[Greek Mythology] The Demons Under My Command - Chapter 13

Two more days had passed, and Li Jia hadn’t seen Hera since that day.

She was left with peace and quiet.

When the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Though crude, the saying was apt.

She had the deep palace’s large bed all to herself, sleeping wherever she liked.

During the day, she’d spend time with Winslow, fishing, catching shrimp, and researching new recipes. She was completely at ease. Dorin, meanwhile, was rarely seen, leaving early and returning late.

Winslow and Li Jia, two “salted fish” together, were kindred spirits who regretted not meeting sooner.

Li Jia instantly understood why the older generation used to work a single job until retirement. If all jobs had these conditions, who wouldn’t want to work until they retired?

Li Jia also asked Winslow where the Divine Lord usually went when not at the Hot Spring Hollow.

Winslow explained that the Divine Lord had to resolve emotional problems for mortals. Only by resolving their issues would the number of devotees offering incense and fire at the Marriage Temple increase. More offerings meant a greater fulfillment of the Divine Lord’s duty.

Divine power and wealth were equivalent; they could be freely converted between the two.

After outlining the general process, Li Jia understood.

The Marriage Temple was essentially like an administrative service center: people submitted their requests to the Marriage Goddess, who would then resolve them reasonably, achieving a return on their offerings.

Hearing this made Li Jia feel a bit embarrassed. What was the difference between this and a boss taking his subordinates out to haul bricks in the summer while she and her friend stayed home, blasting the air conditioning and eating popsicles?

However, this feeling of guilt didn’t last for more than a few minutes, as the Goddess of Textiles delivered her custom-made clothing.

Indeed, there’s nothing like a specialist, especially the Goddess of Textiles. Every piece of clothing she made perfectly suited Li Jia’s taste.

There were long dresses with pockets, tulip skirts with pockets, and sleeveless dresses with pockets…

Her requirement was simple: comfort, convenience, and the ability to carry things.

Li Jia also drew several sets of school uniform-style outfits based on memories, including both long-sleeved and short-sleeved versions.

Although Hera had said she didn’t have to wear the servant’s attire, Li Jia felt she still needed some formal-looking clothes, and these were the uniforms she personally liked.

Li Jia loved Japanese anime and the uniforms worn by the girls in the comics.

The pressures of life had prevented her from spending extra money on her hobbies. For a rare birthday, she gritted her teeth and bought a uniform she liked, but she only wore it once before putting it away.

That’s when Li Jia understood that hobbies require money.

She didn’t have the luxury.

So, when Hera invited the Goddess of Textiles to make her clothes, Li Jia was hesitant.

Her identity in this world was that of a homeless, dependent orphan. To acquire a healthy body, she had to use a slight trick to become Hera’s apprentice.

Should someone as insignificant as she, who was meant to be like a blade of grass, be able to possess these things?

Before she could figure it out, her concerns were dismissed by Winslow.

“Use the best materials for everything. Her Majesty Hera has plenty of money,” she said to the Goddess of Textiles with an air of extravagance, and the goddess nodded, accustomed to the request.

Winslow then turned back to Li Jia, winked, and whispered, “Don’t look so timid. You are the Queen’s only apprentice. If you dress nicely, she’ll have prestige when she takes you out.”

“There’s so much money; we can spend it all and still not run out.”

The Divine Lord told me to take good care of you.

Winslow couldn’t bring herself to say such mushy words.

Li Jia was used to being poor. This was the first time someone was willing to spend money on her unconditionally.

She couldn’t quite articulate her feelings.

To say she wasn’t touched would be a lie.

Li Jia had entered society early, working countless part-time jobs to support herself and interacting with all sorts of people.

Her experience-based conclusion was this:

In adult relationships, the person must be willing to spend money on you. If you think talking about money is too vulgar, it only means the love is still shallow.

Li Jia had witnessed too many infatuated men and resentful women. They were inseparable and passionately in love until money was brought up, and then the love ended only in mutual insults and slander.

The relationship within the Divine Residence was one where talking about money was completely acceptable.

Seeing Winslow spend money like water without any hesitation, Li Jia felt a pang of envy for her. Though not related by blood, the Divine Lord and Doriyn were unconditionally good to her.

In Li Jia’s view, this was a blessing from the heavens.

Now, that blessing seemed to include a part for her, too.

It might be because she was basking in Winslow’s glow, or perhaps it was because she had become Hera’s apprentice and Hera didn’t want to lose face when taking her out.

Li Jia considered many possibilities, but she never thought that Hera might genuinely want to be good to her, after all, they had only known each other for a few days.

Gradually, a private ambition began to grow within her conquest plan.

Li Jia did not want Hera to marry Zeus.

She didn’t want Hera to marry a philandering man she didn’t love, merely for the sake of fulfilling a divine duty, and thus become the eternally infamous jealous wife.

Though Li Jia was still afraid of Hera, she sincerely believed Hera was just and selfless and shouldn’t have to bear such a bad name.

The man makes the mistake, and the woman bears all the consequences? Why?

Li Jia vaguely remembered that Zeus had transformed into a bird to win Hera’s sympathy.

She made a firm resolution: she would practice her bird-shooting skills diligently. No bird would be allowed near Hera.

Li Jia loved every piece of clothing; they all fit perfectly. Winslow generously handed a large pouch of gold coins to the Goddess of Textiles, who gladly accepted them.

