"Mr. Yila, if you find it hard to sleep in this room, you can call me directly. There are no extra personal maids in Demon King City, but if you're willing, I can reassign one from the Demon King."
Though trying her best to remain respectful as she led Yila to this room in Demon King City, Hilena couldn't help but let a smile creep across her face. For some reason, she just wanted to laugh.
Even though Vera kept saying things like "Don't need it," "Irrelevant," and "Ridiculous," she still easily managed to keep Mr. Yila... *There was an inexplicable feeling of excitement.*
*Hilena, being a succubus, was particularly interested in this act of snatching a talent away from the Empire.*
"No need. It's funny, but if there really were a maid to take care of me meticulously, I'd probably feel quite uncomfortable."
Yila, who was answering, sat on the slightly hard bed. His requirements for a room were not high, and the environment in the room he was staying in now was definitely not bad... It would undoubtedly be better than on the battlefield.
However, while he didn't like what he considered extreme personal maids, a convenient and handy household maid wasn't so bad... When he needed something, he only had to call out.
"I specially arranged a room next to Mr. Lime's near the kitchen for you. If you ever want something to fill your stomach, you can always instruct him to make it."
*Your arrangement is so reasonable, you've really put thought into it, huh?!*
Yila, who complained inwardly, shook his head decisively and said helplessly, "I do like exquisite and delicious food, but that doesn't mean I'm constantly thinking about eating. Thank you for your kindness, but it's actually unnecessary."
"Hahaha~ I apologize, that's my fault..."
Hilena, who said this, nodded lightly. Having almost figured out Yila's personality, she chuckled softly and said, "Mr. Yila, it's almost midnight. Please take some rest. If you need anything, just tell the little fairies directly."
After saying this, Hilena turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
"..."
"Sigh..."
Yila, who sighed lightly, sat alone on the bed. He took off his coat, which had been damaged in large parts due to the previous escape, and placed it on the nightstand... Even though there was a coat rack in the room.
In the end, he had agreed to Satan Ye's request to stay in Demon King City for a while as her teacher.
*Since this had happened once before, he didn't really feel a significant psychological burden now.* *But this meant he had to consider how to teach his student, and preparing lesson plans was always the most exhausting.*
*Should he prioritize enhancing Satan Ye's combat abilities? Or should he prioritize strengthening her thinking and political mindset?* No... He should put the latter aside for now, or else he might end up teaching another Isabella. The circumstances in both their countries were different, so the education methods needed would naturally be different.
*Though it's not that he couldn't teach without discrimination, Yila wanted to try a different path this time...*
*To be honest, he hadn't conducted any significant research or reforms in the Empire.* *He hadn't even proposed many classic tools and techniques from the previous world, such as the curved plow and rotational cultivation technique used by transmigrators.*
After all, during the war, he needed to prioritize the Empire's combat effectiveness, so he first promoted the noble descendants who could quickly become military strength, persuading Isabella to enact a law exchanging military merits for titles.
This was one of the reasons why the Empire had grown increasingly advantageous on the battlefield.
He had originally planned, once the war had completely subsided, to use the tempting "land-for-titles" trap to trick the nobles, reclaim the land, and start a farming mode of sorts.
That opportunity now seemed unlikely.
Yila had taught Isabella the Emperor's Heart Skill, teaching her about balance, about the inevitable links and checks between clans, kingdoms, kings, civilians, and merchants... She had learned about halfway...
*Had he known, he would have racked his brain to make her more combat-capable first.*
*Reflecting on this, Yila couldn't help but recall what Yose had once said—*
"You mean, even a minister with great merits should be suppressed to some extent? Even if he is loyal to the king and respects him everywhere, all the power should belong to the eternal emperor? Although that's very touching, are you tired of living, Lord Yila... Aren't you currently the most powerful minister in the Empire?"
"..."
*Yila not only said this to the late king but also taught Isabella this way. Yet, the biggest problem was... pretending to 'suppress' someone... just look at the timing. This time he really fanned the flames, didn't he?*
While he was brooding over this, there seemed to be footsteps outside the door...
"Knock, knock, knock~"
Accompanied by the knock on the door, Satan Ye's voice came from outside. In a tender voice, she asked, "Mr. Yila, I'm sorry for disappointing you at the banquet... I brought some snacks. Are you available now?"
*Demon King? Why are you coming here in person?*
"Please come in."
Accompanied by Yila's voice, Satan Ye's small figure pushed the wooden door open. She was holding two bowls of sweet-smelling snacks and said, "I heard that the Empire likes sweets, so I asked Mr. Lime to make two desserts."
"..."
But Yila did not immediately respond. Instead, he looked towards the empty doorway, seemingly searching for something. Satan Ye placed the two bowls of desserts on the table and asked in confusion, "Mr. Yila, what are you looking at?"
"Where is Hilena?"
Yila asked.
"Huh?"
Satan Ye made a puzzled sound, clearly not understanding why Yila was asking this.
"..."
*The Demon King in front of him had no sense of being a 'king' whatsoever.* *She hadn't even considered what it meant for a king to come to see him so late with snacks… let alone without a maid in tow.*
*What if I were to harm her?!*
*There was also an issue with her addressing others. She called me, as well as other leaders, 'Mr.' and 'Miss.' This level of respect shouldn't come from a king's mouth. This is wrong.*
*Yila, thinking this, initially intended to point out Satan Ye's faults directly, just as he had taught Isabella in the Empire. But he hesitated...*
*This closeness and respect, was it good or bad? Had he known, he might have directly used Isabella to order the Noble Faction... Besides, she would have been more than willing.*
"Mr. Yila, what are you thinking?"
Hearing Satan Ye's curious question, Yila hesitated for a moment but didn't say anything. He just shook his head apologetically and smiled as he took over the conversation, saying, "I just think that if we eat this midnight snack secretly, without letting Hilena know, it might not be good."
"Hmm, should we call her then? But instructing Mr. Lime again doesn't seem right either."
It looked like Satan Ye was genuinely considering whether to call Hilena.
"No, this is fine."
Yila, saying this, sat opposite her, picked up a fork, stuck it into the preserved fruit in the bowl, stirred it in the honey water, and brought it to the little Demon King's mouth.
"This is fine."
Muttering as if he needed to tell himself once more as well, Yila repeated softly.