A week had passed since the Witch Hunter came and tried to kill her as well as Dyrroth's return. The mess that has become her garden had been fixed with the help of Dyrroth after Ruby significantly recovered from her injuries. The demon had dug a hole to bury Clint's body but discovered a hot spring instead so they decided to burn the corpse clean from the surface of the earth and fix the hot spring into something more bathable and presentable. 

Dyrroth built a fence around the bath for privacy and avoid monsters and other woodland creatures from poking in unwelcomed. Through an architectural magecraft, Ruby managed to create marbled boundaries and stairs on the hot spring where they can relax. The work they did was tedious but with the help of magic, they managed to finish it just in time for the sunset. 

"Whew... That was a lot of work." Dyrroth commented wiping his forehead from all the sweat he accumulated. 

"So who goes in first?" Ruby asked after dabbing her neck with a towel. 

Their eyes met with great determination not wanting to back down from getting to experience the bath first hand. They know what they had to do and they glared at each other fiercely. 

"Rock, paper, scissor!!" they both yelled throwing their fists forward. 

Round 1 

Winner: Ruby 

Round 2: 

Winner: Dyrroth

Round 3

Winner: Ruby 

. 

. 

. 

Round 9

Score

Ruby: 4

Dyrroth: 4

"This is the final battle..."Ruby mumbled. 

"Give it your best shot cause I won't lose!" 

Round 10

Tie...

Round 11

Tie...

Round 12

Tie

.

.

.

Round 159

Tie...

"We're getting nowhere! Just let me go first I'm the master here!" Ruby yelled. 

"Who cares?! I dug that hole I deserve to go first!" Dyrroth retorted not backing down. 

"But I fixed it! If I didn't then we'll be swimming in muck! I even added stairs!" 

"Then why don't we just go together?!!" Dyrroth yelled back before breathing heavily in rage. Ruby also panted but a blush suddenly covered her face when his suggestion registered in her head. 

"Fine." she breathed out meekly. 

"Wait you agree?" Dyrroth asked in disbelief. Ruby only replied with a short nod without looking him in the eyes. The demon gulped as the gears of his imagination started spinning. His gaze fell on her bust, down to her flat stomach, then to her curvaceous waist, and sexy thighs. He started sweating but he pushed back down his desires and breathed out to calm his hormones. 

"Sure."

And so they bathed. 

Together... 

♨️♨️♨️

"This is so nice." Ruby breathed out in relaxation while her head rested on the pool edge. Rose petals and blue orchid flowers floated around them for therapeutic reasons as well as to hide their privates. Manticat floated in a small plastic basin between the two with a towelette covering his male cat bits. He somehow has a bit of modesty even though he's usually naked. 

Dyrroth only hummed in approval as he drank a glass of martini while watching the moon above them along with the thousand blinking stars that seemed to celebrate in the sky. After a long period of time, his heart felt really warm and at peace. Relaxing here with Ruby and Manti makes him feel that he belongs and that there's nowhere he's supposed to be other than here with them. With her. 

He gazed at her peaceful face with a gentle smile of innocent pleasure in her lips. She looked so serene and carefree. Perhaps the first time in a long while. He enjoyed seeing her happy like that it makes him feel at peace and complete. 

Her face suddenly winced in discomfort before her hand reaches out to massage her back. His hands suddenly grabbed her shoulders before his thumbs began tracing circular patterns along her back. Ruby was shocked at first but didn't complain nor asked him to stop so Dyrroth took this as an approval. 

The witch was stiff at first but as his hands moved along the places that needed his soft caresses, her body started to loosen up and just relax at his ministration. He even heard her moaning a little but she stifled her beautiful sounds in shame of him hearing it so Dyrroth only smiled at her 'tsundere-ness' and proceeded to comfort her aching muscles. 

"Where exactly did you go to?" Ruby questioned trying to start up a conversation and make things less awkward. 

