Chapter 32 : Promoted
Chapter 32: Promoted!
Outside the door, the Little Demon who had come to deliver the message peeked around nervously and witnessed the entire process of Duke Camilla being put in her place.
Only after Camilla’s figure completely disappeared did she dash over to Lilia and give a deep bow.
“Lady Lilia, you… you’re truly amazing!”
“It’s fine, you can go back now. Thank you for today.” Lilia’s face still maintained that cold, businesslike expression, but inside, she was crying.
Big shot, please stop bowing, my legs are so weak I can barely stand.
The Little Demon felt as if she had been pardoned, nodding repeatedly. She secretly glanced at the scroll in Lilia’s arms, the awe in her eyes deepening, before she ran off without a trace.
Only then did Lilia lose her composure. She quickly retreated into the room, pressed her back against the door, and shut it heavily.
“Bang.”
The world became quiet.
All the strength in her body seemed to drain away as she slowly slid down along the door, still clutching that life-threatening scroll tightly in her arms.
In the silent room, only the sound of her pounding heartbeat could be heard.
The relief of surviving lasted less than three seconds before the system notifications flooded her mind and dragged her back to reality.
【Ding!】
【Side Mission Triggered: The Duke’s Provocation】
【Mission Objective: Under the provocation of the Succubus Duke Camilla, maintain your safety and the Queen’s authority.】
【Mission Evaluation: S++! Without using force or seeking protection, you relied solely on wisdom and the authority granted by the Queen to perfectly resolve the crisis and even reverse-intimidate the provocateur, greatly upholding the Queen’s authority!】
【Mission Reward: Unlock “Social Maid” talent tree branch! Reward D-Rank skill 【Aura of Authority (Beginner)】! Reward title 【The Queen’s Spokesperson (Pseudo)】!】
【Skill: Aura of Authority (Beginner)】
【Effect: Passive. While executing official duties, your words and actions carry a faint mental intimidation, making lower-ranked individuals more likely to obey your commands.】
【Title: The Queen’s Spokesperson (Pseudo)】
【Effect: When carrying out the Queen’s orders, you are treated as her “temporary representative,” and your words gain temporary coercive authority over certain demons.
Note: The highest form of borrowing power is making the tiger willingly lend you its might.】
These rewards… were way too generous!
Lilia grinned foolishly for a moment, but the smile quickly collapsed into a curse.
“Damn it, that scared me to death…”
She really thought Camilla would tear her apart on the spot.
That calm and composed demeanor earlier—it had all been an act. The sweat she had clenched out in her palms still hadn’t dried.
After sitting on the ground for quite a while, Lilia finally struggled to get up.
The crisis was temporarily resolved, but something far more fatal still remained.
Hera’s order.
She carefully spread the scroll written by the Minotaur general on her small wooden desk.
Lilia’s gaze fell on the scroll.
The demonic script on it looked less like writing and more like a swarm of black insects—twisted, sloppy, and wildly chaotic, as if the author had been drunk and hiccuping while writing.
“Request for reinforcements in the northern mining area…”
She barely recognized the first line, her brows already tightly knitted.
What the hell is this?
The handwriting reminded her of when she used to copy homework in her previous life, fell asleep halfway through, and rolled her face across the notebook.
And this was something they dared present to Hera? Was that Minotaur general tired of living?
Lilia complained wildly in her mind, forcing herself to continue reading despite the tingling in her scalp.
“…Requesting an additional five hundred troops due to increased monster activity.”
“The western swamp defense line requires three thousand arrows, as the previous supply has been used up.”
“The logistics department requests one hundred thousand gold coins to improve soldiers’ meals.”
Lilia: “……”
If her former coach had seen a training request like this, he would’ve slammed the notebook straight into the applicant’s face and then made him run ten thousand meters with added weight.
Terrible. Absolutely terrible.
It was full of problems and demands, but the causes behind them, the specific planning, and the expected outcomes—none of it was included.
Half an hour ago, seeing this would’ve been enough for Lilia to start writing her will.
But now, things were different.
She took a deep breath and activated the title she had just obtained.
【Executor of Order】!
In an instant, it felt as if a clear stream flowed through her mind, calming the chaos caused by fear and tension.
The previously disordered text now seemed structured in her eyes.
She picked up a crude graphite stick and laid out a blank sheet of parchment.
She recalled how her coach in her previous life used to create training plans for them.