Before leaving, the Goddess of Textiles gave Li Jia her address, telling her that if she had any new ideas, she could write a letter or come directly to the Luoshangfang (Robes Workshop) to find her, as she lived there.

She really liked this little girl with so many imaginative ideas.

Li Jia accepted and bid farewell to the Goddess of Textiles. She also asked Winslow why a deity would need material possessions like money.

Winslow gave Li Jia a look of bewilderment and explained that the Goddess of Textiles ran over a dozen silk shops in the mortal realm. Did the manpower and materials appear out of thin air?

Li Jia couldn’t help but sigh, concluding that being a dutiful goddess was not easy.

It was just like Hera and Dorin were out earning money while she was home “playing dead” with Winslow.

Another day passed, and Li Jia had completely adapted to the environment of the deep palace and the Hot Spring Hollow, moving in and out as if it were her own home.

Late at night.

Li Jia was sound asleep in bed. Hera emerged from the rose garden, her soul body completely mended, her previously pale complexion now rosy.

Li Jia was somewhat afraid of the dark.

Since she was eight, she had lived alone.

She would take a small night light everywhere she went.

When she first arrived, she slept with Winslow and wasn’t afraid because she had company.

Now that she had moved to the deep palace, she would light an olive oil lamp on the central round table at night.

Through the window, Hera saw a small flame burning in the deep palace, like a light guiding someone home.

Hera froze for a moment, standing silently outside the door for a long time before pushing it open, then closing it behind her.

Li Jia was still sleeping in the corner.

Hera changed into a nightgown and lay down beside Li Jia. As expected, Li Jia immediately rolled into her arms.

Li Jia had slept enough during the day, so she wasn’t sleeping too deeply.

Startled by the movement, she opened her eyes, desperately hoping it was a hallucination.

The demon was sleeping right beside her, and she had rolled back into her arms.

Li Jia couldn’t help but wonder: Does Hera really have some special fetish?

Like using me as her human body pillow?

Li Jia also liked to buy many dolls to hug while she slept at night.

Maybe the texture of human flesh is better than a cloth doll.

She dared not speak, only lying obediently in Hera’s arms.

Li Jia secretly looked at Hera, who, with her eyes closed, resembled an exquisite sculpture, like one she had seen in a museum. She could stare to her heart’s content, something she wouldn’t dare to do normally.

If Li Jia were given ten times the courage, she wouldn’t dare to stare at someone so openly.

As she looked, Li Jia’s mind began to scheme.

How did that nose grow like that?

How can the bridge of her nose be so straight?

Her eyelashes look like they’ve had a permanent lift—thick and curled, a template that a cosmetic surgery hospital couldn’t even create.

“What are you looking at?”

The questioner did not open her eyes, speaking in a low, clear voice audible only to the two of them. Her unhurried tone made Li Jia’s heart feel pleasantly numb and utterly captivated.

“I’m looking at your face, Your Majesty. You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen.”

Li Jia answered truthfully. Hera was indeed the most beautiful person—no, Goddess—she had ever seen.

“Little liar.”

Hearing the person in her arms’ reply, Hera sighed faintly, turned her face away, and rolled onto the other side. The earlobe, half-hidden by her golden hair, flushed a shameful red.

“Your Majesty, what did you say?”

Li Jia broke free from the embrace, not having heard clearly.

“Strip away the skin, and it’s nothing more than a skeleton. Vulgar.”

With a hint of a teaching tone, Li Jia narrowed her eyes, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly as she smiled and said, “But you are beautiful, Your Majesty, and that’s why I like you.”

“So, you think I’m beautiful, and that’s why you wanted to be my apprentice?”

Hera seemed to be considering the truthfulness of her words.

“Just think of me as a vulgar person, whose judgment is clouded by beauty.”

Li Jia wouldn’t dare say it was to conquer her.

Hera didn’t follow up on that point and instead asked, “Why do you light a lamp? Are you afraid of the dark?”

Li Jia didn’t respond. She wasn’t a child; she was a grown woman. How could she say she lit the lamp because she was afraid of the dark?

After a moment of silence, Li Jia took a few minutes for a mental pep talk and decided to be honest.

What if she said no, and Hera didn’t allow her to light it anymore?

She would still be a little scared.

“Yes, I’m afraid of the dark.”

“After my mother passed away, I always slept alone. I was very, very small then, and I couldn’t sleep without a light.”

Turning off the light meant endless darkness, plunging her entirely into that deep, profound gloom.

As long as there was a light, just a small bit of light was enough; it could dispel the fear that coiled in her heart.

“I see.”

“Go to sleep.”

After that, only soft, low breathing remained beside her.

Li Jia couldn’t sleep now; she finally understood what it meant to be like sleeping next to a tiger.

It was like hanging your neck on your waistband, terrified that the demon might get annoyed and chop you up.

Her mind was in chaos.

Zzz Zzz Zzz—

A brainwave flashed in her mind.

「Master, I’m back!」

The system that had been dead for N days was finally booting up.

For a moment, Li Jia was overcome with mixed emotions. She was distressed that she was sleeping with the target of her conquest, but delighted that the system was finally awake. She wouldn’t be so lost anymore; a hint was better than a blind exam.

「Master, you are a genius! I can’t believe you got so close to the conquest target so quickly while I was gone. You’ve done so well! You’ve made me so proud.」

It spewed out a barrage of compliments.

“So, what should we do next?”

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