AFTER ZOE tucked Runa in the bed, she immediately headed back to the kitchen where Isaak while currently holding the slime monster hostage.
She didn't want to leave Runa alone after the child went on a rampage earlier. But she needed to interrogate the slime. Plus, the two women who introduced themselves as Scarlet and Briella assured her they would take care of the young princess.
[Isaak trusts them, so I guess I can trust them as well.]
"You're back, my dear wife?"
Zoe laughed awkwardly, not missing the sarcasm in Isaak's voice. And she knew why exactly he was acting like that. "Hey, you should be upset with the original Lady Zoanne," she said, then she stood next to the ghoul duke while facing the slime. She could see the slime's droopy body trapped in some sort of transparent cube that Isaak definitely created. "She was the one who apparently married someone else and not me."
Isaak let out a deep sigh. "I know that, but my brain is being stupid. Sorry."
The fact that the great Isaak Viotto apologized to her was enough to melt her heart. And so, she decided to be extra affectionate to him to pacify him.
"I married the most handsome and the sexiest man in the empire," she said, then she hugged his arm while giving him a sweet smile. "And his name is Isaak Viotto." She stood on her toes and whispered to him. "This is TMI, but you're my first lover. I skipped the getting-to-know-you and dating stage to marry you, yeobo."
He turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "'Yeobo?' What does it mean?"
"It means 'honey' in the country I came from."
"I see," he said, then he gently squeezed the tip of her nose. "So, you already decided on a term of endearment for us?"
"You can call me anything you want, though," she said with a shrug.
She didn't have to specify that Isaak couldn't call her degrading names because she knew he wouldn't do that.
"Yeobo," Isaak said, distracting her from her thoughts. "I like it."
"Very well, yeobo," she said, then she turned to the slime in front of them. "So, did you find anything useful from the pudding?"
"No, it's like an empty can."
<"I'm not dumb, if that's what you're implying,"> the slime denied calmly. <"I just don't know a lot of things since my liege doesn't tell me the important stuff.">
"You have a point," she said while nodding. "So, who's your liege and Zoanne's supposed husband? You at least know that much, right?"
<"Of course, I know! My liege is the great Demon King!">
She gasped, then she turned to Isaak.
[Ohh… my yeobo looks upset.]
Isaak clenched his jaws, his expression dark. "The Demon King is already dead."
Was he?
She couldn't remember if the Demon King was mentioned in the novel. After all, she didn't finish reading the entire story. And her brain wasn't big enough to remember every single detail.
[Is the Demon King the final boss?]
<"My liege is alive and kicking, though?"> the slime said. There was something innocent about the way it talked, as if it didn't feel threatened despite Isaak exuding a murderous aura directed at it. <"My liege even ordered me to keep mistress safe.">
"Is that why you appeared when I was in danger?" she asked curiously. "Where were you hiding?"
<"I was hiding in mistress's shadow all this time,"> the slime answered proudly. <"I was designed to be summoned when mistress's life is in danger. The mistress having an intense desire to kill also counts.">
Ah, that was why the slime appeared when she was about to be assaulted by Nigel Ratliff. And the slime appeared again when she felt the intense desire to kill the count.
<"My liege also told me that if mistress's life is ever put in danger, then I must bring her back to our kingdom right away.">
"Oh, you have a kingdom?" she asked, fascinated.
[Of course, a fantasy book wouldn't be complete without a demon kingdom!]
"I've heard enough nonsense," Isaak said, then he raised his hand as if he was about to attack the slime.
<"If I die, a group of powerful demons would be sent on the spot,"> the slime said in a casual yet threatening voice. <"Their goal isn't to fight, but to bring the mistress back to our liege. It would be nearly impossible to stop them even for someone like you, Isaak Viotto.">
She raised an eyebrow when she noticed something.
[This slime isn't dumb.]
"Isaak, don't kill it yet," she said while squeezing her husband's arm to calm him down. "I don't think it's a threat. Not for now, at least."
Isaak turned to her with a frown. "On what basis?"
"Well, I don't feel threatened by its presence," she explained. "Plus, I don't think it could take me away by force. If it could, it wouldn't ask me to come with him. But since it's asking nicely, I figured it couldn't force me to do anything I do not wish to do."
<"Mistress is correct,"> the slime said. <"I'm not allowed to force her to do anything against her will.>
"See?" she said to Isaak. "Let it stay with me in the meantime."
Her husband didn't look convinced. "Zoe…"
"Yeobo, I'll be fine," she said while appealing to him by giving him the puppy dog eyes. "Please have faith in me."
"It's not that I don't have faith in you," Isaak said, and there was a hint of worry in his voice. "But the Demon King's underling isn't really ideal to keep by your side."
"I feel like I can tame it, though?"
"I like your confidence, but–"
She stood on her toes and pressed her lips against Isaak's to shut him up.
It was effective.
