Chapter 4: Part 3
With the increase in the number of people, the harem has gotten pretty busy.
Lukana thought it was good that change was visiting the monotonous life in the bas.e.m.e.nt.
Starting with her, the harem girls couldn’t be jealous of Sateriasis’ other mistresses. Because they were brainwashed that way.
That being said, they didn’t really lose their earlier memories, per say. Except for a change in values in order to fulfill “earnestly loving Sateriasis alone,” they remembered their entire lives before coming to the harem and their personalities were left as they were.
Lukana also remembered her circ.u.mstances coming here, her family, her hometown, her relationship with friends, and everything else, of course. Even Sateriasis becoming a demon and putting her under his spell.
There just wasn’t a speck of disgust for Sateriasis now.
Rather, she wondered why had she been trying so hard to avoid him? And questioned her earlier feelings the same.
Lukana had foreseen her current state in her dream. She had regarded it as something hideous at the time, but now she thought it implied a great future for her.
Not being able to go out was a little inconvenient. But, if that’s what Sateriasis wished, she would give him anything. Food, decorations, furniture—and even love.
Partially as an apology, she handed him the bracelet she wore on her left arm at one point. She didn’t hesitate to despite it being something she bought with a friend in her hometown and cherished.
She would live in this bas.e.m.e.nt for now on. Things from her past like that were no longer needed—letting go of the bracelet was an expression of her determination for Lukana.
Regardless of whether he inferred her feelings, Sateriasis was very pleased with Lukana’s gift and, since then, has always worn the bracelet.
The bracelet wasn’t worth much money. It wasn’t something a n.o.ble man like Sateriasis would normally wear. Maybe it was him feeling sorry for Lukana, but on the other hand, she was secretly delighted Sateriasis seemed to be treating her as more special than the other women. Not that she was jealous of the other women, but there was still a sense of compet.i.tion.
Lukana currently had two worries.
One was her prophetic dreams.
Lukana knew what would occur hereafter. Because she had seen it in a dream.
What she saw was—Sateriasis collapse, stabbed in the chest with a knife.
She couldn’t see his killer’s face clearly but it was possibly a man.
(And so marks the end of our lives with Lord Venomania……)
There was only one means to prevent it.
(If I can stop him here–)
But Lukana couldn’t do anything about it either.
She couldn’t go against Sateriasis. Because it was embedded in her mind that way.
If he told her to continue as she was, Lukana could only keep up with him in silence then.
Because the profession of one of the harem girls, Mirigian, was that of a fortune teller and was moreover a disciple of that mage woman that helped her long ago, Lukana thought to try consulting her about this prophetic dream.
But, while talking with Mirigan, she discovered that her being the mage woman’s apprentice and even her seeing the future through fortune telling was a complete scam.
Her real occupation was that of a “con artist”.
Lukana gave up consulting her.
Another problem was their new comrade in the harem, Gumina Gla.s.sred.
She was a woman with the typical, aristocratic mentality. All the women up until that point had originally been commoners, including Lukana, so it was not uncommon for a few fights to occur, without them compromising their values.
But, that couldn’t be said for all the women. That’s why Gumina was disliked by Mikulia and Lolan in particular.
Since Gumina came to the harem, she was Sateriasis’ only partner for a while. It wasn’t uncommon for the two to seclude themselves in a room for many days.
Mikulia had been openly irritated since then.
Because she was like a child, Lukana thought she was probably unhappy with not being his partner more.
For a while, Sateriasis was more likely to go out than before.
According to what she heard, it was something like Marquis Gla.s.sred had been handling state affairs and had been entrusted with governing Asmodean up until now and Sateriasis had become involved now too.
Still, Sateriasis came before his harem without fail each and every day. Ignoring that fact he only seemed concerned about Gumina, he loved all the women as equally as before.
However, Gumina and Mikulia still didn’t become friends. Mikulia a.s.sumed she ignored her as archrivals and Gumina, who wasn’t the type to be concerned with being aggressive with others to begin with, didn’t particularly care for Mikulia’s att.i.tude, and wouldn’t even hint at trying to meet her half-way.
Lukana wasn’t sure if those two might’ve just not been compatible. But, wouldn’t it be okay to at least ask for a resolution?
With only this many people gathered in one place, perhaps conflicts couldn’t be helped.
(But…… it’s best that everyone gets along; I’m sure Lord Venomania would also be glad……)
She’ll try talking with the two of them again. Although even Lukana could see they were the exact opposite in terms of personality, she unexpectedly thought they could understand each other that way.
Lukana left her room and went to Gumina’s room first.
“……?”
(I hear something. Is that…… the sound of a violin?)
The melody’s rich overtones reached Lukana’s ears through the door.
She knocked on the door with a little strength soon after. The sound of the violin then suddenly stopped.
“…… Come in.”
After receiving confirmation from the voice inside, Lukana opened the door and entered the room.
“I’m so sorry for disturbing you.”
“No, I don’t mind. I was only playing because I was bored……”
“Your violin’s very good. It’s enviable, since I can’t do anything like that.”
Lukana had never once touched a luxury item like a violin before. While she could now get one if she asked Sateriasis for it, there was no sense in it since she didn’t have the arm for playing one in the first place.
“You’re definitely a daughter of the aristocracy. You practice a lot of other things, right?”
“Well…… I did study painting among other things after that……”
Gumina said that while facing one of the room’s walls. There hung a portrait.