Chapter 38: Maid Tina

Gabriella remembered that she hadn’t approved any new hires lately. 

Apart from her little sister Elsa, there were no plans to add more maids in the short term.

However, a few maids had indeed left the inner palace some time ago. 

Gabriella had transferred them back to the orphanage in Eastern Ridge to continue supporting the demon welfare programs. 

Coincidentally, they had departed the inner city for Eastern Ridge just yesterday, during the human invasion.

It seemed Liya had foreseen the staff shortage and prepared in advance.

One had to admit, she was a truly far-sighted maid.

If Liya weren’t a demon, Gabriella would genuinely love to befriend her.

Speaking of Liya, Gabriella suddenly remembered she still hadn’t asked about the summoning.

Just how had Liya managed to call forth an apostle of an ancient evil god? 

It was utterly absurd.

Well, that was a question for later.

Gabriella went to the kitchen and started boiling water. 

Elsa helped by tending the fire, and the two of them began the day’s work.

Compared to the other maids, she was definitely the busiest. 

Even Elsa got days off, while Gabriella almost never rested.

…Not because she loved working.

Simply put, years ago, to prevent any enemies from appearing at the Demon King’s side, Gabriella had developed the bad habit of working year-round. 

She kept it up now partly to raise the overall efficiency of the maid staff.

Gabriella poured all the flour from the sacks onto the kitchen counter after getting the water boiling.

Today she planned to let the maids try noodles and dumplings—things that probably didn’t exist in this world.

She’d also let those two poor human girls taste her cooking one last time before sending them home.

Years of honed culinary skill, combined with knowledge from her previous life, now flowed effortlessly from her hands. 

Perhaps it was also thanks to Gabriella being naturally gifted at cooking.

“Lady Sister, shall we start kneading the dough now?”

“Mhm~ Help me for a bit. I’ll clean the floor first.”

Elsa worked hard to keep up with every single step.

A few days ago, Gabriella would never have imagined her little sister would take maid work so seriously—she didn’t even want to leave the Demon King’s Castle.

“Good morning~ Lady Elsa, Gabr—”

While Gabriella was busy in the kitchen, two young maids walked in laughing and chatting.

They had just greeted her and were about to join the work when their eyes suddenly locked onto the horns on Gabriella’s head.

“La-Lady Gabriella?!”

“Hm?”

Gabriella was still kneading dough. Judging by their expressions, they had definitely seen the horns.

“What is it?”

“N-Nothing.” 

The little maid looked embarrassed. 

She slipped over to Gabriella’s side and stood close, pretending to help, though Gabriella could clearly tell she just wanted the best spot.

Like she was trying extra hard to curry favor.

The other maid saw Elsa already occupying Gabriella’s right side and could only dejectedly take a position behind her.

When Gabriella had hired these little maids, they had already accepted that she was human. 

But since they had been taken in from the orphanage, they trusted her—the human—completely.

They’re just horns. 

What’s so fascinating about them…

Then several more maids entered, reacting exactly the same as the first two.

“Lady Gabriella… ?!”

“…” Gabriella simply smiled, only to notice the little maids’ faces turning even redder. 

They stood with their hands behind their backs, the earlier chattering instantly gone as they quietly returned to their posts.

She could feel someone sneaking glances.

Gabriella didn’t turn around to look at these innocent demon girls, but then it hit her: they had grown up in an orphanage with no other male demons around. 

Weren’t they basically a whole group of girls with zero experience?

And seriously, what was so interesting about them? 

Did demons have some special cultural view about each other’s horns?

Gabriella couldn’t figure it out. 

She had wanted to ask, but seeing how seriously the little maids were working, she let it drop.

She began wrapping dumplings.

She hadn’t been particularly good at it in the past, but after eight years of practice, a more coordinated body, and improved learning ability, Gabriella now shaped beautiful pleats with ease, relying solely on muscle memory. 

The translucent wrappers revealed the pretty pink of shrimp and pork inside. 

It was a shame she couldn’t get any good sweet-and-sour sauce—she’d have to figure something out for Lady Isabella later~

“Hm hm~”

Humming cheerfully, Gabriella felt in great spirits today.

But suddenly, one of the little maids whispered to Elsa—loud enough for Gabriella to hear perfectly.

“Look… your big sister is totally the perfect pampered wife type, right…?”

“Huh?”

Gabriella shot a bewildered glance at Elsa and the maid. 

The two immediately shut their mouths, and the atmosphere turned awkward for a moment.

These girls, seriously…

I’m wrapping dumplings here, and instead of learning, you’re staring at my horns?

“Lady Gabriella’s horns really are beautiful,” a tall, mature-looking older-sister-type maid suddenly broke the silence. 

“Restrained yet straight, large but not ostentatious—elegant and dignified…”

“Yeah, totally.”

Another maid chimed in.

What followed was a flood of praise that left Gabriella utterly embarrassed. 

Were her horns actually that amazing? 

She honestly couldn’t tell at all.

Then, blushing just like the rest, Elsa added:

“I think so too. I think big sister’s horns look really nice.”

“Ha?”

Gabriella had been about to complain that Elsa wasn’t helping at all and had instead joined the idiot maids’ faction. 

She was supposed to be the smart, wise big sister—how did she end up with such a soft, silly little sister? 

Please, you’re the Grand Commander of the Holy Knights—act with a bit more edge!

“Can I… touch them? Just once.” 

One of the maids leaned in shyly while Gabriella was still finishing the dumplings.

“Me too!”

Immediately, a crowd of maids pressed forward, looking at her with expectant eyes.

“No way.”

Gabriella was always lenient with the maids, but this time—absolutely not. 

If she let one touch, the rest would swarm, and she had a feeling the scene would turn extremely weird.

Seeing Gabriella’s refusal, the maids obediently went back to learning how to wrap dumplings, and the kitchen quickly returned to its usual lively atmosphere.

“I’m so jealous of Lady Isabella… getting a wife like that.”

“Right? Right…?”

…

Outside the bustling kitchen, in a corner no one noticed, a young girl was secretly peeking inside, cautiously observing the scene. 

Her ice-blue hair was tied into a braid, a few stray strands framing her ears. Her beautiful brows were filled with hesitation.

Her well-fitted maid dress outlined a figure that was seventy percent slender and thirty percent curvaceous. 

She watched the room silently, not daring to make a sound.

“Tina, still not ready?” 

Liya, the head maid walking behind her, asked with a soft laugh.

“No way.” 

The girl called Tina frantically shook her head.