Demon Lord: Erotic Adventure in Another World

Chapter 113: Brother and King - Hidden Talks

Alan walked through the gloomy palace halls. His eyes closed as his fingers rubbed the bridge of his nose, lips pressed together while the echo of his steps filled the hallway. The only distraction Alan could find was to stare through the thin windows of the stone palace hall, grey skies filling his gaze until the next intersection.

But without fail, his steps turned in the same direction at the same weary pace.

Towards his brother's private study, the two knights on either side of the door were strong enough to protect him from almost any threat. Alan's steps halted a few metres away, his eyes turning to the pale window, watching the rain begin to fall.

My brother, how will you react to this news... If you turn against Ryuji, what should I do?

"Halt! State your name and business... Ah, Duke Alan! The King is currently taking a rest."

Alan knew these guards; the pair protected him and his brother since they were teenagers, no longer fledgling knights with great potential. Now, old men and heroes of the kingdom.

"My apologies, Duke Alan; if you please, the King shall wake shortly."

Alan waved them aside, their frowns deepening when Alan continued past them. "Duke, do you not understand?"

"I must see my brother. It's of great importance..." Alan pleaded while knocking on the heavy doors, their metal hinges keeping them from rumbling with each knock. The two guards looked at one another, but no answer came.

Alan sighed when he turned. "It's fine I will take all the blame."

Suddenly, a hasty voice came from the inside, along with the sound of clothes being gathered in haste. Alan paused at the suddenness.

"Come, we understand!" One guard stepped towards him, his wrinkled palm pressing the heavy metal of the door. "Enter, Duke Alan, you may have the King's blessing..."

The next moment, a half-naked woman with beautiful dark skin covered in kiss marks rushed out of the door, her eyes gazing at Alan before turning away with her eyes and lips closing tight before scurrying off into the night faster as if to escape Alan's gaze.

Huh... I guess she chose my brother, after all.

"Who interrupted me?" A grumpy voice came from inside the room while. Alan stepped inside with a blank face. His brother's sleepy head poked outside from the curtains of his king-sized bed, golden locks messy from sleep or perhaps Alan's guess was correct, and it had more to do with the woman...

He was different compared to Ryuji. The king never cared about the pleasure of the woman. This felt like a bitter fact for Alan, but knowing his brother's habits, Alan's eyes softened when he looked at the messy golden locks.

His eyes focused on the body lacking muscle, a visible sign of his brother's relaxed life under constant protection. "Brother, forgive me for disturbing you, but I have important news." Alan's eyes met his brothers, pale skin hiding beneath the darkness while Alan turned back at the doorway.

"Your guards..."

"Mhm, of course. Men, close the door and use dampening magic!" His brother shouted the orders. Soon, Alan could feel magic fall across the doorway's frame like a blanket of magic. Soon, the sounds around Alan muffled while he walked forward, eyes focused on the window, seeing the same grey skies for the third time.

"Brother, it's about Liana."

"Eh!? What about my beloved Angel!! If anything happened to her, I'll--"

"No... it's not that, but someone who can help her curse appeared..."

"!!" The king made a strange voice, but Alan did not look, eyes continuing to gaze at the grey rain which suddenly turned brighter, while an uncomfortable pressure pushed Alan's clothes against his skin.

"The curse from our ancient bloodline... caused by the crimes our ancestors committed against the demons before their leader existed...."

Alan glanced at the golden hair, which parted with the king sitting up from his bed, hands covering his face before digging deep into it.

"Finally! Where did you find them!? Can you introduce them? I will give them anything if they can help cure our bloodline curse! That is if they aren't dead already."

His brother's excited state made Alan feel a weight in his stomach. He swallowed and clenched his hands. "Brother, it's the hero... Ryuji."

The next moment, Alan stumbled backwards with his brother grabbing his neck, golden eyes glowing as the pressure rose higher and higher.

Alan struggled to breathe while his brother gritted his teeth, "Ryuji... the one under you?" The king said through his clenched teeth. While his grip intensified, Alan struggled as his breaths paused. "Brother.. Please..." Alan begged.

