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

Max and Dorian were inside the closet, completely in the dark. Surrounded by far too many clothes.

Max tried to adjust himself between the garments, looking for a good spot to peek through the crack.

Dorian, beside him, was struggling to breathe.

"...this itches..." he muttered.

He scratched his nose.

"...I think I—"

He froze. His expression changed.

Max looked at him.

"...no, Dorian. Don’t."

Dorian raised a finger.

"...I’m going to—"

He inhaled.

Max reacted instantly. He activated the ring of absolute silence.

And—

"ACHOOO!"

The sneeze was brutal. It covered a luxurious coat next to him in mucus. Dorian smacked his head against a wooden board piled with more clothes.

Max glared at him.

"...you’re disgusting."

Dorian wiped his nose.

"...thanks for the trick."

He smiled.

"...you saved me."

Max shook his head.

"...you should’ve gone under the bed."

Dorian chuckled.

Footsteps echoed outside the room. The door opened.

Max tensed.

"...he’s here."

Dante entered the room. He paused for a second, adjusting his suit.

And saw her.

Sophie.

Hair done. Elegant. In her devil form. Perfect.

Dante smiled.

"...I knew you’d come."

Sophie looked at him.

"...I can leave if I want."

Dante let out a soft laugh.

"...of course you won’t."

He stepped closer.

Sophie picked up a glass of wine.

She offered it to him.

"...wine. From the table."

Dante took it, smiling.

He looked at it.

And set it back down on the table.

"...very thoughtful of you."

He sat beside her on the bed.

In a corner of the room, Neros turned his head. Stared at the wall. Tense.

Sophie took a breath, slightly uncomfortable.

"...I want to know more about you."

Pause.

She pointed at the paintings.

"...those women."

Dante looked.

"...my wives."

Sophie blinked.

"...so you’re a married man."

Dante looked at her.

"...does that bother you?"

Sophie hesitated.

"...no."

But her tone wasn’t convincing.

Pause.

Sophie pointed again.

"...and that painting..."

Empty.

Dante took the glass from the table with both hands.

Looked at the floor.

Silence.

"...she was meant to be there."

Pause.

"...she passed away recently."

Sophie watched him.

"...sorry for asking..."

She hesitated.

"...how?"

Dante didn’t lift his gaze.

"...I don’t know."

Pause.

"...one day I found her in her room."

He raised the glass.

"...poisoned."

Silence.

"...with a glass like this."

His eyes didn’t move.

"...shattered on the floor."

Sophie swallowed.

"...could you stand up for a moment, please?"

Dante didn’t react.

"...I need to adjust myself."

Nothing.

Sophie frowned.

"...I order you to stand up."

Dante lifted the glass. Took a long drink.

Then spoke.

"...I have a seal against enchantments."

Pause.

He raised his gaze.

"...I already know that perfume."

His eyes locked onto hers.

"...it’s not the first time."

Sophie tensed.

"...I don’t know what you’re talking about."

She grabbed her glass.

"...it was a gift."

Pause.

"...stolen by a coworker."

Dante watched her for a few seconds.

Then smiled.

"...forgive me."

Pause.

"...for doubting you."

Sophie observed him.

’...he already drank the wine... he should fall asleep in a few minutes...’

Feeling slightly relieved, she drank.

A sip.

And—

Her eyes shut.

A strong dizziness hit her. Her body collapsed onto the bed.

Silence.

Inside the closet, Max’s eyes widened.

"...no way..."

Dorian peeked through the crack.

"...he switched the glasses..."

Dante sighed.

"...curious."

He looked at Sophie, asleep.

"...if you didn’t know about the perfume..."

He smiled.

"...why was there a sleeping potion in your glass?"

He stepped closer. Took her by the waist. Adjusted her on the bed.

In the corner, Neros clenched his teeth.

"...that’s it."

He moved. Drew his sword in one swift motion. A clean slash.

Dante’s hands fell off before he could keep touching Sophie.

Moon, from under the bed, released a gust of wind.

Dante slipped and fell face-first onto the bed, right beside Sophie.

A dull impact.

Then he laughed.

"...what I didn’t expect..."

Dante slowly stood up, handless, still smiling.

"...was so many of you waiting to ambush me in my own room."

The closet burst open.

Max rushed out, holding the sleep stone.

"...go to sleep."

He activated it before the devil could counter.

A pulse of magic.

Dante froze.

His eyes closed, and his body dropped.

Neros was already holding Sophie, fully unconscious, in his arms.

"...little sister... you were very brave..."

Dorian stepped out of the closet, hands glowing.

"...give it time..."

He cast magic.

"...this isn’t instant."

Moon peeked out.

Looked at Dante.

"...what about him?"

Silence.

The body trembled. Convulsions. His skin changed. From red to white. Completely pale. His hair turned from black to white. His horns disappeared, along with his tail.

He had turned into an elf.

Asleep.

Varis blinked.

"...what...?"

Max looked at him. Serious.

"...I should’ve thought of this earlier."

Pause.

His eyes hardened.

"...a guy like that..."

He looked at the elf.

"...doesn’t get ambushed that easily."

Silence.

"...that’s not Dante."

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Max reacted first.

"...quick, fix everything."

No one argued.

Neros carefully placed Sophie on a chair, making it look like she had simply fallen asleep. He brushed her hair aside, hiding any signs of struggle.

Dorian was already moving, picking up the mucus-covered coat with a disgusted expression.

"...this never happened."

He folded it—or at least tried to—before shoving it into a wardrobe without looking too closely.

Varis went to the table. Adjusted the glasses, switching them back, wiping any trace of spilled liquid with a small cloth he found nearby.

Moon crawled out from under the bed, stretching.

"...too much trouble..."

Max ignored her. He was kneeling beside the elf.

He checked his pulse.

"...still alive."

He exhaled, relieved, but his expression remained tense.

"...whoever he is, he’s not just a decoy."

He looked at the others.

"...if this guy isn’t Dante..."

Silence.

"...then where is the real one?"

No one answered.

Dorian looked up from the wardrobe.

"...and more importantly..."

He frowned.

"...the women?"

Pause.

"...did he really bring them to the castle?"

Max stood up, determined.

"...we don’t have time for that now."

He pointed at the elf.

"...Neros, carry him to our room."

Neros nodded without a word. He stepped forward, lifting the body with ease and placing it over his shoulder.

Max looked at Dorian.

"...you’re going to heal him."

Dorian raised an eyebrow.

"...why?"

Max didn’t hesitate.

"...to interrogate him."

His eyes locked onto the elf.

"...if anyone in this room knows something about Dante..."

He smiled.

"...it’s him."