My Wives are Beautiful Demons

Chapter 83: How do you know Sapphire?

"Come on, eat a little," Selene said, placing the food on the table. Despite its odd appearance, it smelled surprisingly delicious.

"O-ok..." Vergil sat down at the table, and little Zuri joined them.

"Hungry!" she exclaimed, sitting at the wooden table while holding a fork and knife, wearing a white napkin tied around her neck like something straight out of an old cartoon.

"Yes, eat, little one." Selene said, placing a plate of food in front of her, and soon... Zuri fell into a trance.

Zuri, however, suddenly stopped. As soon as the plate was placed before her, she froze. Her mouth hung slightly open, and her once-hungry eyes now stared vacantly at the food. Vergil frowned, unsure of what was happening. Zuri, who had been loud and brash until that moment, now seemed paralyzed, like a grotesque statue. The only thing that moved was the slow drip of drool from her mouth, pooling onto the wooden table.

"Um..." Vergil leaned slightly toward Zuri, his voice cautious. "What's happening to her?"

Selene just smiled, completely unconcerned. "Oh, nothing much. She does that sometimes when she's... impressed. This food, in particular, can be a bit intense for creatures like her."

"Intense?" Vergil raised an eyebrow. "She looks... paralyzed."

Zuri remained motionless, her eyes wide, and the sound of saliva dripping onto the table began to make him uncomfortable. He was used to oddities in the demon world, but this was... unsettling.

"Fufufu, your face is priceless," Selene laughed, seeing how Vergil was trying to make sense of it all. "Don't worry, it's just a simple spell. That crazy woman wouldn't let me talk to you without a proper excuse." Selene's tone shifted.

"What do you mean by that?" Vergil asked, slightly leaning back.

"Ah, I'm always misunderstood. What a pain," Selene said before turning to him. "She told you not to look into my eyes, right? That bitch..." she muttered.

"She won't tell me who you are, and I think it's because of her... interest," Selene continued, looking at him, who still avoided her gaze. "It's fine, I won't do anything," she said, giving up.

"It's just that... that woman... Sapphire, she's been acting too strange lately..." Selene murmured, looking down at her hands as she clasped them together. Vergil glanced at her for a moment and then...

"Well, I don't really understand her either. After all, I've only known her for a short time," Vergil said, grabbing the spoon and taking a bite of the food.

The food, surprisingly delicious, brought a brief sense of comfort, but the discomfort with Selene's words remained. He realized that he was being drawn into something far bigger than he had imagined.

Selene sighed, watching him with a mix of frustration and resignation. She crossed her arms and leaned against the table, her ethereal beauty contrasting with the rawness of their conversation.

"Only a short time, huh..." she murmured. "But Sapphire has layers you've barely scratched. She... She's not the same as she used to be." Her tone was softer now, almost as if she was recalling something distant.

Vergil looked at her, trying to process what Selene was saying. Sapphire, the arrogant and brutal demoness, was hiding something beyond her usual chaotic nature? The thought intrigued him, but he also knew he couldn't fully trust anyone in this world. Still, there was a truth in Selene's voice that was hard to ignore.

"If you don't understand her, how do you expect to survive her? I mean, when you first came here, I thought she wanted to kill you," Selene asked.

Vergil glanced up slightly, still avoiding her direct gaze. "I was terrified of her when I first met her, but now... she's actually kind of cute. And even if I'm being kidnapped, it's not so bad," he chuckled, taking another spoonful of food, feeling the intense flavor fill his mouth, as though the food was infused with magical energy. He wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, but at least it kept him alert.

"Who are you really?" Selene asked.

"A man who loves his wives very much," he answered without hesitation.

"And who are these wives?" she asked again.

"Katharina Agares, Ada Baal, and Roxanne Sitri," he replied directly, continuing to eat.

"And the maid? How did you manage to get someone of such high caliber?" she questioned, as if interrogating him, but Vergil only laughed.

"Sapphire gave her to me," he chuckled, recalling the scene, and Selene let out a deep sigh.

"Ahh... how strange... Her daughter marries a man with nothing, then she gives one of the best blacksmiths in the world to you, and next, she brings the greatest spiritual master in the world and gives you a Familiar too. This woman... has she gone even crazier?" Selene asked, covering her face with her hand.

Vergil let out a low laugh, pushing his plate aside after savoring the food. The weight of Selene's words hung in the air, bringing a sense of reality to the absurdity of the situation.

"Maybe she really has gone crazy," he replied with an ironic smile, his eyes momentarily lost in thought. "But honestly, I don't care. Sapphire is... unique. Strange, terrifying, yes, but at the same time, she has something that keeps me intrigued."

