At first, I met him to use him.

With jet-black eyes resembling the night, and long, scarlet hair flowing down to his waist, he was Astalot, a devil. Despite donning the attire of several generations ago, it neither seemed awkward nor quaint. Due to the naturally emanating arrogant aura and the presence of a predator, it felt rather enchanting.

As Enrique recalls, he didn’t really hide the fact that he was a devil. Perhaps it was due to his inherently honest and straightforward nature, but above all, it was probably because he knew he was strong. The confidence that no one in the world could harm him, the generosity and anger befitting a superior predator, and the blissfulness created by ignorance of the human world—all these aspects defined a person who might not succumb to such charm.

Even though the residents of the small village where he frequently appeared had noticed that he was a devil, they pretended not to know. Despite sometimes causing mischief in the market whenever he went for a stroll, his more significant actions involved distributing goods to the nearby orphanage.

If someone was injured, he would stitch up their wounds, throw them an unknown pill, and would often say things like, “You belong to me, so I’ll treat you well.” Actions that meant nothing to him but were enormous gifts for humans, unlike demons who lived a finite life.

Ah, of course, there were those who couldn’t accept his favors as mere favors and succumbed to greed. One of them reported Astalot to the Crusaders, and realizing that they were dealing with someone they couldn’t handle, the Crusaders reported to their superiors.

That’s how information about him ended up in Helene’s hands. Helene said to him, “Kill the devil and dedicate yourself to the Empress.”

Since he liked children and found young animals cute, he appeared harmless. As if giving more attention to someone of lower status than to someone higher, she suggested pretending to be a humble shepherd.

At that time, Enrique had no one more precious than Helene, so he quietly followed her plan. They were comrades sharing the same wounds and the only reliable beings for each other, so following her plan wasn’t a problem for Enrique.

Moreover, capturing a devil wasn’t a bad deed, as it was a splendid task mentioned in scriptures. To young Enrique, who wanted his father’s recognition, Helene’s words at that time seemed like an opportunity.

But alas, the world does not always go as one wishes.

On the day they first met, when Enrique was helping the unfamiliar shepherd overwhelmed by the new job and put his hand on the large hand that was simply graceful, Enrique fell in love.

Surprisingly, the devil, too, cared for him.
Compared to what belonged to him, I simply complimented the faint color of his hair, and acknowledged the beauty of his eye color, which received insults for being devil-like.

However, receiving his love, Enrique was always uneasy. It was not because he had to betray him someday, but rather an issue related to eternity.

“I am a humble human who will die early, but Astalot-nim will live even after my death and love someone else like this.”

Calling his name with such a sweet voice, covering up mistakes by calling him my shepherd, holding hands and leading him.

Then the unknown person calling his name would be immersed in happiness.

Even thinking about that made jealousy rise. Enrique couldn’t escape the unpleasant sensation of bugs crawling all over his body.

Finally, on the night before the day they decided to hold a wedding like ordinary people.

Enrique kneeled and prayed to God.

Praying and worrying, Enrique, who had only prayed, eventually decided to save him.

It was not because he would betray Helene, but rather a matter concerning eternity.

His slow decision, as a somewhat insignificant prince, was already late, and Helene and the Crusade headquarters were near the village.

“I should have escaped from him at that time.”

The one who enjoyed war, the god of victory, the demon reveling in bloodshed, he would never have escaped.

At the moment he revealed the truth, Enrique knew that a myriad army from the demon realm would sweep through the area, trampling and crushing it into ruins.

… To offer an excuse, that was the reason.

The Crusade members who accepted him, an inconspicuous prince, were precious to him. Helene went without saying.

He didn’t want to see them die.

Thus, Enrique told a bold lie.

To the newlywed, he surrounded her with men and said he would come after drinking the wedding wine. Then, he left her alone for a while. He met with the knights and said that he was going to the forest and asked them to follow him immediately…

He tried to.

But.

“Enri, is it a lie? I know. I know you’re lying.”

As soon as he heard his exclamation, Helene approached and whispered.

“I’ve placed people around your honeymoon house. If any problems arise, I told them to alert with the horn. But look, there’s no sound of the horn.”

“I… I…”