"Shall we go, my dear Lady?" Asmodeus asked, taking Erika’s hand.

Erika blinked several times as a slow grin spread across her face.

"Oho? What’s this?" She placed a hand dramatically against her chest. "The terrifying Demon Emperor is flirting with me in public now?"

"You seemed to enjoy pretending to be an ordinary noblewoman."

"Mmm, true."

Her fingers slid comfortably between his as she stood from the booth in one smooth motion. Even in heels, she still needed to tilt her head slightly to meet his eyes properly. But she stretched herself to whisper in his ear. "It’s been too long, baby."

"Haha."

The surrounding tavern patrons immediately pretended not to notice the change, some of them almost certain of his identity now.

But they do so poorly.

"Asmodeus," Erika said quietly, amusement softening around the edges. "You know if people realise who you are, this place is gonna lose its mind, right?"

"No way, I’m just a figurehead."

"Are you crazy!? Don’t you know what the people think about you...?"

Asmodeus had considered it before. But thinking too deeply about how people viewed him only complicated things. The moment he started shaping himself around expectations, something important might crack.

So he chose to remain himself.

For now, it could wait.

"Well, perhaps we should leave before you challenge another district to a drinking contest."

Erika glanced up at him, barely convinced.

"Ehehe, no promises."

He chuckled faintly before lifting her hand toward his lips.

"Shall we go, my dear Lady?"

A nearby waitress nearly dropped an entire tray.

Erika’s cheeks flushed for half a second before her usual smug confidence returned twice as strong. She even glanced back at the waitress who pointed at her, shaking like a terrified little deer.

Erika shook her head before turning back to Asmodeus.

"Damn," she muttered. "How am I supposed to compete with lines like that?"

"You were doing fairly well earlier."

"Heh."

She stepped closer and wrapped an arm around his before turning toward the tavern dramatically. "Don’t ruin my reputation, honey..."

Then she pulled out her tongue.

"Later, losers! The hottest man in the Empire is stealing me away."

Several drunken demons immediately booed and said they were the most handsome.

A woman shouted for Asmodeus to take her too, while another demanded a rematch against Erika tomorrow.

The blonde demoness laughed loudly as she allowed herself to be led outside into the cool night air of Vel’Ashera.

Above them, countless mana-lights shimmered across the sprawling capital while music echoed through the midnight streets.

For the first time that evening, Asmodeus allowed himself to relax slightly.

At least until Erika looked up at him with dangerous curiosity sparkling in her blue eyes.

"So..." She squeezed his arm tighter. "Wanna tell me why you stink of Lumina’s silk?"

Asmodeus glanced down at her calmly.

"How did you notice, you’re not even a dog."

"Baby, who do you think makes most of our clothes? The sweet scent of Arachne silk has a unique scent... especially when she’s horny." Erika snorted. "Well, her smell sticks to literally everything in the palace."

She leaned closer against his arm before taking a dramatic sniff near his collar.

"Mhm. Yep. She definitely got folded."

"..."

"What?" She grinned up at him innocently. "I’m happy for her."

"You don’t sound very convincing, but at least you’re not angry over it."

"Because I’m not."

Asmodeus laughed quietly beneath his breath.

The cool night air drifted through the wide streets of Vel’Ashera as they continued walking side by side beneath the glowing mana-lights overhead. Elegant bridges connected the upper sectors around them while enchanted signs flickered softly above taverns overflowing with drunken demons.

Several pedestrians bowed subtly as they passed.

Others stared at them as they passed, but mostly at Erika.

The blonde demoness always attracted attention effortlessly, whether from beauty, confidence, or the sheer force of her personality.

Probably all three.

"So," Erika continued casually, "how was it?"

"Lumina?"

"Mhm."

Asmodeus thought back briefly.

The trembling silk leaking from her body as she convulsed, the subtle drool staining the pillow she bit down on as she came.

"...It was amazing."

Erika immediately groaned dramatically.

"Oh, c’mon! We both know that Arachne did something crazy; she’s been muttering and talking about it for the past few weeks."

"You already knew?"

"Obviously." She rolled her eyes. "What do you think we speak about when we’re all together? Plus, she’s competitive as hell when it comes to you."

"You’re not much different."

"Excuse me?" Erika placed a hand against her chest in mock offence. "I’m perfectly stable and emotionally mature."

The following demon knights both staggered, almost falling into the sewer opening.

Erika hissed, pointing at them instantly.

"You both wanna die, huh?!"

The poor knights struggled to their feet and saluted Asmodeus, clearly seeking his aid when facing his power crazy wife.

