The demoness held her head up to face the demon king and a smile flashed onto her slightly pale face. "That's because...you have got the wrong person the whole time." The demoness replied. "Remove the veil!" The demon king commanded to the guards.
The veil was pulled off from the face. There stood a completely different person in the same clothing as the demoness. A very well-known name with a very unknown face, stood on top of the wooden platform and in front of the rope through which was supposed to be the rope that killed her that day. It wasn't a trespasser, nor was it someone he would have expected to meet.
"You! Who are you! Where is our right handman?! Do you know that walking into the demon king's place of stay is a huge crime?! And impersonating as a well-known, most trusted guard to the demon king, is a bigger crime! Hang her immediately!" The demon king's messenger spoke out. The demon king took out his dagger from the hilt in his waist and pointed at the messenger who spoke.
"The only person to command any further punishment to this guest, is the demon king himself. Do I need to repeat this rule again? In fact, this rule was written right below the rule you have just said in the scroll you had revised earlier. And giving orders without the demon king's consent is a much bigger punishment before whatever crime you think she has done." The demon king spoke.
While grasping the dagger tightly in his right hand, he walked forward towards the platform. The guards behind him were not daring to move as they knew what sort of punishment the demon king was talking about when he mentioned it to his messenger with sharp scary eyes.
The demon king held out the knife in both his hands as he knealt in one knee and bowed his head down. "I am very regretful for what I have just said. I will take the punishment for whatever things that my guards may have done to you and I am willing to do whatever you would ask from this kingdom."
While standing on the wooden platform, the first thing that came to her mind, was to get rid of the shackles that tied her in place. Therefore, the first thing she would request would be to end the false imprisonment and the trial.
Since every demon king's would grant three wishes maximum, I should use this opportunity to do three things that I want done for the time being. Besides that, I need to reserve one wish for the two peoples that I have come here to take. Of course, I can't simply think that she would really want to co-operate with me given that I have done certain things with her, such as almost killing her too.
Anyway, now that I know, I have two wishes that I have obscurred, what is one more wish that I can ask to be granted if the demon king is actually willing to grant it? Although, I am not sure if he is also willing to accept that many wishes because I am just a human too. I guess she already knew this was a hard task to do, I am still at shock that she is a risk-taker like me.
Now, what is of importance but also not really important? Knowing that I have already been assigned a mission to contribute in, which will also take place by tomorrow, what if I asked for a bunch of powerful items to use in combat?
"Before that, I do know that you allow each person, who are supposedly your guest, to have a maximum of three wishes. I will need you to promise me that I will get all of those three wishes. Otherwise, I can go around cutting off the throats of your loyal guards. Do you understand?"
The demon king was taken aback at first, but given that the person standing on top of the wooden platform, was said to be one of the most potentially powerful person, he felt that it was better not to mess with her. She was a person who kept her promise and when she said something, she would complete it, even when it is exhausting and mentally draining.
"Of course, I will grant you three wishes as you have asked. Now please allow me to recommend you a few wish suggestions. Obviously, I can't fulfil some wishes like granting you an army of demons or giving up my palace, I would prefer you go lightly with the things you want done or want given." The demon king agreed. I sincerely wish not to anger you. I have heard a lot of things about you from my demon slaves but I hoped for it not to be true.
"Hmm...I can't guarantee that you will keep your promise and grant me the wishes I want to be granted. I already know that demons, especially the demon king, is a huge liar. So let's have a proper chat at a more confidential location. I think a few things about this kingdom...is worth discussing."
"As you have commanded." The demon king got up into a standing position. "You heard her! Clear the dining area and remove those shackles! I don't want any sort of disturbance!" The demon king commanded his loyal demon guards.
Hmm...that was easy. I really thought he would be someone hard to negotiate with. Anyway, at least I have gotten myself an extra wish, that completely works. I guess I have a very good idea of what to wish for. If anything, that is what I will ask for.
The guard closest to her, grabbed the keys hanging from his bracelet and unlocked the heavy metal cuffs around her wrist. She used that opportunity to place a punch onto the guards face and smiled. "Well? This feels much better. Sorry, that I had to test my movements on you. But bruises don't stay for much long, so you should be able to recover in no time." Aefia joked while getting down the wooden platform.
"Oh, and you may get up now. It's not like this isn't your castle. Although, I find the fact funny how you almost gave it up to me without having a proper or thorough search behind my background or history. That gets me wondering, are you used to hiring or trusting people blindly? Because when I first got news that I unknowingly inherited a powerful throne and a powerful position, I was pretty curious to know who was this very person, who was willing to give up his throne for me." Aefia started speaking.
"Oh right! I completely forgot to ask. How did you come to know that I was the King of Tyrants? It isn't likely for only you to know that I was the person you were looking for once the veil was removed. To think, even your messenger didn't know that I was the so-called King of Tyrants. I know you might think I shouldn't speak about that matter in front of your most trusted guards, but I think even they should know about this fact."
