The Duke's Daughter Faces an Unbeatable Bet
542 Words
"Well then, how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Yes," the demon said with a smile.
"Let's wager on who's right."
Seeing the demon's red eyes narrowing with amusement, Irene couldn't help but swallow hard.
"W-What do you mean?"
"It's nothing major. Just a bet to see who is right. If you win, I will grant your wish for free."
"What!" Irene's eyes widened.
Of course, she would ask him to leave!
(This is an incredible opportunity!)
She leaned forward.
"R-Really? You will grant my wish?"
"Yes, demons never break their promises."
Irene's eyes widened.
This was a chance she couldn't pass up!
She nodded vigorously.
"Alright, let's do it. So, how do we decide the winner?"
"For the next week, you will live exactly as I instruct."
"...That's all?"
"Yes, that's all. On the night of the seventh day, we will decide who was right."
Irene made a fist pump in her mind.
There's no way she could lose this. This would get him to leave!
The demon looked at her joyous expression with interest.
Then, he chuckled and spoke.
"So, I will grant your wish, but what will you do for me?"
"...Huh?"
"A bet must be made with stakes from both sides."
Indeed, Irene thought about it.
Granting a wish seemed fair, but who knows what he might ask for.
She needed to set clear terms.
"Money or jewels...those are out of the question, right?"
"Correct, I have no need for those."
Irene fell into deep thought.
This was her first time dealing with such a thing, so she couldn't come up with a suitable stake.
"...Cain, is there something you want?"
The demon thought for a moment, then looked at Irene with a mischievous grin.
"Then, as my reward for winning, how about a kiss from you?"
"Wha..." Irene froze.
"...Did you just say a kiss?"
"Yes."
The demon nodded with a smile.
Irene stood up abruptly.
"N-No way! Absolutely not!"
The demon smiled.
"Actually, I wanted something more, but I think that would be impossible, so I'll settle for just a kiss."
Irene fell silent.
She was very curious about what "something more" was, but it didn't sound like anything good.
A kiss was likely much better.
(B-But still, this is...)
As Irene struggled with the decision, the demon smiled gently.
"Besides, you will win, won't you? If so, then granting my small wish shouldn't be a problem, right?"
With that, Irene thought again.
(...Indeed, when put that way.)
She didn't feel like she would lose at all.
A kiss seemed far better than "something more," and if she was certain to win, agreeing to his terms shouldn't be an issue.
Irene nodded.
"Alright."
"Thank you. Now I can't afford to lose."
The demon chuckled and stood up.
"Then, we will start tomorrow morning. Please have a good night's rest, my lady."
Irene agreed and obediently climbed into bed.
Cain adjusted her blanket and gently patted her head with his cold hand.
(I thought this yesterday too, but this feels kind of nice.)
She thought drowsily.
She had thought summoning a demon was a terrible mistake, but it seemed it could be resolved unexpectedly smoothly.
(Good.)
And with that, she fell into a deep sleep, relieved.
- Writer
