Chapter 146 A relieving surprise
On the tranquil morning following the chaos of the previous day, Sapphire's mansion was wrapped in a silence and peace so comforting it seemed almost out of place in the Demon World. The faint Subterranean sun cast soft rays through the tall windows of the living room, creating dancing reflections on the polished onyx walls. The atmosphere was surprisingly cozy, a stark contrast to the battles and grand declarations that had marked the past 24 hours.
In the center of the room, Vergil sat on a plush sofa, holding a silver comb in his large hands. In front of him, Roxanne sat cross-legged on a cushion, her long, golden hair cascading down her shoulders like molten gold. Vergil, however, didn't seem as confident as he usually was.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked, frowning at the seemingly endless strands of hair that looked more complicated than any opponent he'd ever faced.
"Fufufu~" Roxanne let out a soft, affectionate laugh.
"Darling, it's just hair. I'm sure you can handle it." She glanced over her shoulder, her bright blue eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. "Besides, you promised to learn." She had played her trump card.
She quickly understood that, for Vergil, promises were something he couldn't break. It was almost amusing how every promise he made felt like he was fulfilling a demonic contract.
"Hmph, you sly thing." He huffed but didn't say anything more.
He looked at the comb, then back at Roxanne's hair, as if steeling himself for battle. Finally, he raised his hand and began brushing gently. The comb slid through her locks, tugging slightly at a few knots. Roxanne didn't complain, but Vergil felt the weight of the task.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Katharina and Ada were comfortably seated at a low table, sipping steaming cups of tea. Both watched the scene unfold with expressions that blended amusement and curiosity.
"Isn't it adorable?" Katharina remarked, smiling as she took a sip of her tea. "Lucifer, the new Demon King, learning how to comb his wife's hair. I never thought I'd see something like this so suddenly."
Ada shrugged, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I think it's good for him. After all the madness yesterday, he deserves something normal... or as normal as it gets when you're married to three women like us."
"Pfff..." Katharina chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand to hide her grin. She continued,
"That's true. But did you see everyone's faces yesterday? Amon's declaration practically froze the entire Underworld. The twists just keep coming. First, he goes through that bizarre ritual, and then he casually accepts the title as if it's just another day for him." She cast a glance toward Vergil.
"Hehe..." Ada chuckled as well, shaking her head.
"And us? We're now the three wives of the Demon King. I'm not sure if that's something to celebrate or to fear."
"Huh?" Katharina raised an eyebrow, giving Ada a mischievous smile. "Oh, admit it, Ada. You love this just as much as I do. We're at the center of the biggest scandal and the most historic event in the Underworld. How can you not find that exciting?"
Ada sighed dramatically but couldn't hide the smile on her lips. "I'm not like you. But I'm sure this sudden fame will attract a lot of trouble—or rather, it's already started to." She recalled Roxanne's father, who, according to Amon, had arrived with an army to confront Vergil.
Katharina leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands.
"Trouble or not, Vergil seems ready to handle everything. Look at him. It's funny how he can be so powerful and yet... so adorable," she remarked with a soft laugh.
"You seem calmer... Normally, you'd be fighting to take her place," Ada remarked.
"I'm my dear's. I can't fight you all, so it's better to accept it when my turn comes. Time passes, but we're demons—we have long lives," Katharina replied calmly. Then, a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "And I'm ahead... Pff."
Ada immediately understood what she meant. After all...
"Tsk, show-off," Ada muttered, biting her tongue in annoyance.
Both women turned their attention back to Vergil, who was now trying to untangle a particularly stubborn knot in Roxanne's hair. He looked clearly frustrated, but his expression also showed solid determination. Roxanne, on the other hand, was completely relaxed, enjoying the moment and occasionally giving him tips.
"Darling, start at the ends and work your way up slowly. That way, it won't pull so much," she said in a soft voice.
"Blah, blah, ends..." Vergil grumbled something inaudible to her but followed her instructions. To his surprise, it worked. The comb slid through more smoothly, and he managed to untangle the knot without hurting Roxanne. A small smile of satisfaction crossed his face.
