I Got a Job as the Demon King's Plaything - Chapter 17
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The next day, the attire the maids brought her was a maid’s uniform. To be precise, it was just the apron from the maid’s outfit. Though it was clear from the lavish use of frills and lace that it was of the highest quality and distinct from the uniforms worn by the ordinary maids, the only garment Bonita was allowed to wear was the white apron.
Bonita’s expression had already turned forlorn. From her room to where Teshiel awaited, she would have to walk through the halls of the castle wearing nothing but the apron.
Whether they understood her feelings or not, the maids kept their faces carefully neutral as they meticulously brushed her chestnut hair until it shone, neatly tying it up and placing a lace-adorned headdress on her head.
As she walked, carrying a tray of tea, Bonita could barely handle the sensation of her exposed back. The ribbon tied behind her waist fluttered with each step, lightly brushing against her fully exposed backside. If only her hair had been let down, it could have at least covered her back, but today, it was pulled up tightly without a single strand out of place.
It felt as if every servant she passed was staring at her from behind. To make matters worse, the hallway the assigned maid led her through was one she had never walked down before, intensifying her anxiety.
“You may go in here. I’ll take my leave now.”
The door the maid directed her to was different from usual, though the guards standing outside were the same as always.
“Your outfit’s quite something today.”
“Look at this bruise on her.”
One of the guards slapped her right b*****k, where Teshiel had gripped her as he lifted her into the air the day before.
Bonita’s face flushed with shame. She hadn’t even realized there was a bruise there.
“I-I’ll scream.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t want to do that now, would you? Hurry on in, miss. Heheh…”
The guard opened the door for her. Bonita bit her lip and stepped inside, only to freeze in shock. It was a meeting room. And Teshiel was in the middle of a meeting with several others.
Teshiel sat at the head of the table, with Rento seated beside him. The others were four older men, unfamiliar to her, but judging by their attire, they were nobles.
As Bonita entered with the tray, the men’s eyes immediately locked onto her. Their eyes widened in surprise, and one of them even opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.
Biting her lip, Bonita kept her head low and shuffled sideways, trying not to expose her back as she approached Teshiel. He barely acknowledged her, while Rento gave a slight nod when their eyes met, but nothing more.
Bonita set the tea tray on the table in front of Teshiel and began pouring tea for him.
Soon after, two other maids entered, each carrying trays of tea sets. Unlike her, they were dressed properly. The two maids poured tea for the other five men at the table before leaving. But Bonita couldn’t leave. Her task was to stay and refill Teshiel’s cup whenever it emptied, as was the norm.
So, she stepped back a few paces, holding the tray close to her chest, and stood her back in front of wall. She tugged at the edges of the apron, trying to cover as much of her legs as possible.
“Ahem, Your Majesty, who might that woman be?”
One of the nobles finally spoke up. Teshiel responded nonchalantly.
“She’s my personal maid. Pretend she’s not here. Now, let’s move on to the next item.”
The guests exchanged uneasy glances but eventually resigned themselves, muttering, “If His Majesty says so…” and drank their tea.
The meeting continued. As serious discussions ensued, no one paid any further attention to Bonita. A small sense of relief settled in her. Though the meeting was conducted in the common Imperial tongue, Bonita couldn’t understand a single word. Unfamiliar names of nobles, unknown territories, incidents she didn’t recognize, and obscure laws filled the conversation. She stood patiently, her focus solely on Teshiel’s tea cup.
But gradually, the nobles’ voices began to rise.
“Count Lawrence! I’ve said before that this is nonsense!”
“Mind your words, Marquis! This issue won’t just affect my estate!”
“Enough. Silence, all of you.”
Teshiel silenced the nobles and emptied his tea cup.
