Chapter 21: Did He Bully You?!

“Ni Wei”

Ni Wei had just returned from a stroll through town when she heard someone call her name, and she immediately stopped in her tracks.

“Lila? Is something the matter?”

After seeing who had called her, Ni Wei couldn’t help but feel a little surprised.

She remembered that this new black-haired maid usually kept to herself and rarely initiated conversations with others.

“I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

Lila’s expression was serious as she looked at Ni Wei with determined eyes.

“Um, what can I do for you?”

Ni Wei tilted her head and returned Lila’s gaze with a curious look.

“Help me… leave this place.”

“Leave?”

Ni Wei was taken aback.

“You mean, you want to escape from the Duke’s Mansion?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? Ah! It must be because that evil young master His Blackstone has been bullying you, right?”

“Well…”

When she thought about it, ever since she had come to the Duke’s Mansion, that young master named His Blackstone had never really forced her to do anything.

He hadn’t even asked about her background; he had simply provided her with a place to stay and work.

If he hadn’t bought her back then, she might have been sold off to who knows where.

Lila cast her eyes downward, momentarily unsure how to answer.

But to Ni Wei, that reaction took on a different meaning.

“I knew it!”

Ni Wei clenched her little fists, and her tone grew agitated.

“That evil young master really does have bad intentions!”

“Actually…”

“You don’t need to explain!”

Ni Wei cut Lila off, placed her hands on Lila’s shoulders, and her eyes filled with a tenderness that seemed beyond her age.

Lila opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing more.

How else could she explain?

Tell Ni Wei that she was actually from the Demonic Realm, that His Blackstone had always been good to her, and that she only wanted to leave because she was worried about the situation over there?

If she told the truth, it would probably only bring more trouble to this innocent girl.

And she didn’t want to stir up any extra issues when she was about to leave, so she simply went along with Ni Wei’s words.

“Yeah! That’s right! I can’t stand it anymore!”

As she said this, Lila silently clasped her hands together in her heart.

‘Sorry about this, Little Young Master.’

‘I hope you won’t hold a grudge against me later!’

Ni Wei looked Lila up and down, her thoughts turning back to the day His Blackstone had bought Lila from the Black Market.

Sure enough, that evil young master had no good intentions!

He must have been bullying her all this time!

He’s pushed her to the point of wanting to run away!

Seeing Ni Wei’s indignant expression, Lila tentatively asked again, “So… can you help me?”

“Of course!”

Ni Wei nodded firmly.

***

Midnight was the time when security at the Duke’s Mansion was at its laxest.

Ni Wei led Lila along the small path she had used before when following His Blackstone to the Black Market, heading toward the side gate of the mansion.

Along the way, neither of them spoke much.

Lila’s pace was slow; every few steps, she would glance back at the sprawling residence behind her.

“Don’t be nervous, relax,” Ni Wei whispered.

“At this hour, the guards are pretty much all dozing off.”

“Yeah.”

Lila responded, but her steps didn’t quicken.

Ni Wei noticed the girl’s hesitation.

“Is there… something you can’t let go of?”

Hearing Ni Wei’s question, Lila stopped altogether, turned around, and took one last look at the Study.

The light in the Study was still on.

That young master, who always wore an unreadable smile, was probably still going over the Account Books in there.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lila’s lips.

‘Young Master His Blackstone, thank you for taking me in.’

‘Though I doubt you’ll ever want to know who that black-haired maid who worked in your house for a few days really was.’

‘I’ll remember your name.’

‘I hope we have the chance to meet again.’

“Let’s go!”

“Oh… then follow me!”

Ni Wei quickened her pace, and Lila stayed close behind her.

This time, she didn’t look back.

After exiting the small side gate of the Duke’s Mansion, Lila stopped.

“Thank you, Ni Wei.”

“Don’t thank me.”

Ni Wei shook her head.

“But are you really going to be okay out there on your own?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be off now.”

Just as Lila was about to leave, she seemed to remember something and turned back to Ni Wei.

“Actually… that His Blackstone isn’t as bad as you think.”

With that, Lila vanished quickly into the night.

Ni Wei was left standing alone, staring blankly at her receding figure.

What do you mean, not as bad as I think?

He drove you to the point of running away, and you’re still speaking up for him?!

Could it be that this evil young master has some kind of magic that makes people obey his every word?!

At that thought, Ni Wei couldn’t help but shudder.

No way!

This is too terrifying!

I have to get my sister out of here as soon as possible!

***

His Blackstone closed the Account Book and put it away in the drawer.

He had barely stretched halfway when a familiar voice came from behind him.

“Young Master.”

“Whoa!”

His Blackstone jumped in surprise, nearly falling off his chair.

“Li Nuo Er! How many times have I told you not to suddenly appear behind me?!”

“Young Master, there’s an urgent situation.”

Li Nuo Er reported in her usual expressionless, monotone voice.

“What is it?”

“That black-haired girl you bought from the Black Market before—she just ran off through the side gate of the mansion.”

“Oh? Then did you…”

“I tried to catch her, but she seemed to have some kind of Secret Art. In an instant, I lost track of her.”

Even Li Nuo Er couldn’t catch her?

It seemed this maid was not so simple either.

Though he was still curious about her identity, she hadn’t caused any trouble in the mansion during this time, so he might as well let it go.

And for some reason, His Blackstone felt that he would meet her again.

“Forget it. If she wants to leave, let her go.”

His Blackstone waved his hand.

“You’re not worried, Young Master?”

“I never offended her, so why would I be worried?”

His Blackstone shrugged.

“If anyone should be worried, it’s the Black Market people. I was good to her, and she doesn’t seem like the type to be ungrateful.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

“But if she managed to escape through the side gate at this hour, it means she’s been observing our Duke’s Mansion closely these past few days.”

“Actually, it was Ni Wei who helped her out.”

“Oh?”

His Blackstone raised an eyebrow.

He was already starting to think about how he was going to discipline his little maid this time.

“Alright, I see. Li Nuo Er, go back for tonight. Tomorrow, make sure you train our guards properly so that this kind of thing—someone escaping from the house in the middle of the night without anyone noticing—doesn’t happen again.”

“Yes, Young Master His Blackstone.”