"North. I took refuge in a destroyed castle trying to heal myself until a magus found me while he was reminiscing about something. He nursed me back to health with no qualm about me being a demon but he's really a clutz. He managed to make a white wyvern really angry at him so I had to save him from getting eaten alive. As a thank you, he made me that outfit. Pretty dope right?" Dyrroth explained. 

"I see. Did you perhaps learn his name? Oh, it's done? Turn around I want to return the favor." Dyrroth did as he was told and leaned forwards against the edge to let his mistress touch his back. He almost orgasmed when Ruby's fingers graced his skin and started applying sufficient pressure on his hard muscles. Her hand expertly worked their way on the parts where her work is most needed making him loosen the stress in his muscles and relax in her touch. 

"Not really. He only asked me to call him Great Sage. But somehow he seems to know you. He made lots of inquiries about your well being which made me kind of... Annoyed." 

"Annoyed? Why?" Ruby creased her brows while drawing lines on his lower back with her thumbs making the demon moan. 

"Yeaahhhh, that part is kind of good keep doing that. I thought he was one of your exes and when I confronted him about you he said that you belonged to someone he really loved so he loved you as well in a kind of fatherly way or something." 

A smile made its way to the maiden's face. "He was wearing a white hood, wasn't he? And has silver hair?" 

"Yes. Exactly. Did you know him?" 

"Yes. He helped raise me. He's my mother's friend." Ruby answered with a faint smile. 

"Okay, enough about that man let's talk about this Granger dude and what he is to you. Did you do stuff while I was away? Tell me." He asked turning around to face her with a joking stern face. 

"Are you jealous?" Ruby mused with a teasing smirk. 

"I'm not. I'm just checking up on you."

"Sure. Uhhmm can you rub my back I can't reach it?" Ruby asked turning around for him. 

"Short arms." he teased before grabbing the towel from her hand and started rubbing her back. 

There was silence as Dyrroth performed the action. Ruby was flushed as Dyrroth's fingers graced her flesh. The demon consciously teased her skin. He placed his lips on her shoulders making her release a small whimper. 

He trailed kisses along her neck while his free hand worked its way along her waist. He turned her around to face him. 

"Can I get my magic back? You took lots of it." He whispered to her lips and without waiting for a reply, kissed her. 

It felt like hours for Dyrroth as he kissed her lips, taking her magic as well along with every caress of his lips with hers. His tongue wormed its way inside her mouth and danced with her own. He pushed his body closer against her petite form but Ruby pushed him back gently freeing herself from him. Dyrroth had a pained look on his face at her refusal, his heart breaking due to the look of discomfort in Ruby's face instead of pleasure.

"Why?" he asked with a distraught look. 

"I'm not yet ready. I can give you my body if you want but my love is not yet on the table right now. I'm sorry. We can kiss if you want you can ravish me but I can't do it with the feelings that you want." Ruby apologized looking down on the water before inching close to the demon and giving him a hug regardless if they're both nude. 

There was a cold silence between them as Dyrroth didn't return her hug back. Ruby was fine with it as she relished his contact and his warmth that thawed the freezing isolation that has been engulfing her heart since his absence. 

"This is kind of nice. You know I kind of missed you." She said leaning her head against his chest. Dyrroth didn't reply and remained passive. 

"Don't give me hope where there is none." he said coldly detaching himself from her embrace. 

"D-Dyrroth?" Ruby asked with a strangled voice. 

"Don't play with my feelings just because you might end up alone. You're making me a net that will catch you once you fail in getting the love that you want from another man! And then what happens to me when he accepts you? Nothing! I will be alone and depressed because you shit on my heart..." He burst out looming over her. 

"Then what do you want me to do?" 

"Nothing."

"I don't understand! What do you want from me?" 

"Everything."

"Your heart, your mind, your soul, your body, your attention, your happiness, your pain, your laughter, your sorrow, and your loyalty. You are my greatest desire. And don't expect me to give you up without a fight." Dyrroth summoned a pink substance over his open palm in a small glass container. 

