Chapter 116 : Cake
Chapter 116: Cake
“Stop stop stop!” Lilia suddenly shook her head, almost tossing the eggshell into the pot.
Her thoughts were too dangerous!
This was a life-saving technique, not a suicide technique!
In a great mood, Lilia swiftly finished preparing breakfast.
It was still the classic scrambled eggs with tomatoes, paired with freshly baked soft white bread. In addition, she had specially used top-grade magic fruits taken from the treasury to make a cake.
When she pushed the dining cart back into the Bedchamber, Hera was already sitting at the table.
If one ignored the faint red mark on the side of her neck.
“Master, breakfast is ready.”
Lilia set the plates down, her voice carrying a bit more confidence than usual.
Probably because she had changed into proper clothes and felt like a decent person again.
Hera put down the feather pen in her hand, her gaze falling onto Lilia.
Those golden eyes narrowed slightly as they scanned her up and down.
“You changed clothes.”
Her tone revealed neither joy nor anger.
“Yes, this one… is more convenient for working, and warmer.” Lilia tugged at the hem of her long skirt. “The previous one was a bit… drafty.”
“Sit.”
“Ah?”
“Sit.” An unquestionable command.
Lilia could only brace herself and sit down.
Although this kind of “eating at the same table” was not the first time, after last night’s intense physical struggle, the atmosphere between them had clearly become a bit strange.
That factor called “ambiguity” fermented in the air, so thick it made breathing difficult.
Hera ate very slowly.
Lilia felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, lowering her head to stare at her toes, counting the patterns on the carpet.
Suddenly, Hera put down her fork.
“Lilia.”
“Here!” Lilia straightened her back reflexively, almost knocking over the cake in front of her.
Seeing her startled rabbit-like appearance, a trace of amusement flashed through Hera’s eyes.
Her fingers lightly tapped the table, producing a rhythmic “tap tap” sound.
“What reward do you want?”
Lilia froze.
A reward?
Hadn’t she just said something like “giving you my sincerity” last night?
Could this be the so-called “after-payment”?
All kinds of thoughts flashed through her mind: a skill book? Or asking Hera to remove that Conjoined Heart Lock ring? (That would probably get her killed.)
After thinking for a long time, Lilia raised her head and met Hera’s deep golden eyes.
If she made a material request now, it would seem too vulgar; if she asked to remove the ring, it would look like she wanted to run away.
She needed an answer that both showed loyalty and preserved her life.
“As long as I can stay by Master’s side… and not be turned into a specimen, that is the best reward.”
Lilia blinked, her face full of sincerity.
Hera stared at her steadily. After a few seconds, she suddenly let out a soft laugh.
The laugh was low, yet like a stream after ice melted, carrying a heart-stirring pleasure.
“Slippery little thing.”
She commented.
Then, Hera extended her hand, her fingertip lightly dipping into a bit of purple cream.
Before Lilia could react, Hera suddenly leaned down, her stunning face instantly magnified.
A slightly cool fingertip pressed against the corner of Lilia’s lips.
Then, Hera’s thumb gently wiped, smearing that bit of cream onto Lilia’s lips.
Lilia’s eyes widened, completely forgetting to lick the cream at the corner of her mouth.
The faintly cool touch on her lips felt like a seal carrying an electric current. Her entire body froze on the chair, and only after Hera withdrew her hand did she dare to breathe again.
That bit of purple blueberry cream remained at her lips.
From the corner of her eye, Lilia saw Hera propping her chin with one hand, those golden eyes watching her with interest, as if observing a hamster struggling over whether to step with its left foot or right.
Forget it. Things like dignity had already been crushed to powder last night.
Lilia steeled herself, stuck out her soft pink tongue, and quickly swept it across the corner of her mouth.
Sweet.
With a slight hint of sourness.
“Not bad.” Hera gave her evaluation, though it was unclear whether she was referring to the cake or something else.
