The slightly tense lunch finally drew to a close. As the others began to disperse, Moria suddenly turned to Sista Anderson and whispered,
“Sister, do you have a moment? There are some matters I’d like to discuss with you in private.”
Sista Anderson merely nodded lightly in response. The motion was so subtle it was almost imperceptible, yet a faint ripple passed through the depths of her calm eyes.
She rose gently, turned, and cast a look at Su Ling. Su Ling instantly understood, and refrained from following with her gaze, only quietly watching Sista Anderson’s departing figure.
Since Sista Anderson needed to speak alone with Moria, it was naturally not a time for servants to accompany them. Su Ling knew this well, so she remained in the main hall.
Her next task was to head to Sista Anderson’s room to carry out the daily cleaning and tidying. As she calculated the time, Su Ling walked slowly toward the tool room.
Sunlight filtered through the window beams, casting mottled patches across the floor, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise chilly room.
She picked up the broom and cloth with practiced ease, but her mind kept replaying every detail from lunch, the subtle tension between Moria and Sista Anderson, the King and Queen Moria’s carefully controlled expressions, and the unfamiliar girl, Nori, whom she had never seen before.
From their conversation, Su Ling learned that Nori was a princess of the Blood Clan. Yet, oddly enough, Su Ling had never heard this name before—not even the most well-informed among the servants had ever mentioned it.
“They said she’s always stayed in her room and never comes out… But why is that?”
Su Ling murmured to herself. She knew that curiosity was often the most dangerous thing here, but she couldn’t restrain her longing for the truth, no matter how she tried.
Lost in her thoughts, Su Ling’s footsteps unconsciously wandered down the long corridor, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the cloth in her hand. Her gaze drifted between the distant end of the hall and the floor beneath her feet.
Her mind was in turmoil. Just then, a sudden pat on her shoulder startled her, as if waking from a dream, and she quickly turned around.
Standing before her was Tii.
Today, Tii seemed a little different from usual. Her bright red hair was carefully braided into two plaits, each tied with a white ribbon that swayed playfully with her every movement, giving her an extra touch of charm.
“Hey, Su Ling, what are you thinking about? You look so lost.” Tii’s voice was clear and melodious, tinged with mischief, and her face was lit with her usual warm smile.
Su Ling paused for a moment, then forced a faint smile and replied, “It’s nothing, just letting my mind wander.”
“Heh, are you sure you don’t want to tell me?”
“It’s not that…”
But Tii clearly had no intention of letting her off so easily. She narrowed her eyes, fixing Su Ling with a steady gaze, as if trying to read every thought in her heart.
“Really? You don’t look like someone who’s thinking about ‘nothing,’ you know. Little Su Ling’s thoughts are so easy to see through.”
Being stared at by Tii made Su Ling feel a little uncomfortable, and at last she gave in with a sigh. “Alright, I was thinking about Her Highness.”
“You mean Sista Anderson? Or Nori?”
“Heh… Both, I suppose. There’s so much here that I still don’t understand.”
“I thought so. Actually, on my way here today, I already saw several maids gossiping about Nori,” Tii said, patting Su Ling gently on the shoulder. “But when it comes to those important people, it’s better for us servants not to be too curious. After all, there are too many secrets in this palace—not all of them can be touched so easily.”
“Maybe you’re right…”
Su Ling nodded, but her curiosity was far from quelled. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, she looked up at Tii.
Quietly, Su Ling asked, “So, Tii, what do you think?”
“Hm?”
“About Her Highness Sista Anderson.”
The abruptness of the question seemed to catch Tii off guard, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
“Me?” Tii pointed at herself, as if she couldn’t believe Su Ling would seek her opinion. “Why ask me? Wouldn’t Head Maid Amane know better? She’s been in the palace for ages and seen everything.”
Su Ling shook her head gently and explained, “That’s true, Head Maid Amane has been here longer, and she’s seen far more than I have. But even so, I want to know your thoughts, Tii.”
“So concerned about what I think? That’s a surprise,” Tii replied with her usual teasing smile. “I’m just a servant…”
“Because you’re very perceptive, Tii,” Su Ling continued. “I thought, if it’s you, you’d notice more than anyone else.”
Tii sighed and said softly, “You’re giving me too much credit, Su Ling. But since you asked, I’ll share my thoughts. This isn’t really the right place, though. If you don’t mind, come to my room tonight.”
Su Ling glanced around. This was the passage leading to the tool room, and servants often passed by to fetch cleaning supplies. It truly wasn’t a good place to talk, so she nodded.
Perhaps because she’d been lost in thought all day, night seemed to fall unusually quickly for Su Ling.
***
When she returned to Tii’s room in the basement, Su Ling entered cautiously.
The ceiling was low, the exposed stone bricks worn by the years, giving off an ancient and rustic air.
A salt lamp sat on the table, casting a warm, amber glow that filled the room with a soft, gentle light. Tii sat on the old bed, carefully folding the freshly dried clothes.
“You’re here,” Tii said without looking up.
Su Ling sat down beside Tii, and the wooden bed creaked slightly.
“Can you tell me now?” Su Ling’s eyes were filled with anticipation.
“Ha, you really are eager to talk about this, aren’t you?” Tii put down the clothes and looked up. “But why? I’ve already told you, Su Ling—sometimes, the less you know in this palace, the safer you are.”
“I… don’t really think so,” Su Ling said, looking a little downcast.
“To be honest, ever since I entered Hailu Forest, I’ve always felt uneasy.”
“I’m afraid of making mistakes, of taking the wrong step… Back when I went shopping with Phil, she just disappeared without warning. Ever since then, I’ve felt that things aren’t as simple as they seem. Something is happening that I don’t know about.”
“So, I… I can’t keep living in the dark like this.”
Tii gently placed her hand over Su Ling’s.
“I understand how you feel, little Su Ling.”
“Yeah,” Su Ling looked at Tii’s soft, warm hand, “You’re the only one I can trust. That’s why… that’s why I keep wanting to ask you, Tii, what should I do…”
“The only one you can trust is me…”
Tii softly repeated those words, and in her emerald eyes, a barely perceptible joy flickered.