Wu kicked.
The rippling water reflected the ceiling as it came down, striking the ground and making a clear, crisp sound that stood out especially in the quiet hall.
Tii was agitated, and then her expression became somewhat complicated.
“This isn’t something soldiers would do in the first place, so, Su Ling, can you tell me what you’re really thinking?” Su Ling sounded a bit anxious.
“So you’re saying it’s just, hm~”
“You always do this, always changing the topic on purpose no matter what I ask, Tii. It’s obvious, you know? I still don’t know much about you at all… I really want to understand you better…”
Halfway through her words, Su Ling just couldn’t continue.
Because she saw Tii’s head frown, and the way she looked at her was tinged with a trace of suspicion.
That expression looked both wronged and somewhat angry at what she’d just said. Her lips pressed tightly together, face turning slightly toward the wall.
After a long silence, Tii finally asked a sharp question, “Are you close with Sista? If you’re so close with her, why probe into my thoughts?”
“It’s not that! I’m not trying to probe you!” Su Ling hurriedly explained for herself, “If, if you really don’t want to answer… I won’t ask anymore.”
Tii, who was always so considerate, rarely got angry. Why was she angry now? Was it really because she’d asked that kind of question?
Tii’s behavior was always a little strange she wanted to be close to Su Ling, yet kept a certain distance. Every time Su Ling brought up her past or asked about her inner thoughts, Tii would find a way to avoid it, simply unwilling to answer.
Fine, she’d better let her cool off first.
Just as Su Ling was about to say something more, Tii spoke first.
“Su Ling, make it up to me.”
Saying this, she turned, leaned closer to Su Ling, and before Su Ling could react, Tii’s lips pressed against Su Ling’s delicate shoulder and collarbone, holding there with a gentle force.
“Tii…?”
What is she doing?
Su Ling was stunned.
There was no pain on her skin, only the sensation of the girl’s lips at the top of her collarbone, with beads of cool moisture hanging there.
Tii kept kissing there for a while before finally letting go.
On the white skin, a bright red kiss mark had appeared like a flower blooming on her skin, striking and eye-catching.
“I don’t want things to end like this.” Tii brushed the stray hair by Su Ling’s ear, her melodic voice tinged with a devilish allure, making Su Ling’s heart beat wildly.
“Little Su Ling doesn’t hate me, and being with you feels so nice. Let’s just keep this relationship going, all right?”
As expected, she had been led along by Tii all along.
She couldn’t bring herself to say no—this kind of ambiguous intimacy was just going to continue.
Seeing Tii’s satisfied yet sly expression, Su Ling couldn’t help but worry that there would be even more outrageous things in the future. It seemed that Tii really enjoyed what was happening between them she wanted it so much it was almost insatiable.
Su Ling didn’t answer Tii.
Right now, compared to these small troubles, she was more concerned about something far more serious that mark.
After bathing, Su Ling returned to her room alone, took off all her clothes, and, by the light of the oil lamp, examined the spot in front of her chest.
The moment she saw the grass-like kiss mark, her mind went blank for a second she understood everything.
Tii’s madness and wildness had left a mark, neither too light nor too deep, perfectly placed at the spot known as the Blood Princess’s “blood spot.”
If Sista were to serve her these next two days, everything would be exposed.
What should she do now?
If Sista’s family saw this mark, they’d definitely be furious.
Of course—falling in love would interfere with work. In the Palace, it had always been forbidden for personal servants to have romantic relationships. With a mark like this left behind, no matter how much she claimed to be innocent, nobody would believe her.
Moreover, that strange Blood Princess had always had an inexplicable possessiveness toward Su Ling’s body.
“Tii really went too far…”
She tried desperately to rub off the mark, but no matter how much she pressed her rosy skin, it wouldn’t fade at all. The mark seemed to have grown there permanently, making her anxious and uneasy.
Su Ling secretly prayed that she wouldn’t be summoned for service in the next two days, at least until the mark faded from her collarbone.
Carrying these worries, before she knew it, the second day arrived.
The kiss mark was on the skin between her upper arm and collarbone, and since the maid uniforms were always quite conservative, normally no one would see that part of her skin, so it was usually safe.
In the bright study, Sista sat before a massive bookshelf, surrounded by piles of documents and books. Her slender figure bent low, focused on her work, brow furrowed tightly.
There had just been another meeting, and the content was mentally exhausting. Even now, her expression was still tense and severe.
Su Ling quietly entered the study, carrying a delicate afternoon tea tray in her hands, with freshly baked pastries and a pot of steaming hot tea.
She took a deep breath.
No matter what, she had to act normal she couldn’t let Sista see anything unusual about her!
“Lunch break is over afternoon tea time,” Su Ling said, trying to break the heavy silence. “Today, I’ve prepared Red Silk Cupcake, Almond Tart, and Southwestern Fragrant Black Tea for you.”
Sista looked up, a trace of fatigue flashing in her blood-red eyes, but she quickly nodded, “I’m not in the mood to eat. Just set it down.”
Su Ling nodded understandingly and was just about to quietly leave the room when Sista called out to her.
“Wait a moment, I have something to say to you.”
Su Ling stopped, curious.
Sista set down her pen, her expression growing grave.
“After Keban’s death, the management of the Palace has been a constant problem. Recently, the Palace has appointed a new steward, Stith. He’s a trusted follower of Your Majesty.”
“This man works quietly and shrewdly, and I can’t quite figure out his temperament. You should be cautious when you interact with him.”
Su Ling nodded.
“There’s one more thing,” Sista continued. “In the Kingdom of Ansels, the king’s power is supreme, but it’s not absolute over the noble families.”
“Regarding the rebel army, Moerjiao believes that the reason the Count disobeyed orders is likely because someone inside the Palace leaked information that was unfavorable to him.”
A chill…
An uneasy feeling surged in Su Ling’s heart, and Sista’s gaze grew sharp and cold.
“I’m not sure of the exact details, but to uncover the traitor, Moerjiao plans to have the new steward conduct strict investigations of all the personal servants. The guards are also searching for suspicious targets.”
“As my personal maid, you need to be careful as well. Don’t let yourself get into unnecessary trouble.”
“I understand. Thank you for your warning.”
“If you’re done, go. I’m busy.”
Sista lowered her head to her paperwork, her voice once again returning to its usual coldness.
As expected, that coldness was only on the surface, the Blood Princess did care about her.
A surge of warmth flooded Su Ling’s heart. She knew Sista was telling her these things out of concern, a reminder to take good care of herself.
But at the same time, her worries about that kiss mark only grew deeper.
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