"Do you think I'm a hero?"

She smiled, pouring you another cup of water, "I think, if I hadn't woken up amidst the ashes of banished demons, surrounded by curse-recovering girls, with a vague memory of... servicing that fat pig, I'd say you never could have survived what you described and that your men had done all the work."

You raise your good eyebrow, "But..."

She sighed, "But, in the face of overwhelming evidence, I am **** to admit that you, King Bryce, are a hero. Don't let your ego get too inflated."

Your recovery under Vessa's magic touch is rapid but messy. The scarring is severe, taking most of the right half of your face and deeply etching much of your upper body on the same side. Your burned eye is a solid white, seemingly bleached. You take to wearing a simple but well-wrought half mask, the black cover somewhat preserving your handsome visage and keeping you presentable in court.The problem remains of what to do about the demons that escaped your wrathful purge, you couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the Baron had been spreading his seed more than a farmer in spring. Your suspicions were well founded: Count Harrows returned to his holdings to find his servants slaughtered and his daughters missing. You give him the Barons land, wealth, and a more prominent place in your court as recompense for his service and loss, promising to help him enact justice on the fiends. Which you of course have to take care of anyway.

Word travels quickly of your deeds and in combination with the succubus incident you quickly gain the title of "The Demon's Bane." People express their hope that it be one of many and you can't help but be horrified at the idea of earning more titles the same way you did this one. Things eventually settle down, leaving you a more respected king with an intimidating countenance when you wished it, not to mention a little wiser for your trouble.

But naturally, your favorite outcome of the whole sordid ordeal was your new relationship with Lady Vessa. In court she remains the enigmatic and aloof royal mage but in your private time she loosens up a bit. Either out of guilt, a grudging admiration, or an awakened sexuality, she was willing to share your bed whenever you insinuated your desire.