Chapter 79: Little Irene the Coin Maker

“Whoa—”

The coachman pulled the reins, the horse neighed, and came to a steady halt.

Ophelia’s residence had arrived.

Lillian and Eileen jumped down from the carriage.

A group of maids was already waiting for them.

They all curtseyed to the two.

Eileen seemed a little unused to it; she shivered and hid behind Lillian.

“Are you Miss Lillian? Her Highness has been waiting for you for a long time. Please follow me.” The leading maid gestured politely, then led the way for the two.

Eileen, though a bit reserved, still followed behind Lillian, looking around with curiosity.

She didn’t recognize most things here, but wasn’t this place way too luxurious?

How much good food could all this be traded for!

Ophelia still chose to meet them in the study.

Lillian and Eileen entered as soon as the door opened.

“Click.”

The door was locked again.

Ophelia stood with her back to them by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking outside.

She heard movement and turned around, revealing a smile.

“Lily, do you have—”

Ophelia’s smile froze.

She stared at Eileen, frowning.

“And this is?”

Eileen quickly curtseyed, but stammered, unable to speak for a while.

“She’s my friend from the Count’s estate, Eileen.”

Ophelia narrowed her eyes, looking Eileen up and down.

Her Highness looked so fierce.

Eileen was frightened by this gaze. If it weren’t too rude, she’d have hidden behind Lillian immediately.

Ophelia sensed for a moment, realizing Eileen was actually afraid of her. She decided this little Eileen was nothing to worry about.

Probably sent by Eleonora to keep an eye on Lillian.

Heh.

How foolish, Eleonora.

Did you really think Lillian wouldn’t mind something like this?

If this keeps up, sooner or later Lillian will be disappointed in Eleonora, right?

Ophelia felt the day Lillian would fall into her hands wasn’t far off.

Thinking of this made Ophelia feel delighted.

Still, since she was Lillian’s friend, she couldn’t be too rude.

“Please, have a seat, both of you.”

Ophelia personally poured them each a cup of tea.

“Thank you.”

“Th-th-thank you…” Eileen thanked her nervously.

“So, what brings you here, Lillian?” Ophelia picked up her teacup. “You could’ve just written to me and I would’ve come to see you, yet you troubled yourself to make the trip here.”

The first step, to show her sincerity.

Though she hadn’t actually done so, Lillian would still feel indebted to her.

“That would be too much trouble,” Lillian cleared her throat and got to the point, “It’s about the Church and the Knights…”

Lillian detailed the attack she experienced that day.

Ophelia raised her eyebrows—she did know about it.

“I’ve heard about it. Supposedly some Strange Disease, those afflicted become unusually violent and attack others. The Church and the Order of the Guard are working together to resolve it.”

“This disease isn’t contagious? The attacked don’t get infected too?”

“No, it’s really just a simple illness.”

That’s good—no need to fight Zombies in this western fantasy world after all.

“And the Starfire Grass you mentioned is the key ingredient in the potion the Church is using.”

“I see, then there’s nothing to be done…”

“What’s wrong?” Ophelia was a little puzzled.

“You haven’t been sleeping well, right? I was going to make you some medicinal tea, but without Starfire Grass, it might not work as well.”

Ophelia’s hands paused.

“Oh, oh… I see.”

She set her teacup on the table, lifted her hair and tucked it behind her ear, her earlobes slightly flushed.

“You said you were attacked—were you hurt?”

“Hmm?”

“No, fortunately not. Thanks to the cloak given to me by the Crown Prince, I escaped unharmed. Otherwise, I would’ve been injured…”

“…”

The Crown Prince, huh?

Looks like Eleonora didn’t tell Lillian that she was the one who chose that gift.

Exactly as Ophelia wanted. She gave a relieved smile.

“I’m just glad I could help you…”

Lillian caught Ophelia’s meaning at once.

“That cloak, you picked it out?”

“Yes, yes I did. My brother wanted to apologize but didn’t know what to give you. Besides, no matter what, Miss Eleonora would probably find fault. Since you’d just resonated with the [Instrument] sigil, wasn’t giving you an [Instrument] just right?”

Ophelia pretended to look a little embarrassed, as if her secret had been found out.

The second step—a little gift.

She really had to thank Miss Eleonora for her cooperation.

Hehe.

“Thank you so much, Lia.”

“Oh, Lillian, don’t ever thank me again.”

The third step—a small change.

Using a trivial change to draw a little closer.

Ophelia felt rather pleased. She didn’t expect it to go so smoothly.

Originally, she’d planned to visit Count Cohen’s estate in a few days and do this in front of Eleonora.

That way she could get closer to Lillian and annoy Eleonora at the same time.

Once she built up enough, Eleonora would eventually do something foolish.

When that happened, Eleonora’s image would take a huge hit in Lillian’s heart.

Hehe.

Hearing this, Lillian was a little speechless. Why does everyone care so much about such things…

“Alright.” Lillian agreed casually.

Now, for the final step—a small approach.

Ophelia picked up a Sweet Dessert from the table, cradled it in her hand, and held it out to Lillian.

“This is the latest dessert, Lillian, would you like to try it?”

With that, Ophelia moved to feed the Sweet Dessert directly into Lillian’s mouth.

“Ah—” she let out a gentle sound.

The Sweet Dessert was about to touch Lillian’s lips.

Eileen, on the side, opened her eyes wide.

Was it finally happening?

Her Highness couldn’t restrain herself anymore—she was going to make a move on Lillian!

There must be something added to that Sweet Dessert.

To get her to take Lillian to bed and have a baby! Young Miss, what should I do!

Before leaving, the young miss had told her not to act rashly and to just be a decoration on Lillian’s side.

But Lillian was her friend!

She couldn’t let her friend fall into danger!

Not just for the young miss.

But for Lillian!

She would take on everything herself!

Oh oh oh!

Like a hero charging at the Demon King, Eileen moved closer to Lillian.

Watching the Sweet Dessert get closer and closer, Lillian leaned back, about to refuse.

Suddenly, she saw a figure appear in front of her, and in one bite, eat up the Sweet Dessert in Ophelia’s hand.

It was Eileen.

Eileen had eaten the Sweet Dessert!

Realizing what happened, Lillian’s mind filled with question marks.

Huh?

She was no longer human.

Giving in to gluttony at this time—fine.

Coinmaker, then.

But Eileen, well done!

Eileen stuffed the Sweet Dessert in one bite, cheeks bulging, and as she chewed, her eyes narrowed with delight.

The sweet taste spread through her mouth, and happiness welled up inside her.

“So tasty~” Happiness spilled from her lips.

It was so delicious.

Eileen almost wanted to cry.

Ophelia’s fingertips still retained the sensation of being wrapped in a warm, moist mouth, along with a hint of the Sweet Dessert’s stickiness.

For a moment, her mind went blank, and she dazedly stared at her fingers, which still glistened with a bit of moisture, then slowly lifted her head to look at the little maid she’d always thought “not worth minding.”

…+4?

Just now… what happened?

Could it be, this is the true reason Eleonora had this little maid stick by Lillian’s side?

To mess things up?

She predicted Ophelia would make a move on Lillian, so she sent Lillian’s friend here.

Able to both watch Lillian and disrupt her plans.

And she couldn’t do anything about Eileen.

So this is your goal, Eleonora?

Since when did you become so clever?