Selene watched him closely, the dim light in the cabin casting shadows that softened her features. It seemed there was something more she wanted to say, but she hesitated, perhaps out of fear or concern.

"It's not normal," she finally said, her tone growing darker. "Sapphire doesn't give favors like that. She's never been the type to offer help for free, especially something as valuable as a renowned blacksmith or a Familiar. You must be quite interesting, you know?" Selene questioned.

Vergil fell silent for a moment, considering her words. He knew that the demon world was driven by interests, betrayals, and power plays. But so far, he had navigated this chaotic sea with a certain confidence, especially with his wives by his side.

"It's not like I had much of a choice," he said with a sigh. "I'm in this up to my neck. If Sapphire has her own motives, that's fine by me. After all, she is my dear mother-in-law, isn't she?"

Selene narrowed her eyes, and a soft, low laugh escaped her lips. "Your dear mother-in-law, huh?" she repeated, her voice laced with irony. "You have an interesting way of handling this situation, but let me warn you... Sapphire isn't the type to get wrapped up in sentimentality. You can play with that idea, but eventually, you'll find out that nothing in the demon world is that simple."

Vergil shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, but deep down, he knew there was truth in Selene's words. Sapphire was unpredictable, but there was something about her, beyond her strength and madness, that drew him in. Perhaps it was that mix of danger and power that made him trust her, even if it was purely for survival.

"Well, in the meantime, I'll play the game," he said casually. "If Sapphire has her interests, I'll have mine. Who knows where this will lead, but for now, I'm doing just fine."

Selene stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to see beyond his words. "You have a confidence that borders on recklessness, you know?"

"I've heard that before," Vergil replied with a half-smile.

Zuri, who had been silent until now, let out an irritating laugh, breaking the spell. "That arrogance is going to get you in trouble one day, idiot."

Vergil raised an eyebrow at her. "Weren't you more fun when you were quiet?"

Zuri stuck her tongue out at him defiantly, which made Selene sigh.

"Well, time will tell if your confidence is well-placed, Vergil," Selene said, getting back up. "But always stay alert. In this world, everyone wears a mask... and you're surrounded by those who wear the most dangerous ones."

"I'm going to grab some fruit. Try to sort things out; you're going to be together forever," Selene said, standing up and leaving just Zuri and Vergil behind.

The moment Selene stepped outside into the yard, someone was leaning against a tree, eavesdropping on the entire conversation.

"You could have just asked me what you wanted to know," Sapphire said, her voice tight with nervousness. Selene took a step back, startled to hear Sapphire's voice coming from the shadows. She hadn't seen her there, but it was typical of Sapphire to appear when least expected. Her heart began to race, but it wasn't just due to Sapphire's imposing presence; there was something more.

"I've known you for eight hundred sixty-five years. I know you wouldn't tell me anything," she retorted, trying to escape Sapphire's gaze, but she found herself almost forced to look at her, her eyes drawn in.

As their gazes locked, an overwhelming wave of heat coursed through Selene's body. Her thoughts became a jumble, and a strange sensation, almost... passionate, took hold of her. It felt as though a spell had struck her, and she felt her lips move in an almost inaudible murmur, clear in her mind:

'She... is in love?' she thought, her eyes wide with disbelief. 'No... it's interest, but... romantic interest? What is this?'

The feeling was uncontrollable, and for a brief moment, Selene lost herself in that intensity. Sapphire, meanwhile, huffed in realization.

'Damn it... she's using her gaze on me,' Sapphire muttered, feeling vulnerable despite her strength.

"Stop, Artemis," Sapphire said immediately, slicing through the air with the name Selene had abandoned years ago. "You really underestimate me if you think you can look at me like that and question anything, Artemis."

The threat in Sapphire's voice hit Selene like a physical blow. Her body trembled, her knees nearly giving way, and she almost succumbed to the urge to bow before the woman. An overwhelming force emanated from Sapphire, making Selene feel vulnerable and weak.

"Don't play with fire, or you'll get burned," Sapphire continued, her voice cold and sharp. "I can be your friend, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to tolerate your intrusion. If there's something you don't understand, it's because I've chosen for you not to understand."

Selene, still dazed by the strange sensation and Sapphire's overwhelming power, struggled to regain control of herself. But that gaze... that gaze made her question everything. It was a mix of admiration, fear, and a confusing passion she couldn't explain... all directed toward... a man...

"You... are falling in love," Selene murmured, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Sapphire, her expression impassive, crossed her arms, subtly accentuating her figure as her presence became undeniable. "I fall in love with potential, Artemis," she replied, her voice cold and resolute. "Not with a man."

"If you say so... but don't call me Artemis," Selene shot back, but in her thoughts...

'You're lying so badly, Sapphire.'