Chapter 117 : I’m Right, I Am the Strategist
Chapter 117: I’m Right, I Am the Strategist
Unless…
Lilia’s gaze gradually darkened, the usual lazy, salted-fish-like demeanor completely vanished, replaced by a cold glint known as “vigilance.”
Unless that route had existed for some purpose from the very beginning.
Perhaps it was meant to let a spy infiltrate?
Perhaps it was meant to let a traitor send information out?
If last night Lilia had truly been tempted, even if she had only hesitated for a moment and followed her, what would the outcome have been?
Would she really have been able to escape?
Or would she have been delivered into some trap where a massive net had already been spread, becoming a bargaining chip to threaten Hera?
Or worse—after escaping, she would no longer be “Hera’s maid,” but a deserter who possessed internal intelligence of the Palace of Eternal Night. At that point, what awaited her would absolutely not be freedom, but endless pursuit and exploitation.
Lilia shivered.
She suddenly realized that her identity had already changed.
Before, she had been a consumable that could be sacrificed at any time, a Transmigrator desperately trying to survive.
Now, whether she admitted it or not, the ring on her hand, the necklace around her neck, and everything that had happened last night had already bound her tightly to that lofty Queen.
If one prospers, all prosper. If one suffers, all suffer.
If anyone wanted to target Hera, they would be smashing her livelihood—taking her life.
That little Succubus was a hidden danger.
Lilia looked toward Hera behind the desk.
The Queen still had her head lowered, as if completely unaware of everything happening outside.
Perhaps the existence of that little Succubus had been tacitly approved by Hera herself? Used as bait?
No, that wasn’t right.
If Hera knew, with her cleanliness obsession and desire for control, she would absolutely not allow such a “rat hole” to exist within her palace. Unless she was casting a long line to catch a big fish—but such a risk clearly didn’t fit Hera’s personality of “if she can act, she won’t waste words.”
Lilia took a deep breath.
“Master.”
Lilia stepped forward, her voice not loud, yet it broke the silence in the study.
The Feather Pen in Hera’s hand paused. “Mm?”
“I have something to report.” Lilia felt her palms sweating, but her tone was more resolute than ever before.
Hera finally raised her head and put down the pen. Those golden eyes swept over her indifferently. “Speak.”
“Last night… when I was most conflicted about whether to drug you, someone came to see me.”
Lilia did not hide anything at all. She even briefly mentioned her own mental state at the time, focusing mainly on the visitor.
“It was a little Succubus. She knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to escape.”
Hera’s expression did not change in the slightest, as if she were merely listening to what was for dinner tonight. But Lilia sharply caught that the Queen’s finger resting on the desk lightly tapped once.
“She provided a route.” Lilia continued, slightly speeding up, “She said it could use the abandoned Sewage Tunnel, and… a half-hour blind spot during the Golem patrol shift change.”
The air in the study instantly dropped several degrees.
If what came before was merely gossip, then “Golem patrol blind spot” clearly involved core security secrets.
“Oh.”
Hera leaned back slightly, resting against the chair.
Her tone shifted, and her slender fingers brushed across Lilia’s cheek, finally stopping at her earlobe and giving it a pinch. “You’re so smart—what did you figure out?”
Lilia lowered her head, only able to see the Queen’s long legs wrapped in black stockings.
The atmosphere grew somewhat tense.
Lilia was actually panicking inside.
Yet Hera didn’t seem angry about that little thing at all.
Of course Hera wouldn’t be angry.
Nor would she kill that so-called “little Succubus.”
Because the one who had knocked on the door last night, sniffling and trying to drag Lilia into the sewers, was in fact a puppet avatar formed from Hera’s own magic.
To test whether this newly tamed little wild cat would take the chance to slip away, Hera had even sacrificed her dignity, making up a set of cheesy lines she had never spoken in her life.
The result satisfied her.
One could even say—it was a pleasant surprise.
Not only did this little cat not run, but at this very moment, in front of her, she handed over last night’s “temptation” as a token of allegiance.
Looking at Lilia’s expression—like she was ready to face death, as if she could stand against the whole world just to protect the Queen—something in Hera’s heart, a dark corner born from long solitude, seemed to be filled by something warm.
Idiot.