"See? You're learning," Roxanne said, slightly tilting her head to flash a smile at him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Vergil didn't respond aloud, but his first thought was: 'Thank goodness this woman is my wife... That smile is lethal, and only I can have it.'
Back at the table, Katharina picked up her tea again and leaned toward Ada.
"So, what do you think the Demon World is saying right now? I haven't been on social media much," Katharina asked.
"Ah... complicated," Ada sighed, tapping her fingers lightly on the table.
"They're probably wondering how he managed it—or already conspiring to bring him down. Vergil doesn't exactly have an army or territory, but now he holds a title that many covet." Her gaze shifted to Vergil, who seemed blissfully unaware of how others perceived him.
Katharina nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I bet some will challenge him for the title soon enough. Do you think he can handle it?"
Ada smiled faintly, her eyes lingering on Vergil with a hint of admiration.
"He's Vergil. He might not be the most conventional king, but if there's one thing I've learned about him, it's that he always finds a way to win. Even if it means playing dirty... His mother is proof of that. She always loses verbal battles with him and ends up embarrassed. She's strong, but not emotionally," Ada said with a light chuckle.
Katharina laughed again, raising her teacup in a toast.
"Here's to our lovable, infuriating, and improbable Demon King. May he keep surprising us." Ada raised her cup as well, a small smile on her lips.
"And may he not cause too much chaos in the Underworld while doing so," she added.
Vergil, hearing their muffled laughter, couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"You two should stop acting like mature women. Aren't you 24? I don't even know your exact ages, but act young," Vergil said as he finished brushing Roxanne's hair.
Before he could process what was happening, he felt someone tugging at his sleeve. Turning his head, he saw Alice standing there, looking up at him.
Vergil blinked, surprised to see Alice holding onto his sleeve. Lowering his gaze to the petite figure in front of him, he noticed her big, hopeful eyes and her almost shy expression.
"Hm?" Vergil raised an eyebrow, still holding the comb in his other hand. "Is something wrong?"
Alice hesitated but then pointed to Roxanne's hair and then to the comb in his hand. She was clearly trying to say, "Me too..."
But Vergil, still a bit dense, blinked again, confused.
Alice let out an almost theatrical sigh, though her expression remained soft, if slightly pouty.
"I want you to brush my hair too."
The previously relaxed atmosphere turned completely silent. Every woman in the room turned instantly to stare at the small, black-haired girl.
"She... spoke?" Katharina stammered.
"Y-yes, she did..." Ada nodded.
"She's stealing my moment..." Roxanne muttered.
Alice, until now mute—and rumored to have a curse or something similar affecting her—had just... spoken.
"Alice... say that again, please..." Vergil, the man who had taken her in, who had been racking his brain for a way to restore her voice, stared at her as though she were an illusion.
Alice tilted her head, looking confused by all the sudden attention. She glanced at Katharina, Ada, and Roxanne, who were staring at her as if she'd just performed a miracle. Then she turned back to Vergil, whose serious expression masked a mix of shock and disbelief.
"I... just want you to brush my hair too..." she repeated in a quieter, shyer tone, as though she didn't understand why this was such a big deal.
The room fell silent again. Katharina set her teacup down on the table with a faint clink, her eyes wide.
"She... spoke again. It's not just me, right?" Katharina murmured, as if needing confirmation of what she'd just witnessed.
Ada leaned forward, narrowing her eyes as though scrutinizing every movement Alice made.
"Is this real? It's not some kind of spell or illusion, right?" Ada asked, glancing at Vergil like he held all the answers.
"I..." Vergil began, but he trailed off, as stunned as they were. "You just... managed to speak now?" he asked carefully.
"N-no! S-since yesterday, when I was sleeping, I felt something burn inside me, and... and then I could suddenly talk again," Alice explained, still a bit confused.
Vergil, who had been wary at first, immediately softened. He could read people well—Sapphire had taught him that—and the little girl's gestures and expression were undeniably sincere.
"Pfft..." He started laughing suddenly, and everyone turned to look at him.
"HAHAHAHA!" He let out a hearty laugh, the kind that shook his whole frame.
"Come here! Let's do something about that hair!" he said, smiling widely—a smile that hid an enormous sense of relief.