After some time had passed, Lucia cautiously pushed open the door, carrying a bowl much larger than her face in each hand.
After entering, she gently closed the door behind her.
She had waited until the kitchen was done, then brought the bowls directly out without even letting the waitstaff touch them.
Before leaving the kitchen, she ordered that no one disturb her, and then slipped out mysteriously.
Lucia entered without once looking at the ground.
Only when she reached the table and set down the bowls did she steal a glance at Enya.
But Zeta was glaring at her with narrowed eyes.
“Tch!”
Enya reached up and tapped Zeta on the head, teasing her.
“Was that necessary?”
“Hmph, Zeta can’t trust you around her.”
Zeta pouted.
Enya gave a wry smile. She hadn’t put on the Thousand Faces mask to disguise herself; she was sitting on the chair with her own face, and turned to look at the maid Lucia, who had stepped to the side.
“Find a seat for yourself.”
“…”
Lucia lifted her head slightly, then lowered it again. She pursed her lips, gathered a bit of courage, and spoke.
“Lady Enya…”
“You used to call me Mistress, didn’t you?”
Enya raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly upon hearing her real name.
Lucia’s face instantly reddened. Her speech became stammering, “I-I-I…” unable to form a complete sentence.
Zeta hopped off the chair and positioned herself between Enya and Lucia.
Her small, delicate face was full of resentment—already a little grudge-holder despite her size.
“I knew it! I knew it!”
“Alright.”
Enya felt a bit awkward.
She put on the Thousand Faces mask, transforming into her previous appearance. Her aura and demeanor changed considerably, which allowed Lucia to finally finish her sentence.
She said, “I’ve always admired you, Lady Enya… Mistress. I never expected it to be you. I was just too nervous.”
“Mm.”
Enya nodded lightly and reached out to soothe the bristling Zeta, who was still upset that Enya hadn’t left with her immediately and couldn’t stand seeing Enya chatting with others.
Enya’s smile faded.
“Lucia, there’s something else you want to tell me, isn’t there?”
“…Yes.”
Lucia bit her lip and nodded.
She took a deep breath to slow her racing heart, cooling her overheated mind.
Although Lucia desperately wanted to know how the contemporary woman she admired most could have changed from human to dragon, and was also curious how her idol had a daughter, those were clearly not questions she should ask.
Setting aside those thoughts, Lucia recounted the earth-shattering changes of the past few days to Enya one by one, while Enya ate noodles and listened.
On the first day after Enya left, negative rumors about the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce had already spread.
Many people in the chamber, before the Chamber of Commerce Union formally moved against them, chose to defect or even turn against them.
Many were popping champagne, boasting about the prosperity after the chamber’s collapse. Invitations to large banquets had been sent out, celebrating the anticipated wealth to come.
As for the Lily of the Valley Chamber, everyone was shrouded in gloom.
Even the chamber master had gone into hiding. No one could rekindle the group’s confidence at such a time; all faces were stricken with grief.
Even Lucia herself was affected by that oppressive atmosphere, growing very tense. Many maids in the estate chose to resign, making it look like the tree had fallen and the monkeys had scattered.
At that time, Lucia thought Enya might kill all the opponents, which would not only fail to win this invisible war but would push them into even deeper trouble.
The next day arrived, and the storm took shape under the catalysis of public opinion.
But an unexpected piece of news stunned everyone: Vincent of the White Wave Chamber of Commerce had left the Lakeside City early in the morning, fleeing with his entire family toward the Three Kings’ Domain.
He was about to win—why was he running?
Later, news spread that at dawn, the southern tremor and a huge flash of light had leveled the dangerous mountain range.
It was said to be the stronghold of the Water Bandits…
In short, the Water Bandits had been physically erased. After receiving the news, Vincent chose to take his people and flee.
The storm that was meant to deal with the Lily of the Valley Chamber suddenly dissolved. Everyone stood stunned by the change.
However, some who hadn’t grasped the situation or lacked intelligence continued to badmouth the chamber.
“Those people have stopped now. According to our sources, they’re very uneasy. Many messengers have been sent to the central region of the Northern States, apparently seeking information.”
“A bomb went off next to their home. Now they have no heart to deal with the chamber; all they want is to ensure their safety.”
