Chapter 53: I need to think of a way to cure her.

“What have you… huff… been protecting…?”

Luwei collapsed limply into the mattress, her silver hair a messy bird’s nest, but she only had the energy to gasp for breath.

Her azure eyes were misted with a thin layer of moisture, her gaze unfocused, her expression dazed…

And looking at the listless girl before her—

who didn’t even have the strength to move a finger, completely and utterly in a state of bewildered disarray—

Floxi felt an inexplicable flutter rise in her heart, her own breathing growing heavier…

She’s… so cute…

But soon, reason reclaimed its territory.

Thinking of the thoughts that had just crossed her mind, Floxi’s face couldn’t help but burn bright red…

“S-sorry… Your Highness.”

“I just wanted to tease you a little.”

Floxi hurriedly explained, “I didn’t expect… you to be so ticklish…”

She muttered softly, her face filled with apology…

But the victim didn’t seem to appreciate it.

“I don’t want to see you again… get out!”

Luwei gritted her teeth and said fiercely.

Hearing this, Floxi’s expression turned somewhat troubled.

“But Your Highness… this is my room…”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, her expression became a bit mischievous…

“Your Highness, do you still have any strength? How about… I carry you back!”

“I… can walk by myself!”

***

By the time Luwei returned to her own bedroom, the sky had already darkened…

Lying back in her own large bed, Luwei still felt waves of weakness throughout her body.

“What was all that about…”

She rolled over a few times on the bed, then buried her head in the pillow.

But she couldn’t stop thoughts of Floxi from surfacing in her mind.

After going through so much together,

even someone as dense as Luwei could sense something…

“She really likes me?”

“…Since when?”

She had thought those friendly gestures were just Floxi’s way of trying to reconcile with her.

But now it seemed… they were mixed with some other kind of emotion.

And Luwei’s original goal was just to make Floxi not hate her so much.

But through a strange twist of fate, their relationship had directly skipped over “not hating” and upgraded to “liking”…

“What does she even like about me??”

This was the only thing Luwei couldn’t figure out no matter how hard she thought…

In her own view, she had a terrible personality, a scary expression, was lazy and unambitious, and her hobby was bullying people…

You could pick out a whole bunch of flaws just like that!

Floxi must have some kind of weird fetish… a masochist?

Likes to take down her superiors?

Luwei’s thoughts were a tangled mess…

Back then, when she and Floxi established their lover relationship, it was mostly a joke, the main reason was to complete the Romance Quest…

Could it be that this girl took the joke seriously?

Floxi really is the type who quietly obeys, always remembering my casual actions for a very, very long time…

So, should I… explain things clearly to her?

Luwei fell into a deep silence…

What if Floxi only feels gratitude towards me,

and is just pretending to like me to go along with me?

Luwei propped herself up and looked towards the full-length mirror by the bed…

The silver-haired girl in the mirror had slightly flushed cheeks, her confused eyes soft enough to drip water.

But Luwei’s focus was clearly not there…

She looked over her own figure up and down—short and skinny!

She grinned at the mirror—so terrifying!

If they really became lovers sharing a bed… seeing a smile like that every day, wouldn’t she have nightmares?

Luwei thought this,

becoming more and more convinced of her own idea—

Being forced to like someone like me… Floxi must be troubled too, right?

“Should I, confirm it with her?”

Luwei made a bitter face, thinking for a long time.

“…No.”

Her heart tightened…

Asking something like “Do you really like me?” would undoubtedly be showing weakness to Floxi.

And right now, the relationship between them was already precarious; she had to hold onto what little dignity she had left!

Luwei recalled earlier…

Floxi ignored her scolding and actually used a terrifying method like tickling to make her yield!

She couldn’t help but shiver…

Absolutely… absolutely don’t want to experience that again!

Such a disobedient maid… I have to think of a way to deal with her.

“Might as well just leave her out in the cold…”

Right, ignore her!

This method could achieve two goals at once…

First, to put this girl in her place.

Second… to verify Floxi’s true feelings for me.

If Floxi really likes me, then she should be very troubled.

If she’s just acting like a lover out of obligation because of the debt she feels…

Then, my intentional distance should make Floxi feel more comfortable, right?

“As expected… as a superior, I should maintain a certain distance from my employees…”

Luwei murmured softly.

The sky outside the window began to fade,

until the last bit of orange-red also sank below the horizon.

Only this ink-black curtain overhead remained, slowly covering the sky.

What will tomorrow be like?

The reopening of the Potion Factory needs manpower…

The Title Inheritance Ceremony needs a date set…

Still need to deal with the minor nobility attached to the Caris Family…

The numerous tasks were almost enough to occupy Luwei’s entire mind.

But she felt… not as exhausted.

“Is it because… of Floxi and the others…?”

A drowsy murmur came from under the covers…

She knew she didn’t have to shoulder these heavy burdens alone anymore.

“Having you all… is very… reassuring…”