“When?”
“At two in the morning, when the workers delivering the ingredients arrive. There are five people responsible for patrolling the villa, myself included, and that’s when the number of patrols inside the villa is at its lowest.
Your room is checked every ten minutes.
I’ll adjust the duty roster so that I’m on patrol during that time, and create a distraction. You can use that chance to slip out.”
As long as Moliya’er agreed, any timing would work.
But to make it seem reasonable to Flora, this plan—which apparently required the head maid’s authority—was more suitable.
After finishing her explanation, Linko was about to leave, but Flora grabbed the hem of her clothes.
“Tell me first—what will happen to you if you do this?”
“……”
{So she does still suspect me. Understandable.}
Linko didn’t have a deep impression of Flora but knew she had some cunning.
She wasn’t foolish—her previous threat alone proved that much.
Should she lie, or tell the truth about the consequences she might face?
Linko hesitated briefly, and that reaction dimmed Flora’s gaze.
“Hm, do you really need to ask? If I neglect my duty and let you escape, Moliya’er will definitely come after me. I didn’t take that into consideration, and if I go out and make all those small moves, there’ll be too many loopholes.”
“Ah…”
Because of her initial, dark suspicions, Linko almost lost grip of the dishes in her hands upon hearing Flora’s words.
She stared at the girl in astonishment, eyes wide with disbelief.
Her expression made Flora blink in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. You don’t need to worry about that. It’s a necessary sacrifice. Our relationship is based on mutual use. If you start worrying about me, it would be a bit childish.”
Linko quickly regained her composure, her impression of Flora shifting to something else.
{I already treated her like that, and she still cares if I’m punished? Maybe the reason this girl is locked up here has something to do with that… frustrating personality of hers.}
She felt helpless but didn’t regret what she had done earlier.
Those actions were her duty.
Also, judging someone so quickly by just a few words wasn’t her style.
“But I’m not Moliya’er.”
The resentment in Flora’s voice silenced Linko.
She met her gaze and spoke in a tone blending negotiation and counsel:
“Then are you planning to give up? Don’t expect me to help you again if that’s the case—and be prepared for my contempt.”
Kindness and indecision share some similarities but are very different in their consequences.
Earlier, Linko had said Flora had a kind heart, but that was more to soothe her naïve disposition.
However…
If Flora truly had that kindness, Linko would stand by her words.
If she was merely indecisive, Linko would never cooperate with her again.
“You probably have chances to go out, right? Just pass a message for me. That way, the effect I want can still be achieved. You won’t be punished, and many troubles can be avoided, right?”
{Then wouldn’t everything I did turn me into a fool?}
Looking at the paper in her hands, Linko felt a mix of irritation and amusement.
Despite the situation, Flora still thought of her.
Was this respect for a partner in cooperation?
With that attitude, how could she, a mere servant, refuse to interact with this girl?
But those were problems for later.
Flora just wanted her to pass a message—a simple request made complicated instantly.
Linko was well aware Moliya’er was looking for an opportunity to give her a warning.
Whether Flora left or not, that whipping was inevitable.
How should she explain it then?
If Flora misunderstood it as a sob story, it would work against whatever Flora herself planned to do.
“Your expression is odd. Could it be… you’ve already arranged something?! Servants in noble households really are efficient… this…”
Seeing the fleeting embarrassment and hesitation on Linko’s face, Flora cleverly interpreted it as praise for her efficiency.
Linko didn’t miss the chance to use that misunderstanding to her advantage and nodded.
“The lady doesn’t trust me completely and my chances to go out are limited. For your movement, I already contacted someone to disguise themselves as a food delivery worker to create a distraction.
The lady and Miss Elka are in talks, and the villa has magic to prevent information from leaking. I’m also summoned at any time, so it’s difficult to cancel the operation.”
The explanation was full of holes, but since this was a secret conversation, it was hard to uncover the truth.
That left Flora feeling troubled.
“It’s my fault for coming up with things on a whim. What to do… tsk… can’t waste this opportunity.”
She bit her lip in frustration.
Even for cooperation’s sake, Flora didn’t want someone to be hurt because of her.
Though the reason made sense, she couldn’t let it go emotionally.
This was her greatest weakness.
That’s why she had always tried to avoid such situations.
But now, there was no way to avoid it.
Since that was the case, she had to think differently.
Knowing Linko couldn’t avoid surveillance forever while talking to her, her mind raced for a solution.
“I got it. I’ll slip out of my room during the chaos but stay inside the villa. After you dismiss the person causing the distraction, come to catch me. As long as I don’t leave this house, you shouldn’t be punished much, and you might even earn merit. Plus, creating this disturbance will make your suspicious trips to deliver messages less conspicuous.”
That plan earned her some favor with the head maid, making future requests easier.
“But you’re under supervision magic. Even if you’re not in your room…”
Even if her fate ended the same in the end, Linko appreciated Flora’s thoughtfulness in trying to consider her position.
So she didn’t mind helping refine the plan and earn more trust.
But Flora’s clarity surprised her.
The girl said just one sentence, and Linko lost the urge to say more.
She saw Flora off from the room.
“Breaking down magic isn’t difficult for someone skilled in healing like me.”
Standing by Flora’s door, Linko was stunned for a moment before sighing deeply.
{I really don’t understand, Flora, where did your initial hesitation go? Could it be the lady’s behavior pushed you too far? I really underestimated you.}
A slight smile tugged at Linko’s lips.
Setting her mission aside, her impression of Flora was quite positive now.
If she had the chance to know her under normal circumstances, she’d gladly do so.
She glanced again at the paper in her hand.
Flora hadn’t specified the best time to deliver it.
Just as the girl said, she chose to trust her.
Such a rare and precious quality.
{If you want the special medicine, come get it yourself at the Emerald Heart’s party. You know the rules.}
Not understanding the coded language, Linko only knew the message was for Miss Meifei of the Rust-colored Gold Trading Firm, and there probably wasn’t any intent to control others with drugs.
From this, she gleaned some useful information—that Flora had a clear social network, had been active in Duolun City before, and was someone with abilities similar to the original healer of the Emerald Heart.
{I’m not even a woman… Flora, if that phrase means what I think it does, that would be awful.}
Even if she could forgive herself for going too far with Flora out of duty, unintentionally crossing the line into clear cruelty was unacceptable.
With a complicated heart, she carried the dishes and walked into the dining hall.
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