[The ghoul duke is too stunned to speak.]
She smiled at her husband "innocently" before facing the slime. "Do you have a name and gender?"
<"My liege calls me Goofball, and I'm a boy.">
She laughed at his adorable name. "Okay, Goofball," she said. "Did you come here alone? I'm not doubting your ability, but if your liege really wants to protect me, can he say that he sent the best individual by my side?"
<"I have a partner,"> Goofball said excitedly, like a child bragging about his most prized possession. <"But my partner is assigned to protect Vaughn Wilson…"> He trailed off when he realized his slip of the tongue. <"Can I delete your memory, Mistress?">
"Of course, you can't," she said cheerfully, then he turned to Isaak, who looked more upset now. "Yeobo…"
"Vaughn Wilson," Isaak said, then he turned to her with a frown. "That bastard is on the top of my hit list now, yeobo."
It wasn't the right to feel butterflies in her stomach, but how could she stop herself from feeling giddy after Isaak called her 'yeobo?'
[Oh, lord.]
"I told you we need to talk to Vaughn Wilson," Zoe said, trying to focus on their problem instead of her husband. "Let's head back to the capital for now, yeobo."
***
"YOU'RE AWAKE," Isaak said, then he sat on the chair beside the bed where Yosef was. "We've already found out who the original Lady Zoanne Rochester's alleged husband is."
Yosef, who still looked weak and exhausted, let out a deep sigh. "Is it Kalum Alegre?"
Kalum Alegre, the Demon King who was supposed to be dead already.
"So, you already knew?" he asked the priest. "Were you attacked by Kalum Alegre's minions?"
"Yeah, and it's your fault," the priest said, blaming him. "High-level demons attacked me because I blessed your marriage with Zoanne Rochester."
"Should I feed you first? Your personality turns awful when you're hungry."
It wasn't like Yosef to blame him for things he knew he couldn't control.
But on the other hand, he could understand why the priest seemed angry. After all, Yosef almost died.
"Isaak, I know you're not afraid of Kalum Alegre," the priest said seriously. "But if you choose to stay married with Zoanne Rochester despite the current situation, I hope you know His Majesty's position might get affected once your wife's alleged marriage with the Demon King gets exposed."
"Zoe isn't Zoanne Rochester, so my wife is my wife alone," he declared firmly. "We'll solve this problem before it gets exposed."
Yosef let out another sigh. "And how do you plan to do that?"
"By 'talking' to Vaughn Wilson," Isaak said, but he couldn't promise he would just 'talk' to that damned snake. "He seems to be connected to Kalum Alegre."
***
"YOUR GRACE, another letter from Her Majesty's palace has arrived for you."
Vaughn Wilson, who was busy checking the jars of side dishes on the table, didn't turn to Allison Campbell, his secretary. "Burn it," he said, then he picked up a jar to inspect the product closer. "I have no intention of speaking to Her Majesty no matter how much she begs."
He was still angry at Veronica for what she tried to pull against Zoanne Rochester.
Thus, he didn't help her sister when she begged him to convince the emperor to not punish Nigel Ratliff. His foolish sister needed to be taught a lesson the hard way this time.
It was also the reason why he left the Royal Capital without notice.
As of the moment, he was back in Perla– the port town where he met Zoanne Rochester recently. He had to return since the products from the East Continent that he was waiting for had finally arrived.
[Too bad Zoanne Rochester missed it.]
"I understand, Your Grace," Allison said in her usual calm voice. Even without turning around, he could already picture his secretary's poker face. "For my next report, our people have already found out who's been investigating our merchant guild for the past week."
"It's Isaak Viotto's men, isn't it?"
"That's correct, Your Grace."
He smirked at that confirmation. "Let them investigate all they want. I'm sure Isaak only got curious about our merchant guild because of Lady Rochester."
After all, he knew damn well Zoanne Rochester would recognize the spices and food their merchant guild sells. In fact, he deliberately brought their products to this port when he heard the lady was staying in the town. Too bad their time was cut short because of Isaak Viotto.
"Then I'll ask our people to pretend not to notice Grand Duke Viotto's men lurking around our territory."
"Very well," he said, then he turned around to face his secretary.
Allison Campbell– short brunette hair, chocolate-colored eyes, petite frame. Her face actually looked androgynous. Moreover, she preferred wearing men's clothes, so more often than not, she was mistaken as a "pretty young man."
"Allison, would you like to taste test our new product?"
"I don't mind, Your Grace," Allison said, her face and voice both lacked emotions. "May I know what dish is it this time?"
"This is called 'kimchi,'" Vaugh Wilson said while shaking the jar of kimchi in his hand. "I'll make kimchi fried rice for you later." He put down the jar of kimchi on the table, then he picked up the green bottle of a certain alcoholic drink. "Shall we drink soju, too?"
***
NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'I Won't Let The Ghoul Duke Go Hungry!' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3