"A love potion?" Ruby mumbled looking at him in disbelief. 

"This is for him, right? Your last resort when Granger rejects you. Wonder if I could use it on you?" Dyrroth grasped the bottle before removing the cork. 

"Dyrroth that's a very dangerous magic. Love is something magic cannot really control, nothing does. It can only be bent, even so, nothing will be real." Ruby said in alarm backing away a little to avoid being spilled on by the substance. 

"I don't like cheating." Dyrroth whispered after lifting her chin with his free hand. Ruby was suddenly astounded when Dyrroth drank the contents of the potion before throwing away the bottle.

"What happens when someone who already loves you drinks a love potion?" Dyrroth asked the maiden already knowing the answer.

"Their feelings become clearer and no amount of obstruction and opposition will make them back down." Ruby breathed out, her heart finally calming down. Dyrroth drank a glass of martini before crashing his lips with her parted ones only for a brief make-out session.

"That's my only supply of love potion." Ruby said a little bit disappointed. 

"And now it's gone." Dyrroth replied with a smirk of satisfaction. 

"Why did you do that? Why didn't you douse me so you can get what you want? You'll have everything you want from me especially my feelings? Why didn't you?" Ruby asked in confusion unable to comprehend the demon's actions. 

"Feelings are not enough. I want it to be real." He grasped her cheek before kissing her forehead. 

"You're going to be mine. I respect your decision and your choices. I will play your game. However, if I lose... I get to break you." Dyrroth whispered darkly in her ear making shivers run up her spine before exiting the hot spring and wrapping his waist with a white towel. 

Ruby was left alone speechless, utterly confused of what has occurred. After a minute of silence, she sighed. 

"I better work on that unbinding spell as well as my research on 'How to Unsummon A Demon Prince." Ruby sighed again before touching her cheek where his hand lingered. She was suddenly reminded that she was not alone when Manticat's basin connected with her bosom. She looked down at her familiar who stared at her with a bored look. 

"Meow meow meow meow meow meooooww." (Just fuck with him and get it over with.) he advised before laying back down and continuing to drift. 

"If only it was that simple. Dyrroth is becoming similar to Rel. I might get rid of him eventually if he does. I can't afford to live in a torture like that. Being in a relationship with a man that's too suffocating..." Ruby looked down at her hand with a melancholic expression. She sighed. 

"I don't want to end up in another curse..." 

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

The first week after the incident was really awkward for the two. They rarely talked to each other and if they do it would either be insults or brief declarations of the food being ready. They often shared their meals together but the table would often be quite other than the clanging of spoons on plates. Since Ruby was the one doing all the cooking Dyrroth was forced to clean the plates. 

During the week Dyrroth never sneaked into her room in the middle of the night like he would usually do once or thrice a week since her room has nice air conditioning while his 'felt like a free trial to hell'. 

During the second week, things started to be more natural though there's still a tension between the two both hostile and sexual. While walking in the hallway and brushing against each other's shoulders, Dyrroth ended up pushing her against the wall before connecting his lips with hers. Ruby replied to his advanced but when she touched the gem on his chest Dyrroth seemed to snap from his reverie and quickly pull away and walk off as if nothing happened at all. Ruby only shrugged before going back to her room. 

In the fourth week, things came back to normal as if nothing happened. Dyrroth returned to his goofy and evil narcissistic behavior of constantly messing with her activities and flaunting his excellence. He became bolder and more demanding of her attention and praise which often leads to Ruby casting restraining spells and electrocution spells she learned from Eudora. 

Along with his many flaws and annoying ways he also became more caring and careful about her feelings though he never seems to tone down his annoying antics. He would sometimes sneak in her room to leave roses on her bedside table surprising her during her waking moments with their beauty and fragrance. For some reason, he also learned how to cook, although he can only make eggs, bacon, waffles, and breakfast stuff Ruby greatly appreciates the gesture especially when she wakes up starving. His cooking isn't bad at all making Ruby really pleased. 

