I Got a Job as the Demon King's Plaything - Chapter 54
“Anyway, I won’t need to come for a while. You were the only person in the Demon Lord’s castle who needed my treatment, so I won’t need to visit until His Majesty returns, right?”
“Ah, y-yes, that’s true.”
“In that case, I’ll come back when the dragon expedition is over. By then, I’m sure there will be more people needing treatment than just you… I mean, around here, of course.”
Milia smacked her own mouth.
“Even if it’s a dragon, it’s no match for His Majesty. Any injured soldiers will be healed by me, so don’t worry.”
Milia rambled on with her less-than-convincing reassurances before leaving. Now that her only real conversation partner had left, Bonita truly had nothing to do. She hadn’t built up enough rapport with the maids to engage in small talk. For some time now, they had been avoiding her and trying not to speak to her unless absolutely necessary.
In the end, Bonita cautiously began to wander around the castle. Since she had frequently moved around serving tea, she was now somewhat familiar with the castle’s layout. Just as Rento had said, no one stopped her from going anywhere. However, in one corner of a hallway, she overheard a conversation she hadn’t expected.
“Is that woman the one? That…”
“Yeah, that’s her.”
“She must be some kind of temptress… Though, she is pretty.”
“Watch your mouth. That woman might be the reason we’re all still alive. Ever since she arrived, only two people have died in this castle.”
“Yeah. In the past, it would’ve been five times that.”
“If she says something wrong to His Majesty, won’t ten times more people die?”
“Before that happens, if she gets even a scratch, twenty times more will die. Have you seen His Majesty’s gaze lately?”
“Seen it? How could I? Can you look His Majesty in the eye and still stand upright?”
“Is that the problem? The important thing is not to upset her. Just avoid her, that’s the best thing to do.”
It didn’t feel good to overhear people talking about her. Now that she knew how the servants viewed her, she didn’t feel like facing them anymore. In the end, Bonita started choosing places where she wouldn’t run into anyone—mostly corners of the garden or the library. But hiding in places where no one else was only brought her more thoughts.
She resented Teshiel for leaving without a word, even though he had held her close the night before the expedition.
‘He could’ve at least told me he was leaving. Well, I suppose there was no need for him to tell a mere maid. I thought he cared for me… but in the end, I’m just a temporary maid after all.’
Who could be serving the tea now? Then again, in a standoff with a dragon, would there even be time for tea? She hopes he doesn’t come back injured. In a fight between demons and a dragon, who would have the advantage? Everyone called him the Demon Lord, but is he really the king of the demon realm? Why is the king of the demon realm even in the human world? Isn’t there another way for demons to avoid suffering here in the human world?
When night fell, she would return to her room. Even lying in bed, she couldn’t find comfort. Bonita couldn’t sleep and pulled out the opal necklace Teshiel had given her. She knew exactly what it symbolized, but she couldn’t help but miss him. It was the only thing she had ever received from him.
Her body, which had clung to him countless times, now felt restless and heated when left alone. Thinking of Teshiel, Bonita sometimes comforted herself. Once, she even wondered if his magic remained in the necklace, and ended up pressing it between her legs with her own hands. But the magic was gone, and the large opal was nothing more than a dazzling stone.
She had only worked for a little over three months, yet she was in this state. Would she be able to endure when the year-end came and she had to leave? Would a day come when things got better?
Spending sleepless nights tossing and turning, Bonita would run to the library as soon as the sun rose. She read book after book about demons or dragons, searching for anything useful. Though she never found any helpful information, she felt that if she didn’t do something, she would lose her mind.
In the end, Bonita spent all day thinking about Teshiel—either resenting him or missing him.
