Chapter 100: Sapphire is happy
The hierarchical difference between them was vast, an abyss so unfathomable that the mere idea of them being together, fighting, or anything of the sort was almost a disrespect to the logic of demons. A queen and a mere plebeian, something that, frankly, in a demon society, was just sickening. However, in that moment, the chasm between them had been completely erased from existence.
During the combat, Sapphire focused her entire existence on guiding and shaping him. She wanted more than to teach skills or show technique; she wanted Vergil to absorb the essence of her experience, to immerse himself in her mindset, to feel the extent of what it meant to be close to her, and what she sought from him.
In doing so, Sapphire didn't realize she was giving away much more than she intended: Vergil not only absorbed the lessons of combat but also experienced the deep layers of Sapphire's psyche, touching parts of her soul that were hidden even from herself.
You only know your opponent and understand them when two swords cross.
Now, what unfolded around them was no longer a battle; it was the aftermath of a storm of unbridled emotions and memories. The walls of the main hall were shattered, cracked as if broken by an overwhelming force. The imposing structure of Sapphire's mansion, once a symbol of power and control, now resembled a ruin. Small flames still flickered in the corners, consuming the remnants of torn curtains and destroyed furniture. Fragments of stone, pieces of marble, and a cloud of dust hung in the air, creating an apocalyptic scene where echoes of power and fury still reverberated.
In the center of the chaos, a crimson pool spread across the fragmented stone floor. It was blood, pure and real blood. Sitting in the middle of it, Vergil found himself, his breathing completely calm and his body fully healed. His form was covered in blood, mingled with the sweat that dripped from him, but his expression was not one of pain; it was pure, honest tranquility.
In his arms, Sapphire was nestled, lying against him—a woman with long, fiery red hair now tousled, framing her pale face. She looked like an angel of death, stained with blood just like him; she wasn't exhausted but rather wore a victorious smile on her face, a softness in her features that rarely showed through. For the first time, she appeared less like an unyielding demon and more like an ordinary woman, her hair being caressed by Vergil's calm hands.
His hand slowly approached her head, playing with her red locks as he gently stroked her hair.
Sapphire's body visibly trembled when he touched the top of her head, but despite this, she seemed indifferent, unwilling to let the feeling of victory pass too quickly; she just wanted to savor the moment and didn't want to let him go.
"Fufu," Vergil chuckled, seeing the satisfaction on her face after their training. He was witnessing a smile he had never seen before—a gentle smile that made him question...
'How can she be so beautiful?' he thought.
Minutes passed, and Sapphire continued to embrace him without any reaction other than a slight tremor when he caressed her.
But did it matter to him? Of course not, so he simply waited for her to come back to herself.
'I should be desperate to go after Ada, but the Master-Servant contract has kept me in check... I don't know whose idea it was, but she certainly isn't with that Phenex; I can sense her a few kilometers away...' Vergil thought, smiling.
Honestly, he had been somewhat carefree for a while, and he didn't understand why. Unlike when Roxanne was kidnapped, which had him extremely worried, the fact that Ada had disappeared didn't affect him at all. In fact, he felt quite at ease and only focused on training with Sapphire. Was it just his instinct? Even he didn't quite grasp what was happening, but it all led him to believe it was the contract.
In truth, after all three accepted him as their husband, the power of the contract gradually diminished. Before, he would just say something, and it was treated as an order, but now, if he didn't say, "It's an order," nothing happened. And on one hand, that was really good; he couldn't let them... Well, you know how they get if they don't obey.
'But now... I think I understand what's happening...' Vergil thought, playing with his fingers in Sapphire's gentle, docile hair.
"You were feeling very lonely, weren't you?" he questioned, not hearing her response immediately. "I thought a lot about it while you were fighting me—a life-anti sword, made only to kill without feeling at all; even so, a lonely sword," he murmured, thinking aloud.
He comprehended the years of solitude, the sacrifices, the immensity of a life devoted to being strong, to building an existence within emptiness.
"You gave me a fragment of your soul, didn't you?" he questioned, not even knowing if that was possible. In truth, he didn't quite understand what he was saying; it was just an instinctive thought.
"My plan." She murmured, hiding her face against his chest. Despite being such a voluptuous and alluring woman, she now looked like nothing more than a happy girl, pleased with achieving something, something that neither she nor Vergil could have fully anticipated.
