Let's Play House

"How is it, Sir?"

As Kalliope's words fell, the priest who was in deep thought snapped out of his reverie. The small excitement that had accidentally spilled from his eyes was swiftly concealed with a benign smile. He looked up to the petite young lady and was about to speak when he was met with her bottomless eyes.

The priest stiffened in that very second and the innocuous smile on his face froze, hanging on his lips as though time had stopped.

The young lady who was standing before the priest had somehow leaned her face closer while she was being checked. Her hand shifted and discreetly grabbed onto his. In this close distance, the priest suddenly sensed an overpowering stench of death wafting in the air in a gentle manner that tickled his soul in a spine-chilling dread.

The priest started upon that blossoming smile that exuded unbridled euphoria but like a crescent shape of scythe circling his neck. He felt forbiddingly cold yet couldn't seem to move. His eyes stared struck at the young fragile lady and he saw a pair of violet eyes smiling back at him.

"Sir?" Alice tilted her head delicately and her pair of doe eyes blinked in a cute manner. Her absentminded expression coupled with her dainty finger tapping on her bottom lip make Alice extremely adorable.

For whatever reason, the staff who were standing on the side felt their hearts squealed. For the first time, they thought the lady was very lovable. On the other hand, Ophelia was somewhat dumbfounded at her cousin's strange antics. She knitted her beautifully aligned brows.

'Isn't this kid always gloomy and timid? Why does it feel like there's something strange in her behavior now?'

At that moment, none of them had realized the oddity in their lady. They just felt Lady Alice looked pleasing somehow. Meanwhile, the duke frowned and his stern voice sounded in displeasure, "Have you found out what those marks are?"

The temperature in the bedroom immediately plummeted upon his words. The butler on the side realized the duke was getting impatient as the foolish priest dared to daydream and waste his time. Even at the face of the church, the duke didn't hold any fear or be overly polite like others.

The priest quickly regained his wits. He blinked rapidly and stared at Kalliope's eyes once again. It was a rose-colored shade. Then, he sucked in a deep breath before he shared his opinion, "Sire, what the doctor said is correct. The lady is fine. I didn't find anything strange. Perhaps the black marks are just the leftover effect. I believe once the lady is fully recovered, the marks will also disappear. But in the case it doesn't, you may contact the church again and we will immediately assist you."

The crease on the duke's temple deepened. He looked down at his daughter and once again discovered her looking straight back at him. There was nothing in those eyes but an empty steadfast gaze which came as a surprise to the duke who was used to his daughter's timidity.

He raised an eyebrow which Kalliope did as well, however her original condescending look disappeared with Alice's sweet face. In the present, she only looked like a chick who was copying its parent's action, not wanting to lose, which appeared somewhat comical in the duke's eyes.

That was when the butler noticed a slight crack on the duke's usual cold face. The corner of his lips twitched ever so subtly but did not miss the old man's eyes.

"How do you feel?" The duke asked. His low-pitched voice sounded dull and stiff. The question was supposed to sound caring but with that kind of look on his face, it sounded indifferent instead.

Kalliope pursed her lips. 'For some reason, I don't feel like answering this bastard.'

[You have to, My Lady. From the look of it, I'm quite certain that this man is Lady Alice's father. We don't want to expose ourselves at the moment.]

But, Kalliope still felt indignant. [If this bastard is her dad then I'm probably his grandma.]

[Tch. With all due respect, My Lady, how shameless. Considering your age, if counted based on a human's age, you're not his grandma but his ancestor.]

How could someone speak so rudely yet still in the manner of a gentleman? Only this obnoxious demon could do so. Her nose wrinkled in annoyance but with Alice's lily-white face, she looked to be in pain instead.

In that moment, all of the sudden a wintry sensation spread on her forehead as a big palm felt her temperature. Kalliope was dumbfounded by the sudden skin contact and almost immediately, the hair on her body stood on its end. Like an instantaneous reflex, a feeling of repulsion surged in her heart.

