Tii couldn’t help but laugh when she saw Su Ling’s indignant expression.
She reached out and gently tapped Su Ling’s nose with a fingertip.
“That was part of your training! I just wanted to test your resistance to distractions—whether you could maintain your balance in sudden situations.”
“There’s no such thing as that kind of distraction—”
Su Ling puffed out her cheeks and pretended to ignore her.
But Tii wasn’t bothered.
She took Su Ling’s hand and said, “Alright, alright, don’t be mad. Let’s try again. I promise not to startle you this time.”
With that, Tii quietly moved behind Su Ling and gently wrapped her arms around her waist to adjust her posture.
Her fingertips pressed lightly against Su Ling’s lower back.
“Here, let me help you adjust—your waist should be a little straighter. That way, your overall form will look more elegant,” Tii said softly, her voice brushing against Su Ling’s ear.
Su Ling could feel Tii’s hands wrapped around her waist.
The closeness made her nervous in a way she didn’t quite understand.
She could feel the warmth and pressure of Tii’s fingers clearly, and her heartbeat started to quicken.
“Here… and here… yes, just like that…”
Tii’s hands moved lightly along Su Ling’s waist, sometimes pressing gently, sometimes caressing.
“Ah, and your chest—lift it a little, Su Ling.”
“Ugh—don’t touch there…”
Su Ling’s cheeks burned as if a fire had ignited inside her.
Tii tilted her head and caught sight of Su Ling’s flushed face.
“Huh? Su Ling, what’s with the red face? Are you getting shy?” Tii teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
Su Ling grew even more embarrassed.
She lowered her head, avoiding eye contact.
“I-I’m not! It’s probably just too hot in here…”
Tii chuckled at her reaction.
“Really? Well, in that case… maybe I should push you a bit more—”
“Ahh! No!”
Su Ling broke free of Tii’s arms, leaving Tii giggling behind her.
Worn out from the training, the two girls sat down on the soft bed to rest.
“You know, Su Ling,” Tii said excitedly, “being chosen as the princess’s personal maid is a huge deal!”
Her voice was full of energy, as if she herself had been given the honor.
Su Ling blinked her big eyes curiously.
“Really?”
Tii puffed out her chest proudly and began listing the benefits.
“Oh yes, there are so many perks! First off, you’re always close to Her Highness, so you get to learn her preferences and habits. That makes your job around the castle way easier.”
“Mhm!”
Tii continued, “And the treatment is amazing—you eat better, sleep better, and even get the privilege of going outside the castle. Most importantly, your salary increases a lot. Way more than regular maids.”
“Going outside?”
The word “outside” instantly sparked a flame of hope in Su Ling’s heart.
She had imagined escaping this seemingly grand but suffocating castle countless times.
And now, that fantasy suddenly felt possible.
“Of course. There are court staff responsible for large banquets and daily procurement, but sometimes Her Highness becomes interested in items from commoners—things like clothing, jewelry, or street food.”
“And since the princess hates sunlight, these errands often get assigned to her maids,” Tii’s voice continued beside her.
Su Ling’s eyes grew brighter with every word.
A powerful yearning swelled within her—she wanted to go out.
If she really got the chance to leave the castle, she would find the perfect opportunity to escape.
She believed that with enough caution and cleverness, she’d one day break free from this frightening place—from Sista.
“Is… is that really true?” Su Ling still couldn’t quite believe her ears.
Tii patted her shoulder with a reassuring smile.
“Of course it’s true! And becoming a personal maid also boosts your standing here. Everyone will envy you!”
Su Ling’s face showed disbelief.
She hesitated.
“I… I can really do this?”
Tii nodded firmly.
“Of course you can! You’ve been working so hard, Su Ling. I believe in you! And besides, Her Highness seems to think highly of you too.”
Su Ling nodded.
“Okay. I won’t let anyone down.”
Tii smiled and nodded as well, but after a moment, her expression grew slightly complicated.
She sighed softly, her voice tinged with regret and helplessness.
“Ah… I really wish I could be the one to guide you, Su Ling. But unfortunately, I don’t have enough experience to qualify as your training mentor.”
“Huh?”
“Even though Her Highness chose you as her personal maid, palace rules state that a new personal maid must be trained for one week by someone with at least two years of service. That’s to ensure you’re fully prepared.”
Su Ling blinked in surprise.
She hadn’t known about such a rule and suddenly felt a little uneasy.
She looked at Tii and asked, “Then… who will train me?”
Tii hesitated.
“Neither I nor Bohm have worked here long enough. Karsanna is the head maid now, so she can’t also serve as a mentor. The others aren’t qualified either… Only Phil is eligible. But…”
Su Ling understood what she meant—Phil clearly didn’t like her and wasn’t easy to approach.
Su Ling gently patted the back of Tii’s hand and said reassuringly, “Tii, don’t say that. You’ve already helped and advised me so much—I’m really grateful. I’ll go talk to Phil and try to win her over.”
Seeing the determination in Su Ling’s eyes, Tii’s doubts slowly faded.
She let out a small sigh and said, “Alright. If you’re that determined, I feel better. Phil… I don’t know her well. I just hope she’s willing to help you.”
The two girls chatted a while longer.
Though there were still some lingering concerns, being with Tii helped Su Ling feel more at ease.
Yes—after spending so much time with her, Tii had never done anything to hurt her.
In fact, she was always the one who made Su Ling feel safe and happy.
If there was one person in this world Su Ling could trust the most, it had to be Tii.