The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 607 The Demon King's Most Loyal Gardener

The market in Gravit was much more lively than Erin had imagined.

She originally thought there were just more people near the train station, but she didn't expect there to be even more people at the market, to the point that it was shoulder to shoulder.

"Fresh apples! Powdery texture, perfect for apple pie! Only one copper pound per kilogram! Come and take a look!"

"Hey young lady, these clothes here would suit you perfectly! Come and take a look!"

"Eggs, delicious eggs!"

Listening to the incessant cries of vendors, Eileen, sitting in the carriage, looked at the bustling market and let out a heartfelt sigh.

"By Saint Sith... I didn't expect it to be so lively here."

Karen, who was sitting to the side, smiled and said softly.

"After all, it snowed all night last night."

"Is it related to the heavy snow last night?" Eileen asked curiously.

"of course."

Karen nodded slightly and continued in a casual tone.

"People from nearby villages worry that the snow will fall even harder, so they bring potatoes and cabbages from their fields to exchange for money or necessities such as flour, coal, and salt that they need at home when the snow stops. Town residents and even citizens from nearby cities also come here in advance to buy things because they are worried about rising prices."

Eileen looked enlightened and nodded thoughtfully.

"So that's how it is."

The situation in Thunder City is completely different from here.

If it snows all night, people usually postpone their shopping trips to the market because they don't want to get their boots dirty.

For this reason, in busy streets like Queen Street, merchants are often more concerned about the cleanliness of the streets than the city council, and even spontaneously organize people to clear the snow from the streets in order to avoid damage to their economic interests.

"Your Highness, there are too many people ahead. Our carriage may not be able to enter the market." Theresa's voice came from the front of the carriage, and the carriage stopped.

Eileen turned her gaze away from the window and spoke to Theresa, who was sitting in front of her.

"Let's stop around here, Theresa, let's walk over."

“Yes, Your Highness,” Theresa replied, and drove the carriage to the roadside post station.

People come and go at the entrance of the post station.

Behind the gate was an open space where many vehicles were parked, including donkey carts for hauling goods and horse-drawn carriages like theirs.

A young man wearing a felt hat stood at the entrance of the post station, a string of numbered wooden tags hanging from his waist. His nose was red from the cold, and he paced back and forth, rubbing his hands.

Upon seeing the carriage approaching, he immediately went to greet it.

Theresa handed him the reins.

How much does it cost here?

The young man took the reins and replied enthusiastically.

"One copper pound per hour! Anything less than an hour will be counted as an hour."

Copper pounds seem to have become the lowest unit of currency here, while the crudely made copper coins seem to have been forgotten.

Theresa took the wooden sign he handed her and then returned to the car door.

Before Theresa could even open the car door for her, Eileen had already jumped out of the car impatiently, carrying a wicker basket in her hand, and excitedly urged.

“We’re leaving now, Theresa. We have so much to buy! Let me see what’s on the list Miss Sarah gave me… potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beef ribs! Oh, looks like lunch can look forward to it! Let’s start with the potatoes.”

"Your Highness, I don't think it's possible that even the potatoes have been sold out."

“But we have to bring back the best potatoes, don’t we? We can’t let His Highness Colin and Miss Yaya down… oh, and Vivian too.”

"What I mean is, we should go buy the meat first..."

Seeing Eileen's energetic demeanor, Karen couldn't help but smile gently.

She never expected that this heroine, who even the divine child would find troublesome, would have such an interesting side; it was truly a surprise to her.

The three of them walked into the market together.

Along the way, Eileen looked around curiously and compared it with the Twilight Province she remembered.

To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that the name of the town of Gravit is visible everywhere, she would hardly have recognized this as the place she had passed through with her army.

Unmelted icicles hung from the eaves of houses lining the streets, and the snow on the ground was crushed into a muddy gray-brown by passing boots and handcarts.

People walked through the muddy street without a care, their breath forming a cloud that mingled with the smoke rising from the bakery chimney.

After months of turmoil and famine, the common people living on this land finally had a chance to catch their breath.

The stall was filled with baskets of winter-stored potatoes, dried salted meat, rough black bread, and winter-wintered cabbages with the aroma of earth.

The railway from Campbell not only brought copper coins from Thunder City to the area, but also agricultural products from other parts of the Kingdom of Ryan.

Although concerns about food shortages remain, the probability of a large-scale famine in the areas along the railway line has been minimized.

Eileen breathed a sigh of relief.

