[Sent the wrong thing again, sorry…..]
Isayat turned gracefully, her skirt tracing a silent arc in the stillness as she walked straight toward the hidden door at the back of the room that nearly blended into the wall.
The intricate carvings on the door flickered in the dim light, exuding a sense of mystery and luxury.
“Follow me,”
Her voice remained lukewarm, yet it carried an unquestionable tone of command,
“I have prepared the clothes you are to wear tonight. Since you are coming with me to meet guests, you cannot be dressed too poorly; I will not have you shaming me.”
Ling Xiya responded with a silent murmur, so faint it was like the buzz of a mosquito, nearly drowning in the air.
She was like a puppet pulled by invisible threads, her steps so light they seemed weightless,
mechanically following Isayat’s silhouette, each step landing precisely within the shadow of her master’s footprint.
Her eyelids were lowered, and her long eyelashes cast a small, dim shadow beneath her eyes,hiding any emotion that might have surfaced, leaving only a hollow void of obedience.
As Isayat’s slender finger lightly pressed a hidden mechanism on the wall, the hidden door emitted a low, smooth thud and slowly slid to one side, revealing a staggering sight behind it.
Behind the door was not the cramped storage room one might imagine, but a Cloakroom as spacious as a small Banquet Hall.
Soft, bright magical light poured down from the Crystal Lamp embedded in the ceiling, reflecting off every item with a brilliant glow.
On all four walls, from floor to ceiling, hung various kinds of extravagant attire.
The luster of silk, the weight of velvet, the delicacy of lace, the elegance of chiffon… every piece was exquisitely tailored and uniquely designed, clearly the work of master craftsmen.
Not only that, but on the marble dressing table in the center of the Cloakroom, jewelry of all kinds was laid out in a dazzling display—diamond necklaces shining with brilliant light,bracelets adorned with rare gems, trays holding earrings like scattered stardust,and even several crowns set with massive colored gemstones, obviously worth a fortune, were quietly displayed.
The air was filled with a faint, high-end incense, intertwined with the varying magical fluctuations emanating from the clothes and jewelry—each without exception containing significant power—creating an invisible, suffocating atmosphere of luxury.
Every single item here was enough to drive the noble daughters of the kingdom mad.
Isayat had long been accustomed to this.
She wandered through this sea of luxury with an indifferent expression,her gaze scanning the fine garments like the most rigorous connoisseur.
Finally, she stopped in a relatively elegant area and selected a Black Gown.
This dress appeared exceptionally low-key amidst the colorful and elaborately decorated garments surrounding it.
The style was indeed as Isayat had described: relatively conservative.
However, the understated black could not hide the excellence of its material—
it was a special velvet as deep as the night sky yet faintly shimmering with a delicate luster, cool and smooth to the touch, with superb texture.
The dress featured a strapless design, perfectly revealing the wearer’s exquisite and graceful collarbone line, neither appearing overly exposed nor lacking a hint of subtle sexiness.
The hem reached the ankles, with a flowing cut that would sway slightly with each step, like a flower quietly blooming in the dark night, exuding an indescribable elegance and solemnity within its simplicity.
“Put it on.”
Isayat handed the Black Gown to Ling Xiya,her movements were graceful, but her tone carried an irresistible command.
Ling Xiya obediently reached out and took the gown, which emitted a cool touch and a faint magical pulse.
The fabric was light, yet it felt as if it carried a thousand pounds of weight.
Just as Ling Xiya prepared to turn and change, Isayat’s voice rang out again.
This time, her tone was several shades deeper than before,carrying a cold warning.
Her gaze was like a knife quenched in ice, shooting straight at Ling Xiya’s lowered head:
“Remember, I do not want to see any… inappropriate emotions on your face. Whether it is surprise, envy, resentment, or any other unnecessary expression, it is not allowed.”
She leaned in slightly, drawing close to Ling Xiya, and said clearly, word by word, in a volume only the two of them could hear:
“You only need to remember that you are my maid, Ling Xiya. Your body, your time, your will, even your everything, from the moment you belonged to me, has been entirely mine. Your existence, your attire, your words, and your deeds all serve only me and must conform to my desires.
Tonight, what you must do is act as a perfect, soulless ornament, standing quietly behind me. Do not cause any trouble for me, and do not even think about tainting my eyes with your pathetic emotions. Do you understand?”
Her words were like cold poisonous snakes, burrowing into Ling Xiya’s ears one by one, freezing every cell in her body.
Ling Xiya’s body stiffened imperceptibly for a moment before returning to that numb obedience.
She did not look up; she merely bowed her head slightly and responded again in a barely audible voice:
“…Yes, Master.”
Isayat nodded with satisfaction and then turned around, leaving Ling Xiya with a proud and elegant back.
Ling Xiya took the dress without the slightest hesitation.
She walked into the nearby changing room, took off her maid uniform, and put on the Black Gown.
The size of the dress was perfect, as if it had been custom-made for her.
The cool, silky fabric pressed against her skin, making her shiver slightly.
She looked at herself in the mirror; that face was still delicate, but her eyes were terrifyingly hollow.
Was this really her?
The Ling Xiya who once had laughter, love and hate, pain and struggle?
She couldn’t remember.
Only Isayat’s voice remained in her mind, echoing over and over:
“You will only remember obedience and loyalty. Serving your master is the sole purpose of your existence and your greatest happiness…”
Yes, happiness… serving the master is the greatest happiness.
Ling Xiya faced herself in the mirror and allowed an extremely faint, yet incredibly stiff smile to appear.
The door was pushed open, and Isayat walked in.
Seeing Ling Xiya in the Black Gown, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by coldness.
“Not bad.”
She appraised, then picked a Silver Necklace from a jewelry box.
The pendant of the necklace was a small Black Gemstone.
“Wear this.”
Ling Xiya obediently lowered her head, letting Isayat put the necklace on her.
The cool gemstone pressed against her neck like an invisible shackle, a constant reminder of her status.
“Alright.”
Isayat took a step back and looked her up and down.
The Black Gown made her skin look like snow, and her hollow eyes actually added a fragile beauty,
like a night-blooming cereus quietly opening in the dark, yet devoid of life.
“Remember your place. Don’t cause trouble for me.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Let’s go. The cocktail party should have already started.”
Isayat turned and was the first to walk out.
Ling Xiya took a deep breath, suppressing that faint, inexplicable panic—
one that even she herself could not understand—and then quickly followed behind Isayat.
Walking out of the room, the distant clamor and the crisp sound of clinking glasses could already be heard in the hallway.
The noise drew closer, carrying the characteristic roughness and extravagance of the demon race.
Ling Xiya’s heart quickened uncontrollably, but her face remained calm.
She followed closely behind Isayat like a silent shadow.
She knew that from the moment she nodded, she had completely lost the chance to turn back.
Isayat felt the subtle emotional fluctuations behind her, and the smile at the corner of her mouth deepened.
She was looking forward to what kind of “surprise” Ling Xiya would bring her.
The doors of the Banquet Hall were right before them, the light and sound within like the breathing of a giant beast, exhaling the scent of temptation and danger.
[Starting tomorrow, updates might be a bit late as I’ve been playing Blue Archive lately. Sorry.]