Chapter 7: The Naughty Maid

Merorin puffed out her cheeks and muttered in dissatisfaction like a little girl.

“That bad Demon King really is bad… why did she have to turn me into this and lock me up here…”

Before she could finish, warm breath suddenly brushed against her neck.

Lilith gently wrapped her arms around Merorin from behind, her body pressed close to her back, both arms tenderly crossing over her slender waist.

“Lady Merorin, don’t think like that…”

Lilith’s voice was exceedingly gentle, her fingertips brushing Merorin’s cheek unintentionally.

“In fact, the Demon King has her own considerations in doing this… she never tortures anyone without reason.

Every step she takes has meaning.”

Merorin’s heart trembled.

Outwardly, she still stubbornly turned her head away, puffing her cheeks as she pretended to be angry.

“No matter what considerations she has, she shouldn’t treat me like this!

Knocking me down and remodeling me is one thing… turning me into a woman is one thing…

But carving something like this onto me!”

She lowered her gaze to the faintly glowing rune engraved below her abdomen.

Lilith’s eyes followed her fingers, a trace of barely perceptible pity passing through them.

Rather than stepping back, she held the girl in her arms even more tightly, her tone growing ever softer.

“Lady Merorin… this time, the Demon King paid a very great price as well.”

“Hmph, I don’t believe that at all.”

Merorin pouted, feigning disdain, though her heartbeat unconsciously quickened.

Using her anger as an excuse, she tilted her head slightly and leaned against Lilith’s shoulder, probing carefully.

“There’s no change at all.

The only one hurt is clearly me…

She, on the other hand, smiles every day while watching me suffer.

That doesn’t look like paying any price at all, does it?”

“I’m sorry, Lady Merorin…”

Lilith spoke softly, yet made no move to let go.

She suddenly raised one hand, her fingertips lightly sliding across Merorin’s collarbone, then slowly moving toward the soft curve of her not-yet-fully-developed chest.

“Mmm—!”

Merorin’s body stiffened, a sudden sensation exploding and spreading instantly through her limbs.

“Lilith! What are you doing? Let go!”

She struggled in panic, her voice trembling with unsteady breaths, her cheeks rapidly flushing red, even the tips of her ears burning hot.

Lilith seemed to snap back to herself and quickly withdrew her hand, stepping back half a pace.

She folded her hands before her and lowered her gaze obediently.

“I’m terribly sorry, Lady Merorin.

I shouldn’t have done that… I lost control for a moment.

Please forgive me.”

Merorin’s chest rose and fell sharply as she tried to calm the heat surging within her.

She forced herself to sound composed.

“It’s… it’s fine…

You were just following orders anyway.”

She paused, then deliberately changed the subject, her tone lightening noticeably.

“By the way… how did the Human Empire announce my fate?

They didn’t keep my portrait up everywhere with a bounty, did they?”

Lilith chuckled softly, a doting look flashing through her eyes.

“Lady Merorin, the Human Empire’s announcement was this—

You were slain in battle by the Demon King.

The hero’s sacrifice has been passed down as a tale of honor.

The king has ordered monuments erected across the land to praise your deeds.”

“Oh?”

Merorin blinked, then laughed and nodded.

“Mmm… that’s a pretty good evaluation.”

She spoke softly, as if setting down an invisible burden.

“At least… I won’t be treated as a traitor anymore.”

Seeing the rare ease on her face, Lilith smiled gently as well.

“Lady Merorin, please don’t worry.

No matter how many misunderstandings or stains the Human Empire places upon you, as long as the Demon King remains, she will certainly step forward to protect your reputation.”

“Hmph, I don’t believe she’d do something like that.”

Merorin turned her face away haughtily.

She paused, then turned back around and asked with feigned innocence.

“Lilith, could you take me to see Sylvia?

I… I want to see whether she’s doing well.”

“Of course, Lady Merorin.”

Lilith nodded with a smile at once, her tone as natural as if this were only to be expected.

“You and Sylvia are both wives of the Demon King.

Meeting each other and getting acquainted is perfectly normal.”

“Really?

There’s no need to apply to the Demon King?”

Merorin frowned slightly, genuine doubt in her voice.

“After all… this is the Demon King’s castle.

Shouldn’t every movement be restricted?”

Lilith laughed softly, her black hair swaying gently as she shook her head.

“You’re overthinking it.

In the Demon King’s eyes, both of you are companions she personally chose.

Your status is noble.

Private meetings don’t require reporting.”

She paused, then added.

“Unless it’s being alone together late at night, everything is quite free.”

Merorin nodded thoughtfully.

Then her eyes suddenly turned, and a sly smile curled at her lips.

“Then… what position do you hold in the Demon King’s harem?”

Lilith froze.

Her fingers unconsciously rubbed her chin as she thought for a moment before answering.

“Mmm… I suppose I’d count as a friend.

A very close kind of friend.”

“Oh—”

Merorin deliberately dragged out the sound, lowering her voice.

“Then by that logic, doesn’t that make you something like the Demon King’s wife too?”

“Eh?!”

Lilith’s eyes widened abruptly, the tips of her ears flushing red as she waved her hands frantically.

“T-that way of putting it is far too improper!

From a certain perspective… perhaps it could be said so, but the Demon King has never expressed it that way!

I am merely her head maid.

Nothing more.”

“Heehee.”

Merorin couldn’t help laughing, finding it endlessly amusing to see the usually composed Lilith flustered.

“Then isn’t your Demon King a bit too bad?

Making all of you fall for her one by one, while she pretends nothing’s happening?”

“No!”

Lilith blurted out almost instantly, her tone urgent.

“The Demon King is not bad at all!

She’s just… just very busy.

Busy ruling the demons, handling state affairs, and facing the threats of the Human Empire…

Her thoughts were never easy to see through.”

“I think she’s just a bad person.”

Merorin pouted, deliberately emphasizing her words.

Before she could finish, she suddenly felt an itch under her arm.

“Yah!”

She cried out, her body instinctively curling as laughter spilled uncontrollably.

“S-stop it!

Lilith, stop!”

Lilith leaned close to her ear, warm breath brushing against the sensitive rim.

Her voice carried amusement and a trace of authority.

“A disobedient Lady Merorin…

It seems I need to teach you properly.”

“I—I wasn’t being disobedient!

Let go—mmph!”

Her words were cut off abruptly.

Lilith seized her wrist with one hand and wrapped the other around the back of her neck, forceful yet gentle as she turned her around.

The next moment, soft lips pressed against hers.

There was no warning.

No hesitation.

A deep kiss fell.

“Mmm…”

She let out a short whimper, trying to struggle, but was firmly restrained.

At the same time, Lilith’s hand slid to her lower abdomen, her fingertips precisely pressing against the rune.

A strand of gentle yet irresistible magic flowed into it.

“Ah—!”

Merorin’s whole body trembled violently, her eyes instantly losing focus.

After a long moment, their lips parted.

Lilith gently wiped away the saliva at the corner of her mouth, looking into her dazed eyes as she laughed softly.

“Lady Merorin, the punishment ends here.”

She lifted Merorin into her arms, her steps light.

“Now, let’s go soak in the bath.”