The Prince of Demons

Luna

Magus Supreme Praecan and Ryker were escorted by servants out of the throne room while everyone else was looking at Nil. That was a surprising tactic from Nil. I wasn't sure which was more surprising, the tactic or how solid the attempt was. The instant the two of them were outside the throne room Nil shuddered as he looked disgusted with himself. Krahinn looked at Nil as he was clearly taunting him mentally about his guilt tripping of the Magus Supreme. His attempt was simple, but he clearly hit a massive nerve as she fought to control her face. I walked over to Nil, poking his cheek before he looked at me guiltily. Why try guilt tripping if it was going to upset you this much?

"Was it right to offer? It is better for Ryker, right?" Nil checked, clearly upset by the methodology he just employed.

"I mean, you definitely were trying to make a bridge and do what was right overall, but you did not need to guilt trip her like that." I informed him. His face got worse.

"Nil, I have to say, that was simple but effective. Ten out of ten guilt trip. I did not think you had it in you to pull off a move like that; your technique was immaculate." Krahinn taunted him aloud.

"Nil, I know you were trying to act more proper, and you did technically correctly phrase your statements, but you do not need to employ such tactics to get someone to agree. You could have offered a more middle ground solution with guards and covering the cost of staying in Umbra." Emperor Azzeck lectured Nil.

"I did not think of that." Nil quipped, as his face began looking worse.

"Learn from this moment; do not repeat it. Such phrasing and words are beneath us. We will not harp on this as you clearly realize that you made a mistake. Just be sure to learn from it." Empress Senna added in a gentle tone.

"I am sorry." Nil apologized sheepishly.

"Apologize to them, not us." Emperor Azzeck pointed out.

"I will. I should have let one of you extend the offer I was thinking of. My approach was way off." Nil grumbled. Nil was visibly deflated.

"Experience is how you learn Nil; you likely did not do lasting damage. Come on, enjoy the rest of your night as your father and I have a proposal to discuss." Empress Senna told him softly.

Nil nodded as everyone except the Imperial Majesties departed from the throne room. I walked up next to Nil, intertwining our hands which made him smile a little. We went to go to the music room, but my dad cleared his throat to stop us. The two of us turned around to face him. Nil looked displeased that we were getting delayed from going to the music room together; I could tell Nil was struggling not to openly scowl at Dad for clearing his throat like that at us.

Luna. Dad quipped while giving me a stern glare.

What? We're just going to the music room. I retorted, not grasping why he stopped us. I mean, he did recently learn we were actually dating, but we were just going to spend time together in the music room.

Crown Prince Nil should ask me if it is okay for him to take you to the music room. Dad pointed out.

Why does he need to ask you if it is okay for me to spend time with him? I grumbled. I hated some of the archaic laws and obligations; I did not grasp why Dad was actually adhering to them though.

I have missed out on three years of being a protective dad and messing with him. Crown Prince Nil is going to suffer and prove to me he knows how to act properly as the Crown Prince. Also, I want to make sure that Crown Prince Nil understands how to treat you correctly. Dad explained. Oh. Hmmm. That seemed fair given how much Nil enjoyed messing with others.

Nil, as the Crown Prince, you are supposed to ask for my father's permission to take me to the music room. I informed him. Nil's eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

Wouldn't that deeply piss you off? You've never been one for traditions like that. Nil checked, sounding quite skeptical. I smiled that Nil knew that.

As the Crown Prince, if you wish to spend time with a being you are courting, you need permission of the involved families. I explained to him. I was fighting to keep my face straight as the befuddlement hit him.

I don't understand; I thought we were dating and not doing the full-on courting thing. Nil replied. Nil was looking between me and my dad trying to grasp the rule.

In nobility terms, dating is called courting, at least in the archaic laws. I informed him. Nil nodded with understanding as something clearly clicked in his mind.

"Duke Dawnsfield, may I escort your daughter to the music room?" Nil requested my dad with a surprisingly proper stance. Dad mulled it over for a few moments, pretending to think.

"What do you two plan on doing?" Dad checked in a deadpan tone.

"Talking and spending some time together. I will also play her some songs." Nil answered. Dad nodded and rubbed his chin a bit.

"What is that code for?" Dad inquired with a straight face.

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"What do you mean, Duke Dawnsfield?" Nil checked with a confused expression. Something about his face was a bit off however. What was it?

"I am trying to decipher your true motives and actions as you said the phrase, 'play her some songs' when answering my question." Dad clarified. Nil's eyes narrowed as he looked at my father. Wait, his eyes had a bit of a glint to them. Why?

He just wants to mess with me, doesn't he? Nil probed with an unamused expression.

My dad just wants to be a protective father. You have a reputation. I teased him while Nil's eyes shot to me.

What reputation?! Nil challenged, looking offended.

"Are you trying to organize your stories before answering me? That is quite distressing." Dad teased Nil.

"We were going to discuss how I should act more like the Crown Prince and future Emperor of Speranza, and I was going to play her favorite songs for her as payment for helping me." Nil attempted to assuage my dad. Some part of my brain was howling that I was missing something. But, what?

"Hmmm. That might be true." Dad mused. Nil kept his face surprisingly neutral; he actually began smiling a little.

"Are you implying I would lie?" Nil probed with this odd smile going. Was I missing something?

"I am simply saying you have a tendency to deceive others to achieve your ends." Dad retorted, not clocking Nil's expression was off. What was Nil up to?

