Chapter 23: Stella, Aren’t You Ashamed?!

To die beneath the Peony Flower, even as a ghost, would be blissful.

That’s what Hualí thought in her previous life.

But two minutes ago, Hualí completely changed her mind.

Because, in the literal sense, she was really about to die beneath a ‘flower’—though it was a Rose.

Hualí clenched her tiny fists and pounded on Sidella’s thick white thigh.

Loosen up a little!

Her head hurt so much, her brain felt like it would burst!

Fortunately, Sidella noticed Hualí’s distress just in time, slightly parting her pressed knees.

Only then did Hualí escape disaster, barely hanging on to life.

Outside the table, the sound of orderly footsteps approached, accompanied by the clanking and scraping of heavy armor as the King’s Guard closed in on the pavilion, tracking Hualí.

Sidella maintained a facade of calm, gently flipping through the book in her hand as if unaware of the guards’ arrival, and took a small sip of black tea from the table.

Among the King’s Guard, the captain—whose attire differed slightly from the others—reached out to stop his subordinates from stepping forward.

With a stern glance and a lowered voice, he commanded:

“You all stay here. Be quiet and do not disturb Her Majesty. I’ll go and inform Her Majesty that some filthy creature has barged in, ignorant of death.”

The captain gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, careful not to let it clank against his armor, and stepped lightly toward Sidella in the pavilion.

“Your Majesty, are you well this morning?”

He stopped a meter away from Sidella and bowed deeply.

“Hmm?”

Sidella feigned confusion, setting down her teacup and raising an eyebrow at the captain.

“Is something the matter?”

A gentle smile adorned her face, her voice so soft it was like a breeze—enough to calm anyone’s heart.

“I’m fine. And you, Kajielante? Your sister Jeilinfa has been talking about you often these days.”

“Your Majesty!”

The captain clasped his fists, unable to hide his excitement.

“You remember your humble servant?!”

Sidella nodded slightly, confirming.

After all, as the younger brother of Jeilinfa, the Maid Chief who took care of her daily life, he was a little memorable.

“Ah, right, Your Majesty! While patrolling earlier, I heard the maids say some fool wandered into your resting garden…”

Composing himself, Captain Kajielante reported his business thoroughly, asking if Sidella had encountered any trouble.

“No~”

Sidella pressed her knees together, feeling the struggle beneath her nightdress, and a smile crept up her lips as she lifted her teacup to hide it.

“No trouble at all—just ran into a mischievous little thing~”

“Mischievous?”

A flash of confusion appeared in Kajielante’s eyes.

Was that really how the word was used?

“I mean, a troublesome one.”

Sidella corrected herself.

“Mm!”

Kajielante clenched his fists, his tone indignant.

“To dare intrude into Your Majesty’s garden and disturb your rest—that’s certainly troublesome!”

Sidella nodded in agreement.

Exactly.

Stealing snacks and refusing to apologize—Hualí was indeed an ill-mannered troublemaker.

“Please rest assured, Your Majesty! I will find that intruder soon and let her experience the harshest punishment of the Little Black Room—and feed her the stinkiest Fish Can!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Sidella’s body shuddered violently.

Her delicate brows furrowed, and even the black tea in her hand sloshed and spilled a little.

Seeing Her Majesty’s lips pressed tightly and her cheeks flushed, Kajielante was utterly stunned.

What was going on?

“Wait!”

Sidella stopped him from stepping forward to tidy the table.

“I’m fine.”

Beneath the table, her hand brushed Hualí’s head through the thin nightdress.

“Just, next time, be gentler with your words during enforcement—some things can be frightening if said out loud.”

“Your Majesty’s lesson is well taken!”

Kajielante bowed his head.

“I’ll take my leave now to hunt down the intruder!”

“Mm, go.”

The footsteps of the King’s Guard retreated into the distance.

Sidella let out a long sigh, loosened the collar of her nightdress, and gazed past the curves of her chest to the hidden Hualí, a mocking smile appearing on her still-flushed face.

“Pathetic Hualí, to be scared by something like that~”

Hualí thought Sidella really had no sense of shame.

This kind of hiding method—only she could have come up with it.

It was as if she didn’t care about being seen at all.

All Hualí knew was that Sidella’s skin was dazzlingly white, almost glowing, and her scent—like a Rose—was intoxicating.

A blush spread across Hualí’s cheeks, her eyes darting away.

But, setting that aside, Hualí had no intention of dealing with this troublesome Sidella!

“Let me go, I’m coming out!”

She squirmed, trying to crawl out from under the table, almost seeing daylight again.

Suddenly, a small hand appeared behind Hualí’s head and pressed her back.

Her eyes widened in shock.

“Si…guuuh…”

Her face was forced against something soft.

Unable to speak, a rich floral fragrance overwhelmed her senses, flooding her nose and mind…

“Your Majesty! Miss Hualí is nowhere to be found—I searched all morning but couldn’t locate her…”

Outside the table in the pavilion, Jeilinfa, the anxious Blood Clan Maid Chief, rushed over, her face full of guilt.

She had been ordered by Her Majesty to deliver breakfast to Hualí, but ended up losing her for an entire morning.

Even the plan to introduce Hualí to the duties of a trainee maid was delayed—a grave dereliction of duty for a Maid Chief.

“N-no problem…”

Sidella’s cheeks were as rosy as holy fruit.

“Consider it an early day off. She can get familiar with her work tomorrow.”

Jeilinfa blinked.

Was it her imagination, or did Her Majesty look odd today…?

“Your Majesty…are you feeling unwell? You look feverish.”

Jeilinfa frowned, unable to hide her concern.

“Fe…fever?”

Sidella stared at Jeilinfa.

“Do you really think I’m so delicate?”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty!”

Jeilinfa hurriedly lowered her head, enduring Sidella’s wrath and staring at the marble floor.

Hualí really was restless—her breath was hot enough to bear, and her little nose kept wiggling around.

Sidella clenched her fists.

“Leave now. I’ll have Hualí find you later.”

“Your Majesty, do you know where Miss Hualí is?”

Jeilinfa couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t. I told you to leave—are your ears deaf?!”

That day, Hualí witnessed Sidella’s anger firsthand—a true display of a Blood Clan Demon Queen’s authority.

But strangely, none of that fury was directed at her.

Once everyone left, Hualí finally crawled out from under the table.

Sidella lifted the hem of her nightdress, revealing scarlet nail marks on her pale thigh.

She looked at Hualí helplessly.

“Hualí? Why did you scratch me with your nails?”

“I could barely breathe!”

Hualí pouted in protest.

Seeing Sidella unresponsive, she assumed her explanation was unsatisfactory and decided to add more.

“At first, I could barely manage—but then…”

“That’s enough, I didn’t ask for details.”

Sidella reached out and wiped something off Hualí’s tiny nose.

She had to admit—Jeilinfa’s arrival had ruined her plan to tease Hualí.

“How did it taste?”

Sidella teased, raising an eyebrow mischievously.

“A bit like Rose dew…”

Hualí froze, then snapped back and gritted her teeth.

“How would I know? I didn’t taste anything!”

“Then you…”

“I meant the scent! The scent! Sidella, you’re so shameless!!”