CHAPTER 33…………………………………..

Zennia rubbed her dry, stiff eyes and looked around the brightened room.
Even though it was earlier than usual, considering what had happened yesterday, she’d slept far too well.

She was almost impressed with herself for having such thick nerves.

Shaking her head, Zennia quietly slipped her feet out of bed and carefully stood up so the mattress wouldn’t shake.

“Zennia, why are you up already?”

At the voice coming from beside her, her heart dropped. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed back onto the bed.

“When did you wake up?”

“Just now.”

Zennia stared at Lumiere with a face full of things she wanted to say, then stood up again.

“I just woke up early. Go back to sleep.”

But Lumiere shook his head and rose after her.

“I’m already awake.”

Feeling his gaze follow her every movement, Zennia hurried into the bathroom.

“Well… I guess I’ll take a long bath for once.”

Making an excuse to stay inside longer, Zennia shivered at the cold air of the bathroom.

Running away from someone in her own room… ridiculous.

Once she turned on the hot water and steam began to fill the space, she finally felt calmer. She poured a generous amount of bath salts into the tub and soaked, letting time pass.

‘I need to reduce the chances of facing him.’

Ignoring everything outside, she dragged the time out as long as she possibly could. Only when her fingers and toes were wrinkled and the water had turned lukewarm did she finally leave the bathroom.

Zennia approached Lumiere, who was sitting at the table.

“I’m sorry. I took too long, didn’t I?”

It seemed he’d been reading while waiting. Lumiere lowered the book and answered,

“It’s fine. Shall I prepare breakfast?”

“Oh… yes, could you? Thank you.”

Relieved by how surprisingly normal the morning felt, Zennia sat across from him. Just as she was spreading butter onto bread, Lumiere spoke.

“By the way, Zennia.”

“Yes?”

“A servant came by earlier.”

Zennia, mid-bite, froze and looked at him in shock.

“…A servant?”

Unlike Zennia’s pounding heart, Lumiere remained perfectly calm. He gently pushed a teacup toward her, as if telling her to drink.

“They said you should stop by to see the steward before work.”

A servant came… and delivered a message…

“Don’t tell me you opened the door?”

“No. They just spoke from outside and left. I guess they didn’t really need an answer.”

“Ah…”

For once, the servants’ lack of diligence worked in her favor. Zennia finally relaxed her tense shoulders.

“They said you should come before work so you won’t be late.”

Basically: don’t waste work hours.

It was absurd. Since when had they ever been so strict about punctuality?

With a scoff, Zennia muttered,

“What a tyrant of a boss.”

She checked the time while chewing her bread. Even though she’d woken up early, she hadn’t exactly gained much free time after spending so long in the bath.

Swallowing quickly, she drank tea and moved briskly. Just as she checked the time again, Lumiere stepped up behind her.

“Zennia, your hair isn’t dry yet.”

Zennia ran her fingers through it. It was slightly damp, but it didn’t seem like a big issue.

“Isn’t this fine?”

“You’ll catch a cold. You were in the bathroom for a long time too.”

Zennia hesitated, but then Lumiere gently draped a soft towel over her head.

Suddenly blinded by white fabric, she blinked blankly—until she felt the towel rubbing her hair.

“…Are you drying my hair?”

“You always do it for me.”

Wouldn’t it be more helpful for him to dry his own hair instead?

But maybe because it had been so long since anyone had done this for her, she didn’t dislike the awkward, clumsy way her head wobbled under his inexperienced hands.

By the time her damp hair had turned fluffy, Lumiere stopped and removed the towel.

Swish—

Beyond the retreating towel, Lumiere’s blue eyes curved into a bright smile.

At such close distance, his eyes were filled with affection he didn’t even try to hide. With a clear, gentle expression, he said,

“Have a good day.”

Zennia, smoothing her messy hair, parted her lips.

“…I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Lumiere waved lightly and even opened the door for her himself. Before she knew it, Zennia was stepping out, guided by his gesture.

Only after walking quite a while did she realize how foolish she must have looked. She suddenly spun around and muttered,

“What… was that?”

It felt the same as usual… and yet different.

What was this?

