Marentia’s eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling as she said, “I… I don’t know if I can do this, Nori. I might mess things up…”
Nori, however, gently lifted her head, her eyes filled with encouragement.
“Tia, you’ve always been so brave,I believe you can do it. Besides, this mission is just to deliver a map, that’s all. There shouldn’t be any danger.”
Marentia’s hands were still shaking uncontrollably. She tried to calm herself, but the fear within her surged up like waves on a lake.
“Wouldn’t it be better if Tii did this…?”
She clenched her teeth, her pleading eyes looking towards Tii, but was met with rejection.
“Sorry, I’ve lost the qualification of a personal maid. I can’t freely enter and leave the city,” Tii replied.
“Besides, we’re only partners in this. I won’t take such a big risk just for you.”
“Don’t worry, Tia.”
At that moment, Nori suddenly stood on tiptoe and gently kissed Marentia’s cheek.
Marentia’s chest turned bright red, staring at Nori in surprise, her mind a complete blank.
“Tia, you are the person I love most, don’t forget our promise,” Nori’s voice was soft and tender, “I trust you—you won’t let me down.”
I…
Off to the side, Tii watched this scene, her brows knitting slightly.
“Nori, do you really think Marentia is suited for this job? She looks too nervous. If something goes wrong…”
“Tii, you don’t need to worry,” Nori interrupted her, “Marentia may be a bit anxious, but she’s loyal to me, and she’s capable enough to complete the task, isn’t she?”
It seemed their minds were set, and nothing she said would change it. Tii let out a helpless sigh, her gaze lingering on Marentia, a complicated emotion flickering in her eyes.
“Alright, since Nori has said so, I’ll trust you this time. But you have to understand, this isn’t just about your own safety—it concerns the plans of all of us.”
Marentia nodded vigorously. Even though her heart was still filled with fear, she knew that she couldn’t let down Nori’s trust.
A strange gust of wind blew in from the unlatched window, lifting the golden fringe in front of Nori’s forehead.
She stepped back, put the book away, and restored the hidden door behind the bookshelf.
“Tia, go do your task first. There’s something I’d like to discuss alone with Tii.”
Marentia replied softly and left the room.
Whatever those two planned to discuss, Marentia would not ask. Nori had her own plans and arrangements, while she only needed to carry out her duty—this was a tacit understanding between the two.
When the room had finally grown quiet, Nori took the initiative to speak.
“So, the Sista have joined the rebels. What’s happening on Valivadan’s side?”
The moment Marentia left, Nori’s expression became much colder.
“I haven’t received any news.”
Tii also dropped her usual gentle demeanor, her face now businesslike and impassive.
The two stood facing each other, more like businessmen negotiating at a table than master and servant—equally matched, each on guard against the other.
“Well, Nori thought you were capable of getting any information,” Nori sneered, “Our cooperation is important. I hope both sides can continue to provide equal value.”
“I have no intention of hiding anything from you. I told you, I’m not some intelligence broker. My only crime was being made homeless by Valivadan, who slaughtered my parents and family.”
“I’ve heard enough of such stories,” Nori’s voice hardened. “So, you’re still unwilling to come clean, huh? Tii, just who are you?”
Tii did not answer immediately. She simply stared coldly at Nori.
“I am someone seeking vengeance for Anluan Erfu.”
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the heavy curtains, casting light on Sista’s lavish bed.
Su Ling tiptoed into the room, carrying a basin of warm water and a soft towel, ready to wake the Blood Princess from her heavy sleep.
Her expression was stiff, her eyes showing a trace of confusion, as if the shadows of the night still hadn’t completely dispersed. Everything that had happened last night was too much for her to bear, and even now she hadn’t fully recovered.
She quietly approached the bed, and in a soft voice called out, “Your Highness, it’s time to wake up.”
Sista turned over, her black hair disheveled, lazily opening her deep-set eyes. Seeing Su Ling standing there, the expression on her face grew somewhat displeased.
She frowned, reaching out to take the towel from Su Ling’s hands, but noticed Su Ling’s hands were trembling, splashing drops of water onto the carpet.
“What’s wrong with you?” Sista’s tone carried a hint of annoyance.
Su Ling lowered her head, unable to meet Sista’s gaze, her voice faltering, “It’s… it’s nothing, I just didn’t sleep well last night.”
At those words, Sista’s frown deepened.
“Don’t lie to me.”
I’m sorry…
“There’s a price to pay for lying to me.”
She suddenly reached out, grabbed the maid uniform on Su Ling’s chest, pinching hard at the soft skin above her waist. Su Ling couldn’t help but cry out in pain, tears brimming in her eyes, but in the end she held them back.
Clutching her bruised side, Su Ling’s heart was filled with misery.
Seeing Su Ling’s tears, Sista felt a wave of inexplicable irritation, reminded of the anger she’d felt in the courtyard that day.
“So,” the Blood Princess’s tone was now laced with a dangerous edge, “what exactly happened to you?”
au
Su Ling stood there in a daze, struggling not to let her tears fall any further. She knew she couldn’t provoke Sista’s anger right now, or the consequences would be unthinkable.
So she took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice as much as possible: “I’m sorry, Your Highness, I… I’m just not feeling well.”
Looking at Su Ling’s pitiful appearance, Sista’s anger quietly dissipated. She sighed, sat up from the bed, took the towel from Su Ling’s hand, and gently wiped her own face.
“Forget it. I know you didn’t do it on purpose. But you need to be more careful from now on. Don’t always be so scatterbrained,” Sista’s tone softened a bit.
Su Ling lowered her head, replying in a small voice, “Yes, Your Highness.”
After washing up and having breakfast, Su Ling followed Sista out of the room, walking down the familiar corridors, passing through one ornate door after another.
All along the way, neither of them spoke, only silently following the person in front.
Strangely enough, Sista’s pace grew faster and faster ahead, and Su Ling had trouble keeping up, so she broke into a small run.
“Your Highness… please wait!”
Even as Su Ling hurried to catch up, Sista didn’t slow down in the slightest. In fact, it seemed to make her even more upset.
The Blood Princess was clearly in a very bad mood today—Su Ling could see it at a glance.