Chapter 2 - Princess, It's Time to Change Jobs (2)
Chapter 2 - Princess, It's Time to Change Jobs (2)
Chapter 2 - Imperial Princess-nim, It's Time to Change Jobs (2)
The imperial princess lost consciousness the moment she was sucked into the portal.
"..."
"..."
"...!"
When she opened her eyes, Eileen realized she was in a place entirely different from the imperial palace.
Enveloping her body was a plush bed exuding a pleasant warmth.
On the ceiling, instead of candles, hung a glass sphere that emitted a bright, steady light.
An incandescent bulb instead of candles, and an appliance emanating warm heat.
'A ceiling-mounted air conditioner?'
The imperial princess stared for a long while at the place where the warm wind was coming out, then pushed herself up to look around the room.
"Wow..."
It was a space reminiscent of a nice hotel room where she had stayed in her past life.
Sitting on the bed, she stared up at the ceiling of that space for a long while, lost in thought.
'Am I dreaming of my past life right now...?'
No matter how much she combed through her memories, she couldn't even guess.
Because in the empire, in the imperial family, there was no such space.
Even before reincarnating, she had never stayed in a hotel room this good.
Even when traveling for business, maybe a cost-effective business hotel at best?
Therefore, the imperial princess was staring blankly at this space she was lying in, savoring it.
'If it's a dream, I hope I don't wake up.... Ah, this is so nice.'
It was at that moment.
"-Have you come to your senses? Imperial princess-"
At the voice that vibrated through the air, the imperial princess reflexively sat up on the bed.
A massive figure clad in pitch-black armor stepped into the room.
An overwhelming aura of intimidation that froze the air just by his presence alone.
A tall height paired with a muscular physique,
A demon with sharp black horns protruding from his head, shoulders, and elbows.
The imperial princess immediately knew who had called her.
"Demon King..."
"Kuku, that's right. Thanks for recognizing me."
The Demon King spoke, looking down at the imperial princess sitting on the bed.
"Erika... brought you here safely..."
Although the Demon King leaned casually against the doorway without coming any closer,
Eileen instinctively cringed at the demon's goosebump-inducing voice.
"Kukuku, Imperial Princess of the Empire, welcome to the Demon King's Army. Since you have come here, you must be prepared...?"
The Demon King chuckled, seemingly very pleased with the current situation.
At the Demon King's evil laughter, the imperial princess felt that she had made a mistake.
'I'm screwed. I'm screwed. I'm totally screwed!'
The Demon King's delight in successfully kidnapping, capturing, and confining the imperial princess.
The cruelty of demons that she had been endlessly educated on after reincarnating into this world!
'Was I fooled by that traitor Erika?!'
Sweet words saying that she could live a life like her past life in the Demon King's Castle.
That all the corrupted ones were leading happy, civilized lives.
Erika's words that she could forget all about unfair suffering.
She had fallen for the sweet temptation of the fallen priest, Erika.
She couldn't erase that thought.
Glowing red eyes glinted as the Demon King gestured to Erika standing behind him.
"Team Leader Erika."
"Yes, Demon King-nim."
"Report to me after the necessary brainwashing procedure for the imperial princess is finished. I won't clock out until it's done and will be waiting in my office."
"Understood, Demon King-nim."
The imperial princess swallowed hard at the conversation between the two.
'Necessary brainwashing procedure'
The Demon King gave Erika this brief instruction, then closed the door and disappeared.
Brainwashing... procedure... Then torture? A curse?
Erika stepped closer to the bed and spoke.
"Now then, Imperial Princess-nim? First, please take off your clothes."
"What?"
'Say what? Take off my clothes???'
Ah, was that it!
Humiliating submission, shameful torture, and brainwashing that breaks one's mind.
She had read about it in books.
In fantasy novels and manga from her past life, and in the knights' troop information and education books from her current life!
The imperial princess shouted loudly with fierce resolve, echoing throughout the room.
Rather than suffer shameful humiliation!
"Kuh, just kill me instead! I am not afraid of death!"
"We can't do that."
As Erika drew even closer, Eileen squeezed her eyes shut.
A moment later, what touched her body was not a red-hot branding iron, nor a sharp torture device, nor a rough grasp.
The outerwear she was wearing slipped off smoothly, and a warm towel and toiletries were placed into her hands.
"Take it off. You need to wash up. Look how dirty you are. Portal travel is rather rough, after all."
"Huh?"
"Now, Imperial Princess-nim. Follow me."
The place Erika led her to, holding her hand, was a small room covered in clean white tiles.
When she turned the silver handle attached to the wall, to her astonishment, steaming warm water gushed out from the end.
"Could it be, this is...?"
The imperial princess couldn't believe it even after seeing it with her own two eyes.
Was it because it had been so long since she last saw one?
Or was it because this was the first time she had seen this object in this life, making her feel instinctively amazed?
"Is this real?"
"It's a hot water shower. Taking a hot bath is a luxury that only high nobility can manage with water heated by servants. Here, it takes just this one button. Now, Imperial Princess-nim. If you do this, water comes out, see?"
