I Got a Job as the Demon King's Plaything - Chapter 1
0. Employment
Bonita was in desperate need of money. That’s why she was staring at a job notice she wouldn’t have normally glanced at.
<Looking for a woman to serve tea to the Demon King.>
Below it were the qualifications along with a suspiciously high wage, a sum that seemed impossible for something as simple as serving tea. Though she knew something wasn’t right, that it probably wasn’t just tea service, Bonita grabbed the poster and tore it down, making her way toward the Demon King’s castle.
“You came because of the notice? The tea service for the Demon King?”
A middle-aged man, buried in paperwork, looked her over from behind his glasses.
Though she wore plain clothing and had merely tied her chestnut hair back, her fair skin and the flush on her cheeks contrasted beautifully, making her a noticeable beauty. The man’s eyes traced her full upper chest peeking over the corset, her slim waist, the curve of her hips, and finally down to her white ankles before his uninterested gaze moved back up.
“You’re twenty, right? Born in December?”
It was a condition listed in the notice as well: a woman, twenty years old, born in December. Bonita didn’t know why it mattered, but she nodded and answered.
“Yes. I was born on December 31st.”
“December 31st?”
At last, a spark of interest appeared in the man’s eyes. He pulled a bell cord, and a maid appeared from somewhere. The man motioned toward Bonita with his chin and said,
“Have her interviewed for the Demon King’s tea service.”
“Ah… yes. Please follow me, miss.”
Was it just her imagination, or had there been a flicker of pity in the maid’s eyes just now? The maid led Bonita skillfully through the labyrinth of corridors within the castle, eventually bringing her to a small room. She handed Bonita a tray with a teapot and tea set on it.
“All you have to do is go to the room next door, pour a cup of tea for the person inside, wait until he finishes, and then bring the empty cup back. Simple, right?”
The maid opened the door leading to the next room and then stepped back, keeping her distance. As soon as Bonita took the tray and entered, the door shut behind her.
Before she could even take in her surroundings, Bonita’s eyes were drawn to one spot. A large man was seated on a long chair, one hand pressed against his forehead. Jet-black hair like coal, caramel-toned skin, and a pair of thick horns that rose from both sides of his temples—features no ordinary human could possess.
That must be the Demon King. Bonita swallowed nervously.
“I-I brought tea, Your Majesty.”
Her trembling hands made the teacup clink as she set it down on the table and poured the tea. Taking a step back, she watched as the Demon King lowered his hand from his forehead and lifted his head. His eyes were a radiant gold. The moment their eyes met, Bonita felt crushed under the weight of his presence, frozen in place.
His golden eyes swept over her, from the top of her head to her feet.
The Demon King let out a scoff as if he found it all ridiculous, then grabbed the teacup and tossed the tea into his mouth. Placing the empty cup down, he asked,
“What’s your name?”
“Bonita… Your Majesty.”
He stared at her briefly before turning his gaze away.
Since he had finished the tea, she figured it was time to leave. Bonita quickly grabbed the empty teacup, bowed her head toward the Demon King—who wasn’t even looking at her—and hurriedly left the room, almost running out.
Bonita was led back to the room where she had first met the middle-aged man. The man, who had been indifferent when she handed him the job notice, now looked at her with wide eyes, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“What happened in there?”
“N-Nothing at all. I served the tea, he drank it all in one go, and then he asked for my name.”
“Success!”
The man shouted in excitement.
“You’ll start working tomorrow. Can you manage that?”
“What? Oh, yes, of course.”
She had been worried about how suspiciously high the pay was, but she had only served tea and left without incident. The Demon King was intimidating, but if that was all there was to the job, Bonita thought she could easily handle it.
“That’s it, Miss Bonita! We’re saved now. Serving tea to the Demon King is an incredibly important task… Now, let me explain the work regulations, so listen carefully. The pay is high, but there are no holidays. Room and board will be provided at the Demon King’s castle. You won’t be commuting.”
“You mean I can’t go home?”
“That’s right. But it won’t be for long. You can only do this job while you’re twenty. Once you turn twenty-one, you’ll automatically retire.
So, you’ll only work until December 30th of this year. Since it’s February now, you’ll have about ten months at most.”
It wasn’t uncommon for maids to live in their employers’ homes. While not being granted any vacation time seemed a bit harsh, Bonita figured she could endure it for less than a year. She didn’t quite understand why her age was so important, but how could a human comprehend the ways of demons? The amount of money Bonita would receive for just a few months of work was staggering. Considering the pay, none of the other conditions really mattered.
“I understand.”
“You’ve already got a taste of the job today, but from morning to evening, you’ll stay by His Majesty’s side and pour tea whenever his cup is empty. You might also run some small errands. Just do whatever His Majesty asks—it’s a simple enough job.”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll need to change into work clothes when on duty. Don’t worry, we’ll provide everything for you.”
Bonita imagined herself in a long black skirt with a white apron, and nodded in agreement.
“Good. Then for today, you should go home one last time. Bring anything you might need.”
Without knowing what the future would hold, Bonita nodded quietly.
