Su Ling’s hands shot back as if burned, the flush on her cheeks spreading all the way to her ears. She didn’t dare lift her head to look at Sista, terrified of meeting those eyes that seemed to see through everything.
This is terrible—like some kind of pervert who just assaulted someone! Sista… she… she won’t get mad, right? Su Ling panicked, feeling utterly exposed and helpless.
“Heh, what a strange little thing.”
Yet, Sista didn’t look nearly as angry as Su Ling imagined. Instead, her gaze lingered on Su Ling’s blushing cheeks and flustered manner, and her lips curled into a teasing, amused smile.
“Your Highness, I… I’m so sorry! I really didn’t mean to look!”
Su Ling nearly dropped to her knees to apologize. Her image in Sista’s eyes must be in absolute ruins now.
No! I can’t let her think that! Su Ling shook her head quickly. She needed to explain herself—she couldn’t let Sista think she was some kind of deviant.
Trying to salvage her image, Su Ling scrambled for a reason. “I… I was just trying to fix a small flaw in Your Highness’s clothing. It’s just… I’m not very skilled yet, so—”
“Not skilled?”
Sista raised an eyebrow, the depths of her eyes glinting with amusement. She clearly didn’t believe Su Ling’s excuse, but she didn’t expose it. Instead, she moved even closer.
“Is that so?” Sista’s voice took on a playful, almost seductive tone. “Then why don’t you fix it now, hmm?”
Startled by the sudden proximity, Su Ling turned her head away, her blush deepening.
But Sista gave her no escape. She grabbed Su Ling’s wrist and pulled her in close.
“Dress me,” she commanded, her tone leaving no room for refusal.
Su Ling had no choice but to suppress the emotions swirling inside her and grip the morning robe tightly in her trembling hands. Her face burned with embarrassment.
Sista slowly opened her arms. She deliberately moved with grace, revealing her bare, flawless figure, as if to further provoke Su Ling.
“Hurry up,” Sista chuckled mockingly. “Don’t tell me you can’t even handle this?”
Her words cut through Su Ling’s defenses, making her cheeks even redder. She bit her lip and tried to appear composed. Taking a deep breath, she stood on tiptoe and reached for Sista’s shoulders, only to pull her fingers back the moment they touched smooth skin.
“What? Do I have thorns on my body?” Sista raised an eyebrow, leaning in even closer.
“It’s not that!” Su Ling protested, cornered by Sista’s relentless teasing. She steeled herself and reached out again.
This time, she forced herself to ignore the perfect, unblemished skin before her and focused solely on putting the morning robe on Sista.
Calm down. Calm down. Calm down! I’m a girl. Normal girls don’t get shy around other girls. She chanted the mantra over and over in her head.
The robe was made of the finest silk, soft and shimmering with pale pink and white tones. Elegant floral embroidery adorned the fabric, with golden and silver threads outlining the design and colored silk filling it in. The high collar was encrusted with pearls and gemstones, the entire piece tailored to fit a young lady’s form while still exuding courtly dignity and elegance.
The delicate garment, however, felt like it weighed a thousand pounds in Su Ling’s hands. Her heartbeat was loud and impossible to ignore.
Suddenly, her fingers brushed Sista’s cold skin again. The sudden touch made her heart race, but she quickly recovered and continued dressing her calmly.
She spread the skirt portion of the robe and helped Sista step in, then carefully guided the sleeves over her arms.
Next, she smoothed the collar, adjusting it to sit perfectly. Her fingers slid over the silky fabric, making sure every inch was wrinkle-free. Each pearl and gemstone sparkled brilliantly under the morning light.
“You’ve been fiddling around long enough. Is the skirt fixed or not?”
Sista glanced at Su Ling’s flushed cheeks and evasive eyes. Her lips curved into a pleased smile. She clearly enjoyed seeing Su Ling so flustered.
“It’s… all done…” After a long moment, Su Ling finally smoothed out the last wrinkle. The heat in her chest gradually cooled.
Now, fully dressed in the elegant morning robe, Sista stood before the mirror—graceful, noble, and poised. She gave a satisfied nod, then sat down on the edge of the bed and lifted her flawless feet.
“Socks.”
She gave the command with cold brevity.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Su Ling knew she couldn’t refuse. Just as Phil had taught her, she knelt beside Sista, lowering herself properly.
She picked up Sista’s usual black stockings and glanced up.
Sista’s feet were pale as jade, the skin so smooth it almost seemed to glow. Her toes were long and neat, each perfectly shaped. The slightly upturned arch added a touch of charm.
Su Ling gently unfolded the stockings and slid one over Sista’s foot.
She cupped Sista’s heel in her palm and slowly pulled the stocking upward, her fingers smoothing the fabric along the way to ensure it clung perfectly, wrinkle-free, to the princess’s leg.
As the stocking climbed higher, more of Sista’s thigh was revealed—what normally lay hidden beneath her royal skirts. Su Ling’s heartbeat, which had just settled, began to climb again.
“Knew it. Still love to look, huh? You think you can fool me with that act?”
Sista’s voice suddenly turned cold. In the next instant, her previously still legs clamped around Su Ling’s waist with startling force, pinning her in place.
“Mm—!”
Su Ling gasped. She hadn’t expected Sista to act so suddenly or so dominantly. Her face filled with panic.
“Well, I’ll let you look, if you want,” Sista said, her grip tightening. “You’ll have plenty of chances in the future. As my personal maid, you’re the one who’ll know my body best.”
“But,” Sista leaned in closer, lowering her voice, “there’s one condition.”
She paused, watching Su Ling struggle to breathe from nervousness. Her breath was warm, their faces nearly touching.
“You’ll be my pet. You’re not allowed to disobey me—understood?”
“…I understand, Your Highness…”
Su Ling had known all along. In front of this princess, whether as a servant or a plaything, she never had the right to say no.