Demon Empress

Chapter 17 - Riese

The red sun was hanging high in the Hell skies when Riese l’Rasel opened her eyes.

She woke up in a sour mood, bitter and petty.

Her heart had fluttered undeniably when her former slave had walked in. Although human, he was delicate but powerful, beautiful like a god; slender but stronger than many demon nobles. Collared and subservient, he had bowed to her fickle whims. Compared to him, even Arumvel, the Empress’ personal Commander, paled in novelty.

When she thought about how cold and condescending, how distant Qaen had been to her, her heart ached. She had wanted to whip the pride off his shoulders, wanted him to humbly beg her for mercy and forgiveness when ordered to, just like he used to — but instead, he had wordlessly endured.

Her fists clenched into the bedcovers. The reason why he no longer bent his pride was obvious: it was because he had a different master to crawl to. He no longer had to drag his battered body to her door before dawn and wait for her to rise so he could beg her again.

A furious scream ripped through the afternoon air violently. The servants in the room collectively dropped to their knees and trembled — looking around, Riese realised it was her who had been screaming in rage.

“All rise,” she snapped. “Help me up. I heard Ithur brought in a venerable guest yesterday. As the lady of the house, it’s time I let them pay their respects to the hostess.”

The maids scurried forward and quickly helped Riese sit up. One slid soft, velvet slippers onto her feet before they could touch the ground, and her secondary personal maid Xya quickly supported her when she stood, helping her to the bath-chambers. The marble tub had already been prepared with steaming water, and a gentle scent of rose wafted from it. Riese was assisted into the tub, and her small army of maids flocked around her to feed, wash and massage her. More stood by with trays of towels, oils, scents and refreshments, and one remained kneeling by the end of the tub with extra pots of hot water.

Riese glanced at the servant kneeling at her side. The servant’s attention was fixed on trimming Riese’s nails, and she flinched when she was spoken to. “Where is Anet?”

The demoness’ head lowered in fear. In a small, shaking voice, she replied: “Senior Maid Anet fell ill in the early morning. She is currently bedridden and has requested to call a doctor.”

Riese nodded. Contrary to her rather calm expression, the words that fell from her lips turned the servants rigid. “Tie her to a post in the stable yard and have one of the stablehands flog her twenty times.”

Xya rose from where she had been kneeling to wash Riese’s hair and walked around the tub so she was standing in clear view. Bowing her head, she respectfully said, “My lady, Senior Anet is currently unable to move and is as cold as ice. Compared to the rough stablehands, she’s always had a delicate physique.”

Riese barely looked at her secondary personal maid. Instead, she asked the maid who had answered her question earlier: “What are your thoughts?”

The young maid trembled. Who knew where she found the courage, but she whispered out: “My lady is noble, and your words are absolute. As your head personal maid, to not be present to serve you when you need her is a crime to be punished for, but she is Senior Maid Xya’s mentor and direct senior — Senior Maid Xya feeling obligated to defend her is natural and praise-worthy.”

Xya turned her gaze onto the demure-looking girl; her glare was frigid and sharp as she appraised the kneeling figure.

A satisfied smile curled Riese’s face sardonically. “Very well. Based on our years of affection and this girl’s pleas, I will pardon you, Xya. When you take Anet to be flogged, you will also take ten lashes. There is no need for Anet to return after.“

Xya closed her eyes. At her sides, her hands trembled, but she didn’t dare clench them. Slowly, she curtsied then left to carry out the orders.

Silence domineered the room.

As if she was completely oblivious, Riese hummed slowly, fixing her attention on the young maid who had bravely paved a path upward for herself. “What’s your name?”

There was an unmistakable glimmer of greed in the maid’s eyes. “Dionie, my lady.”

“Look at me.”

Dionie hesitantly, tentatively raised her head and met Riese’s gaze.

Riese nodded in approval. Dionie had red hair and lovely hazel eyes set like a pair of topazes on her pretty, beguiling face. “How old are you?”

“A little over four centuries, my lady,” Dionie replied shyly with a blush, casting her gaze back downwards.

Satisfaction rested on Riese’s features. “As of today, you will take Xya’s position, and she will be your direct senior and my new head personal maid. You will need to go pick her up from the stable yard later before we head over to visit Ithur’s guest.”

The servants in the bath chambers exchanged mixed glances when they heard this promotion. Dionie was a new girl who had only recently been promoted to a lady’s chambermaid. It was said that she had been able to earn her promotion despite her young age thanks to her youthful charm. Now, with a few sweet words, she had climbed to the position of secondary personal maid.

Shock, disbelief then childlike excitement coloured Dionie’s pretty face in turn. Bowing her head low, she said sweetly: “Thanks to my lady for this grace. I will serve you sincerely and faithfully.”

Riese waved her off dismissively. “You may go. Observe the punishment being carried out, then bring Xya back.”

Dionie bowed once again and shuffled out of the silent room. No one saw the way her eyes lit up with vicious triumph on her way out.