FS-novel Chapter 67 : Toil
Chapter 67 : Toil
Chapter 67: Toil
The corridor outside the door was dimly lit. Camilla leaned lazily against the wall, idly playing with a slender dagger she had no idea where she got from. Her nails were painted a vivid crimson, gleaming coldly under the faint blue glow of the magic crystal lamps.
Seeing Lilia come out, those eyes, seductive enough to drip water, narrowed slightly. Her gaze swept over Lilia’s new uniform before finally settling on those long legs wrapped in black leather combat boots, her tongue lightly licking her lips.
“Oh? Changed your style?” Camilla chuckled softly. The dagger spun in her fingers, letting out a crisp sound. “Looks quite… durable for toil.”
Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, the sourness detectable even from two meters away.
“Duke,” Lilia said expressionlessly, imitating Hera’s usual tone, making her voice sound as cold and firm as possible. “Master wants you inside. Also, put that knife away.”
Camilla raised a brow. Not only did she not sheath the dagger, she stepped forward instead. That cloyingly sweet perfume instantly rushed toward Lilia.
Looking at the dagger tip approaching, Lilia’s heart skipped violently twice.
After several seconds of eye contact, the smile on the Succubus Duke’s face stiffened. She snorted coldly, flipped her wrist, and the dagger vanished instantly.
“Understood, Lady Lilia~”
Camilla swayed her hips as she walked, brushing past Lilia.
That overwhelming, almost choking perfume hit Lilia’s nose like a wall.
As the Succubus Duke passed by her, she paused ever so slightly, her breath brushing Lilia’s ear, her voice soft and fragrant, audible only to the two of them.
“Little maid, don’t think that just because you changed your skin, you can become the master.”
Lilia didn’t even lift her eyelids.
Once you see the Queen, let’s see if you can still be this arrogant.
She followed behind Camilla, re-entering the study, gently closing the heavy oak door behind them, completely sealing off the dim light and prying gazes of the corridor.
Inside the study, the atmosphere was as cold as ice.
Hera sat at the head seat, her fingertips tapping lightly against the table, producing dull “thud, thud” sounds, like a death knell for someone.
Camilla completely shed her flirtatious boldness from outside, restraining all her charm, and respectfully knelt on one knee.
“Your Majesty.”
Lilia also knelt on the other side, raising the parchment scroll tied with a beautiful bow high with both hands.
“Master, this is the ‘Proposal and Operational Charter for the Establishment of the Eternal Night Palace Document Audit and Inspection Department’ jointly drafted by Duke Camilla and me. Please review it.”
Hera’s gaze immediately shifted to Camilla, her voice revealing no emotion.
“You drafted it together?”
Camilla lowered her head, her voice calm. “Reporting to Your Majesty, the main structure of the proposal was conceived by Miss Lilia. I only made some revisions based on the actual conditions of various departments in the Demon Realm.”
This answer surprised Lilia somewhat.
She had thought this crazy woman would take credit, or at least throw in some sarcastic jab.
Unexpectedly, she actually admitted it.
Hera finally reached out and took the parchment from Lilia.
The study fell into silence, filled only with the rustling sound of parchment being turned.
Both Lilia and Camilla knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe too loudly.
If Hera wasn’t satisfied…
Lilia didn’t dare think further.
Finally, Hera flipped past the last page.
She said nothing, merely rolled the scroll back up and casually placed it at the corner of the table.
Lilia’s heart rose to its peak.
What did that mean? Satisfied or not? Say something!
“Not a bad idea.”
Hera finally spoke, her tone still flat. “Clear responsibilities, distinct rewards and punishments. Especially the accountability clauses—very much your style.”
Lilia immediately let out a breath of relief, her back already drenched in cold sweat.
It worked!
“But,” Hera’s tone shifted, “too idealistic.”
Lilia’s heart was yanked up again.
“The absolute order you envision will not work in the Demon Realm.” Hera’s fingertip traced a cold line across the table. “This is not your utopia, Lilia. This is the Abyss. The law of the jungle is an instinct engraved into every demon’s bones.”
Hera’s gaze fell on Camilla.
“Camilla.”
“Your subordinate is here.”
“Personnel, venue, resources— you will allocate them.” Hera’s voice carried unquestionable authority. “You are responsible for making everyone follow the rules. No matter who it is, if they dare to comply outwardly while defying inwardly, or attempt to challenge the authority of this new department…”
Hera paused, the corner of her lips curling into a cold arc.
“You know what to do.”
A trace of bloodthirsty excitement flashed through Camilla’s eyes. She licked her lips, lowering her head respectfully. “As you command, my Queen. I will teach them what ‘respect’ means.”
“Good. You may begin your work.” Hera waved her hand, dismissing them. “I only want results.”
“Yes!”
The two responded in unison, then stood and retreated with bowed bodies.
Only after leaving the study and closing the door did Lilia feel like she had come back to life.
Hera’s serious mode was truly terrifying!
Meanwhile, Camilla seemed as if she had been injected with stimulants, her entire body radiating an eager excitement.
“Hey, maid.”
Camilla crossed her arms, glancing sideways at her. “Since Her Majesty has given me the authority to select people, I won’t hold back.”
Lilia weakly waved her hand. “Do as you see fit. Leave professional matters to professionals.”
She had planned this from the start.
Making her argue with those muscle-brained demon generals? She’d rather die.
Camilla was the perfect choice— ruthless, insane, and well-connected in the Demon Realm, with sharp intelligence.
Dump all the dirty and exhausting work on her, and comfortably sit in the office writing reports— that was the essence of management.
Camilla clearly didn’t grasp Lilia’s intention to slack off, assuming instead that she knew her own limitations and voluntarily delegated power.
A trace of disdain appeared on the Succubus Duke’s face.
“At least you know your place.”
She twisted her waist, stepping away in high heels with alluring grace. “This afternoon, I’ll bring the people to your department’s location. I hope you’ve already found a place— don’t let my people have nowhere to stay.”
With that, she disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Only then did Lilia remember— their newly established “Document Audit and Inspection Department” didn’t even have an office yet.
She sighed in resignation, dragging her exhausted body as she followed the map of the Palace of Eternal Night, finding an empty space marked as “Storage Room.”
The place was large enough, just a bit gloomy, and covered in who knows how many centuries of dust.
Lilia spent the entire morning personally cleaning it up. Using 【Maid’s Monstrous Strength (Beginner)】, she cleared out the broken coffin boards and miscellaneous junk, then fetched tables and chairs from the Logistics Department.
By the time she had arranged everything and collapsed behind the only somewhat decent-looking desk like a dead dog, it was already afternoon.
Just as she was about to doze off, a synchronized series of footsteps approached from afar, carrying a peculiar rhythm.
“Tap, tap, tap…”
It sounded like countless pairs of high heels stepping on the floor at once— crisp, yet filled with a deadly allure.
Lilia jolted upright.
They had arrived.
The storage room door creaked open.
At the entrance, Camilla appeared, standing sideways like a proud general reviewing her troops, a satisfied smile on her face.
“Lady Lilia~ I’ve brought my people.”
Following her words, one after another, tall, fiery, and vividly alluring figures filed in.
One, two, three… a full ten of them.