It Was a Fashion That Radiated a Kind Nature and Heart

Being revered is enjoyable.

If it were reverence bought with money, it might feel somewhat lacking, but if it were someone else's money, that would be a thrilling feeling in its own right.

Just like now, one receives a perfectly synchronized greeting from the lined-up maids upon entering Count Macenas's Villa.

―Welcome, Your Excellency, Marquis!

"Ehehe."

Pastel trembled, her lips curling up. She wrapped her arms around her body and twisted around until her legs felt slightly weak.

"Ah! The unapproachable power of capital that I have yet to catch up to. When such an opponent treats me like this. Pastel is, Pastel is..."

She staggered and casually leaned against Lord Demon.

"I feel drunk on power."

The Demon looked bewildered and supported her body.

"Do not get drunk on strange things. Your condition has been getting increasingly strange lately."

"I'm gradually turning purple."

Total Demon Corruption.

Is this the price for unsealing an Archdemon?

"I'm scared."

With these playful words, she rubbed her cheek against his suit.

At this rate, I'll become Borabora.

The Demon slightly narrowed his brow.

"Then dissolve some pink paint at least."

"Pfft!"

What does that mean?

Pastel looked up at the Demon. Her pink eyes curved into half-moons.

"Childish! Lord Demon! Maintain your dignity! Saying things like that while wearing a suit is bbu-bbu~!"

The Demon looked displeased. He looked slightly wounded in his pride.

"You complain even when I match your level. What does bbu-bbu even mean in the first place? Communicate in a proper language. Conversation is mutual respect."

Hmph.

"If you don't know what bbu-bbu means, you don't match my level! Doubly childish! Lord Demon, who made a childish remark without even matching Pastel's level, is doubly childish-childish!"

With an expression that said it couldn't be helped, she pushed herself out of the Demon's embrace.

"Honestly, I'm the only one who can match Lord Demon's level."

She was shaking her head.

"What nonsense are you spouting so confidently? I am the one matching yours."

"Ddaeng-ddaeng-ddaeng!"

She wagged her index finger side to side at the dumbfounded Demon. She glared at him with her pink eyes.

"That's why you got dumped by Mom."

"No."

The Demon's expression changed to one with a lot to say. Then he sighed and brushed up his bangs with a face that said, 'What's the point of arguing with a kid?'

Is that the expression of a man heartbroken from unrequited love?

Bbu-bbu~.

Honestly.

I'm the only one who can match Lord Demon's level.

"Hehe."

This is the tolerance of Her Excellency, the Great Pastel, that makes even an Archdemon repent!

Pastel twisted her body around.

I am totally great!

"Your Excellency, Marquis Kraft."

Oh.

Turning around, the butler, whose existence she had forgotten, casually approached. It seemed he was risking rudeness to speak up, as Pastel had fallen into a world of just the two of them.

"I will escort you to the reception room."

"Wow! I'm sorry!"

Pastel brought her hands together and bowed her head. Her pink hair fluttered.

The butler, as well as the maids who had been standing in line and watching the situation, looked relieved.

Wow.

I accepted the protocol too naturally.

Is this a side effect of power?

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Gasp.

I suddenly thought of a quote that pricks my conscience too much.

Pastel was guided straight to the reception room.

"The Count will be here shortly."

"Yep."

The butler bowed his head in greeting and left.

Pastel put on a serious expression. Sitting on the sofa embroidered with gold thread, she crossed her legs in the posture Lord Demon often used.

"Lord Demon. What should I do? Life is too enjoyable."

The heartache I suffered because of Dad is now almost forgotten.

O-i-ing.

Isn't this an escape into power?

Was I giving up on thinking because my mind was confused by Dad's audacity in abandoning his child with the remark that love is great...?

But still, it is.

When I tried to start dating to understand what that love was all about, Lord Demon, who couldn't guess my specific motive, absolutely opposed it.

Heok.

Suddenly, I feel like dating twice as much.

However, thanks to that absolute opposition, I slightly regained my reason, and after thinking it over, it wasn't a very good option for Popular Person Pastel to start dating.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of kids who can't distinguish between romantic feelings and friendly feelings.

Seeing Pastel acting so friendly and approaching them, everyone would probably think, “Does she like me?”

I've already received a few confessions.

―Sorry! I don't date friends! If I call you a friend, it means I don't consider you a romantic prospect! Friendship cannot turn into a romantic relationship! This is a Popular Person's principle! If a friendship tries to become a romance, it turns into a mess!

Ant Friend squeaks.

―Ah! Look here! Hello, Ant Friend! That piece of bread looks delicious! Do you happen to love me too? As expected! You do too! It's nothing special! Yeah, yeah!

Then, a shoe pressed down.

―Uwaah! Ant Friend! To trample a hardworking Ant Friend to death! You're a bad kid, aren't you?! Completely, completely bad!

It was added to the blacklist.

Anyway.

Even so, getting engaged just by looking at a stranger's portrait to learn a bit about love is, as Lord Demon said, somewhat questionable.

After some restlessness, she eventually settled.

―I don't know! No matter how much I think about it, Dad is weird! If he loves Mom, shouldn't he love me too since we look alike?!

