Chapter 20: Someday

Time passed in a blink, as if closing and opening one’s eyes, and outside the window, it was already the next morning.

Condensed dew slowly gathered on the window glass, forming crystal-clear droplets that scattered dappled light and shadow into the room, landing just right on the bed.

On the bed, Hualí woke up groggily, clothes disheveled, her whole body tingling, as if she’d been used as a little pinch toy and ravaged all night, her bones feeling like they’d fall apart any second.

But by now, she was almost used to it.

Propping herself up against the bed, her shirt collar tilted slightly with the motion, unintentionally revealing a delicate and beautiful collarbone.

Hualí’s hand, hidden under the covers, instinctively lifted her shirt, reaching toward her flat belly.

Her fingertips brushed inch by inch over her skin, feeling the smooth, tender touch.

Recalling the faint traces of consciousness left from yesterday, Hualí barely remembered that Sidella had kept her promise in the end.

She had helped erase the Magic Mark imprinted on her lower abdomen.

Hualí pressed her lips together, little fists clenched, shameful memories from yesterday slowly surfacing in her mind.

Her ears turned red, and her cheeks burned hot.

“Ah, damn it! What on earth did I do!!”

Hualí’s heart was heavy and grief-stricken, her head banging against the bedboard, overwhelming regret threatening to swallow her whole.

Sure, it was because the Magic Mark affected her reason, making her unable to make the right judgment.

But Hualí still couldn’t convince herself.

To willingly sit on Sidella’s lap and ride—no matter how you think about it, that’s just shameless behavior!

“Ugh…sob…I’ll never be clean again…”

Hualí lifted the covers, glanced down, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes.

Then, making up her mind, she reached out and smacked her lower half a few times in punishment.

“Serves you right for being greedy! Serves you right…!”

The crisp sound of slaps echoed in the room, stirring waves in the air.

“Ugh…so painful…”

Hualí wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, comforting herself in her heart.

“It’s fine, as long as I’ve been punished, it’s fine.”

If I suffer, it’s not by my will.

As long as I’m punished, if I can admit my mistakes and change, I’m still the pure good girl I was before!

Hualí let out a couple of silly laughs.

She jumped off the bed, her tender white feet landing on the floor, and began to look around the room.

The bedroom wasn’t big, but it was fully furnished.

From the look of the brand-new furniture, it didn’t seem like anyone had lived here before.

On the windowsill beside the bed sat a pot of blooming White Lily.

The dewdrops on the tip of the leaves bent the slender stem.

Morning sunlight filtered through the stained glass, bathing the delicate petals in a unique color.

It looked beautiful.

Hualí withdrew her gaze, shaking her little head to gather her scattered thoughts.

The morning temperature in the Demon King Castle was still a bit chilly.

In other words, it was the brief coolness before the morning sun warmed the ground.

With her bare white legs, Hualí shivered from the cold, rubbing her icy hands over her thighs.

“Oh right, I saw socks just now!”

Hualí noticed a neatly stacked pile of ‘little squares’ on the bedside table.

She picked them up happily, sat back on the bed, and shook out the socks in her palm.

The socks were milky white, like milk-flavored ice cream.

The fabric was soft and silky to the touch, cool and smooth.

She stuck her fingers into the sock, bunched it up, and slid it over her pink, round toes, pulling it up to just above her knees.

Releasing her grip, the elastic sock snapped back with a ‘pa’, hugging her leg tightly and making it look plump.

“Ugh…”

Hualí frowned.

Is it because they’re new?

They’re a bit tight…

Forget it, I’ll get used to it after a while.

Everything has a first time.

It’s normal for the first time to be tight, but after a few times, it’ll loosen up, and it won’t feel uncomfortable—actually, it’ll be very comfy.

After putting Silk Stockings on her other leg the same way, Hualí couldn’t help but pinch her soft thigh, satisfied.

“Of course, it feels better this way. What’s the difference between wearing shoes without socks and running around barefoot?”

Saying that, Hualí bent down to put on her little leather shoes, pressing the toe firmly against the floor.

Once everything was done, she began wandering aimlessly around the room.

Here and there, glancing about.

Soon, her stomach growled.

Gurgle~~

“So hungry~”

Even her voice grew weak.

Hualí didn’t know exactly where she was, or whose room this was, but she guessed she was still somewhere inside the Demon Castle Palace.

Logically, she should stay put and wait for Sidella to come find her.

But Hualí was never one to follow common sense.

Creak——

The room door opened a crack.

Hualí poked her head out cautiously.

No one was visible on either side of the hallway.

The surroundings were so quiet it felt like a silver needle dropping would be heard clearly.

“Where is this?”

Stepping out, she found herself on the second floor of the building.

Hualí leaned over the corridor railing and looked down.

Below was a small Garden.

Near a potted plant, several Blood Clan Maids in maid uniforms were trimming new branches with small scissors.

Hualí shrank back, still too timid to greet them.

“Let’s look around first,”

Like a mischievous kitten, she darted around, pretending to be busy whenever someone appeared, whistling and glancing at the sky and ground.

Once the people passed, she continued sneaking around.

***

Not long after Hualí left the room, the Blood Clan Maid Chief Jeilinfa arrived at the door, carrying a Breakfast Tray with Breakfast.

She stopped in front of the door.

With elegant movements, she raised her hand and knocked lightly.

Knock knock knock——

After waiting a while without a response, she gently pushed open the door.

“Miss Hualí, it’s time to get up. The Queen instructed the kitchen to prepare breakfast for you, and asked me to tell you that after breakfast…”

The room was empty, unnaturally quiet.

The bed was a mess, with part of the bedding even fallen to the floor.

A big question mark popped up over Maid Chief Jeilinfa’s head.

She blinked, placed the Breakfast Tray on the table, and bent down to peer under the empty bed.

Didn’t Her Majesty the Queen say, ‘That idiot Hualí is probably still sleeping at this hour’?

Then where is she?

Jeilinfa straightened up, looking around the empty room in confusion, a trace of puzzlement appearing on her usually calm face.