"According to the Laws of Sathanas that you are referencing, when requesting the courting member of the Imperial Family for, and to quote, 'the courting activities that the parties shall partake in' that you either accept the answer as is, or accuse me of acting with ill-intent. As you claimed I am tryi-" Nil began as I felt my jaw drop. Wait, he read the laws? Willingly? When? Why? Did I fall asleep? Was Nil right about what he was talking about? He had to be. That was his smile; Nil knew the law. I could feel myself reeling a bit.

"Enjoy your date in the music room." Dad spat bitterly to cut Nil off, who was smirking right back at him.

"Why thank you, Duke Dawnsfield." Nil replied. His face was so unimaginably smug as he looked at my dad. I had so many questions for Nil; to my knowledge, Nil hated reading and learning laws, so what possessed him to learn these? Wait, why did he learn these ones? I felt my face turn a bit red as I realized the implications.

"You are welcome." Dad stated through grit teeth.

"Come on Luna, I would like to escort you to the music room now." Nil quipped while extending his hand for me, also in proper stance. He's just show boating now.

"Yes." I squeaked, taking his hand.

Nil did a polite bow to my dad before we walked to the music room. As we walked, Nil was humming a song cheerfully to himself. When did he learn them? Why? What motivated him to? The only things coming to mind were making me feel flustered. There has to be another angle, right? Dad was definitely annoyed that Nil got the better of him like that. Nil had somehow known the laws. What possessed him to, though? We reached the music room, where Nil hugged me while gently nuzzling me a bit. Nil's hugs always felt so pleasant.

"How much of a mistake did I make earlier? With Magus Supreme Praecan?" Nil inquired as I felt him lean on me a bit more.

"A small one as you were forcefully extending a bridge with her and Ryker. That is definitely not the kind of method you want to use frequently. I think you can smooth things over with her and apologize. Magus Supreme Praecan from what I recall is fairly amicable; she died before I ever got to meet her in person so I may be wrong." I explained for him, settling into his arms a bit.

"Okay, thank you. So, did you want to discuss the proper behavior for a Crown Prince?" Nil probed as he turned his head and leaned on me a bit more.

"When did you read the Laws of Sathanas?" I checked, wondering what possibly possessed him to.

"The first time, because it had the same name as my middle name, and I was curious. The second time, because I wanted to take precautionary measures against Grisbane, but I never imagined it would come in handy against your father. I requested the lessons from Duthane under the guise of if I wanted to spend time with my friends I wanted to follow the Laws of Sathanas. She corrected my 'misunderstanding' but taught me it as I would need it eventually. I also read the Epic of Sathanas to learn about the demon I am named after." Nil answered. Oh, that made a lot of sense.

"That had to be a difficult read; the Epic of Sathanas is ancient and has the writing that reflects that." I quipped, leaning into him more.

"Oh, I barely understood it. It was like reading Shakespeare." Nil confessed with a chuckle.

"Some famous, old writer from Earth I'm assuming?" I probed. Nil hugged me a bit tighter. He's more upset than he's letting on.

"Yes. Innovated and brought writing to a whole new level, but I hated reading it. It sounded like utter nonsense because of the age." Nil confessed. I leaned slightly more into his hug. I kind of wanted to turn around and stroke his horns a bit, but Nil's hug was a bit too tight.

"It's okay to make a mistake as you're learning Nil." I assured him. Nil let out a heavy breath.

"That's not it." Nil sighed heavily.

"What's got you feeling down then? I loved the tubot fries, you had a fun day with your <Familiar> and I, and you even got one over on my dad on some of the old laws. Don't let one minor blimp ruin that for you. Today was such a good day." I tried, hoping to cheer him up.

"When I wanted to try and convince someone, my first thought was the tactic my old birth givers used to do all the time. I know it was wrong, I knew it feels bad to be on the receiving end of when it works, and I still did it. Why couldn't I think of something better? It was my first and only real thought. And I know it's been a good day, I just… can't shake it because it's bringing up a lot of bad memories." Nil lamented as he buried his head into me.

"Come on, let's change how we're positioned. It's hard to comfort you when you are hugging me from behind like this." I told him. Nil relaxed his hug as we moved to the edge of the room. I sat down and tapped my lap. Nil laid next to me, setting his head in my lap as I began stroking his hair and horns.

"Sorry I'm being mopey." Nil apologized. His old life always made him so sad when he remembered it. It's been getting more intense recently as well, but that is a topic for another time.

"Nil, you don't have to apologize for feeling down; it's okay to have emotions. We can develop strategies for you to use next time so you're more prepared." I comforted him. Nil shifted his head more into me.

"Really?" Nil inquired, shifting his head into me a bit more.

"Of course, I'd enjoy coming up with strategies and alternate methods of persuasion with you. I don't like it when you're sad Nil." I comforted him. Nil blushed a little as he settled in a bit.

"I'd like that." Nil agreed as the sky turned bright for a second. Why did Krahinn cast <Cosmic Alchemy>?

"We're ignoring that." I told Nil.

"Of course." Nil agreed, leaning more into me.

"Now, I need to apparently lecture someone on how to act like a Crown Prince." I teased Nil.

"When did it turn into lecture?" Nil inquired.

"You told my dad we needed to discuss it, so now we will be discussing it. Just lay there and listen, you can play the piano for me after." I gently snapped at him, running my hand along his horns a bit.

"That's fair." Nil conceded as he relaxed, listening to me tell him about some of the expectations my dad was likely to hold him to for the foreseeable future.