The two of them are currently having breakfast together and Dyrroth thought about doing something different for this meal. Ruby woke up to find the table gone and find Dyrroth wearing a pink apron. She thought that it was a dream until she tasted the coffee he made that made her gag and puke. The coffee was very bitter at the same time very sweet and salty he must've had a problem differentiating the salt from the sugar so she instantly threw the thing in the drainage and brewed her specialty which is a thousand times better than his. 

She found out that Dyrroth decided to put the table outside among the garden so that they can eat while watching the sunrise among the blooming flowers and magical butterflies fluttering in her garden. However, Ruby was so immersed in reading her book while eating breakfast that Dyrroth couldn't help but be annoyed by her lack of response and silence while he was talking about something. He transferred seats just beside her and tried looking into what she was so absorbed about. 

"What the hell do you find amusing in those formless tiny symbols? Are they some kind of magic that only witches can understand?" Dyrroth asked with a suspicious face burying his face closer to the book. Ruby was astounded by his statement, making her brows crease. 

"Dyrroth could you perhaps... Not read?" 

"I don't know. What mage craft skill is reading?" Dyrroth asked in confusion making Ruby giggle at his amusing puzzled face. 

"It's not mage craft it's just a common skill among sentient beings. Reading and writing are very important for effective communication especially when you can't speak to the person at the moment so you can send a letter or email if you have a phone. Do you want me to teach you how to do it?" Ruby offered, smiling at him sincerely. 

"I, well... I guess so." Dyrroth answered. 

"Perfect we can start after breakfast if you want."

"Sure but what about the plates aren't you gonna wash them first since I cooked?" Dyrroth reminded raising a brow. 

"They can wash themselves." Ruby mused twirling her finger and making the milk pitcher pour her glass a cup of her favorite white milk to prove her point. Dyrroth deadpan at this. 

"You're such a cheater. See, why do you make me wash the plates when they can magically do it themselves? I'm not some kind of Cinderella bitch or a Snow White whore or something like that." Dyrroth complained frowning at her. 

"Because I just want to see you suffer. It's in the Evil Queen Handbook 101. Chapter 7: How to properly treat your demon and/or stepdaughter. Step one, treat them like slaves, step two rip out their heart so that you can be the fairest of them all. Side note, if they're ugly just make them wash the plates forever." Ruby smirked and looked at Dyrroth's face who was filled with annoyance. They had a brief staring contest before Dyrroth ended up releasing a 'pfft' sound and burst out laughing making Ruby join in as well. 

"Who are you calling ugly?! Shortie no tits!" Dyrroth exclaimed before throwing mayonnaise on Ruby's chest. Ruby was shocked at first before a battle raged expression crossed her features. 

"Why you!! You horned eggplant bat!!" Ruby retaliated by throwing him scrambled eggs and that was the start of their delicious food war, covering her garden with slobs and food bits that will surely attract the attention of many wild animals. But who cares, they're having fun... 

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

Ruby had ordered Dyrroth to collect firewood leaving her alone in the house to prepare the snacks for her afternoon tea which the demon would sometimes join in to converse with her since he has no one else to pester. The witch is currently brewing the tea and preparing the coffee beans since Dyrroth preferred coffee over tea or sometimes he would just steal one of her blood meads and pair it with her confectionery treats which Ruby found exceedingly mismatched.

The witch heard her doorbell chime in and she instantly paused on her activity to check out her visitor because it surely isn't Dyrroth since the demon would usually burst into the door and make a mess in dropping the firewood. Ruby went to her front door and opened it revealing an unexpected guest. A casual smile decorated the witch's lips as she greeted her guest.

"To whom do I own the pleasure of your visit, Miss Vance?" Ruby greeted.

"May I speak with you privately? I need a potion that only you can concoct." Lesley answered looking at the witch seriously.