She couldn’t even sense that the magical fluctuations on that little Succubus were identical to her own?
However…
Hera had no intention of exposing this truth.
On one hand, there was no need. On the other… the dignified Demon Queen disguising herself as a weak little maid in the middle of the night to conduct a fishing operation—if that got out, how would she continue to maintain herself in the Demon Realm?
What about her authority?
“You did very well.”
Hera finally spoke, her voice carrying a rare hint of laziness and pleasure. She reached out again, her fingertips pinching Lilia’s earlobe once more—the soft, cool touch was oddly addictive.
“Since you’re so obedient… that little thing can be left alone for now.”
Lilia suddenly raised her head, completely confused. “Huh? Leave her alone? But she knows—”
“Leave it alone.” Hera’s tone grew firmer, a trace of unquestionable light flashing in her golden eyes before quickly softening again. “I will handle it. You don’t need to worry.”
Although Lilia was full of doubts, feeling that this completely contradicted Hera’s usual “eliminate the root” style, since the boss had spoken, as an employee she naturally didn’t dare to say more.
Perhaps the Queen really intended to cast a long line to catch a big fish?
Or perhaps that little Succubus was connected to some major figure?
Lilia’s mind instantly constructed a grand drama involving high-level power struggles in the Demon Realm.
“Stop overthinking.”
Hera seemed to see through the storm in her mind and casually swept aside those documents about border defenses. She leaned back in her chair, relaxing, her originally sharp aura softening considerably.
She tilted her chin toward the carpet beside her.
“Come here.”
Lilia froze for a moment. “Where?”
“Here.” Hera pointed to the spot beside her legs. The thickest snow-beast fur carpet was laid there, looking incredibly soft. “Stay with me for a while.”
Lilia instantly slid over, her body more honest than her mind.
She obediently sat beside Hera’s legs, adjusting into a comfortable position.
Hera seemed quite satisfied with her obedience. She casually picked up an ancient book and began reading, while one hand naturally rested on Lilia’s head, absentmindedly stroking her silver hair like petting a cat.
The room fell silent, with only the soft rustling of pages turning.
This quietness gradually relaxed Lilia’s previously tense nerves. Looking at the hem of Hera’s skirt draping down, she unconsciously reached out and gently placed her hand on Hera’s calf.
What she felt was firmness and warmth.
Even through the stockings, she could sense the beautifully contoured muscle lines.
Hera’s hand turning the page paused slightly, but she did not stop her.
Lilia carefully controlled her strength, gently kneading Hera’s calf muscles.
“Harder.” Hera’s indifferent voice came from above.
“Oh…”
Lilia slightly increased her strength.
“A bit more.”
“Yes.”
Lilia gradually found the rhythm. With the System’s assistance in judgment, her technique became skilled and precise, each press landing perfectly on the meridian points.
Hera let out a soft hum, her originally straight back slowly relaxing, her entire body sinking into the soft chair.
This feeling was rather strange.
Lilia shook her head, throwing away the odd thought.
She recalled the earlier topic and felt that she needed to demonstrate her value as a “strategist.” She couldn’t really become just a decorative vase that only warmed the bed and kneaded legs.
“Master.” Lilia spoke while continuing the massage, carefully choosing her words.
“Mm?” Hera’s voice was lazy, carrying a nasal tone, sounding in a good mood.
“About that little Succubus…” Although she had been forbidden from investigating further, she felt one detail must be mentioned. “I think things might not be that simple.”
Hera closed her eyes, the corners of her lips curling slightly into an almost imperceptible, playful smile. “Go on.”
“The escape route she mentioned last night was too precise.” Lilia analyzed. “She even knew about the patrol blind spot of the Golems. That kind of secret could only be known by high-level personnel responsible for security—it’s impossible for it to spread otherwise.”
“And…” Lilia paused, recalling what she had probed from Camilla earlier, “Yesterday when I went to pressure Grand Duke Camilla, she mentioned a name—‘Immortality Society.’”
“Camilla said that those smuggled human slaves were not simply labor, but ‘raw materials.’” Lilia felt the muscles under her hands tense instantly and quickly lightened her touch. “That so-called ‘Immortality Society’ is using humans and magical creatures to conduct some kind of… biological modification experiments.”