Enya commented.
Those powerful figures in the Lakeside City had far-reaching connections and certainly had their own information channels.
They knew immediately what had happened next door.
Vincent of the White Wave Chamber had ties with the Water Bandits. Even before becoming chamber master, he had been a bandit himself.
Though he had changed his attire, his nature remained the same.
They bully the weak and fear the strong.
Spit on them, and they can’t handle it.
She sneered inwardly. She had thought Vincent would stay and play dumb for the sake of his chamber’s legacy, but he turned out to be a cowardly lizard who fled at the first sign of trouble.
Enya looked at Lucia beside her and asked, “Is Wilder clever?”
“Chief Steward took advantage of the situation to acquire some contracts from boat owners, but overall only got ten percent.”
Lucia wrung her hands nervously.
Enya nodded.
“Not bad. He knows not to bite off more than he can chew.”
“Uh…”
Lucia was taken aback, but quickly recalled Enya’s earlier statement—she supported anti-monopoly, including against themselves.
After taking a few contracts, Wilder had realized the same and hurriedly declined the subsequent boat owner contracts.
When she finished speaking, Lucia curtsied.
“Mistress, that’s all for now…”
“Mm.”
Enya nodded and set down the fork she was holding.
The incidents over the City of the Other Shore and the Northern Lands would take a little more time to spread here, so no reaction had occurred yet.
Enya had come back to see their expressions.
Turning to the other side, Wendy was still pretending to drink soup.
Enya suddenly wondered if she had been teasing her too much, or if the child was just too dull.
Zeta noticed Enya’s gaze on Wendy and her eyes turned hostile.
There weren’t many humans she had to be wary of, but non-human races required extra vigilance—because Enya liked provoking outsiders more!
“Hey, you stupid—”
“Ahem.”
Enya covered Zeta’s mouth and met Wendy’s gaze.
“Wendy, is the noodles good?”
“…Good, Mistress.”
Wendy hesitated but answered honestly.
Enya smiled and said, “I have another bowl here. Eat it. You might be a bit slow, but your body can’t get weaker. If you like it, eat more.”
“Huh?”
Wendy felt she was being teased.
Still, she took the bowl Enya pushed toward her and happily ate. Wasn’t that why she came to the human world? So if she could eat, she would eat plenty!
Enya looked Wendy up and down, then sighed. “It’s really something that you grew so tall and slender. I feel like even Sophia isn’t as well-proportioned. Both of you are still young maidens, aren’t you?”
She wondered what Sophia was doing.
Last time they parted, Sophia had taken a mask and gone into the human realm. She was probably well settled by now.
Zeta pouted again, her tail twitching, and made an unhappy growling sound. She knew who Sophia was—that blond elf princess.
They were both blond—one an elf, one a fox princess—and both had met a silver-haired woman, becoming deeply entangled.
Tch. No matter how she looked at it, they were sworn enemies!
Enya, meanwhile, stared at Wendy’s chest, thinking about a strange question: how could someone who ate vegetables be rounder than someone who ate meat?
Of course, it couldn’t compare to her own.
Back at the estate via carriage, Enya entered through the back door, but there were still many people gathered outside, peering in. They were all well-dressed.
“What’s this?”
Enya asked in confusion.
Lucia explained, “These are people who betrayed the Chamber earlier and now want to come back.”
“Oh?”
Enya covered her mouth and laughed, teasingly. “No need to let them back. It’s better to keep such talent circulating in society.”
“Yes.”
Lucia replied.
The crowd was dispersed, and the carriage entered. Enya returned to the villa, sat on the bed, and stretched.
Then she stared at Zeta, who was opening her wardrobe.
“Those clothes—I’ve never worn them.”
“Huh?”
Zeta had been thinking of packing up Enya and taking her home, but it turned out those were all unworn.
Disappointed, she pouted and turned to say to Enya, who was sitting on the bed, “Then Sister Enya, you should wear them all, okay?”
“Don’t be so perverted, especially when you look like a child and say such perverted adult things.”
Enya was at a loss for words.
Fox princesses were great actors. It had been said before that Zeta wasn’t the soft and cute type, but rather a slightly unhinged lewd fox.
Her whole family was lewd—pervertedly lewd.