The Demon Queen's Royal Consort

"Haa... The young master has awakened," said a warm and delicate voice.

The words struck me like a shock, pulling me out of a brief daydream. The beauty of that woman was otherworldly, something that defied any human classification.

Dressed in black, wearing a short dress with thin straps, she looked as if she had been sculpted by an angel. Shy red lips, mesmerizing crimson eyes, gleaming carmine horns, and long black hair cascading past her hips.

Standing at around 1.60 meters tall, her breasts were perfect, proportional to her stature. The tight dress accentuated her curves, highlighting generous hips and a perky, hypnotic sway with each step. Black leather shoes with modest heels completed the look. The sound of her footsteps brought me back to reality.

Halfway across the room, she suddenly stopped and rushed to the bathroom. Intrigued, I waited a few seconds until she returned, holding a red overcoat in her hands.

"For the young master to feel more comfortable," she said, handing me the garment.

My face flushed as I realized the sheet covering my lower half had slipped away.

"Agh... Thank you," I stammered.

"Dinner is served. I suggest the master enjoy the meal while it's still warm," the maid said, revealing a rosy piece of meat that exuded a delicious aroma.

I put on the overcoat and sat at the table, focusing on the food.

"Just as beautiful as last time," I thought.

Six pieces of rosy meat of unknown origin occupied a plate. "Maybe it's pork or something similar," I mused. In another pot, cooked vegetables: pumpkin, yam, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

"No rice or pasta," I noted, a bit disappointed.

A tea kettle bubbled atop a platform designed to keep the liquid warm.

The first bite was an explosion of flavors, not just from the food itself but from my heightened perception. My palate seemed refined after awakening—I could discern textures and nuances that had previously gone unnoticed. The harmony of the meal was something unprecedented, as if each ingredient existed solely to complement the others.

"It's wonderful," I said enthusiastically. "Did you make it?" I asked.

"Yes, young master. I'm glad it is to your liking," she responded with a bright smile. But behind her polite demeanor, I detected a slight sense of relief in her gaze. 'I don't understand.'

A question arose in my mind, but before pursuing it, I decided to ask something more direct.

"What's your name? And why the formalities of 'young master'?" I asked, genuinely curious. Not even in the old Glenn's memories was there anything like this.

"Servant Dalia, at your service, young master," she replied calmly.

"As for the form of address, it is simply the way it must be, young master," she answered with conviction.

"I don't like unnecessary pronouns. Couldn't you just call me by my name, Glenn?" I asked.

"Denied," she responded firmly, as if my question were almost offensive.

"Denied?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, denied. Even if it is the young master's wish, I cannot address you in a less respectful manner."

"Why not?"

"Higher orders!"

'Higher orders? Who are these superiors, Lesley? I doubt it's her—after all, she called me 'a contagious disease clinging to our queen's pure and immaculate robes,'' I thought.

"Which superiors?" I probed.

No answer.

"Phew..." I sighed, disheartened. "Looks like she won't give me that answer."

"Another question: how did you know I would wake up at this hour?" I asked, intrigued. "Or were you preparing meals constantly, waiting for me to wake up? And how long was I asleep?" I added. "After all, was it you who prepared the meal?" A barrage of questions spilled from my mouth.

"As for your first question, yes, we knew you would wake up around midnight today. You slept for three days and two nights," she replied sincerely.

"As for the meals, yes. I am the maid responsible for your nutrition. My job is to learn your tastes, prepare nutritious food, and always be ready to... serve you," she said, adding an ambiguous tone at the end.

I didn't notice the slight tremor in her voice, as my mind fixated on "we." "We who?"

"Who are the 'we' you mentioned?" I asked, curious.

"Her Majesty, the Queen's Shadow, and the Head Maid—Lady Rose. They are the ones who know of your awakening," Dalia replied elegantly.

"What? There's a head maid?" I thought, surprised.

"Regarding the servants, how many are we talking about?" I asked.

"I cannot confirm, young master. That is being handled by Lady Rose," Dalia replied.

"I see. This place is far too large to maintain without staff. That must be it," I concluded mentally.

Dalia's gentle words pulled me from my thoughts.

"I see the young master has finished his meal. Was everything to your liking? Do you require anything else?" she asked warmly.

"No, everything was wonderful. Thank you so much for your work," I responded sincerely. Everything I had eaten so far could only be described as "the best of the best."

In my old life on Earth, after the age of eight, everything I ate was bland, lightly seasoned to avoid worsening my health condition. But here, after three years of eating dog food, I had finally found paradise.

"Actually, it was divine!" I exclaimed, completely satisfied.

A genuine smile illuminated Dalia's face as she bowed slightly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I will always do my best."

I returned the gesture with a nod.

"Young master?"

"Hm..." Still not used to being addressed that way, I took a moment to respond. "Ah, yes!"

"A special bath has been prepared in your bathroom. Moonlight flowers were used—it's a special flower that will help relax the muscles still tense from your awakening."

"A bath? That doesn't sound bad."

"Yes! The sooner you go, the more effective and pronounced the effects will be."

"Alright, see you later, Dalia," I said, heading toward the bathroom.

Dalia responded with a small bow and remained standing by the table.

I couldn't stop thinking. "She is an awakened one too," I concluded. The energy emanating from her body wasn't natural. In fact, only after awakening could I sense that faint, background vibration coming from Dalia's presence.

"She is stronger than me, and by a lot," I assessed.

The same vibration was much weaker in me. The resonance Dalia emitted was like a bell ringing without making a sound, a single vibration. Not exactly powerful, but consistent. "Perhaps she has already advanced to the Champion level," I speculated.

Upon entering the bathroom, I was once again struck by the grandeur of the place. It was immense, with half the space occupied by a massive hot spring. The waterfall in the background was an architectural marvel.

The bathroom was enveloped in a thick curtain of steam, carrying the unmistakable scent of aromatic herbs. Just inhaling it, my muscles began to relax.

I approached the thermal baths and noticed a large wooden tub had been added to the structure. It was made of dark brown wood and was half-filled. This was where the herbal bath had been prepared. The water had a slightly greenish hue and radiated a calming sensation.

I eased into the tub and felt the effects course through my body. My tense shoulders gradually loosened, and the stiffness in my neck subsided.

"Alright, time to see what has changed," I thought.

With my body relaxed, I closed my eyes and focused. Unlike the moment of awakening, entering my inner world was much harder than I had imagined. Slowly, I tried to recreate that same sensation, but it still took almost twenty minutes before I could finally see what had changed with my awakening.

The sight before me was breathtaking. My inner world had two suns shining intensely. They split everything I saw into two colors: red and blue. There was no ground, just an abyss stretching endlessly below. Storm-laden clouds, surrounded by lightning and thunder, bombarded the sky.

"It's very different from what I imagined..." My concentration was broken by a seductive voice whispering in my ear.

"The young master's shoulders are still very stiff."

"Huh... Dalia?"