However, before she could even catch her breath, she soon encountered another thorny issue—

"'Hard cheeses fermented for more than three months'... What's the difference between these cheeses?"

Standing in front of a cheese stall, Eileen stared at the list in her hand for a long time, but a look of confusion finally crept onto her face.

Just as she was about to pick up a piece of butter, Karen, who was behind her, smiled gently and naturally took the long sheet from Eileen's hand.

"Let me do it."

Her movements were extremely skillful. First, she examined the cut surfaces of several pieces of cheese, then she brought them close to smell the unique sour smell of fermentation, and then she accurately picked out several pieces with the best color.

Eileen was deeply impressed by Karen's skillful selection, and then turned to look at Theresa standing to the side.

"Theresa, can you smell the difference between them?"

Theresa coughed awkwardly.

“This… I’m sorry, Your Highness, I have no experience in that area.”

To her shame, she was equally useless in this matter. In comparison, she was much better at offering advice on other matters.

For example, military campaigns.

For example, Her Highness's personal feelings.

While the two were still marveling at the cheese, Karen, having bought the cheese, went to the butcher shop next door, selected a tender rib with evenly distributed fat, and put it in her basket.

Looking at the beef hanging on the butcher's stall, Eileen glanced at the piece in the basket and asked a question out of curiosity.

"Is there any difference between these meats?"

Karen explained patiently.

"The spare ribs are located between the sixth and eighth ribs, and they are the most delicious and flavorful whether stewed or grilled."

"Unbelievable, I thought all beef tasted the same..."

"Your Highness, you don't need to worry about these things. I think your head chef will take care of everything for you."

"But I still think that people who can understand these things are amazing."

Looking at Eileen, who was earnestly affirming her, Karen smiled gently.

"Thank you. I think you are also remarkable. All I have is some very common knowledge, while you have managed to make cake available to the citizens of Thunder City."

Eileen's cheeks flushed slightly, and she scratched her cheek with her index finger.

Have you ever been to Thunder City? When?

That was something she said when she was sixteen.

Although she did eventually succeed in letting every citizen of Thunder City taste the cake, she still felt embarrassed when people mentioned it to her face.

Karen blinked gently.

"I've never been there, but I've heard about you from Prince Colin. To be honest, I've admired you ever since..."

Theresa glanced at Karen in surprise, then at the blushing princess, feeling that something was amiss, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

The same applies to the subsequent purchases.

At the vegetable stall next door, Miss Karen didn't hesitate either. Her fair fingers picked through the pile of potatoes covered in dirt, selecting only the plumpest and firmest ones.

Because she had a generous budget, she didn't haggle like a thrifty housewife, but her gentle and holy smile still won over many devout stall owners.

Being devout to the Son of God is also a form of devotion.

"Miss, you have such a beautiful smile, just like that legendary Holy Maiden," the fruit and vegetable vendor suddenly said.

These words startled Theresa, who was standing to the side deep in thought, and she almost touched the hilt of the sword at her waist.

After all, Karen was a wanted fugitive by the Papacy. From the King of Rhodes to the Pope of St. Clement's Cathedral, everyone wanted her head, and this praise was tantamount to—

'You look a lot like a wanted criminal.'

It is also very similar to the gold coins of the Ottoman Empire.

Eileen also tensed up for a moment.

However, when she saw the smile on the woman's face, her vigilance quickly subsided.

Clearly, the saintess is not someone to be avoided here, and the locals have no interest in serving the papacy that has wronged them.

It's unclear when exactly, but this land no longer belongs to the Papacy. Furthermore, the Ottoman Empire lost more than just its faith here…

Karen remained calm throughout, simply smiling as she accepted the cabbage offered by the aunt and placed it in the basket she was carrying on her arm.

Have you seen her?

"No, how could I possibly see her? But I imagine if that princess were still alive, she would look something like you," the fruit and vegetable vendor said with a smile, adding two more red apples to her basket. "Here, these are a gift from me! I hope those dead men in black robes will never find her!"

“How can that be? I’ll give you the money—” Seeing the two apples stuffed into the basket, Karen hurriedly reached for her money, but the woman waved her hand to stop her.

"No need, no need, it's just two, less than a kilogram in total, you can keep them! If you like them, come back a few more times!"

Karen blushed and took the money back, nodding shyly.

"Well... thank you." "Haha, you're too kind!"

Thanks to Karen's help, the items on the list were quickly purchased.

Looking at the two baskets full of spoils, Eileen could even picture the approving smile on Miss Sarah's face.

