"You didn't think of anything yet, did you?" the Demon Queen asked, her voice curious, almost teasing when I didn't answer her question.
Even though I knew what she meant to me and what I wanted her name to represent, I hadn't actually thought of a name yet. While I could be blamed for that, she deserved some blame as well. Her presence and the effect she had on me were simply too overwhelming for me to focus on any task.
But this wasn't just any task—it was something important. And because of that, guilt gnawed at my heart.
I looked at the Demon Queen, her beautiful face calm once again. "I suppose you deserve some time to think."
With those words, she sat up on the bed, the silk sheets falling around her, exposing her bare chest.
She swung her legs off the side of the bed, but before she stood up, I found my voice to ask, "Where are you going?"
She stood up, stretching slightly, the curves of her body becoming even more pronounced. She had her back to me, so my eyes naturally followed her every movement in admiration. Her hips swayed as she walked, and I was utterly entranced. Her back faced me directly, igniting a fresh flame of desire within me.
Then, she turned to face me, and like a predator closing in on its prey, my gaze fell upon her ample chest, watching it rise and fall with each breath. My eyes trailed downward, to the core of her being. It was flushed red, with faint traces of crimson spreading outward—a clear sign of the intensity of our shared moments.
"I'm stepping out of your sight... so you can focus," the Demon Queen said, completely unfazed by my hungry gaze. "I'll put something on and wait for you in the dining hall."
She moved past the bed, her hips swaying with each step, heading toward the dressing room connected to the bedroom.
"I trust you know the way," she said over her shoulder without turning around.
I tore my gaze away from her, calling after her with a question. "Do you have my name yet?"
She turned to me, one hand on the doorframe. "Yes, I have your name. And you won't get it until I get mine."
She remained standing at the door, her expression serious. Only after I gave her a nod of understanding did she turn away and leave.
"Don't wait for me to come out. Find me in the dining hall," she called from inside the dressing room, her voice carrying as if she were still in the same room.
I stared at the door where the Demon Queen had disappeared for a long moment. Then, with a deep sigh, I shifted my gaze to the ceiling, its intricate patterns dyed the same red that decorated the entire room.
'How am I supposed to come up with a name this quickly? No, how did she come up with one so fast?'
I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I had to think of something. I had to come up with a name worthy of her—a name with meaning...
'I wonder what name she chose for me?' I thought to myself. But I quickly pushed the thought aside. She had fulfilled her part of the agreement. Now, it was my turn.
Minutes passed, and I had come up with a few names. But none of them felt right. None of them seemed worthy of the Demon Queen as I had come to know her.
I shifted my gaze away from the ceiling and sat on the bed, hoping that a change in perspective would spark new ideas.
And what met my eyes was a set of neatly arranged clothes spread out on the silk sheets. Loose black pants adorned with intricate blue patterns and a white shirt that looked as if it were made from spider silk.
A small smile formed on my lips. And almost in the same second, that smile turned into a brief look of shock—before widening once more in realization.
"I found it!" I jumped up from the bed, the sheets falling forward, but I didn't care. My excitement drowned out everything else, making me forget that I was still completely naked.
"I found it!" I repeated the words, this time in a quiet whisper, more controlled. "I found the name!"
And I truly had. I had found a name that could only belong to the Demon Queen—to the woman I had spent most of my time with since the moment I opened my eyes. It was the perfect name. The name I would call her from now on.
I turned my gaze to the clothes that had fallen along with the sheets, and my smile only deepened. They were the reason I had arrived at this realization. The name had nothing to do with the clothes themselves—but with the act of her leaving them for me.
I hurried off the bed, picking up the clothes and preparing to put them on so I could rush after the Demon Queen. But I stopped myself.
It felt strange to put on fresh clothes immediately after sex. My scent was probably unpleasant, wasn't it?
I sniffed myself, but my body didn't carry any foul smell—just my unfamiliar scent mixed with the lingering fragrance of the Demon Queen.
Taking a deep breath, I neatly placed the clothes back on the bed. As eager as I was to share my excitement with the Demon Queen, I still prioritized taking a bath first.
