Erika immediately looked away after speaking, her cheeks flushed red.

"...Damn it."

Though she often shared her emotions, for once it seemed the blonde demoness looked genuinely embarrassed by her own words. The blue flicker of a mana stone reflected softly across her tanned cheeks while the night crowds of Vel’Ashera continued shifting around them obliviously.

Asmodeus watched in silence while enjoying every subtle change in her face and expression.

He then reached over and gently brushed a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear, causing the demon beauty to freeze.

The bustling streets around them suddenly felt strangely distant.

"Dear."

"Mhm?"

"Y-You can’t touch me like that after such a line..."

He couldn’t help but smile at her cute response, narrowing his eyes as she turned away slightly, hiding her flushed cheeks.

"Well, I can’t help it when you look so delicate and cute."

Erika’s blue eyes widened slightly, with a subtle glint.

For as long as he’d known, she was usually a woman with overflowing confidence, and yet suddenly she looked strangely helpless.

"...R-Ryuji."

"Hm?"

"You seriously need to stop saying things like that in public."

"And why is that?"

"Because I’m trying really hard not to jump you right now."

Asmodeus laughed quietly under his breath.

Erika only glared harder, though the effect weakened considerably thanks to her puffy red cheeks.

"Dickhead."

"That’s rather aggressive."

"You made me emotional first."

"I complimented my wife."

"Heh, exactly!" She threw both hands upward dramatically before lowering her voice again. "God... you’re so unfair when you’re being sincere."

It wasn’t like he couldn’t see what she meant. Normally, she would take the offensive, trying to seduce him into her room. But for once, he felt this hidden side she often kept away from him was too charming.

The Erika he didn’t know well, a rich and unyielding girl from Japan.

Several passing demons glanced curiously toward the beautiful blonde woman pouting beside him. But the women’s eyes all slipped past her and locked onto Asmodeus, the charming demon, tall, muscular and with thick horns.

The beauty standards of demons slowly adjusted the longer they spent as demons, even Erika and his wives also changed their initial taste.

A handsome man wasn’t everything to female demons.

Erika noticed their interest instantly, her pupils dilating as she quickly took the initiative to press herself closer against his arm possessively. "What are you looking at?" she snapped toward a pair of young women nearby.

Both demons practically teleported away into the crowd.

Asmodeus shook his head slowly.

"You do realise you’re frightening civilians."

"Hmph! Who cares if they look at you like a delicious piece of meat?"

He scoffed. "Aren’t you doing the same?"

Erika glanced up at him and shrugged.

"Well, I’m your wife, so it’s allowed!" Her smugness returned for half a second before weakening again beneath his calm gaze. "...hey, stop looking at me like that."

"Like you wanna eat me."

He remained silent.

Then stretched his hand out, gently pinching her chin.

"But what if I want to eat you?"

The moment he lifted her gaze to face his, her entire face turned red as it almost hissed with steam.

Erika immediately covered part of her face with one hand.

Maybe she’d never expected him to be so open about his desires in public, but her blue eyes fluttered behind her fingers, peeking at his face.

"My Goddess... what... how can you say it so easily?!"

The blue light overhead reflected beautifully across her golden hair while music drifted through the crowded streets around them. Somewhere nearby, a tavern erupted into drunken cheering while a passing carriage rolled through the upper district roads trailing glowing crystal lamps behind it.

Yet despite the lively city surrounding them, the atmosphere between the two had become strangely intimate.

Dangerously intimate.

Erika slowly peeked at him through her fingers.

"...We are absolutely not making it home at this rate."

"Well..." Asmodeus glanced around, searching for something before his lips parted, forming a faint smile, before he pointed towards a building in the distance. "There, we can stop there, can’t we?"

Erika followed his pointing fingertip.

A few streets away, nestled between a luxurious bathhouse and an upscale wine lounge, stood a beautiful multi-storey inn glowing beneath soft amber mana-lights.

Polished blackstone walls, with golden windows and velvet banners fluttering from the balconies above. It wasn’t a cheap place, even though the emblem of the golden hare appeared on the sign, proving its quality.

Even from this distance, though, it revealed its purpose.

"A hotel!?" Erika gasped.

Several nearby pedestrians immediately glanced toward them.

Asmodeus remained completely calm.

Her blue eyes widened further while she stared at him in disbelief.

"Ryuji, we literally live in the Imperial Palace!"

