Lewd King's Bucket List-Chapter 56: Who’s Daddy?

Dia giggled as they continued their walk down the cobbled path.

Ixion (Pirithous’s body) looked forward at the homes of various knights and low-ranking barons, and asked:

"Where are you headed, dainty commoner?"

Dia hugged Ixion’s arm tighter, then said:

"I’m headed wherever!"

"Well, that was quite cryptic. You mean to say you don’t know where you’re going? Wait... does your father know you’re out?"

Dia peeled away and laughed, a pleasant look on her face.

"Ha! I wouldn’t be on the streets if my father knew! You said it yourself, he’d never let me go anywhere. He sees it fit that I remain hidden like some porcelain relic that would be cracked if it saw the light of day."

’So, whoever this mysterious father is doesn’t let his daughter leave their manor often? Maybe never?’

That explained her pale complexion.

The corners of Ixion’s lips rose as he led Dia down another turn.

"I don’t know about porcelain relic, but you are definitely a porcelain beauty."

Dia lightly blinked and covered her mouth with her right hand.

"Oh, Piri, flattery will get you everywhere."

Ixion chuckled.

"Everywhere? Do you spout such salacious things to every man you meet?"

Dia’s gaze softened.

"You are every man I’ve met. Outside the manor, at least. So, yeah, I guess I do!"

"I see... But you didn’t deny your remark being salacious?"

"Why would I?"

Even Ixion was a little taken aback by such an innocent girl spouting some nonsense. He’d intended to tease her, but he ended up being teased himself.

’Well, how innocent is she when her soul is—’

"Ahem." Ixion cleared his throat, then said, "What would your father think of you saying that. Especially to some random commoner boy you just met? Wait, your father’s not going to try and kill me now, right?!"

Dia thought every word ’Piri’ spoke was hilarious, seeing her intense delight. She waved her hand dismissively.

"My father wouldn’t kill you."

"Thank the gods."

"He’d probably torture you. Flay, wheel, whipping, then drip poison on your wounds. But don’t worry, we have some of the best medical staff on standby. You definitely wouldn’t die!"

Ixion grew a little pale at how callously this delicate girl had spouted off those terrible methods as if having witnessed them firsthand.

"Ah! That, uh... I think I’d rather him kill me."

Dia smiled and leaned on Ixion’s shoulder as they continued to the edge of the lower nobles’ district.

"Look at your face, ha! Relax, I was merely joking. And don’t act like you’re a commoner. You claimed I was one because I looked clean, while you look like the epitome of the word spotless!"

Ixion gazed at the faces of passing patrols who hid their sneers as they studied the two walking with arms linked. Obviously, the man was jealous and looking for any reason to punish the two.

As Ixion stared him down, he replied to Dia:

"But I am a commoner. My brother was a knight, but as you’ve heard, he left. Leaving me alone."

Dia studied his face, her questions readily apparent.

Ixion decided to sate her curiosity, knowing the woman would never come to ask.

Actually, maybe she would.

Dia seemed quite the audacious damsel.

A damsel who put others in distress.

Ixion added to the fabrication.

"My parents both died in war. My father was a knight as well; my mother a healer serving the Red Unit."

Instead of saying vain platitudes, Dia responded:

"Such is the world we live in..." After a quiet sigh, she asked, "How do you pay for your home? And food? Do you have more siblings?"

Ixion drew his gaze back to Dia and innocently scratched his cheek.

"Keep this a secret... For some reason, my brother’s stipends still show up at the house every month. Governance is a mess right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if his name got switched with someone else. Though perhaps he’s still in service and has decided never to return home. Who knows? Plus, there’s also the meager sum my parents saved."

Dia’s hands slithered up Ixion’s arm, and she gripped his bicep.

"Well, that secret is safe with me. Not like I’d have anyone to tell it to!"

Ixion looked at the girl’s delicate fingers, then the small amount of dirt under her nails.

"You talk as if you’re the tortured princess in a cage. Just what is your story?"

Dia chuckled and drew her finger over her lips, then said:

"A girl’s secrets aren’t free, you know."

"What would be the cost for them?"

"All of yours."

Ixion slightly tensed as he bore witness to the insidious expression that flashed across her face for a singular moment.

’Was I seeing something?’

No, he doubted it. His eyes could peer and see things at inhuman levels. In a similar vein to the way he could see souls.

"I’m afraid I’m a man with little to tell."

Dia looked him up and down, then said:

"Is that so? Here I thought you were a prince from a foreign land in disguise!"

The beautiful woman laughed again.

Ixion responded with glee.

"Not many foreign lands left. I’m afraid those tales will stay and forever be just that."

He stared at Dia, the beautiful woman with platinum hair.

The woman with a soul so impure that she seemed the source of all evil in the world.

Ixion had never seen a soul more corrupted yet untouched by corruption.

He’d never seen a deeper-seated inky black except in Despair himself.

Yet, within that murky soul of hers, she held a purity that begged Ixion’s fascination to no end. It was a purity that went beyond someone good-natured. The purity only seen in heroes like Hope.

A soul that had committed no act of malice.

Ixion wanted to unravel all the secrets of this mysterious woman.

’Is this love?’

Being curious and wanting to know all about someone?

’Doubt it...’

But there was one conclusion Ixion reached as the two rounded the final corner and left the district behind and onto the back alley where Joe’s Tavern was.

’This beautiful woman...’

She was perfect for him.

If he could ever come to love someone, it would be her.