She was about to smack that hand away but was one step late as the duke took back his hand and turned to Marilyn, Lady Alice's lady-in-waiting. "Your lady's temperature is still high. Make sure she's warm enough and don't let her wander about."

His gaze darted towards Kalliope again and said expressionlessly, "Rest well."

In short, her goosebumps were translated as cold and her frowning meant that she was uncomfortable due to the high fever. All in all, his daughter was sick and needed rest. After that, the duke left and everyone followed along. The doctor only left after handing the medicine and explained it to Marilyn.

When there was only Marilyn and Kalliope left in the room, the demon's amused voice rang.

[Someone is kind.]

Kalliope still felt the lingering coldness on her temple as she scoffed. [Someone misunderstands.]

"My Lady?" Marilyn called. Her hands were holding a silver tray filled with a bowl of warm soup and a cup of ginger tea. "Would you like to eat first before you rest?"

Kalliope turned and looked at the friendly maid. A frown came to her face as her gaze darkened. Then, she spoke coldly, "Leave. I would like to rest."

Marilyn, who was used to Alice's friendly approach and warmhearted smile, was dumbstruck by Kalliope's heartless tone and hostile gaze. She involuntarily trembled and asked confusedly, "Pardon me, My Lady. But did I do something wrong?"

Upon being questioned, Kalliope became even more displeased. She raised her hand and pointed at the door before she spat out once again in a deep menacing tone.

"Leave."

Thump! Marilyn jolted and quickly set the tray on the table before heading out. The demon sighed at his lady unfriendliness. He thought to himself, 'Well, the next step is going to be difficult.'

After being left alone, her body finally succumbed to exhaustion and Kalliope walked towards the bed while the demon continued his chatter.

[Anyway, the man's not bad. In our current situation, this father is useful for our protection.]

As he finished his words, Kalliope's steps halted. She knitted her eyebrows as a ominous premonition seemed to hover before her. "What're you implying?"

A myriad of merry laughter resounded in her head. With a hint of mock teasing, the demon voiced out his suggestion.

[I suggest a truce with the humans while we gather some information on Earth and also while we figure out how to retrieve your body. In other words, My Lady, you shall assume this young bumbling human identity and…]

All of the sudden, his voice turned high-pitched like the voice of a young girl. Cute and childlike, dripped with every bit of sarcasm.

[...suck up to daddy (≧∇≦)]

At that very moment, Kalliope felt like vomiting a dozen buckets of blood. Her nose crinkled in disgust and utter contempt laced her rose-colored eyes. Her body shuddered violently at the mere thought of calling out 'daddy', not to mention having to act spoiled towards the humans whom she hated to the bones?

Even when the duke had only lightly touched her on the forehead, she had already felt like chopping that worthless hand of his. It was already amazing she could hold back this much and not lay waste to this dukedom. And this bloody demon wanted her to get along with these humans? The very ones who had led her parents to death?

As though the demon could understand her thoughts from her brewing emotion, he sighed and asked solemnly, [If not, what other choice do you have? Your current body couldn't even handle your soul, much less for you to conjure up high-level magic.]

Kalliope frowned. Her hands on either side balled up into a fist. For the first time since she was born, Kalliope felt immensely powerless.

[My Lady, as your aide, I understand your eagerness for revenge. But it's pointless to hasten our pace only to end up failing. We've come this far so failure is not an option, don't you agree?]

Kalliope narrowed her eyes. Her index finger tapped upon the soft feathery quilt as her lips slowly curved up. "Agree. Retreat in order to advance, huh?"

[Yes.]

Then, the smile on her face grew sinister. "Then, we shall have some fun while we're at it."

The demon welcomed her suggestion with open arms as his malicious laughter echoed grimly in her head. She could faintly feel the bloodthirsty excitement through the demon's soul. Kalliope smirked as she stared darkly at the floor-to-ceiling window.

Yes...a. bloody. fun. game. Let's play house, daddy.