"—Darling! You're finally back! I've missed you, kyufufu~."
Having concluded his meeting with the former behemoth of envy, Levi. Tyler had decided to leave her in Erin's care as he teleported away and reappeared back in his assigned office as the scene before him had instantly changed.
As expected, he was greeted by an enthused Rain who had been anxiously waiting for his return as he had left without giving her a chance to react.
Although he didn't think he had spent that long talking with Levi, in actuality, it had been over 3 hours since he had been gone yet everyone aside from Rain had remained in the same spot waiting for his return.
He hadn't given them any directives before he left so they had been unsure of what he had wanted them to do and ended up just remaining in place as they awaited his return in awkward silence.
Realizing his mistake, Tyler felt a bit embarrassed as he could've handled that situation a lot better if he hadn't been so uncomfortable with the whole thing and had been anxious to leave. In a normal setting, they would've been able to act freely on their own without awaiting orders from him but as this was a formal occasion, they had all felt nervous just as he had been.
'*pheeew... and here I was thinking I was the only one not used to this type of event.'
Tyler let out a silent sigh as he received Rain's embrace before proceeding to address Hecate and the others. His lack of a reaction seems to have dampened Rain's mood a bit as she puffed her cheeks but Tyler didn't have the time for that as he knew he needed to get this back on track.
He had a lot of meetings to attend to before the start of the event this evening so he knew he didn't have the time to lounge around anymore had needed everyone to get back to their duties.
"Hey, Hecate."
"Yes! Yes sir."
For some reason, Paragon City's newly appointed mayor was startled by her own name as she instantly stood at attention before regaining awareness of the situation and shyly responding to Tyler's call.
"There's no need to be that rigid. Anyway, I need you to design a position for the person in the room next to this one. A position for her to act as a liaison between the masses and me. Someone everyone can feel comfortable speaking with without getting nervous or bashful."
"Understood!"
Although Levi was a demigod and as a Dragonkin, her appearance did look a bit wild and selcouth. For some reason, everyone seems to get along well with her, especially the elderly. It was just as the kids got along well with Rain and Liz, despite Liz being the quiet type.
With such a likability factor plus her ability to read and control the emotions of others, she would serve as the perfect liaison between Tyler and his people. It was important for him to create a peaceful city that everyone could enjoy so communication was important and he didn't want his titles as the Great Demon Lord and Demon King to get in the way of that.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWith that done, Hecate proceeded to leave the room with Tarka in tow as she waved Tyler goodbye. As the time for the city's event was drawing close, Tyler only had a few minutes to himself before he had to meet with all sorts of important figures in this world. Then there was the issue of addressing over 10,000 people.
'Just get over yourself Tyler. You've given presentations before right? No big deal.'
Using the opportunity to psych himself up, Tyler walked towards his new desk and took a seat as Rain trailed behind him, seemingly excited about something.
Tyler was curious about what was making her so excited that he wanted to ask but the smile on her face just told him it was going to be something stupid and inappropriate.
He also knew she was hoping for him to ask and that just made him not want to do it even more. So Tyler pretended as though nothing had happened and took a seat on the leather chair behind the exquisite desk placed at the end of the office, behind a massive window that overlooked the entire city.
This office was located on the highest floor of the lord's mansion so the view from here was impressive. Although the city was still only half completed and there wasn't much to see yet.
"Lord Ty."
Having given up on Tyler asking, Rain finally decided to initiate the conversation herself as she approached him with quite the pulchritudinous smile.
"No."
"Wait, but I haven't even asked anything yet."
"Doesn't matter. My response is still no."
For a moment, he thought he saw something behind Rain ― a flash of light that was the physical manifestation of the blow she had just suffered. Although he felt a little sorry for her, there was no way anything she asked with that smile on her face would be appropriate for the current occasion.
"No fair."
Rain pouted cutely but Tyler paid no mind to her complaint as she was forced to sit in the chair on the other side of his desk, still complaining.
Tyler sighed inwardly as went through the list of names that had been placed on his desk. This was the list that had been shown to him earlier on the people that requested an audience with him.
He needed to see them before the grand event in only a few hours. There were representatives from all the freemen settlements in his city. As well as from the freemen settlement in the regions closest to his. Most of which were seeking sanctuary in his city by swearing loyalty to him on various terms and conditions:
There were also secret representatives from a lot of noble families that hated or were against the Great Five and wanted to use him to achieve their own selfish agendas.