"Mm, of course we do. But wouldn’t it be quite interesting? We’ve enjoyed the palace so many times, but a love hotel... doesn’t it remind you of home?"

Erika opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Because, unfortunately, she was very horny.

"...You planned this, didn’t you?" she accused quietly.

Asmodeus spread his arms, pretending to be a victim.

"How could I know I’d meet you at that bar!?"

"Liar!"

Despite her words, the blonde demoness had already started walking faster toward the building.

Asmodeus followed behind leisurely, hands inside his coat pockets, while watching her increasingly flustered reactions with obvious amusement.

"You know what’s insane?" Erika muttered while avoiding eye contact. "The fact that this is actually kinda hot."

"Oh? How so..." He cocked his head to the side.

"The Emperor sneaking into a hotel with his wife in the middle of the night?" She covered part of her face. "Doesn’t it just reek of an affair with a secret love?"

We are married."

"I know, but it feels illegal."

He could only laugh at her cute little thoughts, glancing up at the building with a sigh.

Even though he couldn’t help but want to throw her down and enjoy her body for the first time in a while, Erika was like a little rabbit, and he was the wolf.

The two approached the entrance together beneath the warm glow of crystal lanterns while elegant music drifted from inside.

Then the innkeeper looked up, his face turning pale after a few seconds.

Of course, someone who worked for the Golden Hare wouldn’t fail to notice Asmodeus.

"...Y-Your Majesty?"

"Ah." Immediately entering Emperor mode, he gave a faint nod before adjusting his voice with a cough. "I’d like the best room possible, thanks."

Erika became silent, her big eyes watching the innkeeper and Asmodeus settle the deal as he gave a little speech while handing over the golden key with pink ribbons.

"It’s the best room, overlooking the river district!"

"Oh, that’s good." Asmodeus enjoyed looking down at the beautiful river running through the city; a large, bright blue glow lingered atop the surface, thanks to the enriched mana and mana crystals used to enrich the city’s soil.

A mana-enriched pool with faint effects of an Elemental bath.

Anyone who swims in the pool would find their body and health improve significantly.

Erika remained strangely quiet as the two stepped deeper inside the luxurious inn.

The lobby glowed beneath elegant crystal chandeliers while soft piano music drifted from somewhere deeper within the building. Velvet carpets softened their footsteps, and the warm scent of expensive incense lingered in the air.

Yet despite the beautiful atmosphere, Erika’s attention remained entirely fixed on the golden key in Asmodeus’ hand, more specifically, the pink ribbons tied around it.

"...Oh my god."

"What’s wrong?"

"N-nothing, just the ribbon makes it look so shameless."

"Doesn’t it make the boring key look kinda cute?" He asked.

"Tsk. No, babe. They know what they’re doing!"

"I see."

He didn’t quite understand, but assumed he would learn about it later. The two eventually reached the upper floors, guided by softly glowing mana crystals embedded within the walls. Compared to the noisy streets outside, the hallway felt quieter.

"It’s quiet..."

"Mhm, I think they’re using Paul’s Glyph and Rune Magic to cast noise-dampening spells... quite amazing."

A spell used to stop monsters from hearing adventurers’ feet, also used to hide the moans and sounds of people having sex in a hotel.

Asmodeus felt this was novel and proof of advancement.

The advance of magical science.

The moment Asmodeus unlocked the room, Erika immediately slipped past him and rushed into the room, before squealing with a delighted tone.

"Wow!"

The suite was enormous.

A luxurious black bed sat at the centre atop a raised platform surrounded by sheer crimson curtains. Golden mana lamps illuminated polished darkwood furniture, while enormous glass windows overlooked the glowing river district of Vel’Ashera below.

Soft blue reflections from the mana-enriched waters shimmered across the ceiling beautifully.

Near the far wall sat a marble bath large enough for several people.

Erika slowly turned around.

"...Ryuji!"

"What now? Is it good enough for the princess?" He smirked upon noticing her eyes glistening.

"Are you trying to seduce me or ruin me?"

He closed the door behind them with a soft click.

"Can’t it be both?"

Her blue eyes widened slightly before narrowing like a predator. Her hips swayed with each movement as she slipped onto the bed and crossed her legs.

"Oh, you’re dangerous tonight."

Asmodeus loosened the collar of his coat slowly while approaching her one step at a time.

"And you aren’t?"