Lost But Not Forgotten: Child Bride of the Demon King

“Stop shaking, girl or I’ll stick you with a pin” the nurse scolded.

“Why must I be sacrificed to the demon king?” the girl asked stubbornly. The maids glanced at each other nervously

“That’s not a very nice thing to say!” one of them began.

“Oh, save it! I know you all are scared of him, including my father. And I know he’s sending me to marry him instead of my older sisters because I’m a bastard he had with a gypsy. The only reason he took me in is because he didn’t want me raised by gypsies…” she sighed. The maids began to look uncomfortable.

“…I never thought he would give me as a present to the demon king…”

“Stop your grousing! One castle is the same as the next!” the nurse sighed finishing the alterations on the girl’s gown.

“But he’s a monster! You’ve all heard of what he does to his enemies! Lord knows what he’ll do to me!!” she cried.

“…please, my lady, I’m sure it will be fine…”

“…Tell that to my tortured corpse!”

“…Such drama…” the nurse rolled her eyes.

 

The young girl shook were she stood before the king’s throne. She could feel his cold cruel eyes lingering on her.

“And what is this?” his voice rumbled.

“We come from the neighboring country, your highness. Our king offers one of his daughters as tribute to your great kingdom and in the hopes that our two countries will be joined as one” the maid bowed. The demon king noticed a certain bitterness in the girl’s countenance at the mention of her father, this made him grin.

“Hmmm…how old are you child?”

“…Twelve…my lord…” she whispered.

“Twelve? Then you truly are a child. Surely you king has older, more…experienced daughters?”

“…My father rather not put his beloved girls in danger…” she muttered bitterly.

“My lady!” the old woman shushed.

“No, go on, I wish to hear what the girl-child has to say on matters of state” he smirked. She glared, “I may be a child, but even as such I am still too much woman for you to handle”

“Is that so?” he grinned. The king rose from his throne, slowly approaching the two. The girl glared at her feet, fear gripping her once more. He knelt before her, grasping her chin and forcing her to look him in the eyes.

Her own of pale green stared with surprise into his sinister red ones.

“Return to your king, tell him I accept his…gift” he grinned, taking the girl’s hand. “And what should I call you, Princess?”

“…My name is…Tayo…” she stammered.

“Princess Tayo…No, Queen Tayo” He rumbled kissing her hand.

 

Tayo stood still before the mirror as she was dressed for the day.

“Stop pouting already, if he wanted to eat you, he would’ve done it by now” her maid huffed.

“He’s waiting for you to leave so he can take advantage of me…” Tayo said coldly.

“How does a child your age become so morbid?”

There was a knock at the door.

“Is my lovely bride descent?” the king’s low voice rumbled. Tayo hid behind her nurse.

“…Oh for the love of…Yes my lord, you may come in”

The door swung open and in stepped the demon king, lord Tepes.

“Good day, my lord” Tayo curtsied.

“Good morning, my queen” He took a knee to kiss her hand. “…You look ravishing today”

He gave a dark chuckle as she paled.

“You shouldn’t tease her so much, my lord, she is quite a serious child” the nurse sighed.

“That is precisely why I tease her so much” he grinned. Tayo pouted.

“You shouldn’t do that, my dear, it makes it hard for me to control myself when I see my wife pout so cutely”

“If you are such a beast that a mere child is enough to arouse your passions then I truly pity you” She scoffed.

“…Mmm…I adore feisty women…” he rumbled, his eyes glinting. Tayo seemed unnerved but threw her head with a snooty, ‘Hmph’, leaving the room her nurse in tow.