"TELL ME EVERYTHING!!"

"Liana... approached Ryuji... for help. Because her magic didn't kill him."

Alan's voice was cut while his brother tightened further. Alan coughed as drool trailed down from his lips. He grabbed his brother's trembling hand, begging with his eyes, and Alan fell when his brother let go.

"Forgive me Alan... you know how important Liana is to me, the only child with my first wife before she passed."

The King walked over and helped his brother stand. Alan gasped but nodded with understanding. "I understand... that is why I told you as soon as I learned about the situation, however brother... Liana, I believe she has fallen for the hero."

His brother clenched his fist again, but Alan did not flinch as his hands patted his throat and uniform. Instead of backing up or showing a weak front, Alan stepped forward and grabbed his brother's fist, then gazed into his eyes with a sharp look.

"Do not become clouded by emotions, brother."

Alan's brother choked on his spit at Alan's words. The two gazed at each other while their positions switched from only a moment ago. "Liana has come to not only overcome her curse, but through your actions with this situation. She may forgive your treatment of her mother after death."

"Ahhh... how embarrassing, my little brother taught me about my foolishness..." His brother cupped his face in his trembling hands.

Alan's calm state became hidden at this sight. But only enough so, a deep frown and softened gaze visible. The king's fury seemed to fade as he looked at how calm Alan seemed.

"Alan, why do you seem so calm about this? Do you agree? This is about our lovely Liana!" read-only-on-MvLeMpYr

The King grabbed Alan's shoulder with his cheeks still reddened, for Alan to pat his brother's hand. "It is concerning. However, Liana is smart..." Alan's brother nodded. Alan continued. "I have thought she was behaving strangely recently brother. Ryuji's arrival changed Liana..."

"Wait... you agree that the hero's power--"

"I do not care." Alan interrupted. "I trust Ryuji, and he will never let Liana suffer, if there came a time when the world learned the truth of our family, our bloodlines' true origination. He would stand beside her without question."

Alan could feel the king trembling before patting him again to regain his attention, calm eyes meeting his as the king returned it. "Brother, Liana would make an excellent queen, but so would her sisters who do not carry the curse, and Ryuji would support her no matter the future. Do you know that, even 'that' Velvet has accepted to train him into the strongest male on this planet?"

He emphasised Ryuji's capabilities in the most important subjects he knew would shake the king. The King released Alan, falling onto his chair with his pale skin revealing his naked chest. "Alan, if it were not you telling me, I would have this hero killed. You understand that, right?"

Alan's face stiffened further, but the king already shook his head as Alan opened his lips. "Ryuji... has my approval. Keep watching my little brother and report more of his movements, but do not forget about Liana! If he truly wins her heart... and helps cure her curse.

I will accept him no matter what his origins... Oh... Does this mean you will see if he can help Alice, too?"

He sighed at his brother mentioning his sister before nodding his head. "Brother, allow Ryuji some time to prove himself truly. The longer Ryuji's abilities exist only between a few, before making a full judgement watch him at the tournament in two weeks. I assure you that you will come to adore him as I do. He is the only person, except you, I trust with my life."

The King watched Alan closely before his brother took a breath, finally allowing Alan to step away. The king nodded. "Fine, but make sure Liana is happy, my little brother. I could not make her mother happy, and she didn't have a curse..." His brother said with a bitter smile as his lips trembled. Alan could only accept his teeth clenching but soon turned away while looking out the window.

A single ray of sunlight broke through the grey skies. It made Alan's heart shake, and his lips quiver as they slowly curled into a faint smile. The first time since he parted from Ryuji. The fact his crush slept with his brother faded. Alan knew there were thousands of women in the world.

"Ryuji, this is as much as I can do for you..." His steps increased, walking down the bright hallway, a world apart from the gloomy feeling from before; now, the sunlight illuminated the entire castle with beautiful colours as Alan passed with a brilliant smile.

Today, the rumours of the Duke's beautiful smile would be spread through the castle, and Alan's popularity would spread like wildfire.