That Butler, Employment

Jerome came to a halt.

It wasn't by choice; his legs felt frozen solid, his muscles so taut he couldn't take a single step.

An intense sense of dread completely engulfed him.

Behind him, Aina Kislilian's aura had changed drastically. She felt like a demon god from the abyss that had suddenly descended upon the world. The mere awareness of her presence left Jerome gasping for air, his heart skipping a beat.

Right now, he didn't even have the courage to turn his head.

"Insolent fool. I am Aina Kislilian, Wife of the Hero, Progenitor of the Blood Clan, Legendary Mage, Goddess of the World, and the Demon King who ruled this realm a millennium ago..." Aina gazed coldly down at the insect before her. "The man you just offended, Xia Lun, is the Legendary Hero. He is my beloved, and the beloved of the world... Your crimes are beyond redemption."

"Aina..." Xia Lun seemed about to speak, but Aina completely ignored him.

"Uh... Ugh..." Jerome opened his mouth. He hadn't actually heard a word Aina said. The terror of impending death had so thoroughly consumed him that he couldn't think straight.

As a living being, his only instinct now was to survive...

His plans hadn't even been set in motion yet. He was supposed to seize control of the Lais family, then use social gatherings and alliances to drag other nobles into the mire... Once he had those upper-class aristocrats in his grasp, the entire elven race would be under his control.

He came from humble beginnings. Yet, through sheer ambition and drive, as a mere commoner—a civilian—he had clawed his way up to this position by any means necessary. He had become a renowned wealthy merchant with a vast fortune.

He didn't want to die here; his era of glory was only just beginning...

But obviously, he would not get his wish this time.

Jerome vanished into thin air, leaving not a single trace behind.

Aina gave a cold harrumph, then settled back contentedly onto the "Xia Lun sofa."

Xia Lun pinched Aina's cheek. "I feel... that wasn't entirely appropriate, Aina."

"That piece of trash was looking at your wife with lewd eyes." Aina bit down hard on Xia Lun's ear. "Besides, he wasn't a good person anyway."

"But I still think you acted a bit impulsively, Aina." Xia Lun sighed. "A simple punishment would have sufficed. After all, we knew very little about him or what kind of person he really was."

"If I knew exactly what kind of person he was, I might not have let him die so easily." Aina scoffed lightly. "Also, Xia Lun, you hypocrite. I bet you're just looking for an excuse to punish me properly tonight."

Xia Lun: "Why do you say that?"

"Because you have the power to stop me, yet you didn't... Which implies that deep down, you didn't want to let that guy go either." Aina licked the corner of her lips.

"No, I'm no match for you. I couldn't have stopped you." Xia Lun turned his head away.

Aina caressed Xia Lun's cheek. "Darling, I'm very obedient... No matter what you say, I will do exactly as you ask. Think about it carefully—I've never refused a single one of your requests in bed."

Xia Lun: "You can't conflate the two. I certainly couldn't have stopped you just now. I only remained passive to avoid a conflict between us."

"Stop making excuses, Xia Lun." Aina cupped Xia Lun's face, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Look me in the eyes and say it again: did you really want that piece of filth to live?"

Xia Lun remained silent.

Of course he didn't. If he could, he would have wanted to personally deal with the bastard who tried to hit on his wife right in front of him.

But he was a Hero. Without a confirmed crime, he had no right to judge others. He wouldn't act the way Aina did.

Aina revealed a wicked smile that perfectly suited her Demon King persona. "You are gradually being corrupted by me, my Hero."

If it were the Xia Lun of the past, he almost certainly would have stopped her from killing.

"Willingly, my Lady Demon King."

Aina giggled with delight. "Hahaha, I didn't expect you to say something like that... That's right, Xia Lun. You no longer need to be bound by the identity of a Hero. Just let yourself be completely dyed in my colors... I'll give you a wonderful reward tonight."

Xia Lun lowered his gaze. It was hard to say who was dyeing whom in their colors.

...

Sera realized that she suddenly couldn't hear anything.

Jerome had come to a sudden halt, and then she saw Aina's mouth moving, though she couldn't make out what was being said.

Immediately after, Jerome vanished.

Sera didn't know what had happened; all she knew was that he had suddenly disappeared from where he stood.

Then... Aina was lying on top of Xia Lun. The two began to act affectionately, whispering sweet nothings, touching cheeks and biting ears.

Yet she still couldn't hear a thing.

"Ai... Aina?"

Although she didn't want to ruin the mood, Sera was actually getting a little panicked. This was Aina Kislilian's magic, right? It wasn't that she had suddenly gone deaf for real?

"Ah, I accidentally forgot about you." Aina snapped her fingers, and Sera's hearing returned.

"What happened just now? Where's that annoying guy?"

"Nothing much. I just sent him on his way... I made things clear to him, so he shouldn't be coming to bother you anymore," Aina said indifferently, lying in Xia Lun's arms.

"I see." Sera looked delighted to be rid of such a nuisance.

Aina was so kind, actually using space magic to send him home. Sera had never even experienced what it felt like to be teleported by space magic.

Xia Lun remained impassive. Sending someone into a dimensional rift was, technically, "sending them on their way."

Simon walked into the drawing room with great reverence, only to pause momentarily when he saw Aina lying on top of Xia Lun.

Aina yawned lazily and climbed off Xia Lun without a care for her image. A spiritual light glowed at her fingertip, and suddenly, both Simon and Sera froze in place, their eyes growing cloudy.

Aina began to modify their memories.

"Aina, you must have sensed Patriarch Simon before he even walked in..." Xia Lun said helplessly. "There was no need to go through the trouble of modifying their memories."

"So what? I felt like it," Aina huffed coquettishly. "I just wanted to lay on you for a little longer. Is that not allowed?"

"Of course it is, Aina." Xia Lun began to smooth out the wrinkles on his swallow-tailed butler's uniform that Aina had caused.

Then, Xia Lun stood dutifully back at Aina's side.

"My kind and beautiful lady, would you be willing to employ me as your butler once again?" Xia Lun whispered softly in Aina's ear.

"Of course... But Xia Lun, why are you doing this?" Aina asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Because you fired me just moments ago... If you don't agree to rehire me, then when I stand before Patriarch Simon later, I would merely be pretending to be a butler."

Xia Lun placed a finger gently against Aina's lips, revealing an elegant smile. "And if that were the case, I wouldn't be entitled to the remuneration I desire."