“I don’t even know how this is going to turn out.”
Linko stood hesitatingly outside Flora’s door.
Yesterday, following Moliyaer’s orders, she had forced Flora into a deep sleep and then went to notify Elka.
If her guess about their intention was correct, pushing the door open today would likely reveal two people tangled up messily on the bed.
This wasn’t something she hadn’t seen before, but this time, the thought of it happening to that blue-haired girl made Linko feel uneasy.
She had had an unusually sleepless night, her mind filled with the scene she expected to see this morning.
After all, this wasn’t just about hiding and betraying a partner; it was a waste of the trust Flora had given her.
If Linko had to describe it, it felt like she was personally pushing someone so important to her into someone else’s arms.
Unable to sleep through the night, she tried to soothe herself.
[No, this way of thinking is wrong. Miss Flora has some kind of charm; I’m just being influenced by that power, letting inappropriate thoughts creep in.]
She silently recited in her mind.
So what if she saw them in bed together?
Moliyaer definitely had similar plans when she locked Flora up like this.
Wasn’t it the young lady who almost did the same to Flora before?
In the main household, she had witnessed the young masters consorting with their purchased lovers.
What else was there to care about?
She was just a servant, a tool executing the lord’s orders, a maid following the young lady’s commands.
Thinking this way, the light in Linko’s eyes dimmed, a resolute coldness appearing on her face.
She recited again in her heart: [She is like a moon, not belonging to me; I’m just lucky to be bathed in her light. Besides, I have also done wrong to her. That she became my mission target, my partner, and left me these memories—I should be grateful.]
Taking a deep breath, Linko lifted the corners of her mouth slightly and gently knocked on the door.
“Miss Flora, are you awake?”
The rustling sounds inside made Linko bite her lip instinctively.
“Ah, I… I’m not awake. No, I am awake! Is there something you need?”
A groggy voice sounded from inside the room, but there was no other movement.
“Would you prefer to eat here in the room or in the dining hall?” Linko continued softly, unable to help but listen carefully.
Faint murmurs and coquettish whispers could be heard.
“Just sleep a little more, sleep a bit.”
Yes, that voice—definitely not Flora’s but Elka’s.
“Let’s just eat here. Um, Linko, could you please get a few more maids? I have some trouble here.”
“What trouble?”
Carrying breakfast, Linko pushed open the door without hesitation, her emotionless eyes locking onto Flora’s helpless expression on the bed and Elka, who looked like a mess.
The feelings brewing inside her suddenly got doused with cold water.
Honestly, the scene in front of her had no sensual connection at all because Elka’s posture was like a little girl clutching her doll—she held onto Flora’s arm tightly, and the drool had soaked both her own golden hair and Flora’s blue locks.
They say the long-lived species tend to be immature.
Linko was now witnessing firsthand what that meant.
“Get someone to take her for a bath. I want to bathe too! Linko, next time you go out, lock the door. She climbed into my bed and nearly kept me awake all night. Do you know? Last night she was biting my foot. Is this acceptable?”
“Sorry…”
Flora shouted like that, and Linko, realizing she was involved, felt a little embarrassed.
But when her gaze landed on Flora’s foot, marked by Elka’s drool, she inexplicably swallowed hard.
The image of the girl’s disgusted expression flashed in her mind, and she lowered her head with some guilt.
Hearing Flora’s words, Elka released her grip and roughly grabbed Flora’s head, burying her face in her embrace.
“A bath? So you really do find me dirty. You despise me! How could you despise me!”
“Yes, I despise you. You smell terrible. Get away from me!”
“That’s too much! I won’t let go, I just won’t!”
The two began to squabble like children.
Linko couldn’t stand idly by and quickly set down the breakfast, called a few maids, and had the far less coherent Elka escorted out.
After closing the door, the girl inside returned to her usual calm demeanor, and the maid standing by the bed was silent.
After a moment, Flora broke the silence.
“Sorry.”
She glanced at Linko, her tone laced with ups and downs.
“Really, I’m sorry~”
“I’ll help you bathe.”
Linko didn’t buy it, nor did she plan to entertain further apologies.
Switching into work mode, she moved like a cold machine, flawless and resolute, and reached forward to pull off Flora’s clothes, making Flora quickly cross her arms.
“Alright, I get it. Seriously, I’ll behave and take a bath. There’s a party tonight, and you came early this morning. You want to go over things, right?”
“Yes, to review this week’s progress and to dress you up nicely.”
“Also to see how you’ve been messed up.”
The maid’s slight hint of mischief returned as she thought maliciously in her heart.
But knowing that Flora hadn’t slept well even if she hadn’t been “dealt with” last night, Linko carefully arranged the breakfast dishes on the table.
“Anyway, eat first. With Elka acting up like that, you must be starving now.”
Pretty considerate, huh.
Flora didn’t catch the double meaning and shrugged before hopping off the bed to sit in the chair.
Looking at the exquisite breakfast before her, she pursed her lips, pleased to see no strange dishes made from bizarre ingredients.
“A reward for being obedient, not bad. Don’t you think?”
She smiled at Linko.
“…”
Linko remained silent, her gaze lowered as she served on the left side.
Flora knew this meant that the ever-watchful Moliyaer was monitoring her again.
Having not seen her for days, she was curious about what surprises Moliyaer had prepared for her.
[If you knew I caught Elka faking it to get closer to me, and you let her keep doing that, what exactly are you planning? Or are you just seeing her pitiful state as an opportunity to make her earn my trust again?]
With such thoughts, Flora cut off a small piece of cheese and popped it into her mouth.
She looked up at the known surveillance spot and chewed provocatively toward the camera.
“Heh…”
At the other end of the screen, in a private room of a restaurant in Dolun City, Moliyaer watched her expression, a smile creeping into her eyes.
[You’re getting more interesting.]
Playing little tricks, taking the initiative to interact with her.
No matter the intention, as long as she responded, it met Moliyaer’s expectations for Flora.
Having just finished her meeting with the princess and secured the cooperation she wanted, she left the restaurant in a good mood and headed to the main venue of today’s performance—the grand hall of the plaza where the evening party was to be held.
As the protagonist, Flora’s stage time could be a little later.
But as the organizer of the party, Moliyaer needed to arrive early to deal with the young nobles and create a “good” atmosphere for the star’s appearance.