But she couldn’t dwell on it for long.

“Zennia! Hi! What are you doing standing in the middle of the hallway?”

At a servant’s greeting, Zennia resumed walking and replied,

“The same thing as always. Thinking I don’t want to go to work.”

The servant laughed brightly, and Zennia brushed away the strange emotions from earlier.

Zennia stared with disgust at the mountain of documents piled across her desk.

Even though she knew he’d only been gone for one day, the paperwork made it feel like he’d been absent for a week.

Looking at Eligos—who was clearly even busier than she was—Zennia silently took back what she’d muttered that morning.

Maybe the reason he’d told her to come before work really was because he didn’t want his schedule disrupted.

Not exactly in a position to pity anyone, but as she briefly prayed for her wrists’ survival, Zennia straightened when Eligos lifted his head.

“I kept you waiting.”

“No, not at all.”

Eligos shoved the papers aside irritably and got straight to the point.

“A guest will be arriving.”

“A guest we need to pay special attention to?”

“Yes. Go greet them immediately.”

Right now?

Zennia frowned.

“May I ask who it is?”

If he was only telling her the day of, it was probably some confidentiality issue… but she was going to meet them soon anyway.

Eligos answered without hesitation.

“Duke Gremory.”

Zennia’s eyes widened.

Duke Gremory?

“Is there some problem with the punishment from before?”

“No. He’s here to see His Majesty for a different matter.”

Thank goodness.

Still, the visit of a high-ranking noble was exhausting for servants no matter what.

“Escort him directly to His Majesty. Don’t let him wander elsewhere.”

Zennia glanced at Eligos’s face.

Eligos treated other nobles casually—almost dismissively—but he and Duke Gremory seemed unusually close.

‘They even speak informally…’

The first time Zennia began to doubt Eligos’s true status was because he’d dared to speak casually to Duke Gremory, one of the few highest-ranking nobles in the demon realm.

If Eligos had truly been an ordinary servant, Zennia would’ve dragged him away on the spot.

It would’ve been funny to ask if he’d lost his mind… but when would she ever get the chance to say that to Eligos?

“There will be a long business trip soon.”

Zennia refocused.

“Oh?”

He wouldn’t tell her about his own trip, so this must mean the Demon King’s.

Zennia shrugged lightly.

“Then I’ll quickly take care of the urgent matters first.”

Eligos only ever warned her in advance for one reason: to adjust the schedule while the Demon King was away.

‘It’ll be busy for a while… but when the Demon King leaves, it also means vacation again.’

And maybe, while he was gone, she could finally have a proper conversation with Lumiere.

Though she’d need to prepare herself first.

“That’s all.”

“Yes. Then I’ll be going.”

Eligos nodded.

As Zennia turned to leave, a warm breeze brushed around her.

When it faded, her hair slipped softly down her face.

She touched it—it was completely dry.

It must have bothered him.

Of course. She couldn’t greet a high noble with messy hair.

With a small nod toward Eligos, who had already returned to his paperwork, Zennia headed straight for the central hall.

‘Focus.’

No matter how gentle Duke Gremory was said to be, the fact that he was close with Eligos meant he was not someone to underestimate.

“Zennia, you’re here?”

The moment she arrived, servants swarmed her with curiosity.

“You’re handling the guest, right?”

Word had spread that someone was coming, but no one seemed to know who yet.

“Looks like it.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“Well… I didn’t hear that much.”

If she revealed it, she’d become the center of everyone’s attention.

“You don’t know?”

Instead, Zennia asked them,

“Haven’t you heard anything?”

“No one seems to know.”

“Really?”

The servants began complaining anxiously.

“Who in the world is coming?”

“I’m already worried.”

“Are we going to have to renovate the castle again?”

“Why do they keep tormenting fragile demons like us?”

Zennia smiled at them.

To her, nobles were terrifying no matter what.

As the servants passionately discussed how exhausting difficult nobles were, they patted her shoulder.

“But you’re in charge, Zennia.”

“You’re going to suffer, huh?”

Zennia simply smiled without answering.

While names of pro–Demon King nobles floated around in speculation—

Someone suddenly shouted from within the crowd:

“They’re here!”