Chapter 19 : Absolute Territory
Chapter 19: Absolute Territory
Hera’s voice was like a freezing wind from the depths of the underworld, instantly solidifying the air within the entire council hall.
Camilla stood frozen in place, the color draining from her face at a visible speed until it turned deathly pale.
She understood.
How could she not understand?
Hera, in front of all the demon generals, had rejected her—the Succubus Duke—for the sake of a human maid who had been here less than a few days.
The surrounding demon generals all lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe loudly.
They could tell.
Hera was not joking.
“Y-Yes… Hera…”
Camilla’s body trembled slightly.
She forced those words out through clenched teeth.
Her voice was filled with unwillingness, humiliation, and… deep fear.
“I… understand.”
Hera’s golden eyes moved away from her, as if even one more glance would be a waste of time.
She looked again at Lilia, who was still kneeling on the ground.
That cold gaze, upon meeting Lilia, seemed to soften by one ten-thousandth.
“Stand.”
“Yes, Master.”
Lilia shakily rose to her feet.
Her heart was still pounding wildly.
Just a moment ago, she had truly thought she was doomed.
She had even prepared herself to be erased by the System—or to lick the tip of Camilla’s shoe in public.
But she never expected that the outcome would be Hera personally stepping in to support her.
Hera stood up, her wide black robe trailing along the ground.
She walked past Lilia without stopping, leaving behind only a faint instruction.
“Follow.”
“Yes!”
Lilia hurried after her, completely forgetting about cleaning up the empty bowl.
The council hall fell into deathly silence.
Only after Hera and Lilia’s figures disappeared completely beyond the doors—
Did the oppressive atmosphere finally break.
“My heavens…”
“Just now… did I see that correctly?”
“Hera actually… for the sake of a human…”
The demon generals whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Camilla carrying a trace of sympathy.
As for Camilla—
She remained standing rigidly in place.
Her nails had already dug deep into her palms, drawing dark purple blood.
She lifted her head, looking toward the doorway. Within her charming eyes burned a mixture of jealousy and venomous resentment.
Lilia…
Just you wait!
……
Lilia followed closely behind Hera, step by step.
In the long corridor, only the sound of their footsteps echoed.
Hera walked ahead, her posture straight and steady.
Lilia kept her head lowered behind her, her mind in complete chaos.
Why was Hera protecting her like this?
Just because of a bowl of noodles?
No… impossible.
She might be inexperienced, but she wasn’t foolish.
She could feel that Hera’s attitude toward her had been different from the very beginning.
From the “hands-on” punishment training, to all the subsequent “special treatments.”
This overwhelmingly powerful woman seemed to have truly regarded her as her “possession.”
And not just any possession—but one she valued immensely.
This realization made Lilia’s heart begin to race uncontrollably.
On one hand, there was the fear of being a “caged bird.”
On the other, there was a strange sweetness—from being exclusively claimed, from being favored.
Dangerous! This is too dangerous!
Lilia, snap out of it! You’re a man!
She frantically warned herself inwardly.
At that moment, Hera, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly stopped.
Caught off guard, Lilia nearly bumped into her back.
“Master?”
She quickly halted, raising her head in confusion.
Hera did not turn around.
“Your room. We’re here.”
Only then did Lilia realize they had arrived at her simple little room.
“Ah… yes.”
“Go rest,” Hera said coolly. “Before dinner, I don’t want to see you.”
Was this… giving her time off?
Lilia felt both surprised and flattered.
“Yes, thank you, Master!”
Hera said nothing more and turned, walking toward her own bedchamber.
Lilia watched her departing figure. Only when that streak of black disappeared at the end of the corridor did she finally let out a long breath.
She pushed open the door and walked inside.
Her entire body felt drained as she collapsed onto the bed.
Too intense.
This entire day had been more intense than everything she had experienced in her previous life combined.
She closed her eyes, replaying the moment Hera had spoken those words.
【Ding!】
Just as Lilia’s thoughts were in turmoil, the System notification sounded again.
【Detected that the host has successfully consolidated her status as the Demon Queen’s exclusive possession, greatly satisfying the master’s possessiveness!】
【A special side mission has been issued as encouragement!】
Lilia jolted upright from the bed.
