, acting on instinct to survive, backed itself against the wall.

…No, no, no.

I refused to accept this reality, shaking my head over and over.

The witch sighed again, showing no mercy, and quietly commanded the demon at her side.

"In the name of Sonia, I command you: erase this girl’s memories concerning the Demon Lord."

"Yes, my lady."

The demon bowed. Its face twisted grotesquely with delight as real tentacles burst forth, shooting toward me and wrapping tightly around my body.

"Aaaahhh…"

A soundless scream escaped my lips.

I felt the tentacles coil around my head.

"…Ah… ah…"

Fear consumed me so completely that I couldn’t even scream properly.

And then, I lost consciousness.

"…Lady Olive? Lady Olive?"

A gentle voice reached me from somewhere.

I opened my eyes from my drowsiness and found myself gazing into Princess Sonia’s radiant smile—bright and warm, like a sunflower in bloom.

Ah, yes. She had said she would visit me today.

"…Ah, Princess Sonia. I-I’m so sorry for suddenly collapsing. I must not have been feeling well."

"Hehe. It’s quite alright."

Her voice was filled with compassion.

"…Um, what were we talking about earlier…?"

I felt as though we had been discussing something important just moments ago, yet it now seemed trivial, unimportant—almost unnecessary to remember. My heart told me to let it go.

"Don’t worry. It was just a little chat. Now, I should be going. You seem tired, so please rest for a while."

Once again, Princess Sonia’s gentle words reached me.

"…Yes, Princess Sonia."

I accepted her kindness and resolved not to think about anything.

"Hehe. By the way, your little brother is adorable. Take good care of him, alright?"

Oh. Princess Sonia knew about my sweet little brother, Stein. He was kind, reliable, and my pride and joy.

"? …Yes. Of course."

I smiled warmly.

Seeing that, Princess Sonia gave a faint smile and nodded once.