Seemingly feeling nothing, XÄ« sat with her legs crossed, body leaning slightly forward, her fingertips tapping on the developing paper in his hand, giving him a subtle hint of assertiveness.
She then took the paper and shook it gently.
“Every one of my paintings holds a unique meaning, Noble Young Master.
Are you interested in hearing about them?”
Lin Nuo didn’t respond, his gaze drawn elsewhere—
just this slight movement loosened the binding on those two wicked little bows, and under the Priestess’s complete unawareness, they visibly slackened.
Unprepared for this and chatting idly with him, XÄ« didn’t notice the towel wrapped around her delicate figure silently slipping down…
Seeing his Priestess slowly becoming exposed bit by bit, Lin Nuo hesitated, unsure how to remind her, but after a brief pause, he decisively stood up and reached out.
Meeting XÄ«’s puzzled look, he pinched the two loosened ties of the towel and retied a tighter bow at her front.
The girl was on the verge of tears from the sudden tug.
‘If she were to expose herself in front of me, I’d have to comfort her for quite a while!’
“Eh…?”
XÄ«, her glossy hair styled into a side ponytail falling over her chest, seemed startled by his action and instinctively straightened up, softly saying thanks.
Yet the regret flickering in her eyes was perfectly concealed by the young girl.
“I’ve noticed magical fluctuations near your room while cleaning lately.
Are you intending to learn magic, Noble Young Master?”
XÄ« peeled an orange and asked, “There are scrolls of Magic Arrays by your bedside. If you’re interested in Magic Arrays, maybe I can help.”
“Hmm?”
Lin Nuo didn’t find it particularly surprising that his personal Priestess could perform simple Healing Arts and understand the poison within his body.
It was common for Claremont Manor’s maids to be knowledgeable and able to master basic perception magic.
But if she could also handle Magic Arrays—
“What are you thinking, Noble Young Master? I don’t understand source runes,” XÄ« said softly, “I only knew you liked reading those risqué books, so when I shop outside, I keep an eye out for books you might like. Sometimes I come across books about Magic Arrays.”
“I remember the patterns of several Magic Arrays. Would you like me to draw them for you?”
Before Lin Nuo could reply, seeming to see the gleam of surprise and opportunity in his eyes, XÄ« put down Fatty Bird and adjusted her posture, lifting a feather pen to a blank developing paper and began drawing.
Soon, the form of a Magic Array emerged clearly under her skillful strokes:
— Exploration Magic Array
Lin Nuo’s mind quickly absorbed the information about this array.
Arrays like this are generally used to detect monster attacks or identify traps.
In battle, even one adept sorcerer with perception magic can expose ambushes that monsters have painstakingly prepared.
This type of magic greatly enhances self-protection ability, yet in the Sacred Relic Hall, Lin Nuo only found very low-level perception Magic Arrays.
But the Exploration Magic Array XÄ« drew was clearly extraordinary just by looking at its complex source runes.
“I didn’t expect my memory to be this good, and to be useful to you at a time like this. Though I don’t know the elements needed or the principles, I’m sure this is the correct way to draw it.”
“No need to know.”
“This is already very helpful to me.
XÄ«, I’ll give you a separate bounty—ask for anything you want!”
“No need to trouble you, Noble Young Master. What I want, I’ll work hard to get it myself,” XÄ« smiled sweetly.
“If you don’t disappoint me, just learn quickly. Otherwise, I won’t be able to wait.”
Looking at the developing paper, Lin Nuo felt XÄ«’s words were a little strange, but he didn’t think much, assuming she meant she hoped he’d buy her a gift…
“I’ve always had a small question.
Noble Young Master, can you tell me why the Manor changes maids every eight years?”
“Well… how should I explain this to you?”
Lin Nuo thought for a moment.
His cautiousness wasn’t a secret, so telling his Priestess seemed fine: “A long time ago, the Time Goddess gave me a Prophecy. I learned that when I was ten years old, I might attract someone—a girl who’s quite stubborn and possibly dangerous.”
“And the Goddess’s Prophecy also said that this girl would hide within the Manor for eight years. This year, she might be ready and planning to kidnap me!”
“…..”
“XÄ«, what’s with that expression?”
“Don’t tell me you think I’m overreacting because I’m scared of a woman?”
“Of course not. I understand what a stubborn personality is like.”
The stiff smile on XÄ«’s face quickly melted away, her tone as gentle as ever: “If the Noble Young Master found out there was someone who sneaked in to get close to you, to understand you, secretly rummaging through your trash, recording your schedule, smelling your clothes, sleeping with things that smell like you… trying to control everything about you, and has done so for many years…”
“Plus her hidden unpredictability and threat, it sounds unbearable for most people.”
“Fortunately, I can tell you this because I know someone who understands me!”
XÄ«’s deep understanding moved Lin Nuo greatly.
“Not to mention she apparently has an eye-roll-inducing habit of flashing two fingers in a ‘peace’ sign…”
“And likes games with clear attacker and defender roles…”
She even measured which three boxes she could fit herself into!
‘Three boxes to hold me…’
Imagine getting stuffed in and still coming out intact…
“I didn’t expect the Noble Young Master’s caution to be so meticulous.
This started more than eight years ago, right when I arrived…”
“If I remember correctly, I’ve been by your side for seven years and nine months already. Is my time almost up?”
XÄ« squinted her eyes slightly, resting her chin in her hands as she looked at him.
Her sweet smile seemed tinged with an unspoken meaning.
“Does the Noble Young Master also want to replace me by his side?”
“You?” Lin Nuo glanced at her, seemingly thinking XÄ«’s clear, radiant cheeks were always beautiful.
He looked a second time and shrugged, “To be honest, I really don’t want to replace you.”
“Hmm.”
Before XÄ« could nod, the satisfied expression briefly curling her eyes appeared again, only to see Lin Nuo sigh and say with concern: “But XÄ«, you’re so beautiful, you can use magic, you know so much and have a great personality. You’ve been taking care of me all this time; it’s a shame to hold you back.”
“If you feel the treatment here is good, you can stay a few more years.
But when you meet someone you like, we will definitely have to part.”
“…”
XÄ« lowered her head, picking the orange peel off with her fingertips, perfectly hiding the brief shadow of gloom on her face.
“And Noble Young Master?”
She asked, “What if the Noble Young Master meets someone he likes?”
“The same.”
‘The same? Parting ways? Such a candid answer, my Noble Young Master…’
XÄ« tossed her hair, obscuring the deepening gloom on her face from Lin Nuo’s view…
“Okay, I understand.”
After a long pause, XÄ« replied, “I’ve drawn this Magic Array… Noble Young Master, don’t forget to learn it.”
“No need to tell me, I’ll master it soon enough.”
“Chirp chirp!”
As usual, Lin Nuo gave XÄ« more than half of the orange she handed him.
Then, for Fatty Bird’s squeaky demands, he gave it a piece before stuffing the rest into his mouth and saying: “How can you not believe me, XÄ«? Though your magical power is definitely stronger than mine now, if I ever slack off, I’ll surpass you sooner or later!”
“Hmm, I’ll be waiting for Noble Young Master to surpass me~”
Only when Lin Nuo returned to his room did he glance at the painting and not dwell on it further.
After all, a little Priestess who prays in the church and blesses others with the Gospel couldn’t harbor any ill intentions, right?
XÄ«’s subtle smile, which he hadn’t understood at first, and her urging him to quickly learn the Magic Array, Lin Nuo simply took as cute encouragement from the Priestess to the useless Noble Young Master of the household.
Thus, he missed the final moment to notice the faint abnormality…