CHAPTER 06…………………………………………..
“So I hear you’re seeing someone? If it’s okay later, why don’t you introduce him to me?”
Contrary to what she’d expected, the conversation ended without any major fuss, leaving Xenia feeling dazed.
Beef had patted her head, remarking that she’d grown up so fast, and given her a look that was almost embarrassingly warm—but aside from that, it was no different from usual.
When Xenia said she hoped the rumors wouldn’t spread, Beef reassured her that it was only natural to worry and told her not to fret, since he was already keeping an eye on things. He even packed her a lunchbox, telling her it would be noisy for a while and that she should eat her meals in her room.
On her way back, Xenia touched the corners of her trembling lips. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to laugh or cry.
I wish Beef weren’t a demon.
Looking down at the heavy lunchboxes filling both her hands, she let out a complicated sigh. Shaking her head, Xenia glanced toward her room, now close by.
She’d managed to find some suitable clothes from a trolley that the servants had clearly abandoned mid-task, but—
He hasn’t left, has he?
That was the real concern.
If the hero were fully himself, him leaving her room would actually have been the better outcome. But in his current state, she absolutely couldn’t leave him alone.
If only his companions would show up, I could send him off without worrying.
With a sigh, Xenia knocked on the door so as not to startle him.
“It’s Xenia.”
Knocking before entering her own room—anyone seeing it would probably find it ridiculous.
Carefully opening the door, Xenia peeked inside. Thankfully, the hero was sitting on the bed in the exact same position as when she’d left.
Which was to say—he was sitting perfectly upright, not even trying to cover himself with the blanket.
Worried that someone else might see them, Xenia quickly shut the door and stepped inside. She placed the lunchboxes on the table, then handed the clothes draped over her arm to the hero.
“I picked something that looked about right. It should fit.”
The hero, who was tightly clutching the pocket watch she’d given him, only stared at the clothes in her hands.
“You should put the watch down and get dressed first. Then we can eat.”
As she said that, Xenia extended her other hand to take the watch back. But the hero deliberately tightened his grip, curling his fingers even more firmly around it.
What?
She saved him, and now he was stealing her things?
It was absurd, but she decided to let it go for now. If the hero wanted the watch, she could give him ten more just like it.
It’s not like that’s the only one I have.
Forcing herself to rationalize the situation, Xenia put on a kind smile.
“If you like it, you can keep it. So—shall we get you dressed?”
She stepped closer to the hero, who was frozen in place with the watch still in hand, and asked,
“Do you want me to help you?”
She’d meant it as a prelude to telling him to dress himself if he didn’t want that—but to her genuine shock, the hero raised his hands without hesitation.
He really wants me to dress him?
It wasn’t even clothing that was hard to put on. Was she really supposed to do everything, from start to finish?
She knew there were nobles—royalty included—who never lifted a finger themselves. But she hadn’t expected the hero to be like this.
It felt like every assumption she’d had about heroes was shattering.
He’s worse than the Demon King.
Muttering the strongest curse she could muster in her head, Xenia helped him into his shirt. Then, holding the trousers awkwardly, she looked at him—
—and thankfully, mercifully, the hero put those on himself.
Nothing more awkward happened during the meal that followed. He didn’t seem picky; he silently ate whatever Xenia offered him.
So that build isn’t just for show.
Xenia herself felt her spirits lift once warm food finally filled her stomach after days of surviving on snacks.
After eating a few pieces of fruit, she noticed steam rising from the teapot set in the corner of the room and stood up.
The moment she did, she hurried back to the hero—who had stopped chewing altogether and was simply staring at her.
He didn’t seem to care when she left the room, but from the moment she’d come back, he hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
The way he froze mid-action, like a wound-up doll whose spring had run down, was deeply unsettling.
Come to think of it, he’s been staring at my face ever since he woke up.
He only stared—no response when she spoke to him, no change in expression—which made it incredibly frustrating.
…Still, I have to try.
If she wanted any meaningful information, she needed to draw out some kind of reaction and earn his goodwill.
Putting on an unnaturally bright smile again, Xenia spoke to him.
“Shall we have some tea now?”
The Demon King’s castle, which had been buzzing with news of a battle requested by Duke Gremory, had shifted its attention in recent days to a new topic of gossip.
Xenia, the Demon King’s exclusive maid.
And her love life.
