Elsa gave a small nod and forced a slightly awkward, but undeniably cute, smile.
“Mm, as head maid, I accept your apology.”
Liya returned a warm smile of her own.
“I hope we can become friends.”
But that answer clearly didn’t satisfy Elsa.
Her eyes flickered, and then, with the straightforward seriousness only she could muster, she continued:
“According to maid regulations, I should still be punished. I am the Grand Commander of the Holy Knight Order. I must take responsibility. Please punish me.”
“Eh…?”
Liya glanced at Gabriella, then back at Elsa, momentarily at a loss.
Isn’t my little sister being a bit too serious?
Gabriella suddenly remembered how she used to visit the orphanage to select maids.
Those demon children had all lost their families in the war.
If not for Lady Isabella’s merciful and wise decision, they wouldn’t even be alive.
They were hardworking, earnest about their duties, honest, and free of scheming.
By Gabriella’s standards, Elsa was exactly the same type as the other maids; no, she had even greater potential!
Gabriella shot Liya a look.
The head maid understood instantly and replied with equal gravity:
“Very well. As punishment, your rest day this week is canceled.”
“Eh?”
Elsa let out a confused sound.
For the past eight years in the knight order, she had climbed from a lowly knight to Grand Commander through sheer talent and effort.
Knights were bound by the Code of Chivalry.
Breaking it meant severe punishment: corporal punishment, flogging, confiscation of property and title, or even imprisonment.
Disrespecting a superior could, in extreme cases, be punishable by death.
Even though she knew her sister had her back… she still expected something like physical punishment.
Elsa had been ready to just accept it and move on, but she wasn’t here on vacation or to earn money; she was here to save her sister! She had steeled herself for anything!
Liya was close to her sister. Step one was to get on her good side.
She stepped directly in front of Liya, placed a hand over her heart, and said:
“Head Maid, please allow me to personally heal your wound.”
“Eh?”
“And that still isn’t enough. I want to take on more work and be genuinely useful to all of you.”
Neither Liya nor Gabriella had expected Elsa to be this proactive.
She even leaned in gently, cradled Liya’s injured arm with care, and spoke in a soft voice that no longer sounded like the proud leader of a knight order, but like an eager young maid full of hope for the future!
Liya had no choice but to agree.
Next came kitchen duty.
Elsa wasn’t nearly as shy as they’d feared.
While the maids crowded around Gabriella to learn cooking techniques, Elsa followed right along, diligently taking notes.
She had zero cooking experience, but under Liya’s guidance she smoothly completed vegetable washing; catching up to their pace would just take a little more time.
After work, Elsainsisted on accompanying Gabriella to deliver the Demon King’s meal.
It was nominally to familiarize herself with the palace routes; really, it was to help her settle in over the next few months.
On the way, the two finally had a moment alone.
Elsa stayed silent at first.
Only after they entered a secluded stairwell, confirming no one could overhear, did she hurriedly tug at Gabriella’s sleeve.
Her eyes were filled with worry and determination.
“Sis… have you really lost your memories?”
Gabriella simply smiled and gave her a gentle, reassuring look.
“Guess~?”
“What do you mean, Big Sister Gabriella?”
“I’ll explain everything later. It’s not the right time yet. But for now, Elsa, you have to trust Big Sister, okay~?”
Gabriella quickened her pace.
It took Elsa a few seconds to realize her sister might be hinting at something.
Her heart began pounding wildly.
“I understand!”
Soon, the two arrived at the Demon King’s office.
It was essentially Isabella’s private study.
Unless something urgent came up, she usually worked here; no need to even leave the residential palace.
Isabella had risen early that morning to deal with matters concerning the knight order and humanity, so she was already hard at work in her office.
Delivering meals to the Demon King, no matter where she was, was the duty of her personal maid.
Gabriella told her sister to wait outside and that she’d be right back.
The office resembled a small library.
Countless documents were stacked on the desk, with towering bookshelves full of records lining the walls.
On the spotlessly clean desk sat a little potted flower Gabriella had planted herself.
Isabella was still writing something.
Hearing movement at the door, she looked up.
The moment she saw Gabriella, she touched her lips thoughtfully and asked:
“Gabriella… mm, what’s for breakfast today?”
“Cream of mushroom soup and rolled omelette. If Your Majesty finds it too bland, there’s orange juice too.”
“No cake?”
“No sweets in the morning. If you eat them all the time, they lose their magic.”
Gabriella set the breakfast on the desk and immediately noticed the troubled look on the Demon King’s face.
Reading her lady’s mood was part of a personal maid’s job.
She needed to comfort her and also gauge whether Isabella approved of her earlier decisions.
She had a good idea.
Gabriella walked over, forked up a small piece of omelette, and held it to Isabella’s lips.
The Demon King obediently opened her cherry lips and took the bite.
Only then did Gabriella nod in satisfaction.
“Lady Isabella, has something happened?”
“Mm…”
Isabella didn’t hesitate. She leaned fully against Gabriella.
“According to yesterday’s intelligence, the humans are preparing to declare war on us.”
“War? As expected from those warmongering idiots.”
Isabella sighed and reached out to stroke Gabriella’s hand; only to accidentally brush her lower belly instead.
“Your decision delayed the knight order’s attack. They’ll probably tear up all pretense and declare open war now. You did well, Gabriella~”
But Gabriella had no time to bask in the praise.
The instant their bodies made contact,
a wave of heat suddenly surged through her; exactly like yesterday.
An itch bloomed in her chest, and the same sensation stirred in her belly.
Her body felt like it was desperately craving something.
Her breathing grew noticeably heavier.
The burning in her cheeks betrayed that her endurance had reached its limit.
Her lips parted slightly, wanting to speak, yet in front of Isabella she let out a soft moan instead.
“Ah…”
Her mind was burning, everything felt strange.
I want… Lady Demon King.