Betrayed, I Knocked Demon Lord's Door - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Leon jolted like he'd just been smashed with a sledgehammer. It was as if a giant bell had gone off in his head, leaving him reeling and his mind buzzing in confusion.
But before the wave of disappointment could crash over him, Caitlyn's voice, after a brief pause, sounded again. "Still, even if it's nothing special, I can tell the chef really put their heart into it.
"Like a rookie who's just started, trying their absolute best.
"So, out of all the dishes, maybe it's not the tastiest, but I'd say it's the best—the one made with the most care."
"I... I see..." Leon replied in a daze, feeling like he'd just been yanked straight from the depths of despair to cloud nine. He could almost see a tiny Caitlyn-angel fluttering around his head, spinning in circles.
His mind grew even foggier.
Even his feelings of joy and sadness seemed to fade in the face of such a wild emotional rollercoaster.
Germaine covered her face, unable to watch any longer. 'As expected, Lady Caitlyn really is Lord Caitlyn, through and through.
'Look at that silly Lord Radford, totally hooked—she's got him dancing in the palm of her hand!
'Still... it seems like ever since they met, no matter the situation—whether it's a fight or a battle of wits—Lady Caitlyn only ever toys with him like this. Maybe that's her own brand of pure love?'
Germaine caught a glimpse of the sly smile tugging at the corner of Caitlyn's lips and shivered for no reason.
She then pondered, 'Why does it suddenly feel like she's the real mastermind here? Now that I think about it, maybe Lady Caitlyn and Lord Radford's little hints started way back?
'Ever since that ice-cold woman accepted Lord Radford's invitation to dance the very first time they met...
'It seems like every time Lady Caitlyn ran into Lord Radford, her emotions spike—she gets so much more animated, whether they are fighting or just bickering...
'These two rivals are like they're destined to be tangled up with each other forever.
'Damn, with all this drama, I almost feel like writing a romance novel.'
After lunch, Germaine decided to stop playing third wheel. She'd already given them enough nudges—it was time to let Leon and Caitlyn have some alone time to process everything and let their feelings grow.
Watching the two of them stroll off, hand in hand but still keeping that shy little distance—like a pair of awkward new lovers—Germaine couldn't help but ponder the question. 'I wonder when Lady Caitlyn will finally start showing...
'Honestly, with how fast Lord Radford's moving, he's not exactly slow... Maybe, just maybe, we'll see it happen within the next fifty years?
'For long-lived folks like them, their honeymoon phase could last way longer than normal people's—maybe even a whole lifetime, especially at their level.
'I just hope I can stick around and be with them till the very end...'
"Hey. My little cutie, why are you standing here all alone? Who are you staring at so intently? I'm getting jealous! Should I go chop her up?" A lively, clear voice rang out from behind her.
Germaine quickly composed herself and turned around, her expression calm.
Kathleen was standing there, hands behind her back, grinning from ear to ear.
Germaine's gaze paused for a moment, finally settling on the thing at the corner of Kathleen's lips.
Suddenly, she reached out—Kathleen's eyes flickered, but she didn't dodge. Instead, she leaned in with a smile.
Germaine picked off a corn kernel and said softly, "Lady Kathleen, you forgot to wipe your mouth after eating again."
The white-haired girl's cheeks were visibly flushed red. As the Lord of Ekavine City, it was a bit of a blow to her dignity.
Germaine commented, "You're just like a kid."
"You're the kid! Stupid Germaine, I only came over because you looked a little lonely. I was being nice!" Kathleen huffed, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks as she turned away.
Germaine smiled helplessly, reached out to ruffle her hair, and whispered, "I'm not that lonely. I was just thinking about when Lady Caitlyn might get pregnant."
Kathleen looked stunned. "Wait, pregnant? Who? Did you just say Caitlyn? Leon's that good? He already got her? I knew it! There was something going on between them all along! Great, just great! A Demon Lord and a Knight—what a pair! Honestly, I should've just let those old geezers go bother them instead of stopping them for her sake."
Germaine looked helpless. "Lady Kathleen, no cursing. Besides, those two are still going to be all shy and awkward for a while... though maybe not much longer? I was just curious, that's all—just making a little guess."
"Forget about those two. When are WE finally going to get all lovey-dovey?" Kathleen suddenly hugged Germaine around the waist and nuzzled up to her, not caring at all about the students watching.
