Chapter 22: Shh~ Don’t Make a Sound, Keep Eating

How much of a sense of belonging does Hualí have toward the Human Race?

Once she started thinking about this question, even Hualí herself found it hard to explain clearly in just a few words.

Without a doubt, living in the territory of the Human Race did bring a collective sense of belonging, but that was only because of Hualí’s racial identity as a Human.

But after being tricked by the Herald who delivered the Gender-Changing Potion, forced onto the front lines, and finally abandoned without hesitation after defeat…

To say she held no resentment toward those Court Ministers of the Human Race—Hualí herself wouldn’t believe it.

“So that’s why I made you stay in the Demon King Castle Palace as my maid~”

Sidella lifted the teapot, refilled her cup with red tea, then cupped the delicate white porcelain in both hands, inhaling the faint fragrance.

The cup hid the faint smile at the corner of her lips.

Sitting across the marble table, Hualí shot Sidella a contemptuous glance and turned her slightly flushed face away.

She mumbled softly:

“Do you only have one teacup? Using the one I’ve already drunk from… How shameless…”

Peh, and she’s the Blood Queen? So stingy.

“Usually, no one dares to barge in and disturb my peace at this hour~,” Sidella said calmly.

She suddenly grew curious as to how Hualí had managed to find her.

By all rights, Hualí should’ve been caught by the King’s Guards patrolling the Palace before even seeing her.

“So, have you decided?”

Sidella was, of course, asking whether Hualí would stay and become an Apprentice Maid.

“Guu…”

A hint of struggle flashed across Hualí’s sweet little face.

“Thirty gold coins per month after tax, plus five types of insurance and a retirement fund, sixteen days of paid vacation per month, year-end bonuses…”

“Enough! I accept! I accept, all right? Uuu… Please, don’t say anymore…”

Comparisons are really infuriating.

The better Sidella’s offer sounded, the more Hualí felt like her previous days were nothing but hardship.

“But even so, that doesn’t mean I’ve surrendered to you, you wicked creature!”

Hualí stole a sidelong glance at Sidella sitting opposite her, and seeing no particular reaction on her face, spoke tentatively:

“Hmph! I’m only choosing to be your maid temporarily. Don’t get carried away~ Once I’ve saved enough money, I’ll still find a chance to leave!”

“Fine, I won’t stop you.”

Looking at Hualí’s nose almost tilting up to the ceiling, Sidella smiled at her reply, though her thoughts were quite different inside.

Is it really so hard to make Hualí stay?

Just keep her so busy she doesn’t even get the chance to say she’s leaving, right?

Sidella nodded in satisfaction.

“Hey, were you just thinking something weird?”

Hualí eyed Sidella suspiciously.

“No, I just suddenly wondered if I should trim my nails later~”

Sidella raised her hand, displaying her delicate, snow-white fingers to Hualí.

The healthy pink nails were round and full, so smooth they could reflect sunlight.

The gesture was natural, like two close girls chatting casually.

“Trim your nails?”

Hualí frowned.

She’d heard that, unlike the Human Race, the Blood Race’s nails and fangs grew quickly, so they often needed trimming to prevent them from breaking while doing chores.

But thinking about it, since Sidella was the Blood Queen, Hualí couldn’t imagine her doing any rough work.

So she replied offhandedly, “Whatever makes you happy. If you want to keep them, don’t trim them.”

Sidella blinked, then grinned mischievously.

“Really? Is that how you feel, Hualí? Aren’t you scared?”

“Ah, scared? Of what? It’s not like I’ve never seen a Blood.”

Hualí tilted her head, confused.

“No, nothing.”

Sidella averted her gaze.

“Then I won’t trim them~”

***

After that, Sidella quietly read her book, her attention on the words between the lines.

With nowhere else to go, Hualí sat beside the marble table, propping her head up, fighting off drowsiness.

When she was a slacker Hero of the Human Race, Hualí never had a habit of getting up early.

This morning she woke up too soon, and once her energy faded, sleepiness swept through her entire body.

Only when a noisy commotion arose nearby did Hualí slowly wake up, rubbing her sore eyes.

“Guu~ So noisy. What’s going on?”

At her words, Sidella lifted her eyes from her book.

Several tall figures clad in King’s Guard armor were moving quickly through the garden, heading toward the two of them.

The clank of armor and anxious voices grew louder.

“Quick, that one should be nearby! To dare disturb Her Majesty the Queen, she must have a death wish!”

“All of you, keep your eyes sharp! Find her!”

It seemed Hualí had wandered into a forbidden area of the garden, was spotted by a maid, and reported to the King’s Guards.

Now the guards had followed the trail to this place.

“Um… Looks like they’re here to catch you, Hualí.”

Sidella blinked, speaking with mischievous delight.

“Remember what I told you? People aren’t usually allowed in here.”

Hualí’s eyes widened.

She swallowed nervously.

“If they catch me…”

“If you’re caught, you’ll be locked in the Little Black Room to reflect on your actions~”

“Ah, no way! I don’t want to go to the Little Black Room!”

Hualí’s face drained of color. She nearly leaped up in panic, pacing in place.

“What do I do?! What do I do?! I have to hide!”

“Quick! Get under the table!”

Sidella feigned seriousness, motioning for Hualí to crawl under the table as before.

“Ah? Okay! Thank you!”

Without hesitation, Hualí dove under the table, hugging her slender arms tightly around her knees, curling up on the floor.

As the footsteps of the King’s Guards grew nearer, her clever little mind suddenly realized something was wrong.

Even under the table, she’d only be hidden from someone sitting nearby.

Anyone looking from a distance would see her immediately.

“Sidella, you tricked me! There’s no way to hide here!”

She tried to crawl out and find a better spot, but at that critical moment, Sidella’s voice stopped her.

Sidella bent down, urgency in her eyes.

“There’s no time. If you go out now, you’ll definitely be found.”

Sidella lifted the hem of her nightgown.

“Hurry, hide under my nightgown. They won’t discover you there.”

Without further explanation, Sidella pulled Hualí beneath her, pressing the terrified girl’s face into her lap, lifting the hem to cover Hualí’s whole body.

The skirt fell, blocking out the light.

Darkness surrounded Hualí, and a unique fragrance immediately filled her nose.

It smelled like roses.

No, more accurately, it was like the mysterious, dangerously alluring scent of a rose flower after a morning rain, the petals still glistening with fresh dew.