Shwaaaaaa—
"I-I know what this is too! Didn't he just say... brainwashing?! This object isn't a shower, right? Is that really water?"
"Huh? Yes, it is. Look here. This red button is for hot water."
She was teaching her how to use the shower step-by-step, like one would teach a baby.
Spraying water over the imperial princess's feet and checking the temperature, Erika asked.
"Ah... so warm."
"Imperial Princess-nim, are you in paradise?"
"Yeah. Absolute paradise."
"... No, I'm asking how the water temperature is."
"..."
At Erika's teasing, the imperial princess finally grew annoyed.
"Stop it! Stop! Stop! But how can this be right now... If you're going to torture me, quit messing around and do it quickly! I won't yield!"
"... Pfft."
Erika had infiltrated the imperial palace multiple times just to recruit the imperial princess.
Since they had spent a lot of time talking, Erika must have also known that the imperial princess was a transmigrator from a world with hot water showers.
"Imperial Princess-nim..."
Erika was simply teasing the frightened imperial princess.
Erika burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer.
"Ahahaha! 'Kuh, kill me!' she says. Ah, I'm sorry for laughing. It happens sometimes. Defectors who blurt out classic cliché lines like that. I think you've read way too many imperial troop information novels."
"Y-You think you wouldn't have done that in that situation?! The Demon King's voice was..."
"Yes, he's terrifying. And strong."
Erika quietly whispered into the imperial princess's ear.
"But Demon King-nim is also an outsider from the same world as you. I heard he was a labor attorney (?) in his past life. I don't know exactly what that is, but anyway, it must have been a cool job!"
"What?!"
"Demon King-nim never lies when it comes to contracts. Even if it was agreed upon verbally or through a preliminary contract."
Erika neatly arranged a pure white nightgown at the entrance of the shower room, bowed her head, and stepped back.
"Anyway, please get a good rest today. Tomorrow, you will sign a formal contract with Demon King-nim. I'd like to clock out now too."
"A contract with the Demon King...?"
Will I have to hand over my soul or something?
Or will he place an unbreakable curse on me?
The imperial princess reflected on the common knowledge regarding contracts in this world.
'The Imperial Palace Knights engrave tattoos on their bodies. In the past, they pledged loyalty by cutting off parts of their bodies like toes or fingers... If so, wouldn't the Demon King's Army's methods be even worse than the humans'? They might place an unbreakable curse on me.'
The imperial princess asked Erika cautiously.
"That contract with... Demon King-nim. Is it dangerous by any chance? Does it hurt a lot?"
Ever since her past life, the imperial princess detested pain.
Tattoos were unthinkable, and she even freaked out over injections during health checkups.
Even in her present life, despite possessing outstanding magical abilities, she never went to the front lines.
The result of that was the secluded imperial princess of the back room.
Handling paperwork exclusively by utilizing her past life's skills.
'If I have to draw blood during the contract, should I quietly ask if she can send me back to the imperial palace right away? With Erika's portal ability...'
Her heart wavered.
The Demon King was scary.
Seeing him in person, he looked terribly frightening.
Erika tilted her head, then spoke nonchalantly.
"Ah, it's just writing up a normal employment contract. You just read it over, make any edits, and stamp your thumbprint to finish. You didn't bring a personal seal, right? We can make one here, but it takes a little time."
"H-Huh? I don't have a seal... Do I draw blood to stamp my thumbprint by any chance?"
"No. We just give you ordinary stamp ink. Are you scared by any chance, someone who's supposed to be a high-ranking mage of the Imperial Palace Knights?"
In response to the question, the imperial princess gave a honest, small nod.
Although this place looked identical to a modern hotel room, it was a fact that she was trapped in the middle of the demon faction's territory as an imperial princess of the empire.
Although she had crossed over into the Demon King's realm of her own free will, ever since hearing the Demon King's terrifying voice that shook the room, she couldn't stop her hands from trembling.
That collided with the existing common sense she possessed.
Endless doubts unsettled Imperial Princess Eileen's heart.
"Erika. I'm scared."
"For someone who says she's scared, just a moment ago you..."
Erika chuckled incredulously.
"Didn't you courageously shout, 'Kuh, just kill me instead!'? What kind of education does the imperial family give about demons anyway? Did you think we were going to violate you or something, Imperial Princess-nim?"
The imperial princess's face turned bright red.
'Kuh, to say 'kill me' with my own mouth... But that's how I was taught.'
It was practically an automatic reflex like 'No! Don't! Help me!'
If all these doubts were delusions stemming from her own foolish blunders, her recent behavior would definitely become a dark history.
"Our team members could do that kind of corruption roleplay concept as a welcoming greeting, but if you happen to have a preference for group play like that... we could arrange an event within the Demon King's Army's internal review guidelines—"
Erika's teasing was gradually getting mischievous.
She could feel her rank as an imperial princess gradually being stripped away down to just Eileen.
Not as an imperial princess and a priest,
Because here, they would now be fellow Heavenly Kings.
