Ch. 26
Chapter 26: Continue
The cabinet hidden in the deepest shadows of the kitchen looked utterly unremarkable.
Lilia walked over and pulled open the heavy wooden door.
There was no expected burst of magical light, nor any nauseating smell of blood.
Inside, several plain ceramic jars lay quietly.
She opened one of them.
A familiar, grain-like fragrance instantly slipped into her nose.
It was millet.
Golden-yellow millet, each grain full and plump, emitting a soft luster under the dim glow of the magic crystal lamp.
Beside it, there was another jar filled with shriveled red fruits.
Lilia lightly swept over them with [Absolute Senses].
[Ingredient: Golden Grain (known as “millet” in the Mortal Realm), produced from a now-vanished fertile plane, contains faint solar energy and the essence of earth. Has calming and stomach-nourishing effects.]
[Ingredient: Blood-Pattern Honey Dates, produced in the Phantom Light Forest at the edge of the Demon Realm. Extremely sweet, with slight blood-circulating effects.]
The warmth of the mortal world…
This was it.
What delicacies had that woman not tasted? What breathtaking ingredients had she not seen?
Lilia recalled the fatigue she had sensed from Hera last night—her loneliness, the fear within her nightmares.
That was a soul that had shed all armor, curled up in darkness.
Like a sick child, what she desired most was not a lavish feast, but a steaming bowl of slightly sweet porridge.
That was what she would make.
“Gulu… gulu…”
Accompanied by the sound of simmering,
the aroma of millet porridge gradually spread.
As Lilia inhaled the scent, she fell into a brief trance.
It felt as if she had returned to a long, long time ago.
Back then, he had still been Lin Feng. After getting drenched in the rain and developing a high fever, he had lain in bed, his whole body aching, unable to eat anything.
His mother had cooked him a bowl of millet porridge just like this.
Golden, warm, with a slight sweetness from rock sugar.
With one spoonful, warmth spread from his stomach to every limb.
That feeling of being gently wrapped in care—he still remembered it.
Lilia’s body trembled slightly.
She shook her head, dispelling those untimely emotions.
She was Lilia now.
The Demon Queen’s maid.
She was preparing a breakfast that might determine her fate.
Time passed bit by bit.
The porridge in the clay pot had become thick and smooth, the grains nearly dissolved, merging with the water into an enticing golden hue.
She poured the millet porridge into a warm white porcelain bowl and paired it with a small dish of delicate Demon Realm pickles to balance the richness.
Everything was ready.
Carrying the tray, she found the Little Demon responsible for delivering messages.
The Little Demon froze for a moment when it saw what was on the tray.
Its small eyes were filled with confusion.
This… was the breakfast prepared for Her Majesty the Queen?
“Please deliver this to Her Majesty the Queen,” Lilia said with a slight bow, her tone calm.
The Little Demon hesitantly took the tray and disappeared into the depths of the corridor, glancing back every few steps.
The kitchen instantly fell silent, leaving only Lilia behind.
Waiting.
It was the most torturous punishment in the world.
Lilia stood still, unmoving.
Her heart began to pound uncontrollably.
The gamble had begun, and the stake was everything she had.
She didn’t know how Hera would react.
Would she feel insulted and fly into a rage?
Would she feel slighted and order her dragged out and fed to dogs?
At this moment, [Absolute Senses] seemed to have lost its function.
She couldn’t hear anything useful—only the increasingly loud sound of her own heartbeat.
One minute.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Every second felt like a century.
Just as Lilia was about to suffocate—
the Little Demon reappeared at the entrance of the corridor.
It had returned.
But it wasn’t holding the tray.
It was empty.
Lilia’s heart leapt into her throat.
Finished eating?
Or… thrown away?
The Little Demon hurried up to her, but said nothing.
It simply looked at her.
That gaze… was complicated.
No longer filled with disdain or pity.
There was a hint of reverence—and even… fear.
Lilia felt her scalp tingle under that stare.
“H-How… was it?” she asked with difficulty, her voice dry.
The Little Demon still didn’t speak.
At that moment—
a cold system notification exploded in Lilia’s mind.
【Ding!】
【Daily Mission: The Queen’s Breakfast, Completed!】
【Mission Evaluation: S+! Impeccable beyond imagination! Not only did you meet the mission requirements, you touched the softest corner of Her Majesty the Queen’s heart in an unprecedented way!】
【Mission Reward: D-Rank Cooking Mastery upgraded to C-Rank Cooking Mastery! Skill [Queen’s Recipe] updated! Feminization Index +3! Hera Loyalty +5!】
…She won.
She didn’t even notice that her loyalty panel had changed once again.
Just as she was immersed in relief after surviving the ordeal—
the silent Little Demon finally spoke.
Its voice carried an uncontrollable tremor.
“Lady Lilia.”
Lilia snapped back to attention.
“Her Majesty the Queen… summons you.”
The Little Demon lowered its head deeply, not daring to look at her.
“To the main bedchamber.”
Lilia took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She straightened her plain maid outfit, confirming there were no wrinkles or stains before stepping forward.
The magic crystal lamps along the corridor emitted a cold, dim glow. The light fell on her silver hair, but brought no warmth.
Her mind was a tangled mess.
That bowl of millet porridge…
That woman…
Lilia shook her head.
No.
Now was not the time to think about that.
She was just a maid, a toy struggling to survive.
Trying to understand her master’s heart was taboo.
All she needed to do was obey—and live.
Finally, the massive and ornate doors of the bedchamber, carved with countless demon god reliefs, appeared before her.
