Ever since the fire, Sista’s attitude toward Su Ling had subtly changed.
During their days at the outskirts of Summer City, Bloodna and the others would often brush past each other and have unintentional touches.
Especially when no one else was around, a delicate and ambiguous atmosphere would rise between the two, causing their hearts to beat faster.
Just like that, half a month passed in a blink, and Ansels had truly entered the depths of winter.
The fire at the castle had stirred no small commotion in the Royal Capital. Rumors spread everywhere, swift as wildfire, quickly reaching every corner.
On every street and alley, people gossiped, trying to guess the real truth behind this sudden disaster.
Although Lord Mo’er tried to use the power of the Royal Family to explain it away as an unfortunate accident, a seed of suspicion had already been planted in the people’s hearts.
They preferred to believe this was a sign that the long-standing, delicate peace between humans and the Blood Clan was finally breaking, that hidden tensions were at last surfacing.
Inside Hailuosen Castle, everything was quietly being restored. Master craftsmen worked tirelessly day and night—stonemasons, carpenters, painters—all doing their part, using their exquisite skills to bring the vast castle back to life.
When the last stone was set in place and the final stroke of paint dried, Hailuosen Castle once again stood proudly before the world in its majestic splendor, as if the fire had been nothing but a dream, and upon waking, everything was unchanged.
Thus, Su Ling and the other maids returned with the Royal Family, stepping once again into this familiar yet strangely foreign castle.
For Su Ling, this place was both a cage that restricted her freedom and the place where she and Xibi Tang truly came to understand each other. She held complex feelings toward this castle.
Life resumed its daily rhythm—her work as a maid went on, with busy days alternating with moments of peace. Everything seemed the same as before.
Only, Su Ling hadn’t realized that Tii’s attitude toward her had also subtly changed.
That day, dusk had fallen, and the castle’s chandeliers were glowing, lighting up the dining hall brightly.
The Royal Family had just finished dinner, and the room still lingered with the scents of cream and spices. The fire in the hearth danced, casting a gentle glow.
After the meal, as usual, Su Ling and Tii wiped down the long dining table together.
“Let me help you, Miss Su Ling,” Tii approached, a faint slyness in her eyes. “How are you feeling? Did you get enough rest after the incident?”
“It’s much better, thank you. Since coming back to Hailuosen, I feel a lot more at ease.”
Tii nodded, “I feel the same. After all, it’s only here in Hailuosen that I can really feel at home.”
Bohm, nearby, spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, revealing a trace of unease. “The fire was terrifying… It’s only here that I feel a little safer.”
“It’s all in the past now,” Tii gently patted Bohm’s hand, her voice soft and comforting like a spring breeze. “Don’t worry, Bohm, everyone’s here together. We’ll help each other.”
Bohm’s eyes grew moist, her voice trembling, “Thank you, Miss Tii…”
At this moment, a burly male servant passed by and spoke with admiration in his tone. “Miss Tii is truly gentle.”
A short male servant echoed, “Yes, if I could marry a girl as gentle as Miss Tii, it would be a blessing.”
Bohm seemed even more anxious, as if afraid of losing something precious. “I… I can’t make people happy… Miss Tii, you’ll always stay in this castle with us, right?”
Tii’s smile didn’t fade. “Of course. I’ll stay here with everyone, loyal to the Blood Clan lords, until forever.”
Hearing this, Bohm let out a long sigh of relief, a satisfied smile blossoming on her face. “That’s wonderful… That way, I can always be with Miss Tii.”
She clasped her hands in front of her chest, her small eyes wide with adoration and longing for Tii.
Bohm really did seem to adore Tii.
Su Ling quietly observed from the side, her feelings a complicated swirl.
She recalled her secret encounter with Tii in the guest room, a flush spreading in her heart as her thoughts drifted far away. The warmth of Tii leaning close, the whispers in her ear, seemed to echo again.
“…It felt so good…” Tii’s voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
“Tii—!”
Su Ling nearly jumped in fright, her cheeks instantly flushed red as she anxiously glanced around, worried someone would notice.
But everyone else was busy with their own tasks and didn’t seem to have noticed anything strange.
“Miss Su Ling, your neck is so red, what’s wrong? Are you still feeling unwell?” Bohm asked with concern.
Su Ling stammered, unsure how to answer. The images of Tii teasing her in the guest room still lingered in her mind.
Tii noticed and seemed to understand, a playful smile appearing on her lips. “Bohm and I were just saying how nice the bathhouse water is. What were you thinking of, little Su Ling?”
“No, I wasn’t thinking about anything!”
Su Ling hastily denied it, but her heart was a tangled mess, filled with embarrassment.
Bohm watched the two of them, scratching her head, clearly baffled by the conversation. Meanwhile, Tii’s knowing look suggested she understood exactly what was going on, glancing at Su Ling from time to time with a sly gaze.
The air seemed to heat up. Su Ling wanted to say something, but when she raised her hand, the small white button on her sleeve suddenly popped off and fell under the table.
At the same time, noisy voices came from outside the door as the male servants left for their duties. Amma led a few maids into the dining hall, drawing everyone’s attention.
Taking the opportunity, Su Ling ducked under the tablecloth to search for her button.
The space beneath the dining table was quite long, and with the tablecloth draped all around, it was dim inside. She crawled along the floor, feeling about from one end to the other, until at last she spotted her missing button.
Just as Su Ling reached out to grab it, she suddenly felt someone embrace her from behind.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She was about to struggle, but the soft, warm scent of a girl reached her, and a curtain of red hair fell over her shoulder. Only then did she realize the person holding her was actually Tii.
“Su Ling~ Got you!” Tii nuzzled against Su Ling’s back like a kitten, her voice mischievous. “I really like you—”
“Tii, what are you doing?!”
“Shh…” Tii pressed a finger to her lips, making a quiet gesture. “Keep your voice down, or we’ll get caught.”
Su Ling could only close her mouth, but she still looked at Tii with confusion, having no idea what the other girl wanted to do.
“Little Su Ling~ Your face was so red just now,” Tii leaned in, deliberately pressing her cheek to Su Ling’s ear, “Were you thinking… about what happened in the guest room?”
“No, I wasn’t…”
Su Ling tried to deny it, but the burning on her cheeks betrayed her. The space under the table was small, and she could only sit there on the floor, letting Tii hug her.
“You seemed to enjoy it, didn’t you? Little Su Ling~”
Speaking in a teasing whisper, Tii’s tongue lightly traced Su Ling’s ear, from the curve all the way to the soft lobe, her body pressing closer and closer.
“Su Ling’s body is really cute—your ears are sensitive, aren’t they?”
“Wait… Tii! Don’t—don’t do this here…”
Su Ling was so flustered she could hardly move.
Tii’s gentle voice and the intimate touch on her back made her feel tingles all over, sapping her strength. That mischievous tongue kept sliding down from her ear to her neck.
“If this keeps up… No, I can’t…”
Every inch of her skin felt as if it was being enveloped by Tii’s touch, sending shivers through her.
At last, Su Ling couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp, but Tii showed no sign of stopping.
“If you don’t want to get caught—” she whispered softly into Su Ling’s ear, “then you have to be quiet, okay?”
As she spoke, Tii lifted Su Ling’s hand and brought it in front of her.
“You know how to cover your mouth, don’t you, little Su Ling?”
With that, the red-haired girl flashed a devilish Little Demon Maid’s grin.
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