Lilia lowered her head, wishing she could bury her face into the plate, her ears red as if they were about to bleed. This wasn’t eating breakfast—this was roasting her sense of shame over a fire.
“Finished?”
Hera’s voice sounded again, carrying a hint of lazy satisfaction.
Lilia hurriedly put down the silver fork in her hand, wiped her mouth haphazardly, and sprang up from the chair. “Finished! Um… if there’s nothing else, I’ll just go—”
Go where?
Wash dishes? Do laundry?
Anywhere was fine as long as she could escape this space filled with pink, strange bubbles.
“Go change clothes.”
Hera interrupted her wandering thoughts, lightly tapping the table twice. “Something convenient for movement, preferably pants.”
Lilia froze. “Ah? Change?”
Hera stood up.
“The weather is nice today.”
The Demon Queen suddenly said something out of nowhere.
“Do you want to go out and have some fun?” Hera asked abruptly, her back facing Lilia.
Those words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Lilia stunned.
Go out… have fun?
“Um… what kind of ‘fun’ does Master mean?” Lilia probed cautiously. “If it doesn’t include certain activities that inexplicably cause a massive drop in sanity… then I think I do.”
Hera turned around. Against the light, her expression was unclear, only the subtle curve of her lips visible.
“For example, go see some scenery, or pick out a few pleasing accessories?”
Lilia’s knees went weak, but her survival instinct made her straighten up immediately, plastering a smile brighter than a sunflower onto her face. “As long as I’m with Master, anywhere is heaven! Even if it’s swimming in a lava river, I… I’ll try not to!”
Hera let out a soft snort and strode toward the door.
“Clean up. We leave in half an hour. You can look forward to it.”
Look forward to it?
Look forward to what?!
Watching Hera’s figure disappear beyond the door, Lilia let out a long breath, collapsing back into the chair like a puddle of mud.
“What a sin…”
Lilia wailed softly, resigned as she began clearing the table.
…
Half an hour later, Lilia arrived at Hera’s study.
Hera showed no intention of departing yet, holding a thick-looking document in her hand as she reviewed it. The feather pen scratched against the parchment with a soft rustling sound, and the entire room was so quiet that only that sound could be heard.
Lilia did not dare to disturb her, standing obediently to the side.
Time passed bit by bit.
Ten minutes, twenty minutes…
Lilia’s thoughts began to drift.
Her mind replayed the events of the past two days like a movie—from the mine, to being threatened by Mary, to last night’s absurdity and madness.
It was truly… too intense.
So intense that her waist still faintly ached.
Suddenly, a scene surfaced without warning.
It was last night—the little Succubus who had knocked on her door.
Those timid eyes, the small horns on her head swaying uneasily, and that whispered, trembling question—
“Lady Lilia… do you want to escape?”
Lilia subconsciously rubbed the ring on her finger.
Last night, she had refused. At the time, it was out of fear, thinking it was a trap, and because she was unwilling to let go of Hera as a powerful backer.
But now, thinking about it calmly, something felt off.
Very off.
That little Succubus said she knew a route—one that could use the blind spots of the abandoned sewage tunnels and golem patrols to escape.
This was not information a mere lowly servant could possess.
The defense system of the Palace of Eternal Night might not be impenetrable, but it was far from being full of holes. The patrol routes of the golems changed every three days, and the structural map of the sewage system was classified information among classified information.
How could that little Succubus know so clearly?
If she simply wanted to help her escape, what was her motive? Sympathy? A sudden burst of justice? Talking about justice in the Demon Realm was as ridiculous as looking for seafood in the desert.
Unless…
Lilia’s gaze gradually darkened, the usual lazy demeanor vanishing completely, replaced by a cold sharpness called vigilance.
Unless that route had originally existed for some purpose.
Perhaps to allow a spy to infiltrate?
Perhaps to let a traitor send information out?
If Lilia had truly been tempted last night—even hesitated and followed her—what would the result have been?
Would she really have been able to escape?