No matter how much the daughter's appearance resembles hers, he shouldn't distinguish coldly between wife and daughter like a scholar!

Though not distinguishing them at all would be a crime in its own right!

Pastel was starved for love.

So she decided to nom-nom on power instead of love.

Power nom-nom.

Heok.

It's much more delicious than I thought.

Life has become enjoyable!

Her Excellency, the Great Pastel, the person in power, groaned.

"It's so, so enjoyable. At this rate, I really might turn purple."

I said it as a joke earlier, but it's a truly thrilling future.

Uh-oh.

Feels like the modifier is wrong somehow?

"You've always been like this, talking about insubordination and whatnot, but it has gotten worse recently. It's a relief that you're at least aware of it."

The Demon rubbed his chin.

"In my opinion, it seems to be because courtesy and respect have collapsed, specifically courtesy toward your teacher and respect toward your guardian. It would be best to start observing this kind of hierarchy."

Pastel stopped groaning. She thought carefully, and then the corners of her mouth slightly curled up.

"Isn't that just Lord Demon's wishful thinking?"

The Demon shrugged.

"Think what you will. However, you should know that there is a reason why things that seem unnecessary exist in the world. Hierarchy is like that."

Pastel crossed her arms and thought like a model student.

And she smiled brightly.

"I don't want to!"

The Demon looked displeased.

"Do you even have any intention of solving the problem?"

Hehe.

"Because Lord Demon reacts like that, I somehow feel like not doing it."

"Haa."

The Demon pressed his forehead.

"What do you want me to do?"

I don't know~.

The cause is Lord Demon, so please take responsibility later.

#

I walked down the corridor with Count Macenas.

The Count wasn't wearing a suit, but his fashion, covered in gold accessories, remained the same. Rather, because he wasn't in a suit, he looked exactly like a wealthy merchant, which made the ensemble harmonious.

Pastel couldn't help but marvel.

"Your fashion back then wasn't in its complete form. I feel like my horizons are broadening."

"Is that so? Some nobles are so bound by old customs that they tend to disparage it, but you know how to appreciate a masterpiece, Marquis."

Count Macenas stroked his gold bracelet. It was an appearance focused on extravagance rather than practicality.

"It is a ceremonial bracelet, presumed to have been worn by a high priest in ancient times. The important thing is that the design is so sophisticated that it doesn't feel out of place even when worn in this era. It is a premium masterpiece that combines historical and practical value."

"Uwaah!"

It looks incredibly expensive!

Pastel's heart pounded more at the price tag attached to it than at the gold bracelet's appearance.

Thump, thump.

Count Macenas gave a pleasant smile. He unfastened the gold bracelet and handed it over.

"Would you like to try it on?"

Heok.

She received the gold bracelet with trembling hands. When she slipped it onto her thin wrist, it hung very loosely, but its weight was distinctly felt.

This weight.

It's telling me that it's a price tag that suits me perfectly.

How wonderful it would feel to drape things like this all over my body!

Is it just my misconception that a gold bracelet doesn't suit Pink-Pink and White-White?

Wouldn't accepting this treasure be fulfilling a Popular Person's Duty?

Count Macenas looked regretful.

"Oh my. It doesn't suit your appearance, Marquis. What a shame."

How could this be?

Pastel returned the gold bracelet weakly.

Upon reaching the end of the corridor, they arrived at a separate space where the gold collection was stored.

Various gold ornaments were arranged densely in all directions.

There was a treasure chest overflowing with gold coins, a small airship model made of gold, and even a gold-leafed world map.

Pastel's mouth hung wide open.

She came for auction collusion and business, but she felt like her mind was going to wander elsewhere.

Her gaze wandered before stopping upon discovering a bookshelf. Leather books were tightly packed into it.

Oing.

An intellectual collection that stood out on its own.

"Would you like to read a volume?"

Pastel casually pulled out a book with a thoughtful expression.

She felt the texture of thinly tanned, hard leather. When she opened it, it was filled with letters written in melted gold.

Wow.

A book fitting for a scholar like me.

Count Macenas pulled out another book.

"It is a book made from Demonkind's skin."

Demonkind's Skin.

"It is a collection made during the war, one book per person, recording each Demonkind's life and its end."

His hand gesture pointed to the bookshelf.

"The current market price has dropped, but its future value is considerable. Recently, sponsorship for history has been increasing, and with the rise of museums, the market price will rise significantly in the long term, given its archival value."

Demonkind's Skin.

Pastel's hands trembled violently.

The book fell.

Count Macenas hurriedly caught it. His questioning eyes looked at Pastel.

"Marquis? What is the matter?"

Pastel shuddered and her hands shook. She looked at the bookshelf with trembling eyes before turning back to the Count, who was merely genuinely puzzled.

Their eyes met, and silence flowed for a moment.

"Do you hate Demonkind?"

Count Macenas looked even more puzzled.

"What era are we in? I have no hard feelings toward Demonkind."

Pastel swallowed dry saliva.

"Why do you do such things?"

Count Macenas, not understanding the reason, fell into thought. He seemed to be agonizing over it as if he had received a profound question.

Then, as if he had reached a conclusion, he spread his arms.

"Because I love them."

The golden collection surrounding them spread out.

"All of this."