Ch. 25
Chapter 25: You…
The Queen’s scent?
The smell on her body…
Lilia’s mind replayed last night—when she massaged Hera.
Her cheek had almost been pressed against Hera’s nape.
Her hands had moved across Hera’s calves and ankles.
Their breaths had intertwined.
At that near-zero distance, how could she possibly not have picked up the other’s scent?
What was she supposed to say?
That she had provided the Queen with “special” massage services last night?
Lilia guessed this Succubus would think that this “new toy” of hers couldn’t hold back any longer, resorting to cheap tricks to seduce the Queen—and would only despise her more, targeting her even more viciously.
A layer of cold sweat instantly formed on Lilia’s back.
She could feel Camilla’s sharp gaze.
【Ding!】
【Detected key plot character: Succubus Duke · Camilla.】
【Side Mission triggered: Make Her See You in a New Light!】
【Mission Description: You, a lowly human maid, have repeatedly gained the Queen’s attention. This has aroused the jealousy and hostility of the Queen’s most loyal hound—the Succubus Duke Camilla. She sees you as a cheap toy, an insect she can crush at any time. Now, she is questioning you. Use your wit and courage to respond head-on to her provocation, and make her perception of you waver for the first time!】
【Mission Reward: S-Rank Charisma (Passive, Effect: Your words and actions will more easily gain others’ trust, your presence will be greatly enhanced), Camilla Favorability +5.】
【Mission Failure Penalty: In front of all servants in the Demon King’s Castle, kneel before Camilla, kiss the tip of her boots, and swear to become her lowest slave.】
……
This damned System!
Lilia almost choked on her breath.
She had already kissed Hera’s boot tip once—she never wanted to experience that humiliation a second time in her life.
Let alone kneeling before this woman full of malice toward her, in front of everyone?
Absolutely not!
Lilia’s mind began to race at an unprecedented speed.
Don’t panic.
Absolutely don’t panic.
The moment she showed even a trace of guilt, this old fox Camilla would tear her apart.
She needed a perfect reason.
One that Camilla couldn’t refute—and wouldn’t even dare to probe further.
Lilia slowly raised her head.
The paleness and fear on her face had faded, replaced by a calmness that Camilla found unfamiliar.
There was even a faint trace of… confusion.
As if asking: What are you talking about?
“Duke Camilla.”
Lilia spoke, her voice steady, without a hint of trembling.
“The fact that I carry Her Majesty’s scent…”
She paused, tilting her head slightly, her clear eyes meeting Camilla’s directly.
“Isn’t that perfectly normal?”
Camilla froze.
She had imagined all kinds of reactions from Lilia.
Panic, incoherence, kneeling to beg for mercy…
But she had never expected such composure.
Composure… as if stating an obvious fact.
“Normal?”
Camilla narrowed her alluring eyes, danger once again filling the air.
“A lowly human—what right do you have—”
“Because I am Her Majesty’s personal maid.”
Lilia cut her off without hesitation.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was crystal clear.
“Starting today, everything within the Palace of Eternal Night—Her Majesty’s daily life, meals, palace cleaning, and item organization—will all be handled solely by me.”
Seeing Camilla’s expression stiffen instantly, Lilia felt a bit more at ease.
She knew she had won the first step of her gamble.
She continued, her tone now carrying just the right amount of respect, along with an undeniable sense of duty.
“As the only one allowed to serve Her Majesty at close range, it is only natural that I would be marked by her scent. Isn’t that proof that I am fulfilling my duties properly?”
“Or…”
Lilia’s tone shifted, her gaze sharpening.
“Does Duke Camilla believe that I should not serve Her Majesty so… ‘diligently’?”
Was Camilla questioning the Queen’s decision?
No!
Of course she didn’t dare!
For the first time, Camilla’s expression turned unpleasant.
This little girl actually dared to use the Queen’s authority to suppress her!
“You…”
Camilla tried to speak again, but Lilia gave her no chance.
Lilia took a small step forward and bowed slightly. Her posture was humble, yet her words carried an invisible pressure.
“Duke, I am grateful for your loyalty and concern for Her Majesty.”
“But…”
“Last night, Her Majesty did not rest well.”
Those words made Camilla’s pupils shrink sharply.
“I merely… under Her Majesty’s tacit approval, did what a maid should do, to provide her with a more comfortable rest environment.”
Lilia spoke vaguely.
What did “did not rest well” mean?
What did “what a maid should do” mean?
She didn’t explain—and didn’t need to.
Because she knew Camilla wouldn’t dare ask.
Inquiring about the Queen’s private condition, especially at such a sensitive moment as “poor rest,” was an absolute taboo.
Camilla stared fixedly at Lilia.
She tried to find even the slightest trace of a lie on that flawless face.
But there was none.
Nothing at all.
Only calmness—and a kind of… “of course it is so” that irritated her deeply.
As if everything Lilia said truly had the Queen’s tacit approval.
That feeling only made the flames of jealousy in Camilla’s heart burn even more fiercely.
But at the same time, a trace of wariness arose.
Seeing her reaction, Lilia knew she had already won.
She bowed again, performing a standard maid’s curtsy.
“If Duke Camilla has no further instructions, I will take my leave.”
“Her Majesty’s breakfast cannot be delayed.”
After speaking, she straightened her back and walked past Camilla without hesitation.
As they brushed past each other—
Camilla could clearly smell the faint scent belonging to Hera emanating from Lilia.
And… a trace of something she had never smelled before—
A cool yet resilient scent that belonged to this silver-haired girl.
Camilla stood there, motionless.
Until Lilia’s figure completely disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
Only then did she slowly turn around, staring at the empty hallway. For the first time, a serious and puzzled expression appeared on that seductive face.
A toy?
No.
This Lilia was definitely not a simple toy.
……
Meanwhile.
After turning the corner and confirming that Camilla could no longer see her, Lilia’s legs gave out, and she immediately leaned against the cold wall.
“Hah… hah… hah…”
She gasped heavily, her heart pounding harder than ever.
That brief confrontation just now had been more exhausting than cleaning the entire bedchamber for a whole night.
The mental pressure had nearly crushed her.
【Ding!】
【Side Mission: Make Her See You in a New Light, Completed!】
【Mission Evaluation: S! Not only did you successfully resolve the crisis, but with flawless words and composure, you planted a seed of ‘wariness’ in the Succubus Duke’s heart!】
【Reward Obtained: S-Rank Charisma (Passive) equipped! Camilla Favorability +5!】
Lilia immediately opened the panel to check the favorability.
【Camilla Favorability: -80 (Hostile)】
Lilia: “……”
After all that, it only went from -85 to -80—still hostile?
This broken System!
However, when she noticed the S-rank passive reward, her mood improved again.
【S-Rank Charisma (Passive)】: Your presence will be greatly enhanced. Your words and actions will carry greater persuasiveness. Your temperament will make you impossible to ignore in any setting. This is an aura of those above—and also a curse that attracts trouble.
Before Lilia could examine it further, another mission notification popped up.
【The Queen’s Breakfast (Continued)】
【Mission Requirement: Prepare a meal that will put the master in a good mood.】
Looking at this prompt, Lilia fell into deep thought.
She quickly walked toward the kitchen, her mind rapidly filtering through recipes from her memory.
Something that could put Hera in a good mood…
That woman—powerful, lonely, cold, with severe cleanliness and obsessive tendencies.
A thought suddenly flashed through Lilia’s mind.
Her eyes widened as her gaze locked onto an inconspicuous ingredient cabinet in the corner of the kitchen.
Perhaps… she could try that.