Chapter 80: To Save Them, the Holy Queen Can Only…

“You…”

Simona felt her very soul trembling.

Liya—it was Liya?!

Yes, she had not mistaken her.

The scent, the movements, the gentle smile.

That woman had neither vanished nor died!!

She was right here in the Demon King’s Castle.

“Little Simona, it’s been a while~”

Liya smiled brightly and took the initiative to greet her, as relaxed and casual as if reuniting with an old friend.

But Simona was anything but relaxed.

“Mas…”

Simona immediately covered her mouth.

In that instant, countless memories flooded back.

Or rather, the things that had always lingered in her mind, impossible to shake, were triggered once more.

This woman had once done so many excessive things to her.

After being defeated while covering the human retreat, she had not martyred herself like the other holy knights, nor had she been killed by this demon named Liya.

Instead, she was kidnapped, injected with dark magic, and infused with an even deeper, more terrifying power.

..

It was a scene she could never forget.

After being corrupted by the curse, she had grown demonic horns, betrayed humanity, and in the battles that followed actively drove back humans invading the Evil Tree.

After each fight, she would voluntarily kneel and beg Liya for a reward.

Only Simona herself knew how that felt.

The most terrifying part was not complete brainwashing or erased memories, but accepting her demonic self and pleasing her demon master while her memories, emotions, and soul remained unchanged—and even feeling pleasure from it.

Every time she recalled that pleasure, Simona wanted to end her life in atonement, yet she could not abandon the humans still holding on, nor the defeated Miss Gabriella.

This demon who had disappeared—was she not supposed to have vanished along with the Evil Tree? 

How was she now a maid in the Demon King’s Castle?

“Little Simona?”

Only then did Simona realize that Elsa, the Saintess, and the others had all left.

Now only Liya and she remained in the room.

“Liya, why… are you here?!”

Simona’s usual calm vanished completely upon remembering this woman.

She knew exactly how wicked and perverse this demon was—just like the Evil God.

She could already imagine how Liya would treat her.

Making excessive demands, then using them to lure and deceive her.

For example—

If she did not drive away designated humans, if she did not betray her beliefs and abandon all her holy power, if she did not swallow the dark energy orbs, she would suffer unbearable pain…

And in contrast, she would receive Liya’s reward—that thing seemingly called 【Grace】, which was even more deadly than clumps of dark magic.

Simona’s fighting spirit burned higher.

At this point, she could not lose to Liya again.

At the very least, this time she would not be controlled.

“Our last meeting was five years ago, right? Hmm, it really has been a long time.

After the rebel army nearly killed me… Little Simona, I’m sorry for these past few years.”

“What?”

Liya lowered her head apologetically, walked up to her, and smiled gently:

“I once abandoned you only to follow that lady.

You must have suffered a lot these past years.”

“You…”

Simona was momentarily speechless.

She had wanted to scold Liya, or even strike her, but the words stuck in her throat refused to come out.

What on earth was this woman thinking?

Yet Liya simply took her hand, led her to sit at a nearby table, her soft demeanor not provoking even a hint of resistance in Simona.

She simply cooperated and sat down.

When touched by Liya, her body reacted.

A hidden excitement quietly awakened, stirring memories of Master Liya in every cell.

“Nn… Don’t touch me.” Simona still decided to keep her distance from Liya, no matter what misunderstandings there were.

Liya merely smiled lightly, paying no mind to the rebuke.

“Over these years, I was injured by some demons.

Fortunately, Lady Gabriella saved me in time.”

“You were hurt by demons?”

“Yes.”

Liya nodded without any concealment, even continuing in a voice filled with regret as she recounted her heavy past:

“The power I guarded was coveted by many demons, but I refused to hand it over…

If not for Miss Gabriella’s help, I might still be wandering homeless now.”

“Gabriella—you were saved by Gabriella?”

“Of course~”

Liya tilted her head with a smile:

“I was hunted and imprisoned by the rebels.

Later, Gabriella saved the Demon King, eliminated all the rebels… and freed me from prison.

It’s magical, isn’t it? I made all those efforts for her, yet in the end, she was the one who took me in.”

Simona was momentarily bewildered.

First, Liya seemed to have misunderstood something.

This damn demon apparently thought she was still one of the demons!

She apparently never expected that she would regain her reason and become the Holy Queen.

Or perhaps she had always believed that she, the Holy Queen, had remained a demon all along—a traitor to humanity. How foolish.

And then…

Gabriella saved the Demon King?!

She could hardly believe her ears, but Liya was not lying—Simona prided herself on being sensitive to emotions; she would not mishear.

“Gabriella saved the Demon King?”

“Yes. The divine maiden is still following the Demon King she loves most, atoning for her past mistakes—whether by coincidence or intent.”

“The divine maiden… why would she save the Evil God?”

“Hmm.”

Liya tilted her head with a smile:

“Didn’t I ever tell you, Little Simona?”

Simona was about to press further, but then remembered that as a new maid in the residential palace, demanding answers from the Head Maid was somewhat excessive.

Strictly speaking, Liya was her superior.

She did not want to admit that she had once lived for a time as Liya’s slave and kin.

She absolutely did not want to return to that humiliating life!

Yet

As the Holy Queen of humanity, Simona knew she still bore the duty to protect the divine maiden, as well as her guilt toward Gabriella.

Though she did not wish to continue conversing with this demon, she had to obtain that vital information.

It was her mission—and the path she had chosen herself.

I am the Holy Queen. I’ll be fine.

“Liya… Master.”

Simona’s voice grew almost inaudible as she tried to overcome the fear and shame in her heart with reason.

She had to play along, to pretend.

All to extract more intelligence.

To save Gabriella, to save the Saintess.

“Master~ You… never told me.”

Simona clenched her fists, golden light faintly flickering in her eyes.

For some reason, the moment she uttered the word “Master,” her legs instinctively pressed together.

Some inner conditioned reflex was urging her to fulfill her loyalty more completely.

Yet

When she saw that Liya showed no triumphant smile—instead walking before her, stroking her head, and gently blowing warm air by her ear—only guilt toward humanity remained in her heart.

“Little Simona, I’m sorry.

You must have missed me terribly all these years.”

“I’ve kept you waiting.”