Beleled had two main responsibilities: his duties as the vassal in charge of the Bain estate, and his duties as the Archduke of Demons, Beleled.

Especially the latter involved managing not only the demons beyond the Gates of Hell, but also those who had come into this human realm, so there was bound to be a lot of work.

However, Beleled was lost in different thoughts as he looked at the paperwork piled in front of him.

‘……!’

The vivid image of Beril, who had flinched in response to his movements, crossed his mind.
In short, he was recalling last night.

There are various kinds of desires. Some say there are seven deadly desires.

He was a person who had little interest in lust among them.

To be precise, he did not consider lust as a form of desire. He had always thought it insane for people to throw away all other valuable things just to obtain it.

From the outset, he had no intention of engaging in such madness.
Other than that, he thought he had little desire precisely because he became a demon while denying those desires; with what he already had, he could accomplish everything he wanted.

He had achieved what he wanted and possessed it.

Unlike humans, who live and die in a short span of time, demons cursed with immortality had unique abilities through magic.

Of course, they also had physical abilities beyond those of humans.
Thanks to this, there was a time when he could afford to be lethargic while having everything, and he had the power to be arrogant if he wished.

He also had tremendous abilities that made jealousy unnecessary. Therefore, he became curious about what would happen if a demon, cursed to strongly pursue desires, fulfilled all its cravings.
So, although the gods had cursed them as ‘beasts of desire,’ only able to survive on negative human emotions and unable to properly mingle with humans, Belered didn’t consider it entirely a curse.

If you have everything, that’s the end, isn’t it? Isn’t it more like giving the opportunity to have everything?

“That was the case.”

He washed his face with one hand.
He felt for the first time last night how terrifying desire could be. He also seemed to understand what lust was.

Do you know the story of the foolish man who wanted to cut open the belly of the goose that laid golden eggs?

The story of the foolish man who, wanting to have more in a single day, slit open the goose’s belly instead of just taking a little each day.

At first, he had laughed at that man, but now he felt he could understand him.

“Ah…!”
The sound that suppressed me. Each time her shallow moan, a denial of her own desire, resounded, he felt greedy.

He wanted to make her desire me, because she couldn’t admit her own longing.

At first, he thought that perhaps this could be the battle between a god who claimed desire was wrong and a demon.

Do the holy ones not have desires?

Nonsense. Look at how the clergy, who lived as though they were condemned by God for their desires, fell from grace.
But the pinnacle, the saint, seemed like a person who had never harbored such desires.

No, he thought she was that way, but she was someone who lived suppressing her desires. That’s why he felt this marriage itself was like a battlefield with God.

Is desire right or wrong in the lives of creatures?

If, according to God’s way, desire is wrong, then why does the saint chosen by God have desires?
Was she unable to let go of her desires despite God’s whispers telling her to do so, or was there another reason?

He became curious. So he kept delving into her. Slowly stripping away the veil that covered her desires, hoping she would reveal her raw desires.

‘……!’

Thus, stealing her lips that tried to silence his own,

‘You don’t need to suppress it.’
He whispered so. Yet she still tried to suppress herself. Because of this, it was Beleled who was going mad.

Even more provocation and prying made no difference. Finally, when her vision started to blur, he had to stop himself.

She was still too pure to accept her own desires. Therefore, he had to clench the bedsheet tightly and endure.

Not yet. As she said, he had to teach her how to desire.
However.

‘…….’

After exhaling a short breath, looking at her who seemed to have fainted and fallen asleep, he had to make an effort to restrain himself for the first time.

He wanted to dig deeper. He wanted to take to his heart’s content.

If he had, her body wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

So for the first time as a demon, he tried to suppress and endure himself. Uncharacteristically so.

Because he was not the foolish one who cuts open the goose’s belly.

However.
Perhaps even that foolish one couldn’t hold back either.

What could be more agonizing than the meeting of someone who had only learned to endure and someone who had never learned to do so?

Moreover, at night, the scent and refreshing energy that seemed to enchant his mind every time he delved into her were.

“……Today’s work will be tough.”

Beleled finally slowly closed his eyes and opened them. He couldn’t concentrate at all.