Shouting and punishment alone were useless. There had to be clear goals, quantifiable standards, and visible rewards and penalties.
Her not-so-brilliant brain, under the enhancement of 【Executor of Order】 and 【Master Artisan Heart】, began operating at an unprecedented speed.
Instead of writing a long-winded solution, the first thing she did was draw a table.
A clear, concise table containing all key elements.
【Department/Zone】, 【Person in Charge】, 【Current Situation】, 【Reason for Request】, 【Objective】, 【Resource Requirements (Quantified)】, 【Rewards for Success】, 【Penalties for Failure】.
Lilia looked at the table she had drawn and nodded in satisfaction.
To deal with someone like Hera—a perfectionist supreme queen—something filled with order and control like this would be far more effective than any fancy words.
Next came filling in the content.
She picked up the scroll and started processing from the first entry.
“Northern mine, person in charge, Minotaur General Grom.” Lilia spoke as she wrote.
“Current situation: Monthly ore output insufficient to meet military forging demands. Monster harassment causing miner casualties.”
“Reason for request: Request reinforcements, request equipment replacement.”
Her pen paused.
The scroll only stated the demands but not the specifics—how many, for what purpose—nothing.
That was the core issue.
Her pen tapped heavily on the 【Objective】 column.
“Objective: Within three months, increase monthly ore output by 50%. Reduce miner casualty rate by 90%.”
She wrote down this highly ambitious target without hesitation.
Next was 【Resource Requirements】.
“Requirements: 300 elite guards to replace current defensive forces. 800 heavy mining picks, 50 enchanted illumination crystals. Food supply upgraded by one level.”
“Reward: General Grom promoted by one rank, troops receive a bounty of 100,000. If targets are exceeded for three consecutive months, permission to enter the royal city and audience with the Queen.”
“Penalty: If targets are not met, Grom will be demoted to centurion and assigned to personally mine for three months.”
She did not stop. One by one, she dismantled the chaotic requests, analyzed them, reorganized them, and filled them into the table that embodied all her intelligence and survival instinct.
When Lilia finally finished processing the last request and set down the graphite stick, she realized her neck and back had long stiffened like stone.
She looked at the parchments filled to the brim.
A sense of unprecedented accomplishment surged within her—but what followed was an even deeper fear.
Had she… gone a bit too far?
How would Hera view this?
Would she praise her ability, or… eliminate her for being too suspicious?
She didn’t know.
Time passed slowly.
Lilia held those parchments filled with her “genius ideas.”
Could she really submit this to Hera?
If she submitted it, she might die immediately.
But…
If she didn’t, she would die tomorrow.
Her mind was in complete chaos.
“Damn it, I’ll go all in!”
She suddenly leaped to her feet. Rather than waiting here to die, she might as well die charging forward.
If she had to die anyway, at least she would let Hera see that she wasn’t just a useless doll for serving tea and giving massages!
She had value!
Clutching the parchments like a ticking bomb, Lilia took a deep breath and opened the door.
The corridor was empty, eerily silent.
Her heartbeat echoed in her ears, every step landing on the tip of her own heart.
Her mind raced, repeatedly simulating what would happen next.
Would Hera tear her apart on the spot?
Freeze her into an ice sculpture with killing intent?
Or find her interesting and torment her in an even more twisted way?
Lilia straightened her back. Fear was replaced by reckless courage as her steps grew firm again, heading toward Hera’s study.
The door to the study was slightly ajar.
Standing at the entrance, Lilia could smell the faint scent of ink mixed with cold fragrance drifting from inside.
She adjusted her breathing and gently knocked.
“Enter.”
Hera’s voice was as cold as ever, devoid of emotion.
Lilia pushed the door open and entered. Hera sat behind the massive desk, holding another scroll, her golden eyes glimmering in the dim light.
She didn’t even look up at Lilia.
Lilia didn’t dare speak, standing stiffly like a wooden post, waiting for judgment.
Time seemed to freeze.
Every second felt like torture.
Finally, Hera put down the scroll.
Lilia quickly stepped forward and respectfully placed the parchments—containing all her desperate efforts—on the corner of the desk with both hands.
She didn’t dare look at Hera’s face. After presenting the documents, she immediately stepped back and lowered her head again.
She could only hear the faint rustling sound as Hera picked up the parchments.
Her heart nearly leaped out of her throat.
It’s over. Hera definitely understands it.
She must think a mere maid dared to interfere with her rule.
