CHAPTER 29…………………………………………
She knew the Demon King was watching her strangely as she lingered, tidying up her desk even though it was already time to leave work. Still, Xenia stubbornly continued cleaning.
The Demon King stared at her now neatly emptied desk and asked,
“Is there still something left to clear away?”
“If I really wanted to, there’s nothing I couldn’t do.”
“So you’re saying you’ll do more?”
“…No.”
If she said yes here, she’d end up carrying off the paperwork piled on the Demon King’s desk. As Xenia let out a small sigh and stood up, the Demon King clicked his tongue.
“Tomorrow, neither I nor Eligos will be here.”
“Eligos too?”
“Yes.”
It was extremely rare for two demons to be absent at the same time.
A Demon King’s castle without the Demon King or Eligos… She could already picture the servants going wild like colts with their reins cut loose.
“It’ll be a noisy day.”
With a grimace, Xenia bowed politely.
“Then I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”
The Demon King waved his hand as if telling her to hurry out. Xenia didn’t push it further and turned away.
A once-a-week day off. Normally she would have left work excited, but today her steps out of the office felt heavy.
No… not just today.
For the past week, Xenia had oddly been glad to come to work and reluctant to go home.
This is unbelievable.
It was all because Lumiere — the one she had directly admitted she liked a week ago — had been relentlessly expressing affection ever since.
His ticklish tone, his gestures, the way he watched her with soft smiles no matter what she did…
She was doing her best to share everything she knew, yet Lumiere’s attitude never changed.
She wished he would acknowledge that the information a maid could provide was limited. Just how much was he trying to learn, and why was he going this far?
Don’t tell me… he doesn’t just want information, but help in another way?
…It wasn’t impossible.
In the Demon Realm, the only person Lumiere could ask for help — the only “person” at all — was Xenia.
But physically? With this body? How?
Xenia looked down at her pale, soft body.
She had no strength or stamina to speak of — not among demons, and not even among ordinary humans.
Then the only thing left is holy power…
For Lumiere, she wouldn’t even mind using enough holy power to faint.
Maybe it would be better to just speak honestly now. Tell him she understood what he wanted, and that they should talk openly.
We don’t need to exhaust ourselves like this.
Hadn’t they built up some trust by now?
The moment she opened the door, she looked up at a man with a dazzling presence.
“Welcome back.”
As if he had been waiting, Lumiere greeted her calmly, not surprised at all.
“I’m back.”
“The food arrived a bit early, so I was worried… but I’m glad.”
Just as he said, dinner was already prepared on the table, and the room was filled with an appetite-stirring aroma.
A warm room, not cold at all. A room where a delicious meal was ready on time, and someone greeted her kindly.
It suddenly made her reluctance to come home seem silly.
She stared blankly at Lumiere’s gentle smile, then quickly grew embarrassed and hurried past him, hiding her face.
“Really? Then wash your hands and let’s eat right away.”
“Yes.”
In the mirror while washing her hands, her face looked faintly flushed — like a child delighted by an unexpected gift.
What’s wrong with me?
She slapped her cheeks lightly with cold hands, composed herself, and returned.
She quickly sat in the seat Lumiere had prepared.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Enjoy.”
Even though it was such an ordinary exchange, it made her ears feel strangely warm.
She hadn’t thought she was hungry, but after the first bite, the food went down surprisingly easily.
It was a restaurant Lumiere had wanted to try — and it wasn’t bad at all.
“Xenia, tomorrow is your day off, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then… we’ll stay together the whole time?”
“I suppose so?”
For some reason, that made Lumiere smile brightly.
His radiant looks and overwhelming affection were a little burdensome… but his pure, shadowless smile was reassuring.
If things stayed like this, Lumiere would probably leave soon enough.
I should talk to him.
He wasn’t pushing her away or forcing fake smiles like before. It seemed there was genuine warmth in his kindness, mixed in with whatever he wanted from her.
“Lumiere.”
“Yes?”