Her smile is not a common sight.

To be honest, this matter has always made Eileen feel guilty.

She had heard Prince Colin mention that Sarah was someone he had "found" in Thunder City, and that at the time the girl was so hungry she would even eat a ratman's tail.

During Aaron Campbell's time, half-breeds held a status in Thunder City similar to "untouchables," and incidents of adventurers bullying half-breeds were frequent, with the courts often unwilling to handle these troublesome cases.

This phenomenon did not change until Edward ascended to the throne.

With the introduction of the Nationality Act, he redefined these humans with demonic characteristics using the neutral term "demi-human" and granted legal citizenship to demi-humans born in the Principality of Campbell.

Of course, she knew very well that these remedial measures were insufficient to make up for the harm that Miss Sarah had suffered.

As a member of the Campbell family, she could only do her best, within her power, to use her kindness to heal the compatriot who had been hurt by the Principality of Campbell.

Unfortunately, Sarah had no idea what Eileen was thinking.

Otherwise, after the heroine's kindness was exploited by the Demon Lord, it will probably be exploited by the Demon Lord's cat as well...

Sarah didn't consider herself a Campbellian at all; she was already wholeheartedly loyal to the Demon King, so naturally she wouldn't care about such trivial matters.

Following behind Karen, Eileen watched with amazement as she effortlessly navigated the muddy and sweaty market.

On the way back, she finally couldn't contain her curiosity and said...

“I originally thought that a saint like you would only be responsible for praying in the church. Please forgive my bluntness, but I just didn’t expect... you to be so skilled.”

Hearing Eileen's sentiments, Karen smiled gently and said...

“I wasn’t born a saintess. Before this, I lived in the countryside in the northern border of the Kingdom of Rhodes. Moreover, when I was in Eagle Rock Territory, I often had to take care of the children in the orphanage. In order to make the children eat better, I needed to cook different dishes for them with limited funds, so purchasing skills were essential.”

Eileen's respect deepened.

"Eagle Rock Territory... what kind of place is that?"

"How should I put it? I think it's a very beautiful place."

Karen slowed her pace, a thoughtful expression on her face, her eyes becoming somewhat distant as she reminisced.

"The pine trees covering the mountains and plains are always covered with thick snow. When night falls, the moonlight shines on the snow, so bright that there is no need to light torches."

At this point, her tone became slightly lower.

"However, it was really cold there, and the wind felt like sharp daggers. When the snow was falling the heaviest, it could even block the door, and you had to crawl out of the window to shovel the snow. When you walked outside, the snow could be up to your waist. Without enough food and firewood, people could even die silently in their sleep."

Although she glossed over those cruel memories, Eileen, walking beside her, could still sense the heaviness in her voice.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of apology.

"I'm sorry, I reminded you of something unpleasant."

"It's alright, those things are all in the past."

A gentle smile appeared on Karen's face, and she lightly made the sign of the cross on her chest with her index finger. "Moreover, I don't think it was a bad thing now. It was precisely because of those dark days that I was able to meet His Highness at the dawn that was about to break."

Eileen paused for a moment.

"That prince is..."

“Of course it’s Prince Colin,” Karen smiled gently, winked at Eileen walking beside her, and then said with a mischievous grin, “Although my faith belongs to His Highness the Divine Child, my gratitude to Prince Colin is also genuine. After all, he saved me.”

She did it on purpose.

When Eileen felt most guilty, she shifted the topic to what was most beneficial to her.

However, she did this not to make Eileen want to back out, thus eliminating this "competitor".

On the contrary, her initiative was precisely to help the Demon Lord conquer Campbell's hero and eliminate the remaining threat in the south as soon as possible!
Karen's thinking is very clear.

Eileen's confidence and composure now are the mindset of a victor.

This brave young lady may have indeed had something happen with her Prince Colin, but she has no idea that the biggest threat to her, "Ya Ya Mitia," is already far ahead and may have even won the competition long ago!

If she continues to be so confident, no one can stop Lady Mia from Shanghai from dominating the world and completely annihilating the Demon King, who is also from Shanghai.

In that case, let the saintess of the rushing river give Miss Irene a push!
Once Miss Eileen feels a sense of crisis, she will likely put aside her victor's complacency and launch a new attack.

In truth, Karen felt quite helpless when she came up with this idea.

Campbell's princess is not only detached from worldly affairs, but the "strategist" beside her is also a complete idiot.