She’s going to get angry!
Lilia had already prepared herself to be instantly killed, even wondering if she might trigger some hidden “revival after death” event.
Yet, the expected thunderous rage never came.
Time passed second by second, and Lilia felt like a death-row prisoner awaiting sentencing.
She secretly raised her eyes a little and saw Hera’s slender, pale finger slowly moving along the table lines she had drawn.
The motion carried a strange, evaluative rhythm.
Hera was reading—very carefully.
From 【Department】 to 【Person in Charge】, from 【Current Situation】 to 【Objective】, and finally to the striking 【Rewards】 and 【Penalties】.
When Hera’s fingertip paused on the line “Grom demoted to centurion and assigned to mine for three months,” Lilia’s heart skipped a beat.
Here it comes!
Hera finished reading.
She gently set the parchments down, the sound crisp in the silent study.
Then she raised her golden eyes and looked at Lilia, who stood stiffly to the side.
“You did this?”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.” Lilia’s voice trembled.
Hera said nothing more, simply staring at her.
Just as Lilia was about to collapse under the invisible pressure and kneel to beg for mercy, Hera finally spoke again.
“Not bad.”
She… she actually approved?!
Lilia’s mind went blank.
And the next moment, system notifications exploded in her mind like a storm!
【Ding!】
【Emergency Mission: The Queen’s Advisor, Completed!】
【Mission Objective: Provide constructive analysis and suggestions beyond the Demon Realm’s framework for the Minotaur legion’s documents.】
【Mission Evaluation: S++! Unprecedented! Not only did you perfectly complete the task, but you also used “management theory” and “aesthetics of order” from another world to create an entirely new documentation paradigm! The logic and sense of control in this report perfectly pleased your master!】
【Mission Reward: Your position has been promoted to——【Official Head Maid】!】
【Mission Reward: Unlock 【Maid Talent Tree】——【Administrative Maid】 branch!】
【Mission Reward: Loyalty +5! Feminization Index +5!】
Head Maid!
I became a Head Maid!
Lilia almost jumped on the spot as overwhelming joy flooded her entire body.
Head Maid! That sounded like management! The kind of position just below one person and above thousands!
Did this mean she no longer had to do menial tasks like serving tea? Could she start ordering around Little Demons and other maids?
From here, rising to the peak of demon life, assisting—cough—the Demon Queen would be just around the corner!
Lilia’s mind was already playing out fantasies of promotion, wealth, and power.
However, before the foolish grin on her face could fully bloom, Hera’s cold voice pulled her back to reality.
Hera pushed the parchments to the edge of the desk.
“Proceed according to this.”
“Take this plan and distribute it to all department heads mentioned in the scroll.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Lilia quickly responded, still immersed in the joy of exercising authority as a “Head Maid,” stepping forward to take the documents.
She was about to leave and enjoy the thrill of being a leader when Hera suddenly stopped her.
“Stop.”
Lilia’s body stiffened as she turned back.
Hera picked up the teacup on the table, brought it to her lips, then frowned slightly and set it down.
“The tea is cold.”
She said it lightly.
Lilia: “……”
Lilia’s brain froze.
Huh?
The tea is cold?
So…?
She looked at Hera blankly, not reacting for a moment.
She was a “Head Maid” now!
Shouldn’t small tasks like changing tea be done by other maids?
Hera looked at Lilia’s dazed expression, her beautiful brows slightly furrowing in displeasure.
“Hmm?”
A simple sound, yet carrying overwhelming pressure.
Lilia jolted, instantly snapping back to reality.
To hell with Head Maid!
To hell with management!
In front of Hera, she would always just be the one serving tea!
“I—I’ll replace it right away!”
Lilia rushed forward, grabbed the cold tea, and fled toward the tea room.
The so-called “Head Maid” seemed to be nothing more than a title on the system panel.
In reality, she was still Hera’s subordinate.
Moments later, Lilia returned with a perfectly warm cup of Black Tea, carefully placing it beside Hera.
Hera took a satisfied sip and said nothing more, seemingly accepting that this was exactly what Lilia should be doing.
Lilia stood obediently at the side, complaining wildly in her mind.
What even is this?
Just as she was grumbling internally, Hera, having finished reviewing the documents, stood up from her seat.
She stretched her tall and perfect body, then walked straight out of the study.
Lilia quickly followed.
As Lilia was still confused, Hera suddenly stopped and turned around.