Another mission?
And rewards?
Her spirits immediately lifted.
【Side Mission: A Maid’s Awareness】
【Mission Description: As the Demon Queen’s sole personal maid, your appearance represents your master’s dignity. What you are currently wearing is merely the lowest-grade coarse maid outfit—this is an insult to the Demon Queen’s aesthetic! Please immediately change into the newly issued outfit in your wardrobe that better highlights your figure and charm: “Black-and-White Lace Classic Maid Outfit.”】
【Time Limit: 10 minutes】
【Mission Reward: S-Rank · Absolute Territory (Passive)】
【Failure Penalty: Randomly strip one acquired skill.】
Lilia’s expression instantly froze.
What the hell?
She instinctively opened the Maid Wardrobe interface.
An abundance of lace frills, exaggerated puffed sleeves.
And then—a very short skirt.
“No! I refuse!”
Lilia roared internally.
This had crossed her bottom line!
【Failure Penalty: Randomly strip one acquired skill.】
The System’s cold reminder appeared again.
Her anger was immediately extinguished by half.
Strip a skill?
Was that a joke?!
Whether it was 【Absolute Senses】 or 【Culinary Mastery】, both were essential to her survival!
If she lost one, how would she continue living?
But… that outfit…
【S-Rank · Absolute Territory (Passive)】
【Effect 1: When the wearer is dressed in short-skirt attire, the “Absolute Territory” field will automatically activate, slightly increasing agility and evasion rate.】
【Effect 2: This field effectively blocks voyeuristic magic targeting the legs and inflicts minor mental backlash on those with ill intent.】
【Note: Beneath a maiden’s skirt lies an inviolable sacred domain~?】
Lilia: “……”
This reward…
Was so tempting!
No—
Extremely tempting!
It boosted agility and evasion—and it was passive!
It even prevented peeping! It was practically tailor-made for her!
But…
The price was wearing that humiliating outfit…
Lilia’s mind entered a fierce internal struggle.
Three seconds later—
“It’s just an outfit!”
Gritting her teeth, she stomped her foot.
She quickly retrieved the “Black-and-White Lace Classic Maid Outfit” from the system space.
In her hands, it felt even lighter and softer than it looked.
The intricate lace and silk texture made her scalp tingle.
【Mission Countdown: 9 minutes】
“I know, I know! Stop rushing me!”
Taking a deep breath, like she was heading to an execution, Lilia began removing her conservative long maid dress.
Then, eyes closed, she hurriedly put on the lace maid outfit.
When she finally finished and awkwardly opened her eyes, looking into the worn mirror in the room—
The person in the reflection had smooth, flowing long hair and skin so pale it seemed almost translucent.
But…
It wasn’t her.
The stark black-and-white contrast perfectly outlined her slender waist and graceful figure.
The puffed sleeves made her shoulders appear even smaller.
And the skirt—cut above the knees—paired with pure white thigh-high stockings, revealed a stretch of smooth, pale thigh between them.
Sacred, yet restrained.
Pure, yet alluring.
A kind of breathtaking beauty—one even she herself found unfamiliar—bloomed in the mirror.
【Ding! Feminization Index +5!】
The System notification snapped her back to reality.
A strange feeling rose from within.
She found herself unconsciously straightening her back, bringing her legs together, and folding her hands neatly in front of her.
As if the outfit itself held some kind of magic.
It was changing her posture, her habits, even… her mind.
【Ding! Mission Completed!】
【Reward “S-Rank Accessory · Lace Petticoat · Absolute Territory” has been issued. Auto-equipping…】
Lilia felt as though something had formed beneath her skirt—a faint magical field quietly enveloping her legs.
She stared at her reflection, feeling both embarrassed and a strange… sense of satisfaction.
Maybe… this wasn’t so bad?
Just as she stood there, dazed by the stunning girl in the mirror—
“Creak—”
The wooden door to her room was suddenly pushed open from outside without warning.
Lilia abruptly turned around.
At the doorway stood the Demon Queen, Hera.
Her emotionless golden eyes were fixed directly on Lilia, now dressed in the brand-new lace maid outfit.
The air, in that instant, completely froze.