Asmodeus shook his head slowly.

Somehow, she had become even more chaotic after becoming a mother.

Not that he didn’t like it, but sometimes she just needed a little tap to recover her modest, calm self.

Then again... from what he heard about her past.

Back on Earth, Erika had already been the type of woman who could start a fight inside a luxury restaurant and somehow leave with everyone’s phone number afterwards.

"So where are we going?" she asked suddenly.

"You were the one who wanted to leave."

"Yeah, but now you’re responsible for entertaining me."

"What a terrifying burden."

"Mhm." Erika squeezed his arm tighter while flashing a smug grin. "Better work hard, hubby."

"Hmm... let’s see..."

Erika slowed her pace slightly, blue eyes wandering across the crowded night streets while pretending to think deeply about something important.

Meanwhile, she shamelessly leaned almost her entire weight against his arm.

"Food?" she suggested first.

"You already emptied an entire tavern kitchen."

"True." She nodded seriously. "Okay, then dessert."

Asmodeus merely looked at her.

Erika failed to hold eye contact for more than two seconds before laughing.

"Fine, fine. Maybe I just wanted to walk around with you for a bit."

That answer sounded more honest.

"Then come here, let’s enjoy the night together. If our feet find something, we’ll try it."

The noise of Vel’Ashera surrounded them from every direction. Music drifted from elevated balconies, mixing with a group of horned musicians playing near a canal bridge lined with floating lanterns.

Further ahead, demons crowded around a street performer, manipulating glowing threads of fire magic through the air like dancing ribbons.

The capital truly never slept.

Asmodeus glanced sideways at Erika.

It almost felt strange how peaceful moments like this had become rare for him.

Erika suddenly narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"What is it? ...why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing, I was just admiring how pretty my wife is."

Erika stared for another second before her expression softened slightly.

Then, without warning, she slipped both hands behind her back and stepped in front of him while walking backwards through the crowd.

"Hey, Ryuji."

She suddenly used his true name.

"Hmmm?"

Erika shuffled slightly as they walked slowly, as if nervous, before she finally decided to ask her question.

"If we met on earth... do you think we’d have become like this?"

Asmodeus looked at her quietly, and for a brief moment, the sounds of Vel’Ashera seemed distant. The laughter faded along with the music, then the passing crowds also diminished, becoming nothing more than shadows.

All of it faded behind that single question.

Erika continued walking backwards slowly through the street, golden hair swaying behind her, while her blue eyes watched him carefully.

Unlike her usual teasing.

This time, she genuinely wanted an answer.

"...Probably not," he admitted.

Erika’s smile weakened slightly.

But before she could react, he continued.

"Because your dad wouldn’t like me, so it’d probably take much longer even to get his approval to marry you."

Erika blinked.

The playful grin on her lips faded little by little.

"...Damn."

She stopped walking backwards for a moment, forcing Asmodeus to slow with her.

The mana-lights above painted soft gold across her tanned cheeks while the noise of Vel’Ashera continued around them. It was almost like only they existed in the world as she glanced up into his eyes.

Erika stared at him, almost obsessively.

"Why are you saying stuff like that so casually...?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don’t play dumb." She looked away and scratched her cheek awkwardly. "You basically just said you’d go through my dad to marry me."

"I would."

"Ryuji."

"What?"

"That’s embarrassing."

Asmodeus smiled faintly.

"Was I supposed to lie?"

The power of his words seemed to remove her ability to breathe. She quickly hid her face by pressing it against his chest. Her hands slipped down his waist, clinging to his hips as she slowly adjusted her breathing.

He couldn’t help but find her adorable, and he wanted to tease her more.

But choosing not to.

"No, but..." Erika clicked her tongue, "Ugh. You’re really unfair sometimes." She turned around properly and returned to his side, slipping her arm through his once more. This time, she held him a little tighter.

For a while, neither of them spoke and just walked.

Past glowing storefronts selling enchanted jewellery.

Past a group of young demons sharing skewers beside a fountain shaped like a coiled dragon.

Past a tavern where drunken mercenaries sang so badly that even the bouncer looked ashamed.

Then Erika finally leaned her head against his shoulder.

"...He would’ve hated you at first."

"Your father?"

"Mhm." Her lips curved faintly. "He would’ve had an issue with how you looked like a foreign gangster and made you accept all sorts of impossible challenges."

Erika glanced up at him. "But Mom would’ve liked you."

"Why?"

"Because you’re stupidly hot!"

Asmodeus gave a low laugh.

"That sounds like an insult."

"It is." She smiled. "But it’s also why I love you."