A few minutes ago, the Head Maid was quietly resting in her own room, peeling an Apple.
From time to time, she would pop a freshly sliced piece into her mouth.
That sweetness seeped into her heart, soothing her tired spirit just like the tranquil atmosphere in the room.
“This Apple is pretty good. I should prepare some for the Young Lady and Su Mengdie to try~”
Saying this, the Head Maid sliced a few more fresh Apples, then cut half of the Cake that hadn’t yet been served, preparing them as afternoon tea snacks for the two of them.
“Sorry~! I didn’t see anything!”
The Head Maid only glanced at the scene, then immediately closed her eyes and turned away out of self-awareness.
‘What are the Young Lady and Su Mengdie doing?! Even if they’re playing a master-servant game, this isn’t how it’s played…’
Thinking of the Young Lady’s personality, the role reversal between the two made this well-experienced Head Maid pause in surprise.
“Is there something you need?”
Su Mengdie tidied up her appearance, then forced herself to ask calmly.
It was too awkward…
Why did the Head Maid have to come in precisely when she was begging the Young Lady for mercy?
Just thinking about the scene from a moment ago made her face turn as red and rosy as the sweet Apple.
“Um… The Apples delivered from the Orchard this time are very sweet, so I sliced some for the Young Lady for afternoon tea.”
Having accidentally seen such a scene, the Head Maid also felt a bit embarrassed.
She explained her purpose and lifted the Tray in her hands.
On the Tray, the Apples had been cut into cute shapes like little rabbits, with translucent droplets clinging to the red skin.
Su Mengdie wiped the cold sweat from her cheek and exchanged a glance with Penelope Jinzhi.
“I see. Well, come in quickly, Su Mengdie~ Don’t just stand there, go help the Head Maid take the things.”
Since she had come to deliver something, it wouldn’t do to make her stand outside.
But hearing Su Mengdie order her to help, Penelope Jinzhi couldn’t help narrowing her eyes and arching her brows in anger.
“Making me do chores? Su Mengdie, just you wait!”
Penelope muttered, moving her Cherry Mouth, threatening softly in a voice only the two could hear.
Su Mengdie pursed her lips when she heard this, feeling indignant but unable to show it…
Isn’t it only natural for a subordinate to help their superior with things?
Why was she being threatened by the Young Lady?
But Penelope wouldn’t care about any of that.
All she knew was that Su Mengdie had made her do chores, and she’d have to teach her a lesson later, so she’d know who the true master was!
If you ask why Penelope had never complained when the Head Maid made her do a thorough cleaning before—
That was simply because the Head Maid, like her, could report directly to the family head and have her dismissed, but Su Mengdie would never fire her.
In short, Penelope couldn’t afford to offend her—couldn’t afford to offend the Head Maid.
Even if she declared herself the Young Lady in front of the Head Maid, the Head Maid would probably think she’d gone mad and send her directly to the Jinzhi Family’s psychiatric hospital.
That was something neither she nor Su Mengdie wanted to see…
The things delivered were set on a Round Table by Penelope, and Su Mengdie pulled out a chair, inviting the Head Maid to sit with them.
Faced with such an enthusiastic ‘Young Lady’, the Head Maid was a little uneasy.
But what made her even more uneasy was that the ‘Young Lady’ not only invited her to sit, but had personally brewed Red Tea for them!?
The Head Maid was caught off guard as she accepted the Red Tea, her mind racing.
‘Why is the Young Lady suddenly being so nice to me? Is it related to the scene I just witnessed?’
Since she couldn’t guess the Young Lady’s intentions, she didn’t dare say much, nor did she dare taste the Red Tea the Young Lady brewed for her, afraid there might be something terrible in it.
But the tea really did smell wonderful—maybe even better than what she brewed…
No, it was definitely better!
Earlier, she had only smelled the fragrance, but now, seeing the color of the tea, she was even more certain.
‘When did the Young Lady learn to brew tea?’
She actually had no idea at all!
“Young Lady, this tea is really excellent. Would you have time to teach me sometime?”
The tea was so well-brewed that it triggered her maidly instincts, making her forget her earlier worries.
At the same time, Su Mengdie had just forked a small piece of Apple and put it into her Cherry Mouth.
She hadn’t had time to savor it when she was startled by the Head Maid’s request.
‘Oh no! I forgot that the Young Lady can’t brew tea—did she notice something?!’
Forget it, just deny everything!
She didn’t see the brewing process anyway.
“Ahaha~, you’re too kind. I just made it casually; how could it possibly compare to your tea?”
Exactly, exactly—how could the Young Lady, a hopeless net-addict, ever have the patience to learn how to brew tea?
This must be an illusion…right?
No, wait, when did the Young Lady become so polite?
The Head Maid suddenly looked up, her face full of suspicion as she stared at Su Mengdie.
In her impression, given the Young Lady’s character, she should have said something like, “No time, learn it yourself. Teaching maids to brew tea is not my job.”
‘Why does the Young Lady seem a bit like Su Mengdie right now? Is it because they spend so much time together?’
Because the Head Maid was staring at her the whole time, Su Mengdie felt completely ill at ease.
But what made her even more uncomfortable was Penelope’s left hand, which had already sneaked under her skirt.
Her Gothic Dress wasn’t short, and when she sat, the skirt covered her knees.
But Penelope didn’t care about that.
Her left hand grabbed the skirt’s edge and slowly bunched it up, inch by inch, until it exposed her knees.
Then, taking advantage of the Head Maid’s focus on Su Mengdie, Penelope’s left hand began boldly caressing the inside of her thigh, stroking the Black Stockings.
This was too much!
All she’d done was make the Young Lady help with a little chore, and she was being punished like this.
‘No, I can’t… It tickles… and my head is starting to feel funny…’
The relentless teasing left Su Mengdie’s cheeks flushed red, her breathing growing unsteady.
No matter how much she tried to keep a straight face, the body’s reactions couldn’t be hidden.
Even someone as slow as Su Mengdie now realized—
Her body was actually getting excited?!
How could this be!
She wasn’t a pervert—how could being bullied make her excited…
It must be because of the Young Lady’s body!
Just as Penelope grew even bolder, the Head Maid also noticed something odd about Su Mengdie.
“Young Lady, are you all right? Your face is so red—are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine… It’s just a little hot after drinking the Red Tea. By the way, why aren’t you drinking yours?”
“I… I’ll drink it in a bit~ (Actually, I’m afraid it’s drugged.)”
Pointed out by the ‘Young Lady’, the Head Maid immediately averted her gaze, feeling guilty.
When facing a gentle Young Lady, lying felt much harder than usual.
But on second thought, since the Young Lady was being so nice, she probably wouldn’t put poison in the tea…
It was rare to have such delicious Red Tea, especially brewed by the Young Lady herself.
It would really be a waste, and quite rude, not to drink it!
Maybe… just a sip?
Under the gaze of the two girls, the Head Maid elegantly lifted the teacup and took a sip.
“Mm~! This is so…”
She didn’t even finish the word “tea” before suddenly feeling the world spin, collapsing onto the Round Table.
No way, was the tea really poisoned?!