Seeing the soft smile that returned as if he’d been waiting, Xenia suggested,
“Shall we go for a walk tomorrow?”
“A walk?”
“Eligos won’t be in the castle tomorrow.”
Fresh air might loosen the mood and make conversation easier.
“If you don’t mind… let’s go out together.”
Xenia knew plenty of places the servants rarely visited — quiet spots she sometimes used to escape the noise.
And since the playful servants would be slacking off even more with Eligos gone, there would be no problem.
“I like anything you suggest.”
Staring at his handsome face, Xenia began thinking of where she could take him.
“Then we’ll go somewhere I like. We can pack some food too.”
Watching Lumiere nod eagerly, Xenia smiled softly.
She was about to continue eating when Lumiere suddenly spoke again.
“Xenia.”
“Yes?”
“I like you.”
Blink.
Xenia forced the smoothest smile she could manage.
Hearing something like that every day really wasn’t good for her mental health.
Pretending she hadn’t heard, she slid a plate toward Lumiere.
Beef was sitting beside a servant who was chattering endlessly. He pretended not to listen — but in truth, he was paying close attention.
Because the topic was Xenia.
“They say her lover is so strong even Leraje acknowledged him!”
That much Beef already knew.
The day of the underground accident, Leraje had praised Xenia’s lover again and again, and the story had spread throughout the entire castle.
Leraje had even wandered the castle with fire in his eyes, asking if anyone had actually seen the man’s face.
But it seems no one really has.
More than a few had seen Leraje leaving the castle afterward, utterly deflated.
“Actually, I saw him that day myself. His face was covered, but…”
Beef glanced sharply at the servant. He’d heard rumors, but this was the first servant claiming to have seen the lover directly.
Noticing Beef’s interest, the servant grew excited and rambled on.
“He was so fast, and the atmosphere was terrifying. No one could stop an unauthorized demon from going down there!”
Beef raised an eyebrow.
“That’s reckless. What if he was an intruder?”
“Who would dare invade the Demon King’s castle? His Majesty is here!”
“Oh, sure.”
“And honestly… it felt like touching him would bring disaster.”
“That bad?”
Leraje tended to exaggerate, but he was also someone oddly frivolous in certain ways.
Beef had assumed it was just Leraje’s obsession with faces again.
But what if he really is that strong?
When Beef questioned him skeptically, the servant thumped his chest.
“Yes! I’m telling you! You know how sensitive we are to that kind of thing. Oh — and servants who heard Leraje muttering said he’s still very young.”
A strong one was better than a weak one, but…
Beef snorted.
“I don’t like ones that are too young.”
“Oh come on. The age difference isn’t that big, so it’s good.”
Not wrong.
“…Is it?”
As Beef looked thoughtful, the servant leaned in, eyes sparkling.
“You’re curious too, aren’t you, Head Chef?”
Beef shoved the servant’s face away with his palm.
“Shut up.”
The servant stiffened his neck and continued tempting him.
“Why don’t you just ask Xenia directly? She’d answer you.”
But Beef didn’t fall for it.
Hadn’t he already said he would wait?
And even if he was curious, this wasn’t something to gossip about so openly.
There were still too many servants paying attention to Xenia’s lover.
Beef snorted again.
“For whose benefit?”
“That’s harsh…”
Beef kicked the servant lightly, as if bored.
“If you have nothing to do, get out and work. You’re not even kitchen staff — why are you hanging around here talking?”
The servant made a mischievous face.
“When else are we supposed to play, on a day like today?”
“When have you ever worked?”
Despite Beef’s sarcasm, the servant only grinned.
“Come on, let it slide. The steward isn’t here either.”
Shameless… but he wasn’t the only one.
As soon as Eligos left, the castle was already full of crashing sounds.
Beef shook his head.
“This place is going to be a disaster.”
“It already is.”
It was true.
With both the Demon King and Eligos absent for the first time in ages, the castle was as noisy as a battlefield.
Beef grimaced and tried to ignore the explosions of chaos echoing through the halls.