Aefia was an exceptional actor from a young age, so she was easily able to act mad and suspicious at the point. By doing this, she wanted to express her anger and unwillingness towards whatever the demon king was plotting against her. She wanted to psychologically attack the demon king and take out as much information as she could, to deduce what the demon king was having the demon slaves work so hard for. In particular, the vary project which would soon wipe out the entire universe.
"I am sincerely sorry for not having knew about you well, and force you into pursuing a forced future which, even you knew would lead you to your death. It's because of a certain revealation, that made us believe that you were the very person who would soon be able to take out an entire race. We have read in that revealation, that your power was equivalent to that of ten groups of the most powerful species in the entire universe. It is because of that description, that we all got brainwashed and thought about having you rule our worlds." The demon king spoke.
"I don't think that is the end. I have heard way more than what you are saying. Care to explain that? Actually, I will finish it off for you. The revealation you got, that is a book written by a human, right? That book was brought here by the help of a major group who are planning on destroying the entire universe. And one person from that major group, is an Earthling. Now I believe that I don't have to explain what Earthlings are, that Earthling isn't from Earth to begin with." Aefia explained.
Just then, a guard came in and bowed towards the demon king. "Your highness, the dining room has been prepared the way you wanted it. I have made sure to have the food checked too. There are no problems indicating that the food had been poisoned." The guard was an almost familiar face and Aefia immediately recognized who it was.
"Great. Well then, let us continue this conversation at the dining hall. As the saying goes, food brings the good mood that is required for a friendly conversation." The demon king scammered towards the door. I don't think it will help you with a friendly conversation in any way.
Aefia followed behind after a few seconds when the same guard came to escort her. On the way to the dining hall, Aefia stole the chance to speak with the guard, knowing that the demon king had already warned every other guards to eavesdrop into whatever conversation that they came across. Since the guard who was escorting her to the dining room was someone very familiar and important, Aefia had to have a small talk with him in order to carry out the task she had actually come to the demon king's castle for.
"Do you have the time for a small conversation?" Aefia asked in one of his known languages. "If you do, I will like to deliver a message to you from your mother. And don't worry about the other guards trying to eavesdrop, I have them all under a spell. They will be unconscious for the time that we pass by them."
The guard hesitated for a moment until he saw that the guards were starting to fall asleep for a short while and then waking up after they were out of hearing range. "You know my mother? How is she? If you ever get the chance, please say that I am sorry for abruptly departing her side on my coronation day." The guard replied in the same language as Aefia was speaking in.
"I will. In fact, you mom told me to ask you about your health and whether you wanted to be taken back to your home planet. Although, she also said that the only thing she can do for you, is to help you reorganize and rebuild your world. Mainly, she asked me to ask you if you wanted help to get out of this place.
"She also said that it is completely fine if you are enjoying your time here. Otherwise, I am supposed to take you back to her." Aefia asked with a stop to let him think. Adding more intimidating information during a thought, often helped to increase the probability of getting an affirmative response, in which case, her lady really wanted her son to say yes.
"I will have to think about it. Considering that my mom is one person I really want to see but also, the demon king gravely punishes any one of his loyal guards who see their family members without his permission." The guard replied.
"It's alright. Take your time to think. And don't worry about the demon king, I have him under control. If he chooses to step up and break through any one of the rules I have in mind, I will be the one to rule over this kingdom." Aefia said with a serious face as she entered the door which lead to the large dining hall.
The room was as big as the throne rooms shown in movies and fantasy series are. The curtains were a red silk and the chandelier had candles as its light source. The room was lit solely by candles, they were also arranged on top of the luxuriously designed table. The candles altogether, were so bright, that the entire room felt like standing at the Mafia's Main Department during day time. The entire lighting system, brought Aefia a feel of nostalgia.
The seat of honor was more like a throne with an armrest in both sides of the seat. The seat was as wide as the demon king was, making it seem like the demon king was struggling to fit into the seat itself.
Aefia sat at the chair opposite to the demon king and took a quick look at the food displayed in front of her. Although they were all edible looking, if she ate them, it would be cannibalism to her own species. "Help yourself to the food." The demon king requested.
"I am afraid that I already know what this is. Don't play tricks with me, unless you choose to suffer a punishment that I set up. That is..." Aefia paused to bring the tension. Finally, she placed her elbow, the way her uncle would do, on the table and placed her chin on top of her clasped fingers. "If you choose to tell every single one of your guards the truth behind why they were turned into a demon."
Seeing her in that position, the demon king felt as if she was aware of everything that was happening behind the door and knew that she was about to step onto a trap that will keep her a prisoner to the demon king forever. Beads of sweat started to appear on the demon king's forehead as Aefia started to speak again.
"Now let's finish off the discussion quickly. I don't have much time left, I have a lot of unfinished tasks left to do when I get back to my current dimension." Aefia said while leaning against the chair.