Of course, Tyler wouldn't allow such a thing but there were also a few from the families still loyal to the former demon king and were holding out hope that he was the returned demon king of Destruction.
"Alright Cora, allow the first ones in."
After going through the list and memorizing the names and descriptions of the representatives as well as the details of their requests. Tyler turned to Cora and handed her the list as she gracefully curtsied in response.
"Yes My Lord."
Following his order, Cora walked over to the door and exited the room with the list in hand. Whoever his guest was, Tyler assumed they had been made to wait for far too long so there was no need for him to act arrogantly in front of them as a show.
"Hmm, you two."
Shifting his gaze to the side of his office where two demons dressed in maid's outfits slightly different from Cora. Tyler casually addressed them as they bowed respectfully in response.
"Yes My Lord?"
The one who had answered him was the maid with short grayish golden hair, bright gold-colored hair, and a tanned skin tone.
The other maid that stood next to her looked a lot different from her as she was a little petite with long silver-colored hair, sky blue eyes, and a lighter tan on her delicate skin. They both had well-defined facial features and were naturally quite pretty.
"What are your names?"
"Forgive our late introduction, my lord, I am Varys Nexion and this is my sister Verlia Nexion. It's an honor to serve your Grace."
'Your Grace?'
While Tyler had been taken off guard by a single phrase from Varys. Rain's attention seemed to have been drawn by another detail as she couldn't help but ask.
'Hmm, so you two are sisters? You don't look alike in the least."
"You're correct my lady. Verlia is my childhood friend from the Rial settlement. Her parents died in a raid when she was little and we took her in so she has become my little sister ever since that day."
"Is that so. How unfortunate. I'm glad you were able to find a home for yourself in the end. That's a good thing."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHearing that explanation from Varys, Tyler smiled gently and addressed the petite Verlia who appeared to be rather shy at the moment.
"I-I'm honored by yo-your Grace goodwill."
"Do not worry about that. Anyway, please prepare some beverages for my guest and treat them with respect no matter who they are or what attitude they express toward me."
"Understood my lord."
"Un-Understood."
With that, they both walked to the side of the room where a small table had been set up with all kinds of light foods and drinks and they soon began to set up a tray.
Tyler looked away from them and sighed. He could see Rain— already over her pouting fit as she smiled at him again— with an expectant gaze pointed in his direction.
"What is it this time?"
"They're preparing beverages. That means we have to entertain your guest in the lounge area, ehehe~"
It was a somewhat bashful, yet thoroughly delighted laugh from Rain as her eyes seems to sparkle. As Tyler had decided to move to a single seat, she had probably wanted to ask to sit next to him but Tyler had immediately shut that down.
Besides, there wasn't space for her to move a seat close to his so the only place she could sit was on his legs which Tyler was too embarrassed to consider. However, given as he wanted to have a more relaxed conversation with this representative instead of a rigid office-type meeting, he had no choice but to move back to the couch which meant she would be able to sit next to him and that alone had made her excited.
'How childish.'
Tyler thought so but wouldn't say that out loud as he relevantly stood up and walked back to the lounge portion of his office.
Rain was completely delighted having won the day as she practically hopped behind him in her pretty dress. She knew she would be going on a long trip after Z returned with some intel in a few days so she didn't want to waste any moment away from the one she was enamored with.
Having sat next to Tyler, a knock finally came from the door and Varys went over the check who it was before reporting to him and getting his permission to allow his guest in.
Entering the room was Cora who escorted two young men that trailed behind her as they approached where he was seated.
With a graceful bow, she greeted Tyler before introducing his guest.
"Lord Ty, these are Mr. Oxa and Mr. Onyx. They are both behemoths that hailed from the Primordial behemoth of Pride's region and seek to become one of your subordinates in hopes of learning from you after witnessing your esteem might by accident during one of their exploration mission across the scarlet seas at the time."
In a surprising twist of fate, the first people that came to see him were not the representative he had read about but rather, these were too unknown behemoths that had managed to observe his battle with the shadow king above the scarlet sea simply by being at the right place at the right time.
This was something that was beyond his expectations as he had failed to sense the presence of any intelligent life around him during that fateful day. Aside from Levi, these would be the first normal behemoths he had seen since he'd arrived on the demon continent.