Just like last time, she hadn’t even approached—
“Creak—”
The heavy doors silently slid open inward, like a silent beast opening its mouth.
Lilia steadied her breathing, straightened her back, and stepped inside.
The chamber was as luxurious as ever, and just as empty.
The air carried Hera’s unique scent—cold and domineering, like a pine forest after snow.
But this time, that scent seemed mixed with a faint… lingering warmth of grain from the millet porridge.
Lilia’s gaze quickly swept across the chamber.
Hera was not on the throne.
Nor by the bed.
She wore a loose black silk robe, sitting sideways on a velvet chaise near the window.
Her long hair was not tied as usual, but draped loosely over her shoulders. The black strands merged with her robe, leaving only her pale, almost translucent face and her faintly golden eyes standing out in the dim light.
In her hand, she held the warm white porcelain bowl Lilia had used for the porridge.
The bowl was empty.
Not even a drop of soup remained.
Hera’s slender, pale fingers absentmindedly traced the smooth glaze of the bowl.
The motion was light, slow.
Carrying a trace of… confusion and attachment Lilia had never seen before.
At this sight, Lilia’s heart skipped a beat.
She dared not look further, immediately lowering her head and walking quickly to the center of the room, kneeling with both knees on the ground, her forehead pressed against the cold, smooth floor.
“Your Majesty, Lilia has come as summoned.”
Her voice was steady and humble.
Silence filled the chamber.
Only the faint “rustle” of Hera’s fingers brushing the bowl could be heard.
Time passed slowly.
Each second was torment.
Lilia could feel Hera’s gaze fall upon her.
It no longer carried its usual scrutiny or coldness.
But neither did it hold warmth.
Like moonlight, quietly enveloping her.
After an unknown amount of time—
Hera finally spoke.
“This porridge.”
Her voice was slightly hoarse, carrying a hint of just-awakened laziness.
“Where did you learn it?”
It had come.
Lilia’s heart tightened.
Her mind raced.
She couldn’t tell the truth.
She absolutely couldn’t reveal anything about Earth or “Lin Feng.”
Maintaining her prostrated posture, she answered respectfully:
“Your Majesty, I saw it while organizing the storage room, in a damaged ancient recipe book from a certain mortal plane.”
“The book said that porridge made with ‘Golden Grain’ has calming and stomach-warming effects, most suitable… for times of mental fatigue.”
Hera said nothing.
She set down the porcelain bowl, the base touching the table with a crisp sound.
That sound made Lilia’s body tremble ever so slightly.
“Is that so?”
Hera stood up from the chaise.
The silk robe brushed against the floor with a faint sound.
Her footsteps drew closer.
Finally stopping before Lilia.
A pair of bare, flawless feet entered Lilia’s view.
Slim ankles, rounded toes, nails glowing with a healthy pale pink.
Lilia’s breathing nearly stopped.
She recalled last night—the sensation of her hands touching those feet.
Cold, delicate, like the finest white jade.
“Raise your head,” Hera commanded.
Lilia didn’t dare hesitate, slowly lifting her head.
She saw Hera’s face.
So close.
Hera looked down at her, her golden eyes filled with complex, unfathomable emotions.
Lilia’s heart rose to her throat.
Yet the expected interrogation and punishment never came.
Hera simply looked at her quietly.
Then, she slowly extended a hand.
The same hand that had just been tracing the porcelain bowl.
Her fingertips were cold.
They gently landed on Lilia’s cheek.
Lilia’s body instantly stiffened.
Her mind went blank.
Cool, soft, carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
Hera’s fingertips slid slowly from her cheek to her jaw, then to her neck.
As if admiring a precious piece of art.
“My little thing…”
Hera’s voice carried a faint sigh.
“You always manage to surprise me.”
Lilia didn’t dare move.
She didn’t even dare breathe.
She could feel Hera’s fingertips carrying a soothing magic, gradually relaxing her tense body.
Was this… a reward?
Just as Lilia’s mind completely shut down—
【Ding!】
【Detected a significant increase in intimacy between host and Hera. Trust level has surpassed the critical point!】
【Hidden Chain Mission triggered: The Queen’s Reliance (1/3)】
【Mission Name: Soothe the Queen’s Fatigue】
【Mission Description: A cup of hot tea, a bowl of warm porridge—you have successfully opened a corner of Her Majesty’s heart. Now, she needs deeper comfort. Use everything you have to dispel the fatigue and loneliness deep within her soul.】
【Mission Requirement: Perform a full-body, immersive deep massage for Her Majesty the Queen until her mental tension decreases by more than 50%.】
【Mission Reward: E-Rank Skill [Temperature Perception] upgraded to D-Rank [Magic Perception]! Hera Loyalty +10! New Attribute Unlocked: Intimacy!】
【Mission Failure Penalty: Wear the most embarrassing “Hollow Lace Bunny Outfit” and perform a dance in the Demon King’s Castle plaza for all demons.】
Lilia: “……”
This damn System!
Did the gap between reward and punishment have to be this huge?!
Her face flushed red instantly.
Deep massage…
Full-body…
And reduce mental tension by 50%…
This…
Just as she was overwhelmed with embarrassment—
Hera’s hand withdrew from her neck.
“Last night’s massage,” Hera said, her tone returning to its usual coldness, though now carrying an unquestionable command, “was effective.”
She turned and walked back to the chaise, reclining lazily.
The black silk robe outlined her breathtaking figure.
Without looking at Lilia, she spoke indifferently.
“Continue.”