WWDNND Chapter 28

The Demon of the Black Jewel, Dolrens (1)

For a while, I couldn’t answer Abel’s question.

The one who told Abel he was pretty was none other than me. And that was true. I had never seen a boy as pretty as Abel until now.

‘Hmm, maybe there’s one more.’

Although I hadn’t seen him directly, I had seen Nataniell, the final weapon of the temple, in a dream.

That kid was also pretty in a different way from Abel. His long silver hair was mysterious too. I didn’t know how they would turn out when they grew up, though.

‘Ah, wait.’

Lost in my thoughts for a moment, I was startled and quickly looked back at Abel.

I had gotten a bit too lost in my own thoughts, probably out of embarrassment. I gave a childlike innocent smile and answered.

“Yeah, Abel is pretty!”

“Ah…”

“I like it!”

“You… like it?”

“Yep!”

Children like pretty people.

No, no one dislikes pretty people. But children, being innocent, are more honest about it. So, I decided to go with this concept to win Abel over.

“I see… I’m glad that my appearance is to the little lady’s liking.”

“….” Abel said seriously. Despite still looking shy, he was saying something huge.

‘The Gideon family was originally a collateral branch of the Winston family.’

The first Duke of Winston, who had made a pact with the great demon.

He had given jewels containing demons to his family and retainers. The first heir of the Gideon family was the Duke’s younger sibling who had received the jewel at that time.

But that was over a thousand years ago, and now, the bloodline of the Gideon family, which had once been a collateral branch, was so diluted that they were practically unrelated to the Winston family anymore.

However, it seemed that the loyalty remained, and they still treasured the black jewels. Apparently, the Gideon family considered these demonic jewels as a symbol of succession.

I continued to stare at the sparkling black brooch in front of me. Abel reacted to my greedy gaze.

“Are you fascinated by this?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty.”

I nodded honestly in response. As soon as Abel saw my interest, he swiftly took the brooch from his chest and handed it to me.

“Here you go, little lady.”

“Wow!”

I quickly accepted the brooch with joy. As soon as my hand touched it, a faint vibration emanated from the black jewel attached to the brooch.

Now, how would I be able to get the jewel? Even though the Gideon family was a loyal house, they wouldn’t just give away their heirlooms carelessly.

While I was turning these thoughts over in my head, I suddenly heard a low voice from a man in my mind.

[…Is it the master?]

‘Huh?’

[Oh… it’s been so long since I’ve had a master.]

‘…?’

This wasn’t Desmond or Bibi’s voice. Desmond had a strangely high tone, closer to a boy’s voice, and Bibi sounded like a little girl.

So this voice belonged to the black jewel, Dolrens.

‘Are you Dolrens…? Is it you?’

[Yes. My master.]

‘Oh….’

It was a very deep voice with an aristocratic tone. It was completely different from Desmond or Bibi’s free-spirited personalities.

Do all black jewel demons speak this way? I didn’t even realize Abel was smiling at me as I stared at the brooch, fascinated.

“Do you like that brooch, little lady?”

“Huh? Uh-huh.”

“Then do you want to keep it?”

“Huhh?”

I looked at Abel, surprised.

Was he really saying this? Would he just casually give away a family heirloom like this?

“But this jewel is really expensive…”

I accidentally blurted that out, probably because I was so surprised. Abel smiled gently and opened his mouth.

“It’s alright. Everything that Gideon owns belongs to Winston.”

“Huh…?”

“Everything I have belongs to the little lady.”

“…!”

Abel said in a calm voice.

I was surprised by how serious Abel sounded. It wasn’t just empty words; he really seemed like he was going to give it to me. He was truly offering this heirloom so easily…?

I looked into his warm dark blue eyes, holding the brooch tightly in my hand.

“Are you really giving it to me?”

“Yes, little lady.”

“…!”

To think I could get a black jewel so easily…!

It was lucky that the Gideon family remained so loyal to the Winston family.

But would Abel get in trouble with Count Gideon for just giving it away like this? I looked at Abel with some unease, and he lowered his eyes before asking, his voice shy.

