Chapter 23
“Lisbeth, wake up quickly. You can come out now.”
“Mmm?”
“Lisbeth, wake up.”
“Ugh… so sleepy. Just a little longer…”
The next morning, Hilda arrived promptly at Lisbeth’s cell, ready to release her. However, even after unlocking the door and calling her name, Lisbeth, the prisoner, remained sound asleep within the cell, utterly oblivious.
“Hah… honestly, what a sleepyhead.”
Gazing at Lisbeth, who continued to snore away on the bed, Hilda helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead. The next instant, as if making a sudden decision, she took a deep breath and bellowed at Lisbeth: “Lisbeth, if you don’t get up right now, I’ll suggest to the Demon Lord to have your breasts removed!”
“E-e-e-eh!? No, absolutely not!”
Sure enough, the mention of her breasts instantly startled Lisbeth. She shot up from the bed with a jolt, crying out: “Demon Lord, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault! Please, just not my breasts… huh?”
“It seems you’re finally awake, Lisbeth.”
Though Lisbeth’s current posture, kneeling and begging for mercy, gave Hilda a pang of stomachache, she still took a deep breath and continued: “Since you’re awake, I’ll convey the Demon Lord’s orders. You’ve been released, so you may leave this cell now. However, today you’ll also be meeting the other personal maids of your rank, so stop lazing around here.”
“Eh? Personal maids? Oh, now that you mention it, I suppose there were others.”
Upon realizing Hilda was the only one present, Lisbeth immediately reverted to her usual lazy demeanor. She yawned widely. “Hmph, even so, was there really a need to wake me up so early? The sun isn’t even out yet.”
“Hmph, it seems that even though your body has become female, at your core, you’re still a man. Don’t forget, you were confined in this cell for an entire night. That means you haven’t bathed all day yesterday. Do you intend to meet the Demon Lord with a foul-smelling body?”
“It’s not that serious, is it? It’s just one night without a bath, honestly.”
Indeed, Lisbeth couldn’t comprehend what problem one night without bathing could possibly pose. Back on the battlefield, she often went without even a sip of water during continuous combat, let alone a bath.
However, seeing Hilda’s gaze grow increasingly cold, Lisbeth realized provoking her here was ill-advised. With a wave of her hand, Lisbeth conceded: “Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll go wash, so stop staring at me as if you’re about to devour me.”
“Hmph, good that you understand. I also know you probably didn’t sleep well staying here all night, so after you’ve bathed, go rest in your own room. Once the Demon Lord’s morning assembly concludes, the Demon Lord and the five personal maids, myself included, will be waiting for you in the conference room. I’ll call you over then for your introduction.”
“Yes, yes, I understand~”
After conveying the instructions to Lisbeth, Hilda released her from the cell. Lisbeth, still yawning, then returned to her room to prepare herself.
****
“Lisbeth, are you ready?”
“Yes, I’ve been ready for a while.”
Once the sun had fully risen, Hilda arrived promptly at Lisbeth’s room to inquire about her preparations. Hilda’s presence indicated that the Demon Lord’s morning assembly had concluded.
After hearing Lisbeth’s affirmative reply, Hilda nodded. “Good, then follow me. But today, you mustn’t cause any more trouble. Unlike the common maids yesterday, as a personal maid, you’ll be working alongside them daily. If you anger them, you’ll be in deep trouble.”
“I know, I know. No matter what, I wouldn’t dare provoke people I’ll be seeing every day. So, rest assured.”
“Hmph, let’s hope so.”
Although Lisbeth had caused significant chaos yesterday, she had, at least, behaved well before entering Kristia’s bedroom. After a final word of caution, Hilda led her through the corridors of the Demon Lord’s Castle, bringing her before a grand door.
“Alright, beyond this door are the Demon Lord and the other four personal maids. So, are you ready?”
“Honestly, the people inside aren’t going to eat me. What’s there to be nervous about?”
After a final confirmation from Lisbeth, Hilda nodded once more. She then knocked on the grand door before them. “Demon Lord, I have brought Lisbeth.”
“Yes, come in.”
Finally, upon hearing Kristia’s voice, the door before Lisbeth slowly creaked open. As Lisbeth stepped through, the sight that greeted her made her heart seize in her chest, and her first instinct was to bolt.
“Eh!? Why are that ape and that pervert both here!?”
“Huh?”