Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill

Max stepped into the room.

The door closed behind him.

The atmosphere was... different.

Quiet.

Warm.

Nothing like the chaos upstairs.

Lamia stepped away from the doorframe.

With an elegant gesture.

"Come in."

Max walked forward.

His eyes scanned the room.

It was filled with bottles.

Varis raised a beer mug.

A wide grin on his face.

"Finally!"

He tossed another one at him.

Max caught it midair.

Looked at it.

Then shook his head.

"I’m good."

He placed the mug on the table.

Untouched.

Varis made a face.

"Boring."

Neros said nothing.

Still seated.

Arms crossed.

Eyes closed.

Max narrowed his eyes.

"...Is he asleep?"

Varis chuckled.

"For a while now."

A brief silence.

Lamia spoke.

Her voice firm again.

Professional.

"We were discussing business."

She adjusted her jacket.

"My group is already in motion."

Max looked at her.

Focused.

Lamia continued.

"A few days ago, we sent a small contingent."

She crossed her arms.

"Common devils."

She paused.

"Relatives of prisoners from Morningstar Castle."

Max nodded slightly.

He understood.

"They infiltrated as workers."

Varis smiled.

"They do it all the time."

Max looked back at Lamia.

"How long until they return?"

Direct. No hesitation.

Lamia didn’t hesitate either.

"Tomorrow."

Silence.

"At the latest."

Max raised an eyebrow.

"...Fast."

Varis leaned back against the couch.

Relaxed.

"And now comes the best part."

Max looked at him.

Varis smiled wider.

"They’re not asking for gold to get us in."

Silence.

Max blinked.

"...What?"

He looked at Lamia.

"Then what do they want?"

Lamia’s smile faded.

Her eyes softened.

"They already told me your situation."

She leaned against the table.

"A princess."

Max said nothing.

"You want to rescue her."

Pause.

"The king plans to marry her off."

Her lips tightened slightly.

"To Dante."

Silence.

The air grew heavy.

"...The one from the Seven Hells."

Max felt something uneasy in his chest.

Lamia lowered her gaze.

"My husband and I..."

She paused.

"...we hate him."

Her voice weakened for a second.

"Dante has our daughter."

Silence.

"...as one of his wives."

A tear fell.

Max stayed still. He didn’t expect that.

Lamia didn’t wipe it away.

She kept speaking.

"We want her back."

Max exhaled.

"...Then we’re going to have a problem."

Lamia looked up.

"If Dante shows up..."

Max frowned.

"...the mission gets complicated."

Lamia held his gaze.

Cold again.

"If you don’t want to help me..."

She shrugged slightly.

"...you can find another way in."

Varis clicked his tongue.

"Come on, Max."

He leaned forward.

"There’s no better option than the Ghost."

Max knew it.

It was obvious.

He exhaled slowly.

Thinking.

Evaluating.

Neros snored softly.

No one reacted.

Max looked up.

"...Alright."

Pause.

"We accept."

Silence.

Then—

Lamia’s smile returned.

"Perfect."

She turned.

Grabbed a bottle.

"Then let’s celebrate."

She raised her voice.

"Drinks are on the house!"

Varis lifted his mug.

"That’s the spirit!"

Neros opened one eye.

Then the other.

"...Deal’s done?"

He stretched slightly.

"Then bring the next round."

Max sighed.

He rubbed his face.

"...Don’t you have anything without alcohol?"

***

The group climbed up the stairs. Max knocked on the hatch.

Once.

Silence.

Then—

Click.

The wood lifted. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The bartender’s face appeared from above.

"Quick today."

Max placed a hand on the edge.

Climbed up.

"Thanks for not taking long."

The bartender shrugged.

"Depends who’s knocking."

Max stepped out.

Brushed some dust off.

Neros came up behind him.

Carrying Varis over his shoulder.

The dwarf hung limp, completely drunk.

"...Ugh..."

He mumbled something unintelligible.

Lamia came up last.

Elegant.

As if she hadn’t spent hours drinking.

The bartender looked at the group.

"So?"

He crossed his arms.

"Deal done?"

Lamia smiled.

She stepped closer.

"Yes, my love."

She hugged him.

Natural.

Close.

Max blinked.

"...My love?"

The bartender returned the gesture.

A faint smile.

Then he looked at Max.

"I suppose we didn’t introduce ourselves properly."

He placed a hand on his chest.

"Abel."

He gave a small bow.

"Sorry about earlier."

Max looked at him.

Then at Lamia.

Then back at Abel.

"...You’re...?"

Lamia smirked slightly.

"The husband of the Ghost."

Silence.

Max exhaled.

"...Right."

It made sense.

In a way.

A noise distracted him.

He turned his head.

Moon was sitting at a table.

Holding a large glass.

Orange-colored.

"Dad!"

She raised the drink.

"This is delicious!"

Max narrowed his eyes.

"...What is that?"

Moon smiled.

"Fresh fruit juice."

She took another sip.

Happy.

Sophie was beside her.

Arms crossed.

Sharp gaze.

Locked directly on Neros.

"You’ve been drinking."

Neros looked at her.

Serious.

"A little."

Sophie frowned.

"I can smell it on your breath."

Neros didn’t reply.

He walked forward.

Set Varis down on a seat.

The dwarf stayed still.

Two seconds.

Three.

...

And then—

"BLEGH—!"

Silence.

Max covered his face.

"This can’t be happening..."

He shook his head.

"The dwarf is throwing up again..."

He sighed.

"...and now Dorian isn’t here to heal him."

Abel was already moving.

Cloth in hand.

"Don’t worry."

He approached calmly.

"I’m used to it."

He started cleaning.

As if nothing happened.

Lamia adjusted her jacket.

Regaining her composure.

"I’ll return to my office."

She looked at Max.

"I’ll be waiting tomorrow."

Pause.

"At noon."

Max nodded.

"We’ll be there."

Sophie nodded too.

Moon raised her hand.

"Bye!"

Lamia gave a faint smile.

And left.

Disappearing into the crowd.

Abel finished cleaning.

He stood up.

"Well."

He looked at the group.

"Drinks are on the house."

He pointed to the bar.

"Anything?"

Max let out a short laugh.

"Incredible."

He shook his head.

"In this place, they never stop offering free alcohol."

He looked at the group.

Varis passed out.

Neros serious, slightly drunk.

Sophie annoyed with her brother.

Moon happily drinking her juice.

"...But we’ve had enough for today."

Abel nodded.

"As you wish."

He turned around.

Returning to his routine.

Max stayed silent.

Watching them.

Thinking.

The mission.

The castle.

Dante.

The princess.

Lamia.

Abel.

He took a deep breath.

’...Is this really going to work?’

His eyes narrowed slightly.

’...What if we’re trusting the wrong people?’

The noise of the tavern wrapped around them again.

Laughter.

Shouts.

Glasses clinking.

Devils gambling and arguing.

Some throwing up in the corners.

But that doubt...

Stayed firmly in his mind.