Chapter 15

Her Majesty Stayed Over The central demon conference was a meeting where the royal family, all the ministers, and other demons of great influence came together in the same hall. This conference took place once every three years and, by some definitions, was the single most important event in demon politics. It was here that the demons’ future and goals would be decided. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture had proposed a project that would transform a vast wasteland into arable land. As expensive as it was, it would need the permission of this conference in order to proceed. As the leader of the Ministry of Agriculture, I watched the conference with enthusiasm. This project was inevitable for the demons’ agricultural policy! I would have it approved, no matter what! In the end— “In regard to the Ministry of Agriculture’s proposal, I think it’s fine. I doubt there are any objections, hmm~? ” —with an easygoing tone, Her Majesty let it pass like a breeze. Fatla leaned over and whispered to me, “Many people think of you as Her Majesty’s favorite, Lady Beelzebub. No one will go out of their way to say no.” “I believe I am more of a favorite toy…” Though I would still be grateful for the demon king lending me her power, even if indirectly. The conference proceeded smoothly afterward. Eventually, it became time to talk about the events Her Majesty would be involved in. Whether it was in public or private, everything she did held great meaning. “I would like to carry out a few royal visitations. It’s been ever so long, ” she said. To put it simply, a royal visitation was when Her Majesty would come to the homes of important political figures and have them entertain her. Though the hosts did need to spend money, a visitation had been considered a great honor throughout demon history. And since only the most powerful nobles with money, land, and pedigree ever hosted, the visit would not create any economic burden. Well, I was certain such an honor would never fall upon an upstart noble such as— “This time, I would like to stay at Miss Beelzebub’s house~ ” Everyone present at the meeting turned to look at me. “Whaaaaat?!” This felt…exactly the same as when I was made minister… The powerful nobles started protesting immediately. “Your Majesty, if I may, the houses that are generally made a part of the royal visitation have been established through a long tradition…” “Oh, it’s all right~ Precedent is meant to be overturned~ ” “No, I also think that this is impossible!” I turned her down as well. I did not want to get swallowed up in another one of her schemes. And my manor…was a mess. It was not as though the rooms I typically used were full of garbage, no. I had grown a bit since I was at the bottom of the ladder. But I did not even enter rooms that fell outside my living space, so they were all filled with dust… What else should I have done? I did not have a single servant to my name, so I had no use for this mansion I had been given. If I were to use every space on my own, then I would end up cleaning all day, every day. So I decided to live within a limited number of rooms on the first floor. Of course, I had done nothing to care for the massive garden, either. I could not even begin to name what sorts of plants and animals were living there now. From my window, all I could see was a dense forest. A royal visitation was a proper event; it would not be over with a quick five-minute chat at the front door. Manners dictated that the host guide the demon king through the manor, prepare a meal, and even show her around the garden. I could never do such a thing! And so I would not let her settle on this. “Your Majesty, my abode is an embarrassment compared with the noble houses of old. I appreciate the offer, but I must decline…” “Hmm, I see. I suppose it’s your prerogative.” Oh, that was easier than I thought. “By the way, I’ve realized there might be a problem with the Ministry of Agriculture’s project after all, so I may have to reconsider it~” She was taking the ministry project hostage! Her Majesty was grinning. Oh. Once she decided something was going to happen, she was going to make it happen at any cost. I knew my fate. “Y-yes, Your Majesty…,” I said weakly. Countless staff members of the Ministry of Agriculture had ceded so much of their time for this project. If I had to sacrifice myself to save it, then so be it! Once the conference was over, Fatla tapped me on the shoulder to encourage me. “Lady Beelzebub, you made a wise decision.” “Decisions begin and end quickly. What happens next is the problem…” Even when the date for the royal visitation was set, I felt no motivation to make any preparations. They meant nothing at this point. The cleaning, I could manage. But the rest of the hosting duties required manpower, and that I did not have. I could not hire amateur extras, either. I needed a whole roster of people knowledgeable in etiquette; otherwise, they could not even participate. But the people I was considering were all employed by the pedigreed nobles, and I would never be allowed to borrow them. And so my only choice was to wait for Her Majesty, empty-handed… It would be an embarrassment, but it was not a sin. I would accept the shame. Almost three weeks until my moment of disgrace… Fate, however, was on my side. About ten days before the visitation, something happened. “Boss, boss! This is bad!” Vania, who had gone to deliver some documents to other departments, came running back into the office. “Must you make so much noise?” “Her Majesty is sick with the stubborn demon cold!” The stubborn demon cold was a mild but irritating illness whose symptoms lasted for a whole month. “All the events on her calendar for the next month have been canceled!” “Yesss!” There was nothing more disrespectful than cheering for the demon king being sick, but that was how I honestly felt. Even the demon king could fall ill, and how grateful I was for that! “Now the visitation will be called off!” “But you know how Her Majesty is, Lady Beelzebub. She may come to visit once she’s better.” Fatla reminded me the world was not as kind as I thought it was. I had already considered that, of course. “She has already given us permission for our wasteland-to-farmland project! She may be a royal, but she cannot go back in time and retract her approval! We have no hostage to worry about anymore!” It was as though a test one did not study for was suddenly canceled. When Her Majesty was feeling better, I would accompany her shopping or something similar. On the day the visit was originally scheduled for, I went to work as normal and returned home as normal. I entered my room and splayed out over the bed, stretching my arms and legs. “Ahhh, what a wonderful thing to keep all the work I am spearheading.” Perhaps I would laze about for the rest of the day, take a bath, and go to sleep. It felt like receiving paid time off. If the visitation were to have happened today, I could have easily spent another twenty hours cleaning on top of my office work. However, when I was in bed and reading a book— Klang, klang. —the bell rang to signify a guest had arrived, echoing especially loud in the night. I glanced at the clock to see it was nine. “Who could it be…? Solicitations at night are illegal.” Dubiously, I went out to the gate, and— “Why are you here, Your Majesty?!” —the visitor was unmistakably the demon king, though she was hiding her identity with a hood. “Cough, cough… Today is the day of the visita—I mean, of our sleepover, though…”