She had previously wondered why Theresa was completely unaware of the progress between "Miss Yaya" and Prince Colin, until last night when she overheard them earnestly arguing about the novel in the living room, and then she understood everything—

Another idiot trying to apply fiction to reality.

The Demon King's sister, who only keeps repeating "I see," is clearly a useless person who only causes trouble.

The brat was completely unaware that baring his teeth at Miss Mia was utterly useless; it would only press her firmly into the Demon King's arms.

If she really wanted to do something for her brother, she shouldn't have tried to maintain the balance in the back garden this way. Instead, she should have played her ridiculous pranks on Eileen, giving Eileen the opportunity to deepen her relationship with the Demon King.

However, surprisingly, Miss Vivian softened her stance towards the very person who deserved the "strongest blow"!
Karen was also a little confused. What exactly was Miss Vivian trying to do? Did the Padridge family and the Colin family sign a mutual assistance alliance?
I can't understand it.

Karen felt she was really worried sick about the Demon King's backyard.

of course.

This doesn't mean she has no selfish motives; on the contrary, her selfish motives may be even greater than the Demon King and Miss Sarah imagine.

However, she knew very well that with the few cards she held, she could never win against the Hell Nobles and the Holy Light Nobles.

They were born in their own paradise.

Although I feel somewhat sorry for Miss Mia, I can only blame the treachery and cunning of humans. The saintess, who has nothing, can only fight in the style of a saintess.

I want to eat bread—

We must ensure that everyone gets to eat.

Actually, that's what the Demon King has always taught her, hasn't it?
Although that prince, who was "only good at offense and not good at defense," probably didn't realize that he had taught him these things...

Looking at that gentle smile, Eileen felt a tightness in her chest, as if someone had their eye on her beloved fruit cake.

Her lips moved slightly, and she finally couldn't help but speak.

"So... what do you think of Prince Colin?"

Karen lowered her eyes, placed her hands on her chest, and a pure and holy smile bloomed on her beautiful face, like the warm sun nearing noon.

"He is a very, very important person to me."

The voice was as light as falling snow, yet it carried an unwavering conviction, making Eileen feel an even tighter tightness in her chest, as if the snow from last night had buried her there.

However, that's not enough.

Eileen's expression told her that even after hearing those words, the heroine still didn't consider her a serious opponent.

She originally intended to save this confession for the Divine Child, but now it seems she can only use it here for now.

"If it weren't for him, I would probably have died in that dark, snowy night, and I wouldn't be who I am today. So..."

Normally, she would never do something so "childish"—saving the confession that should have been given to her sweetheart for her "love rival".

But now, she looked up and her gaze toward Eileen held a serious glint, the sunlight streaming over the eaves illuminating her golden eyelashes.

"To me, he is my god."

God... Sir?
Eileen froze on the spot, staring in astonishment at the saintess before her, unable to believe those words had come from her mouth.

but--

She quickly came to terms with it.

Perhaps, in New Testament denominations, God is something that can be used casually, after all, she found that those Protestants really had little reverence.

Most of the thieves in Thunder City are Protestants.

Of course, she wasn't implying that Her Highness was a thief; she still respected and genuinely admired this kind lady.

A sense of mutual appreciation welled up in Eileen's heart, and a bright smile appeared on the knight's face.

"oh, I understand now."

Karen paused slightly upon hearing this.

She had considered many possible scenarios, even the possibility that Eileen would distance herself from her because of it, but she never expected that the knight's response would be just a... generous smile?

"I understand..."

"It means understanding."

Following Karen's earlier action, she also placed her right hand on her chest and reverently closed her silver eyelashes.

The biting wind tugged at the hem of the wool coat, but it couldn't stir the victor's slightly upturned lips.

“…I understand how you feel, Karen. That prince is indeed a very charming person, and someone you can entrust your life to.”

Eileen opened her eyes, her voice sweet and proud.

"He is the one I love."

"My heart, my beloved?"

Seeing Karen's "wavering expression," Eileen nodded slightly. For a fleeting moment, the smile on her face was even more dazzling than the radiance emanating from the saintess.

"Yes, we share the same ideals, support each other, have been through many adventures together, and have been for a long time... No, that might not be accurate enough, and it might lead you to misunderstand it as friendship or a similar bond, thus causing other misunderstandings."

Eileen suddenly shook her head slightly, interrupting herself, and looked at Karen with a smile.

I don't want you to misunderstand.

“We have loved each other for a long time.”

Theresa: "!!!"

Karen: "…………???"

(End of this chapter)