Lilian was startled by Eleonora’s voice.
She pulled open the curtains, turned around, wanting to see what was happening.
Irene was helping Eleonora get dressed, while Eleonora was staring straight at her.
Her shoulders were heaving, as if she were taking deep breaths.
Once she was dressed, Eleonora clapped her hands.
“Irene, you may leave now.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
As she spoke, Irene clenched a fist at her chest and gave Lilian a gesture of encouragement.
Irene believed she was doing the right thing.
Lilian was still being too naughty.
Doing things behind the Young Lady’s back, sneaking around, deceiving her—none of that was right.
As a friend, Irene felt she had a duty to pull Lilian back onto the right path.
Hmph, I did a good deed today~
Irene strolled out leisurely.
Encouragement?
Encourage for what?
Lilian was a bit puzzled.
She walked to the vanity, stood behind the chair, and waited for Eleonora to come over so she could do her hair.
Once the hair was done, it would be time for today’s magic lesson—what would it be this time?
Lilian was looking forward to it.
But after waiting behind the chair for quite a while, Lilian didn’t see Eleonora come over and sit down.
Lilian turned to look at Eleonora.
She discovered Eleonora was still sitting on the bed, silent, her face hidden in the shadow of her silver hair, making it hard to see clearly.
Only those crimson eyes, locked onto her with a complicated look.
Wh-what does this mean.
Just what did Irene say?
Why was Eleonora like this all of a sudden?
Thinking of Irene’s look of having fulfilled her mission, Lilian had an ominous feeling.
Did Irene say something else that was easily misunderstood, something she shouldn’t have told Eleonora?
Eleonora felt her breathing grow difficult. Staring at Lilian’s puzzled expression, her mind began to blur.
The thing she least wanted to see had still happened.
Lilian seemed to be getting closer to Ophelia.
They had even slept together.
And then what?
Like in the previous life, would the two of them one day face some crisis, Lilian even ending up in mortal danger?
But in the end, she’d survive, and become close to Ophelia.
In the end, the two of them would do anything for each other, even give their lives?
That bloody scene from her past life replayed in Eleonora’s mind, growing ever larger.
Suddenly, Eleonora found herself wrapped in a warm embrace, the familiar and comforting scent surrounding her.
Lilian was gently stroking her back from top to bottom, as if soothing a small animal.
Unconsciously, Eleonora tightened her grip on Lilian’s clothes.
Breathing in Lilian’s reassuring scent and feeling her warmth, the panic in Eleonora’s heart slowly faded.
Eleonora remembered what Lilian said yesterday: nothing happened.
But then, Irene told her Lilian said she’d slept with Ophelia yesterday.
Eleonora instinctively sensed something was off.
She decided to ask clearly.
“Lilian?” Eleonora asked hopefully, her voice trembling slightly, “Yesterday… did you really sleep with Ophelia?”
“Ah?” Lilian’s mind froze for a moment.
She had just seen Eleonora’s state was all wrong—her lips trembling, fingers clutching the bedsheet until her knuckles turned white.
Her expression dazed, Lilian had waved a hand in front of her but got no response.
Lilian, thinking like a Doctor, immediately diagnosed Eleonora as panicking.
On reflex, Lilian had pulled Eleonora into her arms to gently comfort her.
But now… so this was the question?
Lilian instantly realized—this was all thanks to the good deed done by little maid Irene.
Alright, alright, Irene, you’re really playing tricks now.
Just you wait.
But right now, the priority was comforting Eleonora.
Seeing Eleonora’s reaction, Lilian couldn’t help but find it both speechless and a bit funny.
Was it really that serious?
“Alright, Master, don’t listen to Irene’s nonsense.” Lilian placed both hands on Eleonora’s shoulders, looking straight into her eyes. “Yesterday, it was really just a normal treatment. I gave Her Highness… a Knee Pillow and let her have a good nap.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Knee Pillow…” Eleonora repeated this unfamiliar term, panic surfacing again on her face, “Is that some sort of even more improper way to sleep?”
“Ah?”
Lilian was once again shocked by Eleonora’s… lack of common sense in certain areas.
She sat down on the bed, sighed helplessly, and patted her own thigh.
“It just means Her Highness lay down here, understand? She simply rested. That’s all.”
A scene formed in Eleonora’s mind:
Ophelia, that purple-haired sneaky cat, quietly resting her head on Lilian’s lap…
Suddenly, as if aware of her gaze, Ophelia flashed a wild and triumphant smile.
No way! Just imagining it made her angry!
So it wasn’t what she thought—lying naked on a bed, hugging each other to sleep?
Eleonora couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, things hadn’t gotten to the worst.
But still.
“That’s still not okay!” Eleonora’s face turned red. She grabbed Lilian’s arm and shook it back and forth. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from that woman? She’s definitely pretending—she’s up to no good.”
Why wouldn’t Lilian listen to her warning?
Lilian had thought the same, but Ophelia had truly just slept on her lap for half a day.
She could only give a reasonable explanation:
“Master, I’m a Doctor. I have to be responsible for my patient. Besides, it was really just a nap…”
“Oh…” Eleonora realized she couldn’t refute Lilian, so she lowered her head, lips pursed in grievance, “I see…”
Silence fell between the two.
“Um…” Eleonora lifted her head, then quickly turned it away, not daring to look at Lilian. “Is the Knee Pillow… comfortable?”
Maid instincts stirred.
Lilian leaned back a little, put her legs neatly together, and patted her thigh.
“Would Master like to try?”
Wait!
What was she saying!
Just as Lilian wanted to take it back, Eleonora was already lying down—albeit a bit stiffly.
She turned sideways, carefully resting her head on Lilian’s soft thighs.
Lilian’s comforting scent quickly enveloped her, and Eleonora felt utterly entranced.
Without thinking, Eleonora adjusted her position, like a cat burrowing into a nest, ending up with her head facing Lilian’s flat stomach.
Warm breaths seeped through the fabric, carrying a faint, damp tickle.
Apparently still not satisfied, Eleonora buried her face in deeper, nuzzling gently like a cat.
Nuzzle, nuzzle~
W-wait! Not there… not there!
Lilian felt all the blood in her body rushing to her face.
“Ah~!” she let out a small, muffled cry.