I didn't want her to get a bad impression of me. After all, I hadn't touched water since I found myself in bed with her. Unless... she had bathed me while I was asleep.
I pushed the strange thought aside and made my way to the bathroom. The anticipation inside me barely contained by the logic of my own thoughts.
–––
Dressed in my new clothes, I walked as fast as I could toward the dining hall. The castle corridors felt much longer than the last time I had walked them, as if they were trying to keep me from reaching my destination.
But I knew it was all in my mind—my excitement was simply getting the best of me.
So, I kept those feelings in check until I arrived at the familiar doors of the dining hall.
Stepping inside, I found the hall still illuminated by the warm yellow glow of candlelight, with rows of candles mounted along the walls. Three grand chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting even more light into the room.
The Demon Queen lifted her head from the tray she was holding and looked at me.
"You're here so soon!"
She truly seemed surprised to see me, as if she hadn't been the one to summon me here. Or perhaps she hadn't expected me to come up with a name this quickly. Most likely, it was the latter.
"So, you kept your promise," she said, clearly pleased, as she continued placing the food from the tray onto the table.
"What are you doing?" I asked, curious about her actions. She looked as if she were preparing the table for something grand—like a feast.
"You're not far off. This will be our lunch," the Demon Queen answered, responding more to my thoughts than my actual question. "Come, sit down. I'll join you soon after I'm finished."
I did as she asked, sitting in the same chair I had occupied during breakfast this morning.
The Demon Queen walked past me, seemingly about to continue her task, but then she suddenly stopped.
'What is she doing?'
She leaned over me, her silky black hair falling into my field of vision.
"You smell nice," she commented, her tone laced with mild surprise. Her hands rested on my shoulders as she took in my scent, sniffing me all over.
A small smile formed on my lips. So after all, the bath had proven its effectiveness.
Interrupting my thoughts, the Demon Queen suddenly smiled cheerfully.
"Oh, this was for me?! I don't know what to say, my dear... but I can do this..."
Her lips pressed against mine, both forceful and gentle at the same time. Her delicious tongue danced with mine for a few seconds before she pulled away, our lips separating.
"Wait here, I'll be back soon," she said, pinching my cheek playfully before stepping out of the room, the now-empty tray in her hands.
I sat there motionless for several long seconds, still savoring the taste of her lips on mine. The taste didn't seem to fade—or was that just my mind playing tricks on me?
It didn't matter now. I had to focus on the task at hand.
The Demon Queen came and went multiple times, filling the table with an array of mouthwatering dishes. She seemed to enjoy my reactions every time she returned, taking delight in my expression of awe.
On the other hand, I was enjoying the sight of the great Demon Queen herself performing such an ordinary task—setting up a dining table. There was beauty in her work and the way she went about it.
I was surprised when she told me that she had prepared all of this for me. But my surprise didn't last long—she had also mentioned that she had prepared breakfast this morning. I had just been too nervous in her presence at the time to pay attention.
Regardless, it was an interesting piece of information.
A few more minutes passed, and the dining table was now filled to the brim. I couldn't see how just the two of us could possibly finish all this food—but that didn't matter now.
My eyes drifted to the Demon Queen, who sat at the head of the table, smiling. She was watching me with an unusual level of focus. A cup of tea rested between her fingers, yet she made no move to drink from it.
She was waiting. Waiting for me to call her by her name, so she could return the gesture.
And who was I to make her wait?
"You are everything to me, Miria!" I said, my voice trembling with a mix of joy and nervousness.
My eyes locked onto the Demon Queen's expression, trying to decipher her emotions. But she remained smiling, her gaze unwavering.
My nervousness grew, reaching a peak—until just before the breaking point.
The Demon Queen… no, Miria, nodded in approval. Then, she opened her mouth to reveal my name.
"You are the surprise I've come to love, Lian!" Miria replied, her voice brimming with the same joy I felt.
Miria and Lian. I truly loved our names. And from the way Miria smiled, she shared the feeling.