“Hmm…?”
“Mhm!”
“Mhm-hmm~~”
Aisha watched the subtle dance of expressions across Fina’s face, her heart hammering nervously.
‘Is there something important recorded in this letter?’
‘Will I be silenced??’
She waited with restless anticipation until finally—
“Aisha?”
“…Present!”
Aisha straightened immediately.
“You really are my lucky charm…”
Fina’s fingers stroked the letter, her tone impossible to read.
“Since you’ve seen it too… do you understand what this letter represents?”
Her smile deepened, layered with a meaning Aisha couldn’t decipher.
‘Why does it say “help,” yet the Third Princess looks so… happy?’
Aisha’s mind raced.
This had to be a trap!
‘Maybe she just wants to share the joy of receiving a letter from a friend…’
‘Could “help” mean something innocent? Like “save my puppy”?‘
Trusting only her instincts, Aisha answered, voice trembling slightly:
“In response to Your Highness… you and your best friend must share a wonderful bond. When the other party is in trouble, the first person they think of is you… I believe your friendship will last forever!”
She forced herself to sound confident.
Silence followed.
Confused, Aisha glanced at the other maids.
Their expressions were blank—no disdain, no mockery—only an unspoken ‘What is this girl talking about?’
“Do you really think so?”
Fina’s tone was unreadable.
The whispers of the surrounding maids, however, revealed the truth.
“She really is a commoner from the countryside… hasn’t even heard of the Villainess Luwei’s reputation…”
“Didn’t she attend the Coming-of-age Ceremony the Third Princess hosted for Luwei six months ago?”
“That wicked woman insulted Her Highness in public! Made her lose face…”
“I think Her Highness did the right thing. That wicked woman deserves ruin!”
Aisha’s head spun.
‘This… this is complicated.’
She stole a look at Fina.
No dissatisfaction.
In fact, the Princess tacitly allowed these maids to gossip freely, even disparaging Luwei.
‘Princess Fina and Luwei were childhood playmates. Their relationship broke down. And now Fina openly spreads rumors, permits slander…?’
‘The reason she smiled at the “help” in the letter… was because she was gloating?’
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I—I didn’t understand…”
Aisha’s voice faltered, her head lowering in flustered submission.
“It’s alright~”
Fina’s voice remained sweet, but Aisha’s heart raced.
This brilliant Third Princess’s thoughts were far from simple.
“The rest of you, leave. I want a private talk with little Aisha.”
The maids filed out, one by one, leaving a faint trace of schadenfreude behind.
Alone, Aisha felt tears welling up. She didn’t even know Luwei; this was far beyond her understanding.
“Princess…”
Aisha spoke hesitantly.
Fina’s smile grew exaggerated.
“You’re so similar… little Aisha, you really remind me of someone. I want Luwei to see you too… no, I should just give you to her!”
“She’ll like it… right? Right??”
“Your Highness…?”
Aisha froze, completely bewildered.
“Aisha understands me very well~”
Fina’s golden eyes glowed.
“You’re different from those gossip-loving nobles… so I want to share the rest of the letters with you too!”
She opened the envelopes.
Magic scrolls, blank sheets, symbols…
Aisha’s pupils constricted. A bad premonition rose.
‘Why are all the letters encrypted? Is the Third Princess… conducting espionage?’
Fina waved her hand.
Mana rippled subtly.
The letters revealed their secrets:
[July 24… Luwei suspected of intimate acts with Floxi]
[July 16… Luwei visited Roy with Floxi and Sabella]
[July 15… Luwei reached an employment agreement with Monet]
[July 13… Luwei frequents the library]
[July 8… Luwei entered the slave market with Floxi]
[July 7… Luwei designated Floxi her personal maid]
[July 5… Luwei purchased Runic Collars; appeared in adult products section]
[June 24… Luwei prepares basement construction…]
The letters floated around them. Images and sounds, every secret action of Luwei meticulously recorded.
Aisha’s body froze.
‘This unlucky Luwei offended the Third Princess at the Coming-of-age Ceremony… and now… her life is being scrutinized in every detail?!’
Trembling, Aisha stammered: “Your Highness… I truly don’t know this bad woman Luwei! Please forgive me if I offended you…”
Fina’s expression shifted.
“Bad woman?”
She scrolled through the files obsessively, voice confused.
“Didn’t you just say my friendship with Luwei would last forever…?”
“When Luwei runs into trouble, the first person she thinks of is me!? Isn’t that what you said?”
Aisha froze, terror gripping her.
Though Fina still smiled, her eyes seemed broken.
“I’m sorry!! I—I was wrong. I didn’t know… how could I, a girl from the sticks, understand… She’s wicked, she talked back to Your Highness… she deserves it…”
Aisha collapsed to her knees, voice pleading.
Fina finally calmed slightly.
“So… that’s what little Aisha thinks… no wonder… all my fault…”
With a wave of her hand, the magical projections folded into scrolls in Fina’s hands.
“Aisha, come with me… I need a small favor.”
Aisha tensed but nodded.
“This is where I live~~”
Fina opened her bedroom door.
Aisha’s gaze turned blank.
The enormous room was filled—every surface—walls, floor, bedding, pillows, furniture—with images of Luwei.
Sleepy, sulking, smiling, pouting…
“Th—Third Princess…?”
Aisha whispered.
Fina stared at a magical projection of a petite, silver-haired girl on a velvet bed, sunlight highlighting her features.
“Aren’t you and… this Lady Luwei… on bad terms?”
Fina’s reaction was explosive:
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry…!”
Not to Aisha.
To the projection.
“I just… don’t want anyone else to have you! I want to drive them all away!! Look… only I know how good you are…”
“…You’ll forgive me, right?”
Her gaze softened, voice sweet as honey, yet obsessive and intense.
“…Hey, what does Aisha think?”
She finally looked at Aisha, eyes dimmed to forced cheer.
“If Luwei knew all this… would she forgive me?”
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