Most people probably just thought the "little sister" was being clingy with her big sis.
But anyone who actually knew the true identity of this white-haired girl quickly picked up their pace and hurried away.
Germaine said with all seriousness, "Sorry, but I like men. I do appreciate your affection, Lady Kathleen, but I'll have to pass."
Kathleen put on a sad look. "Aww. I'm gonna cry... So heartbroken."
"Alright, that's enough. Stop making a scene out here, it's embarrassing." Germaine just wanted to leave.
"So, does that mean I can mess around as much as I want once we're home?" Kathleen smirked.
Germaine felt so mentally exhausted that she didn't even want to answer.
That afternoon, Caitlyn still showed up to class with her giant thermos in tow.
She seemed to have a real soft spot for that thing. No one really knew why, but from the outside, it was honestly kind of adorable in a quirky way.
Leon kept her company for a bit before sneaking out quietly.
Caitlyn had picked up on his odd behavior lately and had a pretty good idea what was up, but she didn't ask.
Since he called it a surprise, she figured she'd just sit tight and wait for it to happen.
Emotional support went both ways, after all.
And Caitlyn strongly believed they were really close friends, after all.
As class was about to end, Leon, worried his blonde lady might wander off again, showed up early to keep an eye on her.
Caitlyn pretended not to care, but the students could all sense her mood had suddenly gotten a whole lot better.
'Leon—Professor Morrow's personal mood booster. Seriously, it works every time!' the students thought.
As soon as the bell rang, Caitlyn didn't waste a second—she called class dismissed, grabbed her thermos, and headed straight for Leon.
He naturally took the thermos from her and gently took her hand.
Maybe Germaine's hypnosis was actually working, so now, Caitlyn didn't even try to pull away or resist at all.
Olivia and her two best friends stood by the classroom door, watching the two of them walk away, and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. "They look so sweet together... I wonder if I'll ever have a romance like that."
"You totally will!" Helena grinned, leaned in close, and pointed at a certain demon boy inside the classroom. "Isaac's right there, you know. You could help bring a little harmony between humans and demons!"
Olivia said with a displeased look, "Piss off!"
At the bike shed, as Leon and Caitlyn got onto the scooter, he was just about to ask her to hold on so she wouldn't catch a chill, when suddenly, her soft, sweetly scented body pressed up against his back. He couldn't help but smile, turned the key, and felt instantly energized. "Let's go—time to head home!"
In the blink of an eye, winter had arrived.
Even though Ekavine City didn't really use this calendar, the seasons always seemed to line up just right.
The weather grew colder and bleaker, the wind turned biting, and the world faded into shades of gray.
"I wonder when the first snow will fall this year..." Kathleen stood quietly at the massive floor-to-ceiling window in her office, gazing down at Ekavine City—a thriving oasis set in the middle of a barren wasteland, its prosperity a stark contrast to the desolation beyond.
High above the horizon, the Abyssal Rift hovered, vast and ghostly. Outside the city, everything was withered and cold, yellow sand swirling in the air—a true end-of-the-world scene.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." The hint of melancholy vanished from Kathleen's face. As she turned, her expression became cool and distant, back to her usual icy Lord of Ekavine City demeanor.
The way she looked was quite similar to Caitlyn's vibe.
Her subordinate said, "Lady Kathleen Duncan, the Morrow family is here again."
"Didn't I already say those idiots are banned from Ekavine City?" Kathleen frowned, a flash of impatience in her eyes.
The woman in the fitted uniform kept her head down and said quietly, "This time, they seem dead set on not giving up."
Kathleen's frown deepened. She tried to say something, then just sighed. "Forget it... My sister's about to become a Radford anyway.
"Let those lovebirds deal with their own mess. I've already done more than enough for them...
"Spread the word—if they cause trouble, I won't be showing any mercy.
The woman nodded. "Understood."
The door closed softly behind her. Kathleen walked back to the window, looked out at the city, and couldn't help but sigh.
"So this has to be dealt with sooner or later... Caitlyn, don't go soft again. Still, with Leon around, things shouldn't get too out of hand.
"Looks like you're almost fully healed. Hope something interesting comes along soon.
"And the Human Alliance... I wonder if they're regretting pushing those two together now.
"The Mutants are getting rowdier too... It really is a season of chaos." A playful, wicked glint flashed in Kathleen's eyes, and a sly, delighted smile curled at her lips. "Can't wait."