Returning to the Earlโs Mansion, it was just the afternoon.
Eleanora seemed to be busy with paperwork.
Since there was nothing to do in the afternoon anyway, Liliane thought it would be a good time to head home and grab some medicinal herbs.
โGoing home?โ
Eleanora put down her pen and sized up Liliane.
When her gaze shifted to Lilianeโs lips, she suddenly looked away.
โYouโre coming back so early today just because of that?โ
Eleanora picked up a sheet of paper and lowered her head, no longer looking at Liliane.
โNo, the Knightsโ Order is apparently closing off the area for three days for some reason. My recovery medicine just ran out, and since I had nothing else to do this afternoon, I thought Iโd go home and get some materials.โ
โOh, then go ahead. By the way, take Eileen with you. The head maid told me the Earlโs Mansion seems to be missing some thingsโyou two can pick them up while youโre out.โ
Eleanora stole another glance at Lilianeโs lips, but fortunately, Lilianeโs mind was elsewhere and didnโt notice.
โWell then, Iโll be off, Master~โ
ใMake Master Happy, EXP +2ใ
Liliane smiled and opened the door to leave.
โUghโโ
Eleanora held back the sound she wanted to make.
She looked back at the paperwork but found she couldnโt focus at all.
Eleanora was angryโangry at herself.
She tapped her head with her fist.
She was so disappointing.
She had intended to look at Liliane with a calm mind, but as soon as Liliane came in, she couldnโt help but stare at her lips.
And once she saw them, the restless, sleepless fantasies from last night jumped right back into her mind.
โUghโItโs all Lilianeโs fault!โ
Eleanora bit her teeth and muttered quietly.
Yes, it had nothing to do with herโit was all Lilianeโs fault for coming at this time!
She wasnโt prepared, yet Liliane ambushed her!
All Lilianeโs fault!
Eleanora slammed her pen down on the desk.
I quit!
Iโm going back to check out the spoonsโ
Check out the scenery.
The view from the bedroom was pretty nice.
Hehe.
โShopping?โ Upon hearing Liliane, the little maid Eileen froze for a moment before nodding vigorously.
โSure, sure.โ
This time, she was going out with Liliane; before this, it had always been with the head maid.
Eileen was actually quite interested in the Imperial Capital, but the head maid was strict at work, and Eileen didnโt dare mention her wish to explore around.
Going out with Liliane this time, though, she could finally fulfill that desire.
After getting the Purchasing List from the head maid, the two of them climbed into the carriage and set off.
Since they were buying goods, the carriageโs cabin had a cargo compartment, so the seating area was a bit cramped.
Liliane and Eileen squeezed together.
Luckily, neither of them cared much about comfort.
โSniff sniffโโ
Like a little puppy, Eileen sniffed Liliane.
โLiliane.โ
โHm?โ
โAre you wearing perfume?โ
โNo? Why do you say that?โ
โYou smell like Lavender. Itโs really calming.โ
Saying that, Eileen pressed her whole body against Liliane, taking deep breaths of her scent.
Lilianeโs face flushed slightly; Eileenโs action was embarrassingly bold.
โAiya, it feels like all the fatigue from the past few days has melted away, and I feel so much lighter.โ
โSame here. After sleeping next to you, Liliane, I feel especially refreshed the next day.โ
Does she actually have that kind of effect?
Liliane raised her hand to her nose and sniffed.
There was no scent at all.
Eileen then hugged Liliane and burrowed into her arms.
โAiyaโso comfyโโ
It did sound nice.
Eileen relaxed completely against Liliane.
Eileenโs body was very light, and with Lilianeโs recent training, it felt like some especially small, soft animal resting in her arms.
But Liliane didnโt feel comfortable.
Her face was a bit red, her heartbeat quickened, and her body stiffened.
This was the first time sheโd been so close to another girl like this.
Sleeping next to someone didnโt countโLiliane hadnโt moved Eileen, and theyโd taken up half the bed each.
Her interactions with Eleanora didnโt count eitherโthat was just for experience points and fulfilling the contract.
It couldnโt be compared to now.
Now, Eileen held her without any ulterior motive, and Liliane had no defenses upโjust because she smelled nice, Eileen hugged her.
This left Liliane feeling a little lost.
As everyone knows, Liliane is over forty years old.
More than twenty years of male life, moving around schools with almost no friends.
She made some friends in university, but in a science and engineering class of 40 students with only five girls, she couldnโt even remember all the girlsโ names and ended up mother-tongue solo for life.
Why no dating?
Isnโt gaming fun?
Oh, speaking of which, she was actually a galgame expert, so she had โdatedโ in a sense.
Over ten years of female life, traveling with her parents as doctors, meeting all kinds of medicinal herbs in the wild.
She finally settled down in the Imperial Capital, but after her parents suddenly passed away, she met a few friends while treating patients, though mostly just acquaintances.
Everyone was busy, and the medical profession was demanding, so there wasnโt much time for socializing.
Liliane, of course, knew how normal socializing worked.
But socializing between girls? Liliane only knew from games, novels, and anime.
Could it really be the same?
Well, it seemed pretty close.
Artistic creation always stems from life.
From what sheโd seen in works before, two girls hugging each otherโeven if fans shipped themโcould still just be friends.
Thinking that, Liliane suddenly relaxed.
Her stiff body loosened.
โEileen.โ
โHm?โ Eileen seemed dazed from being wrapped up in Lilianeโs arms.
โWhat do you think our relationship is?โ
โFr-friends?โ
Eileen suddenly snapped to attention, panicking a little.
What kind of dialogue straight out of a novel was this!?
Could it be that Liliane was about to confess?
Could it beโฆ
Because she was the smartest maid, the maid among maids, Liliane liked her especially much?
Then sheโฆ
No, she couldnโt disappoint her lady!
But Liliane smelled so nice, and was so softโฆ
Eileenโs smile was barely held back.
โFriends, huhโฆโ Liliane frowned, pondering the situation.
Given the reality, hugging and cuddling between friends was normal, right?
Looks like her thoughts were right.
It was like bros slinging their arms over each otherโs shoulders.
Same thing.
But from Eileenโs perspective, it was different.
After asking the question, Liliane stopped talking and frowned, as if dissatisfied.
Eileen suddenly felt a sting in her nose.
So Liliane didnโt consider her a friend after allโฆ
Liliane turned and saw Eileen trying to hold back tears.
โEh, why are you crying!?โ Liliane was shocked.
โLiliane, you donโt consider me a friend,โ Eileen accused, her voice trembling with tears.
โI didnโt say anything like that. No, why would you think that?โ
No way, sister, if I didnโt consider you a friend, I wouldnโt eat, chat, and joke with you every day.
Liliane wanted to open up Eileenโs head and see if her brain was just a pipe.
โThen what am I to you?โ Eileen seemed stunned, realizing things might not be how she thought.
โA friend, what else could it be?โ
โOhโฆ sorry, I misunderstood.โ Eileen scratched her head and gave an embarrassed smile, as if the earlier grievance wasnโt hers at all. Then a small tear slipped down her cheek. โY-yeah, sorry.โ
The sudden shift in attitude was pretty funny.
Liliane just thought little maid Eileen was a remarkable character.