Returning to the Toukui Imperial Palace, it was already late into the night.
The once bustling night market of Monsell had long since closed, leaving only a sparse few lingering stubbornly in taverns and at street stalls.
Although the Okam Empire was rife with undercurrents and a mix of competing powers, under Emperor Rubas’s rule, these were ultimately just the dark underbelly of the Empire.
For now, they could not surface openly.
Just earlier, passing by a night stall, Willis saw burly men with bare chests shouting angrily at each other.
Complaints about the Empire’s decay, about talent going unrecognized…
Critiques sharply pointed at social ills, dissected with reasoned arguments, spoken with an air of certainty…
These people living at the bottom of the Empire spoke grandly and boastfully, their voices filled with drunken bravado…
So much so that Willis even put down her book, curious enough to have the carriage slow so she could listen more closely.
Though she didn’t know those rolling in the midst of fireworks and human bustle, Willis found herself agreeing with some of what they said.
Yet, in the end, it all dissolved into an indistinct laugh.
If the Empire were truly as miserable as those men claimed, on the verge of collapse, how could they possibly have the leisure to come to this night market and indulge in food, drink, and social criticism?
Finally, when Annie Donald expressed her doubts, Willis merely commented, “Drunken words spoken recklessly—hardly to be taken seriously.”
This prosperous capital, its lights bright as day, its vibrant, bustling night market ablaze with fire and life, were proof of the Okam Empire’s effective governance.
Yet, beneath that unseen current lurked a sense of impending storm, as if dark clouds were gathering on the horizon.
Still, many people remained ignorant and naive.
“So this is Her Highness’s Toukui Palace, truly magnificent and elegant!”
Stepping down from the carriage, the coachman drove off with the now-empty vehicle, while the accompanying guards stood watch nearby.
Annie lightly spun around on the spot, marveling, as Willis elegantly alighted with Victoria’s help.
“I don’t know if you’re praising me or mocking me,” Willis chuckled lightly.
“Of course, I’m praising Her Highness!”
Annie’s cheeks flushed slightly.
But under the night’s darkness, Willis couldn’t see clearly.
“Come on, it’s time to rest now…”
Turning her head, Willis looked toward the waiting maid and asked, “Is there hot water?”
“Yes, Your Highness, it’s always prepared…”
“Then take this young lady to wash up and arrange a room for her. I’ll come shortly.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The maid bowed and gestured for Annie Donald, “Miss, please this way.”
“Wi… Your Highness, you’re not going to… Never mind, let’s go.”
Annie hesitated but finally shot Willis a resentful glance before following the maid.
This scene left Willis somewhat puzzled.
“Victoria, what do you think she wanted to say just now?”
“I don’t know…” The silver-haired girl rested her hand on the sword at her waist, guessing faintly, “Maybe she was inviting you, Your Highness, to bathe together?”
Willis was momentarily stunned, then looked at Victoria with a playful expression.
“Are you getting revenge for the bullying back at the library?”
“Not at all.”
“Oh? You’re not daring to, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to?”
Willis’s retort left Victoria silent. For a moment, Her Highness the Princess fixed her gaze on her, trying to catch a flicker of reaction on her face.
After a long while…
“Boring. Enough of this. You go wash up, I’m going back to my room…”
Pausing briefly, Willis’s mood was quite cheerful.
“Go see to my little pet…”
***
This sleep was the best Ophelia had had in years.
Though the bedding still carried the strong scent of rain, the lingering scent of Willis was equally intense.
Somehow, she just fell asleep like that.
So tired…
So tired…
That wicked Willis—she only wanted her body, no different from those lecherous men!
She had no care or pity for her at all!
However, this exhaustion was different from before.
The feeling was indescribable, but it allowed Ophelia to sleep straight through until evening.
When she woke, she ate hurriedly the dinner brought by the maid, then found herself restless and idle.
She dared not leave Willis’s room without permission. Although the maid had told her Willis hadn’t returned yet, Ophelia feared Willis was hiding nearby, waiting for her to act rashly…
Only to catch her red-handed and use it as an excuse to bring more humiliation.
So Ophelia could only explore, flipping through Willis’s belongings like on an adventure.
The result? Nothing incriminating.
Sitting at the bedside, she sometimes wondered if that detestable woman really had any flaws or weaknesses.
“No, no… there must be… as long as I…”
Ophelia’s gaze landed on the fruit knife used for peeling. The sharp tip—if she could just drive it into Willis’s heart, she could avenge herself!
Thinking this way, she simulated thousands of ways to kill Willis and what to do afterward in her mind…
Then…
Unconsciously, she lay back down and fell asleep again.
When she opened her eyes again, she was awakened by the unmistakable sound of a door opening and the glow of the Illumination Spell.
Willis extinguished the magic power she had been using to keep the light on, then looked at the stunningly beautiful girl, her hair and clothes disheveled.
The sleeping posture was truly ungraceful—twisted every which way.
Willis frowned but did not scold; instead, a faint mocking smile played on her lips.
“Looks like you really like my bed, or is this how you usually sleep at home?”
Willis casually sat on a chair in the room, watching the changing expressions on Ophelia’s face.
The blonde girl’s gaze at Willis flashed first with anger and hatred, then humiliation and resentment, followed by a resigned self-pity.
With Willis’s questioning, the girl trembled with fury but could only mumble, ashamed and speechless.
“What do you want, Willis!?”
Ophelia sat on the bed, her tone vicious.
Her messy clothes and sleepy eyes made her look weak and pitiful.
This contradictory beauty pleased Willis greatly.
“What do I want? This is my room. I came back to rest. What else would I do?”
Willis stared at her, pressing on.
“As for you, Ophelia—if you don’t come to greet and serve your mistress when she returns, that’s one thing. Insulting me with harsh words might be forgiven… but what are you still doing lying in my bed after all this time? Are you really that reluctant to leave?”
Hearing this, Ophelia jumped up angrily, “Who’s reluctant?! This bed’s hard and smells terrible! I don’t want to stay on it, not even near it!”
“Oh? Then again, as my personal maid, taking care of your mistress’s bed and keeping it warm is your duty…”
“Come on, Ophelia, accompany your mistress to bathe.”
Willis stood, her gaze sharp.
“One more thing—from now on, you must call me ‘Mistress.’ And even if you hate me to your teeth in private, you’d better be respectful in public…”
“Or else… I’ll send you back to the Laiensi Family and take back that mine. Not only that, you’ll be disgraced, and the Laiensi Family will face my revenge…”
“So… you know what to do, right!?”
Facing Willis, who was like a demon incarnate, Ophelia’s eyes reddened instantly, itching to use one of the thousands of murder methods she had imagined moments ago.
To strike down her enemy!
But in the end, she calmed herself.
“I… I understand… Mis, Mistress…”
“Louder! More respectfully!”
“Ye… Yes… Maid… Ophelia, respectfully welcomes Mistress home… and humbly begs to bathe and change clothes with you…”
“Good girl, that’s right. Let’s go.”
With the blonde girl biting her silver teeth until almost breaking them and giggling, Willis led her out of the room.