It left her wishing she were dead, yet also reminded her that she was still alive.
But now, the demon was dead, and the thorn in her heart had been pulled out.
She no longer had to feel that heart-piercing pain.
Yet she had completely lost her bearings, with no idea where to go from here.
Seeing the Princess Consort looking so lost and forlorn, the little maid clenched her fists, her almond-shaped eyes filled with worry.
Just as she had feared...
The Princess Consort had fallen for him after all.
Although the Princess Consort kept saying she wanted revenge, and read those embarrassing booklets every day to devise a foolproof plan.
In her eyes, however, the Princess Consort was the one being bullied by the demon. She had heard everything clearly from beneath the bed; every time, the Princess Consort was bullied terribly.
Yet the next day, she would quickly make the bed and wait eagerly for him.
She had originally kept urging the Princess Consort not to oppose the demon anymore, but later, she had abandoned that idea.
It was not merely because the Princess Consort insisted on having her own way.
And refused to listen to her advice.
More importantly, the Princess Consort had previously been like a walking corpse, even though she played plenty of little games with her every day.
There had been little life in her.
She spent her days alone, with only her shadow for company.
These past few days, however, although the Princess Consort's body had grown a little weaker, she had been brimming with fighting spirit every day.
If she had to choose, she would rather the Princess Consort stayed like this.
Still...
That demon really was too savage. The Princess Consort could no longer endure his bullying.
If the demon came again in a few days.
She would lay things out plainly for him.
If he insisted on bullying someone, he could bully her, a little maid, instead.
After all, she had originally been nothing but a weed by the roadside. The Princess Consort had bought her and spared her a great deal of suffering.
Even though, back at the Southern Pacifying King's Residence, the other maids had bullied her every day.
Splashing water over her in winter and pushing her into the pond in summer.
She had still been happy, as long as she could stay by the Princess Consort's side.
These three years in the Demon Cult had been the happiest time of her life. No one bullied her, and no one hurled insults at her.
All she had to do each day was wash clothes and cook.
She was so happy that it felt almost illusory, unreal.
Like a dream.
It left her on tenterhooks every day. She always wondered how a lowly little maid like her could possibly deserve so much happiness.
Like a thief creeping about on tiptoe, clutching a treasure that did not belong to her.
And now, the dream had ended.
She, the thief, was about to be caught as well.
Yet she felt much more at ease instead.
She was only a little maid. In this world, maids were as lowly as grass. Wasn't being bullied simply their lot?
As long as she could do something for the Princess Consort, she would willingly endure it, however terribly the demon bullied her.
And she would still be happy, so very happy.
Because her mother had once told her that no matter how bitter life became, all she needed was to keep one in her mouth.
And she already had her own.
Those three happy years.
At that thought, the little maid finally made up her mind, determination filling her round, bun-like face.
But seeing the Princess Consort's distracted expression, her gaze dimmed, and she spoke cautiously.
"Princess Consort, should we go out and take a look? Perhaps we could save the Demon Venerable."
"Pah!"
"Have you lost your mind, you little girl?"
The Princess Consort's eyes widened.
"That demon's record is stained with evil. There's no end to the wicked things he's done. He even made me stay in this Demon Cult for three years and made me... lie in bed."
"I wish he would die! Why would I save him?"
"Ling'er, I think you've addled your brain being cooped up under the bed. Go into the wardrobe next time."
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she cursed and bristled, baring her claws and fangs.
The little maid bit her lip.
"But... Princess Consort, don't you like the Demon Venerable?"
"What?!"
The Princess Consort exploded on the spot.
She abruptly sat up in bed, and a surge of pain from her lower body made her misty brows draw tightly together.
Yet she still declared with righteous conviction.
"Ling'er, I know my recent actions could easily be misunderstood. They might even make you think I'm offering myself up for nothing."
"But please believe me. Everything I've done has been to assassinate that demon. As long as I can kill him, I'm willing to pay any price."
"Besides, you don't know this, but I've already devised a foolproof plan. First, I'll make the demon let down his guard, then assassinate him while he's gravely injured."
"My plan has been progressing steadily these past few days, too. You're not directly involved, so you don't understand. Although I'm lying in bed now, I've drained a great deal of his energy as well. His face is deathly pale all day."
"And he's completely let down his guard around me."
"Give me a little more time, and I'll be able to assassinate him!"
"..."
The Princess Consort rattled on, her face full of urgency as she kept defending herself.
Beside her, the White Snow Lion Cat rolled its eyes.
It concentrated on reading the booklet below.
As its studies deepened, it even began trying out the poses.
"Then, Princess Consort, aren't we going out?"
The little maid's head was spinning. The Princess Consort had talked her in circles, and she asked in confusion.
"Of course not. I'm not some seductive vixen driven mad with longing for a man."
The Princess Consort snorted coldly and lay down in bed to rest.
Meanwhile, the little maid began washing clothes in the courtyard.
A thick silence settled over the Parasol Tree Courtyard.
Before long.
The sounds of someone tossing and turning came from inside the room.
As though someone had too much on her mind to sleep.
Then that person seemed to get out of bed, pacing restlessly around the room.
"Why is it so muggy today? It's almost the beginning of autumn already."
"This won't do. I have to open the windows and let some fresh air in."
"This Demon Cult is so annoying, too. Those bells have been ringing forever, and they still won't stop."
"..."
A stream of muttering drifted out.
A suspicion had already begun to form in the little maid's heart.
Sure enough, before long...
Creak!
Someone opened the door.
The Princess Consort emerged with the White Snow Lion Cat in her arms. Because of the pain, her gait was still a little awkward, and she walked very slowly.
She looked thoroughly incensed.
As she walked, she pointed at the cat and scolded it.
"Honestly, isn't this enormous courtyard big enough for you? You just have to go outside."
"When I won't let you out, you start wrecking the place."
"I really don't know what to do with you."
The White Snow Lion Cat's eyes went perfectly round. It stared blankly, its glasslike pupils filled with bewilderment.
It seemed to be wondering when it had wrecked the place, or when it had ever said it wanted to go outside.
"What? Still not satisfied? Now you're pretending to be wronged? I'm the one who's been wronged!"
Holding the cat, the Princess Consort soon reached the courtyard gate under the little maid's astonished gaze.
Just as she was about to leave, Ling'er suddenly spoke.
"Princess Consort, do you really want the Demon Venerable to die?"
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