X. Epilogue

On December 31st, the day Bonita turned twenty-one, they spent the entire day together in the bedroom. Teshiel sat in an armchair in front of the crackling fireplace with Bonita on his lap, leaning against the backrest while gently playing with her chestnut hair.

Bonita absentmindedly gazed at his caramel-toned skin, which had turned slightly reddish under the firelight, as she stroked her slightly rounded belly. The baby was growing smoothly inside her. Thanks to this, Teshiel could still breathe in the human realm without any pain, and Bonita, too, could stay close to him without any discomfort.

“Teshiel.”

“Yes.”

Their voices lazily blended into the warm air.

“Someday, I want to visit the demon realm.”

“Of course, you must visit. It’s yours, after all.”

“Mine?”

“I am the king of the seventh demon realm, so you are the queen of the seventh demon realm. What’s mine is yours as well.”

Teshiel gently pulled her chin toward him. As Bonita raised her face and closed her hazel eyes, he lightly kissed her. When the kiss ended, Bonita rested her head against his chest.

“Will I really be able to visit?”

“You’re probably building resistance to the power of demons by now. After the baby is born, you’ll be able to go. I promise.”

Bonita smiled. Would it really be possible? She wanted to believe it would be. She slid her fingers along the veins bulging on Teshiel’s arm and then spoke.

“What should we name the baby? Have you thought about it?”

“Is there a name you like?”

“I do, but…”

“Then let’s go with that. I already like it too.”

At Teshiel’s unhesitant response, Bonita let out a soft laugh.

“You haven’t even heard it yet, how can you say that?”

“Is there any way I wouldn’t like a name you’ve chosen? So, what is it?”

“Well… if it’s a girl, I think Mirabel would be nice, and if it’s a boy, Ian.”

Teshiel kissed the top of her head.

“It sounds perfect to me.”

“Does it suit the demon tribe as well?”

“Of course.”

Bonita lifted her head and looked into his eyes. As Teshiel played with her hair, tucking it behind her ear, Bonita smiled softly and said,

“I’ll have to ask Rento later too.”

Teshiel furrowed his brow.

“Why ask him?”

“Because you always say you like whatever I say. But Rento can be trusted with things like this. He’s objective. He considers both the human and demon perspectives.”

“When it comes to the demons, my word is right. I’m the king, after all.”

“And my word is right too? Because I’m the queen?”

“How did you know?”

Teshiel chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around Bonita’s shoulders. The low sound of his laughter resonating near her ear made her smile as well. Filled with happiness, Bonita gently closed her eyes.

In late spring of the following year, a baby girl came to them.

Bonita was surrounded by Teshiel, the midwife, a doctor, and a priest. Thanks to Milia staying by her side, reducing the pain and providing healing, the birth was relatively easy.

“She’s a beautiful little princess,” the midwife said, placing the baby in Bonita’s arms.

The newborn, with her reddish complexion, had unmistakably inherited Bonita’s pale skin and Teshiel’s black hair.

Bonita gently stroked the baby’s hair. Even while holding this tiny life, she could hardly believe that this little being had come from her own body.

But between the coal-black strands of hair, two tiny horns peeked out, a clear sign of the baby’s lineage. She was undoubtedly Teshiel’s child—the child of the man Bonita loved so much that she had been willing to give up almost her entire life just to be with him. With a trembling voice, she softly called out,

“Mirabel.”

The baby, having no way of knowing it was her name, opened her tiny mouth and let out a yawn, as if responding. Only then did Bonita fully comprehend the miracle before her. A smile slowly spread across her face.

When she lifted her gaze from Mirabel, her eyes met a pair of golden eyes watching them.

“Teshiel, she’s your child.”

Teshiel’s expression was strange. Neither joy nor surprise, but a quiet shock that made his gaze falter.

“Hold her.”

At Bonita’s words, Teshiel carefully lifted Mirabel with trembling hands. The baby, barely bigger than his fist, was so tiny that “lifting” her seemed more accurate than “holding” her.

As he gazed down at the baby, all he saw was Bonita. The neatly shaped eyebrows, the slightly upturned nose, the plump lips, and the rosy cheeks—everything was identical to Bonita. The little fingers squirming in his hand belonged to a miniature Bonita.

The thought he had entertained of leaving the baby in the care of a nurse and not being too concerned with how she grew—such a typical demon attitude—vanished completely. How could he do that when this baby was a little version of Bonita?

“Mirabel.”

His voice was unusually low. Gently brushing his thumb against the baby’s temple, he continued,

“Mirabel. I’m your father. Say, ‘Papa’.”

At that, Bonita couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Teshiel! Mirabel can’t talk yet.”

“She needs to start listening now so she knows I’m her papa. And here, this beautiful woman is your mother, Mirabel.”

“She can’t even open her eyes yet…”

Teshiel gently placed the baby against Bonita’s chest. Then he left a series of short but affectionate kisses on Bonita’s forehead, cheeks, and lips. Leaning close, he whispered softly in her ear.

“The mourning period is over now.”

A large, rough hand cupped her cheek.

“Let’s have our wedding, Bonita. The only woman in my life. My other half… I love you.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks, seeping through Teshiel’s fingers. She couldn’t even think to wipe them away, placing her hand over his as she spoke.

“Now that I’m a mother, how can I keep crying like this…”

“Don’t worry, Mirabel will protect her mother. I’m sure she already knows how beautiful your crying face is. After all, she’s my child.”

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

Bonita laughed through her tears. There was nothing she could do. She had decided to embrace the demon way of thinking little by little. Honestly, and with all her heart, she let her feelings guide her words.

“I love you. I love you, Teshiel.”