In the room next to His’s bedroom, Rafina was carefully smoothing out the bedsheets.
“Alright, Miss Li Nuo Er, if you need anything else later, feel free to come find me anytime.”
The expressionless girl said nothing, only nodding at Rafina.
“Then I’ll be off to work, Young Master Xisi.”
“Okay, good work.”
Once Rafina had left the room, His turned to Li Nuo Er and spoke up.
“So, satisfied now?”
“Very satisfied, Young Master Xisi.”
Just moments ago, when His had let Li Nuo Er pick her own room, she had almost without hesitation chosen the empty room closest to His’s bedroom.
And her reasoning was very simple: a shadow guard must always keep watch over her master’s safety, so naturally she should stay close by.
Which made His grumble inwardly: ‘Weren’t you just as available when you were living in the basement before?’
***
In the Duke’s mansion kitchen, Rafina, who was prepping ingredients, realized that she simply couldn’t focus on her work today.
For some reason, when she saw Li Nuo Er get to move into the room next to His’s bedroom as she’d wished, it felt like a thorn had lodged itself in her heart.
There really are so many girls around Young Master His…
Will there ever really be a place for me by his side?
At that thought, Rafina dipped her hand into some cold water and patted it against her face, trying to drive those messy thoughts out of her mind.
***
After dealing with Li Nuo Er’s situation, His went to the study as usual.
There was nothing left on his plate that needed handling, and the System hadn’t pushed any new notifications either.
With rare free time on his hands, His picked a book from the shelf and started reading seriously.
Before he knew it, the study door was gently pushed open.
“Tea’s here.”
“Oh… hmm? Why is it you? Where’s Rafina?”
To His’s surprise, the one delivering tea this time wasn’t Rafina, but Ni Wei.
“What, am I not good enough?”
Ni Wei set the tea tray on the desk and asked with complete confidence.
“Of course you’re fine. Looks like our Lady Ni Wei is finally starting to develop a bit of a maid’s sense of duty.”
“Hmph, say whatever you want.”
Ni Wei pouted, then proactively poured a cup of tea for His.
His picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Hm?
This taste…
At first sip, it felt exactly like what Rafina usually brewed, but if you savored it…
It seemed to have a slight hint of sweetness?
“Who brewed today’s tea?”
“Wh… what’s wrong?”
At His’s question, Ni Wei’s expression turned a bit tense and shy.
“I brewed it… but I learned it specially from my sister, and she tasted it too, said there was no problem…”
“Oh? When did you learn?”
His set down the teacup and studied the little maid before him with interest.
The Ni Wei from before always carried herself with an arrogant air around him.
But now, seeing that shy expression on her face, it had a charm all its own.
“Just these past couple of days, it’s not like it’s hard…”
“Is that so?”
His smiled, remembering how when he’d gone to the royal capital last time, round trip was only a few days, and by the time he came back, Ni Wei had already managed to control the dark element in her body fairly steadily.
Back then, she’d also claimed it was easy and called herself a genius, but according to Rafina, she practiced for a long time every single day.
And now, trying to replicate her sister’s flavor in her own tea as closely as possible, she must have practiced plenty in private too.
She’d learned from Rafina days ago but only brewed it for him today, which meant she’d probably only felt confident once the taste was nearly indistinguishable from Rafina’s.
“Don’t be nervous. You brewed it wonderfully. Looks like you’ll be able to take another task off your sister’s shoulders from now on.”
His picked up the teacup and took another sip, encouraging her.
“Really?! That’s great.”
Ni Wei let out a sigh of relief, then turned her gaze to the various reports His had laid out on the desk.
“This… can I take a look?”
“What, you’re interested in this stuff?”
Figuring this would be a good chance to cultivate his little maid’s business sense, His casually pulled out a few reports and handed them to Ni Wei.
A moment later.
“What the heck, I can’t understand any of this.”
“I knew it…”
He really shouldn’t have expected much from this little maid.
After all, she’d never had any exposure to business matters before, so it was normal she couldn’t understand.
His was just about to reach out and take the reports back when Ni Wei suddenly stepped back with them in hand, catching His off guard.
“What are you doing?”
“Teach me. I pick things up fast. If you teach me, I’ll be able to understand it, right?”
“What’s the point of you understanding all this?”
His found Ni Wei’s words equal parts amusing and exasperating.
“I… I was just thinking, what if one day you’re too busy to handle everything, I could help you out.”
“With that time, you’d be better off helping your sister with her work.”
His shook his head, but then it occurred to him that Ni Wei did seem to be the type who genuinely applied herself to learning.
If she really could master this, she might actually lighten his load considerably.
After all, Florin was often away lately, and with business sure to keep growing, plus Molis being someone he couldn’t fully trust with more work…
“Alright, I’ll teach you when I have the time.”
“Deal then, no backing out!”
With that, Ni Wei held out one hand and crooked her pinky finger.
“What’s this all about?”
“A pinky promise.”
“Come on, how old are you…”
Seeing the serious look in Ni Wei’s eyes, His knew there was no escaping it, so he simply extended his pinky and hooked it with hers.
The moment their pinkies connected, Ni Wei suddenly tightened hers.
“?”
Completely baffled by the girl’s thought process, His looked at Ni Wei with confusion.
“Hey, His.”
“Huh…”
Being suddenly addressed by her calling his full name directly left His momentarily stunned.
“I have something really important I want to tell you.”
“Then just say it. But first, let go of me.”
“No!”
Ni Wei sniffled.
“I… I’m afraid you’ll be upset after I say it.”
“I won’t. Go ahead.”
His was puzzled.
What was going on today?
Was this anxious, insecure girl really Ni Wei?
As he thought about it, his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the girl’s chest.
Yeah, no mistake, definitely Ni Wei.
“Really?”
“Really… Did you break some furniture or something? Don’t worry, I won’t—”
“I like you!”
The study fell silent in an instant.
His felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and it took a long moment before he snapped back to his senses.
“Huh?”
“Are you upset?”
Seeing His’s expression, Ni Wei asked cautiously.
“No… it’s not that I’m upset, it’s just… huh?”