For a long, lingering moment, the world around them seemed to disappear. All that remained was the sound of their breathing, intertwined in the middle of the destruction. Experience exclusive tales on m v|l e'm,p| y- r
"I see. You don't want to tell me about your plan… so I'll have to figure it out by force, won't I?" Vergil teased, smiling back at her. Sapphire was closer to him now than she had ever been to anyone else.
Sapphire closed her eyes again, hiding her smile in his chest. Perhaps, someday, he would uncover all that she kept hidden, all the purposes and motives behind that rigorous training. But for now, neither of them was in a rush.
"How long do you intend to keep doing that?" she asked, her body visibly reacting to the way he stroked her head. "I'm not a little girl."
"Fufufu~" Vergil chuckled playfully, "No, you're certainly not a little girl. But you don't seem to dislike it, do you?"
"..." Sapphire lowered her face and used her right to remain silent.
As she requested, he stopped stroking her head and brought his hand to her chin, gently lifting her face that was still trying to hide in his chest. Looking into her green eyes, he asked, "Your eyes seem calmer. Are you feeling better now?"
Looking into his blue eyes, she felt an oddly comforting sensation in her heart, a sweetness, a calm warmth that brought a kind of spiritual peace to her chaotic soul.
"Yes~" she replied with a seductive smile. "I'm satisfied with your training." She slowly pulled away, adding, "For now, of course. You'll need to keep getting stronger."
Though everyone could already sense where this was heading, once again, without even realizing it, she was feeding her possessiveness and desire for Vergil within her lonely heart.
Sapphire adjusted her clothes, now stained with blood everywhere. She fixed her hair, transforming once again into the strangely imposing woman she was. At home, she wore simple, casual clothes from the human world: a pair of leggings and a plain white shirt that had turned red from all the blood spilling out of Vergil.
"You shouldn't be eavesdropping on others, Viviane." She glanced at the maid who had been hiding behind a pillar, listening in. "We know you're there. We always knew," she remarked.
"..." Viviane stepped out from behind the pillar and looked at the two of them, utterly covered in blood. Seeing them together…
'It wasn't like this before… so why am I feeling this now?' She couldn't understand this feeling.
"Hahaha, what's with that face? Never seen a man and a woman together before?" Sapphire asked, amused.
"Not… not a mother-in-law and a son-in-law in that way," Viviane replied, causing Sapphire's face to twitch.
Sapphire's gaze sharpened. She walked toward the entrance, passing Viviane, and spoke in a low voice, "You're lucky, maid."
"Huh?" Viviane didn't understand what she meant, looking back at Sapphire, but the woman had already disappeared from the mansion.
Viviane turned to Vergil, who was pensively looking at his blood-covered hand.
"Master?" she called out.
"Viviane, why were you spying on your master all this time? You must have a good excuse, don't you?" Vergil remarked, his voice steady, without even looking at her. Viviane's body visibly trembled upon hearing his serious tone, and she quickly replied,
"I was trying to—" she was immediately cut off by him.
"I'm kidding. It doesn't matter either way." He said, turning to face her.
"..."
"Fufufufu," he laughed again, amused as he watched her expression shift from panic to annoyance.
She couldn't help it and pouted.
"Master's becoming just like that monster. I'm starting to get worried." Viviane sighed visibly frustrated, then looked at him and asked a rather… pointed question.
"Don't you think… that you've been neglecting your wives? For the last six months, you've been disappearing, barely spending a few hours with them, and then spending days with Sapphire. Don't you think—"
"Viviane." He interrupted, and her body dropped to the floor, feeling an overwhelming force pressing down on her. "I understand your concern as a loyal servant, but don't you think you're speaking more than your tongue can handle?" Vergil said, and Viviane's heart began to ache as the weight pressed her harder and harder into the ground.
"I know I haven't been playing the role of a husband properly," he continued. "But have you and that big mouth of yours ever wondered why they don't complain to me about it? Why they only blame Sapphire?"
He leaned down, his face close to Viviane, who had created a small crater in the floor from the pressure.
"It's simple. Because they know I'll make it up to them later," he replied, and the pressure disappeared.
"So why don't you stay quiet and learn to listen a bit more? Honestly, your mouth is way too big sometimes. You could end up getting yourself killed." He smiled down at her.