“Um, but, could I ask one thing in return…?”

“Huh?”

A favor?

Hearing Abel’s words, I felt my excitement quickly deflate.

Of course. He wouldn’t just give away a family heirloom like that. He must have had some kind of request before handing it over.

“What is it?”

“Well…”

I asked calmly, not wanting to seem too eager. I felt better doing it this way since I felt guilty about accepting the gift for free.

It would be better to grant whatever Abel wanted in exchange for the jewel. I tilted my head, curious about what his request would be.

“Could I… be your playmate?”

“A play… mate?”

“Yes, yes.”

Abel’s face turned bright red again. Why did this kid always turn as red as a tomato when he spoke?

‘By the way, a playmate.’

Becoming a childhood friend of a noble family or the royal family is one way to build connections.

Since the Gideon family had long been a loyal house to Winston, I didn’t think they’d need to make a playmate connection like this.

‘Is this an order from Count Gideon?’

Perhaps, since the Duke of Winston seemed to care about me, he had instructed Abel to become my playmate to strengthen our ties. I hadn’t seen it this way before, but maybe Count Gideon was more calculating than I thought. In the novel, he wasn’t portrayed as using his own children for power.

‘Well, whatever. I’ll do it.’

The Gideon family wasn’t one to avoid, and it wouldn’t hurt to get closer to Abel, the heir. Plus, I’d be getting the jewel too—it was a two-in-one deal. I smiled and nodded.

“Okay! I want to be friends with Abel too!”

“Really?”

“Yep!”

Abel, who had been nervously wiggling his fingers, looked up in surprise. Seeing his eyes shine with joy, it almost seemed like he was the one volunteering to be my playmate.

‘Could it be?’

He wouldn’t offer up the family heirloom just because he wanted to be friends with me. He might look young and innocent, but I shouldn’t be fooled. Abel Gideon. He wasn’t as simple as he seemed!

I clutched the brooch in my hand and silently shouted in my mind.

“Thank you for accepting me as a friend, little lady.”

“Now that we’re friends, you can just call me Dia!”

“Y-Yes?”

Abel’s eyes grew wide with surprise. Then he hesitated before speaking.

“I… I can’t just…”

“It’s fine. We’re friends now!”

“Friends…”

Encouraged by my words, Abel nodded. He cautiously opened his mouth.

“Yes, Dia-nim.”

“No ‘nim,’ just Dia!”

“B-But… I can’t just do that…”

Abel looked embarrassed and turned his head. Behind me, Sophia was standing with a gentle smile on her face. She nodded approvingly.

“Yes… Dia.”

“Yep, Abel!”

And so, I got my first black jewel and became friends with Abel. For now, everything seemed to be going smoothly.

Later, when Abel and the people from the Gideon family had left, I returned to my room, carefully holding the brooch.

“Hehehe.”

As soon as I entered my room, I pulled out the glittering brooch.

The black jewel, Onyx. The dark stone with faint stripes had a deep, elegant aura.

“Dolrens!”

[Oh… My master.]

A black energy seemed to rise from the jewel, and I could feel Dolrens, the demon of Onyx, looking down at me. I smiled at him.

[It’s been a long time since I’ve been called. I never thought a direct descendant would still be able to summon us…]

His voice echoed in my mind, filled with emotion. The jewel itself vibrated softly.

As expected, things were progressing smoothly. Most importantly, Dolrens was much calmer and more composed than any other demon I had met. I could probably talk to him just fine.

I nodded and gazed at Dolrens.

[The fact that you’ve called me means you wish to make a pact with me, correct?]

“Hmm…”

Hearing the hopeful tone in his voice, I felt a bit guilty.

I, too, would love to make pacts with all the jewel demons, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible yet.

Well, since the demons of the black jewels were often contracted by their retainers, I thought he would understand.

I decided to answer accordingly.

“Sorry, someone else will make a pact with you.”

[…]

“Dolrens?”

For some reason, Dolrens fell silent. I stared at him, puzzled, and then a firm voice echoed in my mind.

[I refuse.]

“What?”

I blinked in surprise, my eyes widening.