Chapter 16: Strange thoughts

At seven in the morning, when she was supposed to get up, Su Mengdie was now trapped in Penelope’s embrace, unable to move.

Dark circles stood out beneath her drooping brows, a clear sign she hadn’t slept well last night.

Although she still wanted to sleep a bit longer, the thought that the Head Maid might come soon forced her to summon the strength to wake the Penelope behind her.

“Young Lady, it’s already morning, get up!”

“Mm~? Su Mengdie, I’m so sleepy~ Let me sleep a little longer…”

Penelope pressed her face against the back of her neck, whining in a soft, spoiled tone.

“I’m tired too! But the Head Maid will be here soon. You don’t want the Head Maid to find out that ‘Little Die’ used the ‘Young Lady’ as a body pillow, do you?”

It was no big deal if the Young Lady used Sumengdie as a body pillow—after all, she was the type to do such things.

But now, the roles were reversed, which made the situation completely different.

In the Head Maid’s eyes, it would definitely seem like Sumengdie took advantage of the sleeping Young Lady and attacked her in the night.

Otherwise, how could the Young Lady be lying so obediently in her arms, not resisting at all?

“Mm~…”

Hearing Su Mengdie say this, Penelope sobered up a bit, stretching while squeezing the soft thing in her hands.

“Mm~! What are you doing!?”

Su Mengdie let out a cute yelp, blushing as she scolded her.

Seriously, first thing in the morning, did she have to act like this?

Hadn’t she gotten enough last night?

“Just stretching, hehe~”

Hah?

Other people stretch by raising their arms—why did she have to squeeze with her hands instead!

“Young Lady~, that’s enough! Get off!”

Su Mengdie clutched her slightly swollen chest, kicking Penelope behind her.

She might be a maid, but she didn’t provide that kind of service!

After being kicked by Su Mengdie, Penelope finally let go obediently and jumped off the bed.

Her loose slip dress now hung by only one strap, exposing a large swath of fair skin and half of a full, peach-like curve.

Yet Penelope didn’t care at all.

She covered her mouth as she yawned, then walked barefoot across the floor to draw open the curtains.

‘Swish~’

The moment the curtains opened, the warm morning sunlight spilled across her face, banishing some of her fatigue.

Looking down, Penelope saw several maids already tending to the flowers in the garden below, trimming and watering them.

The spray from the watering cans faintly formed a beautiful rainbow, making for a lovely scene.

“Not bad~ It’s another beautiful day!”

“If it’s such a beautiful day, how about the Young Lady try dressing herself for once?”

After getting out of bed, Su Mengdie casually began tidying up the bedding.

“No way~! I want Little Die to help me dress!”

Penelope would delay as long as she could—she simply didn’t want to dress herself.

Su Mengdie had always been soft-hearted, thinking it was fine to help as long as she could.

But thinking of the Young Lady’s excessive antics last night, Su Mengdie decided not to indulge her anymore, no matter how much she acted spoiled!

“Young Lady, you’d better hurry. The Head Maid will be here any minute.”

With that, Su Mengdie turned and opened the Young Lady’s wardrobe, starting to select clothes for today.

She’d spoiled the Young Lady too much, that’s why she kept pushing her limits.

That was the conclusion Sumengdie had come to after thinking it over all night.

When Penelope saw that Su Mengdie really wasn’t going to help, she crossed her arms over her chest and puffed up her cheeks in a huff.

If Little Die wouldn’t help her, she just wouldn’t get dressed today and see what Little Die would do about it!

Then, a rhythmic knock at the door immediately broke her act.

“Young Lady, is Su Mengdie with you?”

The Head Maid’s voice came through the crack in the door.

Though quiet, it was perfectly clear.

Hearing the Head Maid, Penelope rushed to the bed at lightning speed, fixed her slip strap, then threw on a clean maid outfit.

Watching the Young Lady dress herself so fluidly, Su Mengdie couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.

“She’s here. Please wait outside for a moment, Little Die is helping me dress right now.”

“All right. Let me know when Miss is ready.”

“Mm…”

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Su Mengdie pinched the lace edge and rolled up a black stocking, running it up the elegant curve of Penelope’s leg.

The smooth stocking brushed against soft skin with a faint rustle, ending with a satisfying snap as it hugged her flesh.

“Didn’t the Young Lady just refuse to get dressed? Why the sudden enthusiasm?”

As she put the stockings on, Su Mengdie couldn’t resist teasing her Young Lady.

She was just too funny a moment ago.

“I… I just felt a little cold all of a sudden, didn’t want Little Die to catch a chill. Don’t get the wrong idea! It’s not like I wanted to put on clothes or anything.”

“Sure, sure~”

So dishonest!

If she was afraid of the Head Maid, she could just admit it—it wasn’t even that embarrassing.

After putting on the other stocking in the same way, Su Mengdie changed into a long brown dress, then tied her beautiful blonde hair into cute twin tails using a strawberry hair tie.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Su Mengdie couldn’t resist making a V-sign at her cheek, looking absolutely adorable.

“As expected, this style really suits the Young Lady~”

“If it’s Little Die, it really does suit you.”

Seeing the pose Su Mengdie struck, Penelope nodded in satisfaction.

She was just too cute.

“I think it’d suit the Young Lady as well, if only you’d let me try it on you.”

Su Mengdie had suggested this style to the Young Lady before, but every time she was ruthlessly refused.

Penelope always gave the same reason—she was afraid that if she became too cute, she’d tempt Su Mengdie into committing a crime…

Su Mengdie hadn’t believed it before, but now she realized the Young Lady really did have foresight.

Looking at such an adorable ‘Young Lady’, Sumengdie’s heart really did flutter.

No!

What was she even thinking!

Su Mengdie shook her head furiously, grabbed her phone off the table to check the time, then hurried toward the door.

She hadn’t expected that simply dressing up and doing her hair would take over an hour!

Head Maid, I’m sorry~!

“Young Lady, let’s go quickly, the Head Maid must be getting anxious!”

“…Young Lady? Young Lady!”

Su Mengdie lowered her voice and called a few times, but Penelope just stared blankly at the mirror on the vanity, as if her soul had left her body, completely unresponsive.

What was she doing?

Seeing her so lost in thought, Su Mengdie stood on tiptoe and waved a hand in front of her face.

Suddenly, Penelope caught that hand and pulled her straight toward the door.

“I heard you, stop fussing.”

“What were you just thinking about, Young Lady?”

“That’s a secret…”

It wasn’t that Penelope didn’t want to say, it was just that her thoughts were impossible to share out loud.

Thinking back to the Little Die in the mirror, she’d just had a very strange thought—

Such a cute Little Die, she really wanted to pin her down and watch her cry and beg for mercy~