"Please come in." Ruby invited the marksman inside her house leading her to the living room and serving her with an expresso and a slice of her blueberry cheesecake. The witch settled opposite of the marksman and smiled at her, business mode on.

"So what do you need? A forgetting potion to erase your memories of Gusion, although I can't guarantee that you won't lose your other memories. Or do you need heroin, milk of the poppy, or opium? Hmmm, no?" Lesley shook her head declining her offer. (Ruby is a drug dealer, lol.)

"I'm just playing I know exactly what you want. You want a love potion."

"Yes, how did you know?" Lesley questioned astounded.

"You love Gusion and you're very desperate. A love potion is your only option."

"Then you can give me one, can't you? You know about how I feel. You've been through what I'm currently experiencing so you can sympathize-!" The terrifying look on the witch's face silenced the marksman.

"What makes you think that I will betray my only friend for mere sympathy? Much less for you?" Ruby questioned looking at the marksman threateningly.

"I also did a little research on you and I know of a way on how to break your curse, your majesty. Princess Ruby Edelweiss of House Pendragon, first of her name and Sanggreal of the North."

"You should have started with that. It's been so long since I heard my true name uttered again. So you did a little research, but what can you really do for me and how did you know all of this?"

"I consulted Esmeralda before going to you and now I know about your past. You're much more of a nobility than Odette, Guinevere, Gusion, and even the Vance family because you came from the noble house of Pendragon. The original family that ruled the Moniyan empire, formerly known as Camelot before the death of King Arthur. Your parent was a direct descendant of King Arthur himself making you the last true-born princess. You were even supposed to marry the prince of Moniyan but Esmeralda cannot seem to delve deep into that." Lesley took the cup Ruby offered and drank from it. Her face had a sudden surprised feature due to the magnificent taste of the beverage that perfectly matched with her preference. 

"This is... Utterly amazing. Like you just manifested my perfect version of coffee." Lesley praised looking at the witch with wonder. 

"To be frank it was a guess on my part but I always noticed you buying an expresso so I just had to whip out my best according to your personality. Well, enough about that and my past. What I want is what you can offer for my future. What did you find about my curse?"

"Your lover whom you called Rel, made a deal with Alice to make the both of you immortal as well as for you to be bound to the soils of his land so that you can never leave him alone but there is a weapon that can break such a curse. A weapon well acquainted to your family and its scabbard to sustain your life as long as you please when the curse is broken."

"Now you are only bluffing. Excalibur and Avalon no longer exist in this world. Both weapons have disappeared after the Great War. My mother, Altria Pendragon was

King Arthur herself who hid in the guise of a man to be able to rule and be accepted by her nation. She faked her own death after the war between Camelot and the Northerners Valers to live in peace which happened a century before my birth. She was able to live long due to Avalon and Excalibur so you got that part right. However, I suspect that before her execution a hundred years after her reign during King Aurelius I's rule, my mother had ordered her mage Merlin to return them back to the Lady of the Lake after allowing me to use them for the Great War. Her mage had foreseen the whole thing and informed her of her death and the things that needed to be done. She accepted her fate and passed the Sword and its scabbard for me to protect the people. Once I vanquished the forces of the Abyss, I passed out for a really long time and the Sword and the scabbard are nowhere to be found. So you see, I am not merely a descendant of King Arthur, I am her own daughter. The true born queen, or empress rather of the empire." Ruby explained in melancholy. 

"Your majesty it is true. The sword is currently in the possession of the House Regina and being carried around by Odette who doesn't even know of its formidable power while the scabbard is in the Lightborn Capital, mounted in the chamber of the prince." Lesley insisted looking very determined at the witch. Ruby looked deep into her eyes to see if she was lying but after a few seconds, she found no trickery in her person. 