“Xenia’s dating someone?!”
“I’m telling you, it’s true.”
“Shh, keep it down. The head chef’s watching like a hawk.”
“Oh.”
A few immediately clamped their mouths shut, but the whispering didn’t stop. It wasn’t something they could just brush off by saying she was only human.
“…I mean, it’s Xenia. What did you expect?”
The Demon King’s only personal maid, trusted completely by both the Demon King—the most powerful figure in the castle—and his right-hand man, the steward.
In terms of raw combat power, she ranked lower than anyone else in the castle. But anyone who laid a hand on Xenia would have to face the wrath of the steward and the Demon King himself.
Though less frequent than in the past, the Demon King’s oppressive aura still occasionally filled the castle—and it remained a source of terror for the servants.
Come to think of it, there had once even been bets among the staff on how soon Xenia would quit her job as a maid.
“Three minutes!”
“Come on, she’d last at least three minutes.”
“Why not go bold and say a whole day?”
“What are you talking about? You got money to burn?”
“That’s what gambling is! Anyone want to bet on a week?”
“There’s no one crazier than you, so obviously not!”
Yet Xenia had defied everyone’s expectations and continued working perfectly fine. As her workload decreased thanks to some small helping hands, even the Demon King and the steward had become surprisingly lenient.
Now, ten years after she’d burst onto the scene like a dark horse, Xenia had long since become indispensable.
“And that Xenia is dating someone…!”
Naturally, the entire castle was abuzz.
“When did she even find the time to start dating?”
“She always looks so busy.”
“Hey, what does being busy have to do with dating?”
“Well… fair enough.”
Xenia was acknowledged as a beauty even by servants accustomed to seeing elegant nobles on a daily basis.
She wasn’t flamboyant, but once she caught your eye, it was hard to look away.
Perhaps it was the contrast between her jet-black hair and pale skin. Neat and composed, yet carrying an air that made her hard to approach.
A beauty with dreamy, violet eyes—that was the common assessment of Xenia.
And despite her cool, distant appearance, once you got close to her she smiled often. If you asked for help, she’d readily lend a hand unless it was something she truly couldn’t do.
She was popular—there was no avoiding that. Yet Xenia had never once accepted any of the confessions directed her way.
Now servants giggling with curiosity weren’t the only ones whispering about her as they passed by.
“I wonder if the guy’s any good.”
“If the head chef isn’t stopping it, doesn’t that mean he’s fine?”
“I guess so?”
Though concern for Xenia outweighed simple curiosity—
“What if she got mixed up with some weirdo?”
“That might be fun in its own way.”
“Yeah. Crying Xenia sounds kind of cute.”
There were demons who revealed such twisted thoughts.
But the murmuring died instantly at a loud bang that echoed through the space.
Beef stood there, face thunderous, gripping a broom handle that had been completely shattered. He swung his thick, muscular arms—bare beneath his sleeveless shirt—as he glared at them.
At the appearance of Beef, one of the strongest beings in the castle, the servants coughed awkwardly and looked away.
As head chef, Beef was closer to the servants’ daily lives than either the Demon King or the steward. Having worked in the castle kitchens for many years, his word carried serious weight.
In other words, if you got on his bad side, your life here would become very difficult.
“Ahem!”
“Oh! I just remembered something I needed to do!”
Beef kept glaring until every last servant scattered. Only after they were completely gone did he let out a heavy sigh and toss the broken broom aside.
“That makes four today already, doesn’t it?”
Despite promising Xenia he’d keep things quiet, rumors about her had spread across the entire castle in the blink of an eye.
He’d warned the servant who’d been to Xenia’s room to watch their mouth—but apparently that hadn’t been enough for an excited demon.
Should he be satisfied that at least no one would dare bring it up directly in front of Xenia?
Satisfied, my ass. They barely work and can’t keep their mouths shut. If they put even half as much effort into their jobs as they did into gossip, Xenia wouldn’t be overworked all the time.
If they had even a shred of conscience, they wouldn’t talk about her so carelessly. He was a demon too, but why were all demons like this?
Clicking his tongue, Beef turned away—only to freeze stiff when he immediately came face to face with someone.
“What is all this about?”
Cold, pale-blue eyes looked down at him, brimming with frost.
It was Eligos, the steward—who had been filling in for the absent Demon King and, having finally noticed the commotion, had stepped out of his office.
