Chapter 11
“Waaah… Staros, I’m telling you, if I become the laughingstock of the entire Demon Lord’s Castle, it will all be your fault!”
“You jerk! Didn’t I also have to wear that outfit and stand there until the selection ended?! And we clearly agreed only *you* would be pranked, so why did I have to suffer too…”
“You actually have the nerve to say that?! I haven’t even asked how you conspired with the Demon Lord to prank me!”
After a full day of selections, Lisbeth and Staros, as always, bickered while hastily shedding their special maid outfits in the changing room. Though each of them was a man at heart, enduring an entire afternoon of being gawked at like monkeys would surely break even the most resilient person.
After a round of bickering, they finally changed back into their usual maid outfits. As their fingers brushed over the ribbons adorning the familiar fabric, covering all the necessary places, Lisbeth and Staros felt a profound sense of relief they hadn’t known before.
“You two have changed, haven’t you? You truly worked hard today…”
“Huh? Hilda, what are you doing here?”
Stepping out of the changing room, they found Hilda already waiting by the door. However, upon seeing them, Hilda’s gaze flitted away, and she mumbled, “I just came to see how you two were doing. After all, you spent the entire afternoon… *ahem*…”
Witnessing Hilda’s awkward cough, both Lisbeth and Staros’s expressions darkened instantly. They lunged forward, shouting, “Don’t look away! Why are you acting ashamed to see us?!”
“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that you two were really, *pfft*…”
“Hilda!”
“You old hag!”
It seemed the memory of Lisbeth and Staros that afternoon was too much even for Hilda. She instinctively clapped a hand over her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter. However, her stifled amusement only further enraged the two women before her.
“What’s going on? Did you come here specifically to mock us today?”
“Exactly! As Head Maid, mocking your subordinates – what exactly are you trying to do?”
“Ah, no, no, I’m not here to mock you. Quite the opposite, I’m here to comfort you.”
Seeing the two truly on the verge of anger, Hilda quickly waved her hands. Then, with a gentle motion, she beckoned them forward. “Now, now, don’t get so worked up. Just follow me.”
“Hmm? Where are we going?”
“You’re not going to prank us again, are you?”
“No, of course not!”
Having been tormented all afternoon, Lisbeth and Staros felt as though any new proposal was just another trick. Hilda hastily shook her head, then gently tapped their foreheads. “You’ll know once we get there. For now, less chatter.”
“Oh…”
“Alright then…”
Despite Hilda’s assurances, Lisbeth and Staros still regarded her with suspicion. Once they nodded, Hilda turned and led them away to an unknown destination.
****
“Hmm? Where is this?”
After about ten minutes of walking, Hilda stopped before a massive door. Even before they could step inside, an exquisite aroma wafted from beyond, causing Lisbeth and Staros to instinctively rub their stomachs.
“Old hag, could this be the kitchen for the middle district of the Demon Lord’s Castle?”
“Yes, this is it.”
Just as Lisbeth suspected, this was one of the Demon Lord’s Castle’s kitchens. The entire castle housed only two kitchens: one catered exclusively to the servants of the lower district, while the other served the high-ranking officials in the upper district. Given that this was the kitchen for the middle district, the food prepared here was, without exception, exquisite and delicious.
At the thought, both Lisbeth and Staros nearly drooled. Despite being personal maids, they still belonged to the servant class, meaning their daily meals came from the lower district’s provisions. In essence, neither of them had ever tasted cuisine prepared by the middle district’s chefs.
“Old ha… *ahem*, Hilda, are you saying you brought us here to cook us something delicious?”
“Yes, that’s right. No matter what, you two truly had a terrible day, so as a special treat, I’ll cook you something tasty. However, it’s already dinner time, and the head chefs in the kitchen are very busy. So, today’s meal will have to be prepared by me personally.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine! Actually, it’s even better if you’re the one cooking!”
Ever since their last taste of Hilda’s cooking, Lisbeth and Staros had never forgotten its exquisite flavor. Thus, hearing that Hilda herself would be cooking, their previously gloomy moods vanished entirely. They rushed excitedly before Hilda, urging, “Then hurry and start! We’re practically starving!”
“Alright, alright, don’t be so impatient.”
Noticing Lisbeth and Staros’s spirits had lifted, Hilda instinctively offered a gentle smile. After patting their heads, she pushed open the kitchen door before them.
****
“Is the salad ready? It’s almost time to plate!”
“Ready! And the soup is almost done too!”
“Good, bring them all over when they’re done! And over there, how’s the meat dish coming along?”
The moment Hilda pushed open the door, a scene reminiscent of a battlefield unfolded before them. Around thirty chefs bustled within the kitchen, diligently preparing the evening meal. They were all so engrossed in their tasks that not one noticed Hilda and the two maids entering.
“Hm?! Who’s there?!”
Before long, a man in the center, wearing a tall hat and appearing to be the head chef, sharply glared towards Lisbeth, causing her and Staros to instinctively recoil. However, Hilda, standing before them, remained unfazed. She subtly adjusted her skirt and addressed him, “Chef Trig, I apologize for interrupting your busy work. May I use my designated kitchen area now?”
“Of course, that’s no problem. Your space is always reserved for you. But more importantly, our team is preparing the Demon Lord’s dinner tonight. You’re not trying to steal our work, are you?”
“No, I’ve only come today specifically to prepare dinner for my two subordinates. I trust you know that I’m not one to overstep my authority, don’t you?”
“Hmph, good. But one day, I will create a dish that surpasses yours. Just you wait.”
Once assured that Hilda wasn’t preparing dinner for Christy, Trig nodded and returned to his station. Witnessing this, Hilda turned back to the two maids behind her and offered a gentle smile.
“Alright, let’s go then. My kitchen is over there, follow me.”
“Understood.”
“Let’s hurry!”
While Lisbeth was slightly curious if Trig and Hilda had a past rivalry, her thoughts were predominantly consumed by the delicious food awaiting her. Seeing them nod, Hilda smiled and led them to her personal kitchen area.
En route, Hilda picked up a large basket from the main kitchen and continuously filled it with ingredients. By the time they reached her designated area, the basket in her hands was overflowing.
“Alright, I’ll start preparing your dinner now. However, since I’m only just beginning, it might take a little time. So, if you wish, you can go and amuse yourselves for a bit and return later.”
“Ah, that’s a good idea. Staying here would make us starve from craving.”
Though Hilda’s kitchen area was somewhat removed from the main cooking space, the tantalizing aromas from the other chefs’ preparations constantly wafted over. Lisbeth and Staros knew they couldn’t endure two hours of such temptation. Upon hearing their agreement, Hilda nodded. “Alright, you two can go for now. Just remember not to cause any trouble.”
“We understand!”
With a final nod, Lisbeth and Staros departed from the middle district’s kitchen. After watching them leave, Hilda began preparing their dinner.
“So, where should we go now? Two hours suddenly feels a bit boring.”
“You’re right. It feels like we’ve been working ever since we arrived at the Demon Lord’s Castle; I can’t even think of any entertainment.”
Having left the kitchen, both Lisbeth and Staros found themselves with free time, unsure of what to do. However, as they pondered, a familiar voice drifted from behind them.
“Ah, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Hmm? Angelina?”
It was Angelina Cadolanka, one of the personal maids, who had appeared behind them. From her tone, it seemed she had specifically sought them out. Lisbeth tilted her head in confusion, asking, “Angelina, why are you looking for us? Is something wrong?”
“Actually, it’s not me who has something to say, but the Demon Lord wishes for me to summon you.”
“Huh?”