Becoming the Demon Lord: Taming the Demon Queen Begins

Tears streamed down Sylvia's face, even soaking the hem of Timothy's pants. It took her a while to snap out of it.

"Wait, no! I wasn't crying because I was scared! I just got saltwater in my eyes!"

Realizing how embarrassing her reaction had been, she quickly tried to explain herself.

But before she could even finish her sentence, as if sensing her nervousness, the traps around them suddenly activated.

Ghostly figures appeared out of nowhere, and a fierce wind howled through the space.

In the distance, something that looked eerily like a human head rolled toward them.

"What… what is all this?!"

Scene after scene unfolded, overwhelming Sylvia's young heart.

This time, she couldn't hold back any longer.

She threw herself into Timothy's arms, tears streaming down her face, making her look heartbreakingly vulnerable.

"This is too much! This place is way too scary for kids!"

In that moment, all the fear and frustration she'd been bottling up since shrinking down finally burst out.

Her small body trembled in Timothy's embrace, and any sense of dignity or divine authority she once had was completely forgotten.

Right now, all she wanted was to let out all the fear and sadness she'd been holding inside.

"It's too scary! Waaaah!"

"Waaaah!"

The once proud and untouchable goddess was now sobbing uncontrollably in Timothy's arms, her tears flowing like a river.

Her tiny body shook, her shoulders trembling as she cried, looking so pitiful that anyone watching would feel their heart melt.

As Sylvia cried, lost in her fear, she suddenly felt Timothy lean down toward her.

"Don't cry, babe. I'm right here, aren't I?" Timothy's voice whispered softly in her ear.

Those words made Sylvia freeze for a moment.

Timothy could've said, "Sorry, it was just a prank," or "Don't worry, those ghosts are just Erelyn's doing—they can't hurt you."
Discover stories with empire

But this—this was different. This hit her in a way no explanation ever could.

Hearing those words, Sylvia felt a wave of warmth wash over her, as if her heart was being wrapped in sunlight.

At the same time, Timothy gently pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her small frame.

In his embrace, she felt like she was under the safest umbrella in the world. No matter what danger was out there, nothing could hurt her now.

All she felt was a deep, unshakable sense of trust and safety.

Sensing her thoughts, Timothy took out a snow lotus and gently tucked it into her soft hair.

A soft glow surrounded her, and soon, Sylvia returned to her original form.

Her strength at the peak of the Transcendence Realm was restored as well.

But even so, her usually cool and composed face still held a trace of sadness. Her cheeks were puffed out slightly, and she looked at Timothy with a hint of grievance.

Not only that, the tears she'd shed out of fear hadn't completely dried.

Her eyes were still a little red from crying, and a single tear clung to the corner of her eye, shimmering in the light.

If the shrunken version of Sylvia had looked like a delicate doll, now she resembled a fallen angel—someone who'd made a small mistake and was now filled with regret. She no longer had that untouchable, otherworldly aura.

The mix of cold elegance and lingering tears made her look so vulnerable that even Timothy couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart.

After all, who else but him could make a goddess cry like this?

"That was so mean! You shrank me on purpose just to see me embarrass myself!"

Now back to her original form, it seemed like a bit of her childhood personality still lingered.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Sylvia looked up at Timothy with a pitiful gaze.

Timothy chuckled softly, stepping closer with a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, what can I say? How else could I get you to let your guard down, my dear wife?"

Sylvia huffed, feigning indignation as she took a small step back. "W-What are you doing? I haven't forgiven you yet!" she protested, her voice laced with mock annoyance.

But it was obvious that her retreat wasn't serious at all.

The dark, seemingly endless haunted house stretched out before them, and Sylvia knew full well that Erelyn was probably hiding somewhere, watching this whole scene unfold with amusement.

Yet, as Timothy drew nearer, Sylvia's gaze softened, becoming a little unfocused.

So this is why couples go to haunted houses at night and tell ghost stories on their dates?

Hmph, what a silly tactic…

She let out a soft snort, but as she recalled all the little things Timothy had done to make her feel safe since they entered the haunted house, she couldn't help but feel a bit flustered.

She used to think that all those disciples who fell in love were just hopelessly foolish.

But now, she realized that once you fall in love, no matter how smart you are, you end up becoming… well, a little foolish too.

A barely noticeable, delicate smile appeared on her usually cool and composed face. This time, Sylvia didn't push Timothy away.

In the darkness, her slender arms wrapped around him, and their lips met.

The kiss was long, their breaths mingling, warm and intense.

Her lips were soft, like a gentle spring breeze.

After what felt like an eternity, Sylvia slowly opened her eyes.

"Pfft."

She suddenly giggled, unable to hold it in.

"What's so funny, babe?" Timothy asked, curious.

"I'm laughing because… it feels like you always come up with these weird ways to mess with me."

"Oh?" Timothy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Then why are your cheeks a little red?"

"I—" Sylvia hesitated for a moment, clearly flustered. "That's because… hmph, I'll admit, even though it was a bit over the top, it wasn't that bad."

Not wanting to admit too much, she quickly turned her head away, her tone haughty.

Timothy grinned. "Well, what can I say? Nothing else would scare someone as brilliant, wise, and clever as you—my Holy Emperor wife, who's as sharp as a tack and always one step ahead. So, I had to make the surprise just a little bigger."

"You! You're such a smooth talker!"

Despite her words, Sylvia couldn't bring herself to stay mad at him. After all, she had to admit, this honeymoon trip to the Netherworld had been pretty great.

So much so that, as they prepared to return to the Elant continent, she found herself feeling just a tiny bit reluctant to leave.

"Hmph!"

She turned away with a haughty flick of her head, but the faint smile on her face was unmistakable.

Clearly, their little adventure in the haunted house had worked out quite well.

Just then, a system notification suddenly chimed in.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the date in the haunted house perfectly. You have been awarded the system's bonus reward—True Unity Arts!]