"... Stop it. Seriously. You're making me want to go back to the imperial palace."
If there were a rat hole, she would want to hide in it.
Keeeeek—
The heavy office door opened and closed.
In the darkness, the Demon King leaned back on his throne, flipping through a stack of documents. Red eyes glinted every time he turned a page.
"Demon King-nim, reporting in."
Erika knelt at the Demon King's feet and bowed her head.
"Has the imperial princess fallen asleep?"
"Yes, Demon King-nim. She seemed very nervous. She blurted out a classic line like 'Kuh, kill me.'"
The Demon King set down the documents and let out a smirk.
"Kukuku, the imperial bastards' rote learning is terrifying indeed. You've worked hard, Team Leader of the Corruption Department. Was it a solid half a year? Using your status as a priest to gain the imperial princess's trust, uncovering her background as an outsider, and persuading her."
"... It wasn't easy. But it was rewarding. Because the imperial princess was fed up with the empire's outdated system."
The Demon King stood up from his seat and approached Erika.
An overwhelming aura of intimidation enveloped her, but what he offered was a warm cup of tea.
"Drink up. It will soothe the fatigue from working overtime."
"Thank you."
"Don't stand on ceremony; take a seat and drink comfortably."
Erika, who had been kneeling on one knee, stood up and sat down in a chair, the clinking of the teacup resounding through the quiet office.
The Demon King looked out the window at the night view of the Demon King's Castle and continued calmly.
"Imperial Princess Eileen. In the empire, they mock her as the secluded princess of the back room, but she looks different in my eyes. The volume of logistics data she managed in her past life is dozens of times greater than the supply routes of our entire Demon King's Army. For starters, the scale of the empire itself is far larger than ours."
"Just looking at the collected data, her workload was abnormal."
Erika had repeatedly snuck out imperial documents while traveling back and forth to the imperial palace.
'Demon King-nim is the God of Corruption.'
The Demon King held all the data in his hands—from positions and job descriptions to labor intensity and working hours. With information alone, he saw through their styles and backgrounds, picking out those who had reached their utmost limits to corrupt them one by one.
An eye that sees human desires.
Even the fact that the imperial princess was an outsider like himself, the Demon King already knew.
"The 3rd Imperial Princess is an adopted daughter meant to politically absorb gifted outsiders. Does she herself...?"
"... She came to know that fact as well."
"Right. She must have learned the reason for the discrimination. Even why she was stuck in a back room unlike her other siblings. Yes. She has definitely turned her heart away from the imperial family."
Looking at the night view, the Demon King sat on the throne with a displeased expression.
"The logistics system she will build will tear down the empire faster than any legion. Conquest through war is a relic of an old era."
The Demon King was designing a plan to gather outstanding talent and replace inefficient systems through them.
"Team Leader Erika."
"Yes, Demon King-nim."
"The Imperial Princess Corruption Project over the past few months has concluded successfully. As of today, I order you to take two weeks of special paid leave. I have already delivered the suite room and massage vouchers for the Demon King Royal Hotel to the secretariat."
Erika's eyes widened.
"But the imperial princess's corruption procedure remains. I must assist at her side... No, I want to wrap this up myself."
"This is not a recommendation; it is an order. Have you forgotten my words: pleasure doesn't come after hardship, resting as much as you've worked hard is the law?"
"In that case, I will at least wrap up her employment contract. That much, I want to see with my own eyes."
"... Very well."
The Demon King spoke, looking down at Erika.
"Get a good rest. By the time you return, the imperial princess—no, Heavenly King Eileen—will have finished the draft for the demon realm's reforms."
"... Understood, Demon King-nim."
After setting down the empty teacup, Erika bowed deeply and withdrew.
Left alone, the Demon King sat back down at his desk and began reviewing Imperial Princess Eileen's employment contract one last time.
'Guaranteed maximum 52-hour work week, overtime pay, flexible hours, night shift pay, base salary equivalent to a Heavenly King, and performance bonuses up to stock options in the demon realm's logistics chain... With this much, she won't be able to refuse.'
Through the eyes of the Demon King, former labor attorney Doyun, the contract was clean and solid.
The Demon King's Castle where he resided was a place that boasted the finest working environment.
For headhunting, there was no better contract offer than this.
There was no such thing as unpaid overtime here. There were no evil practices of brushing off salaries under the gaslighting names of "passion pay" or "loyalty pay."
"However, how the empire will react after losing their imperial princess..."
The Demon King, former labor attorney Doyun, smiled quietly in the darkness.
The empire would try to prevent talent drain through force, coercion, loyalty, and the like, but he intended to scout and bring over the unfairly treated talents of the empire through systems, welfare, and working environments.
To have talents join the Demon King's Castle.
In the parlance of this place, it was called corrupting them.
"The power gap with the empire has already begun to narrow."
As the power gap narrowed, it was leading to a continuous acceleration of brainwashing and corruption.
"Soon, we will overtake them."
And when this world is unified under the Demon King's hand,
He planned to rip away all the empire's unfair exploitation pay and return it to the people.