"I detect no deception from your words. So those bastards are the ones that stole my mother's last memento. I wouldn't have known since I passed out after I used the Sword they must have taken it then. But the information you provided is very valuable the only problem is how are you getting them back to me. The scabbard is very easy for me to reclaim however the sword is in the possession of Odette. You will reclaim it while I have one of my familiars get the scabbard then we have a deal."

"Yes, your majesty." Lesley answered obediently. 

"Good. However, a love potion is not what you need. What you really need is something to counter it." Ruby informed taking a sip of her tea. 

"A counter? Why?" Lesley asked in puzzlement. 

"Gusion loved you greatly you knew that and yet you didn't suspect why he would suddenly dump you over Guinevere unless she used some foul play." Ruby mused suggestively before taking another sip in her cup. 

"You mean to say that... She used a love potion on him that's why he left me? But he doesn't seem enchanted like how Miya looked when Layla had accidentally doused her." Lesley mumbled in disbelief. 

"That's because Layla bought a really cheap one. Well, it's still kind of expensive for poor people but in mage craft standards it really is nothing while Guinevere bought an extremely potent one capable of destroying true love itself and making the person forget about all the good memories and feelings he had for you. Sorry but I really needed what she bargained with." Ruby apologized with little sincerity. 

"I will be lying if I say that I don't have negative feelings about what you did however you only did business." Lesley whispered, picking her words carefully to not upset the witch. 

"I know you probably hate Guinevere but please don't do anything to harm her. The grief she will have will be more than enough. She's an entitled girl who gets everything that she wants. She's not as strong as you to bear losing someone she risked her whole family and status to get. She might appear to be strong-willed and determined but she is a flower raised to bask in the sunlight, she will wither once night arrives in her life. I will handle her and by the time that you come back the potion will be ready." Ruby implored with a more gentle and friendly voice. Her features have softened far from the intimidating one that Lesley was greeted with making the marksman a little more relieved. 

"That is a very difficult request. To tell you the truth I want nothing more than to strangle her and torture her for the things she had done. But I will heed your majesty's order." Lesley answered truthfully. 

"Thank you. You know to be honest I never really hated you. Sure I was kind of annoyed that Granger likes you more than me but I've always admired you. You are just so gallant and strong." Ruby said while a faint blush covers her cheek. 

"Oh, thank you so much, your majesty." Lesley replied also flushing a bit. 

"I am also willing to assist you in any way that I can to get out of here. Once Gusion wakes up from the spell things will be really bad. The Baroque family as well as the Paxley will surely not be pleased. They will do anything to separate the two of you so you must flee as soon as possible. And if you don't, then I am willing to extend my power to aid you in any way that I can."

"Thank you your majesty for your generosity." Lesley bowed before standing up. 

"Please call me Ruby. I was only a queen for a week and now I am just a witch living peacefully in the Dark Forest." The witch replied extending her hand. Lesley removed her gloves in respect and shook her hand. 

"Farewell, Ruby." 

"Ohh! I almost forgot. Let me cut a lock of your hair it's an important ingredient so that it can be customized." Ruby informed before going to a drawer and taking out a pair of scissors. 

"I see. Then take as much as you want." Lesley said as she untied her hair. Ruby held her hair and began snipping a foot length of her vibrantly red locks. 

"There, all done." Ruby tied the lock using a small elastic band before making it vanish in a puff of butterflies. Lesley reached out for her hair and began tying it back but Ruby stopped her. 

"Let me handle that for you." The witch pointed her finger on Lesley and her hair began braiding itself together at an incredible speed. It only took Ruby's magic 10 seconds to finish the braid impressing the marksman.

"Uhhmm, thank you very much, Ruby." Lesley smiled down at the witch gratefully before following her back to the front door. 

Ruby watched as Lesley walked down the path and disappear among the woods. The smile decorating her lips faded as soon as she heard the front door click into place. She laid her back on the wood and stared up the ceiling completely lost in thought. A single tear fell from her eye uncovered by the butterfly.

"I'm sorry Guinevere."

A/N: That is such a big revelation wait till you all get to see Ruby's past.