After dinner, Li Ya didn’t return to her room.
Holding a glass of red wine she had barely touched, she paced a few steps in the hallway, then inexplicably followed Hilda’s retreating figure.
Hilda walked ahead, her footsteps so light they were almost silent.
She crossed the hallway and headed toward the kitchen, as if to clean up the dishes.
“Why are you following me?”
Hilda suddenly stopped and turned around.
Her red eyes, under the dim light of the hallway, held no doubt or displeasure—only simple curiosity as to why Li Ya was following her.
Li Ya was caught off guard by the sudden turn.
The red wine in her hand swayed, nearly spilling.
“Nothing,” Li Ya steadied the glass and forced a calm smile.
“I just… wanted to talk to you.”
“Talk?”
Hilda tilted her head.
The motion was slight, but on her icy, expressionless face, it looked especially…
Cute?
When that word popped into Li Ya’s mind, she startled even herself.
“Yeah, talk.”
Li Ya stepped up to stand shoulder to shoulder with her in front of the hallway window.
“I wanted to ask, how long have you been with him?”
“No comment.”
“…Can’t you just answer me directly?”
“No.”
Li Ya choked on her unflappable attitude.
She took a deep breath and tried a different angle.
“Then let me ask another question. You two… don’t seem like a master-servant relationship.”
“I only want to be a maid. That way I can always be by his side.”
Li Ya’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the wine glass.
The words were light, but Li Ya could feel the weight behind them.
Becoming Rex’s maid was a choice Hilda made willingly—just to be able to stay by his side.
Li Ya suddenly realized that this woman was not at all Rex’s subordinate.
She was someone who willingly chose to stay by his side in this capacity.
“You…”
Li Ya opened her mouth, wanting to ask, “Do you like him?”
But the words caught in her throat.
The question was too stupid.
The answer was already written all over Hilda’s face.
“Forget it, I won’t ask you.”
Li Ya downed the last sip of red wine in her glass.
“I’ll go ask him myself.”
Hilda didn’t stop her.
But just as Li Ya turned away, the corner of Hilda’s mouth curved up slightly.
If Li Ya had looked back, she would have seen that the smile wasn’t one of offense—it was one of watching a show.
Li Ya walked back to the living room holding her empty glass, and then did something she herself found a bit absurd…
She personally brewed two pots of tea.
One was black tea that the Merchant Guild had shipped from the East just last month, rich in aroma and smooth on the palate.
The other was a floral tea, with a faint scent of rose and chamomile.
Not knowing which Rex preferred, she decided to brew both.
She carried them up to the second floor.
As she walked, she noticed the door to his room wasn’t fully closed, leaving a palm-wide gap.
She was about to knock, but her hand stopped mid-air.
Through the crack in the door, she saw the scene inside.
Rex was standing by the bed, his back to the door, changing clothes.
He seemed to have just taken a shower; his hair was still wet, and droplets of water dripped from the ends onto his shoulders.
He hadn’t put on his shirt yet, and his bare back glowed a healthy ivory in the warm light of the magic lamp.
Li Ya’s eyes widened instantly.
Rex’s shoulders were broad, but his waist was narrow.
The line from his shoulder blades to his waist flowed smoothly as if pulled taut by some force.
The muscles on his back weren’t exaggeratedly bulging—each one was perfectly proportioned, as if meticulously sculpted.
But what really kept Li Ya’s eyes glued to him were the scars on his body.
The most conspicuous was a set of four deep claw marks, slanted from his right shoulder blade to his left waist, as if raked by the claws of some massive beast.
The scars had healed long ago, but the marks were still shocking, like four bolts of white lightning etched into his back.
Besides those, there were over a dozen other scars large and small.
Some on his arms, some on his sides, some right in the middle of his back.
Some looked like knife wounds, some like punctures from something sharp, and there were even burn scars.
These scars didn’t ruin the beauty of his body; instead, they added an indescribable sense of power to that perfect canvas.
They were marks that only someone who had faced life and death and come back from the battlefield would have.
‘Savagery.’
That word popped into Li Ya’s mind.
A wild beauty honed by wind and frost and battle.
She was staring too intently.
Her hand unconsciously moved forward a little.
The door wasn’t fully closed, and her touch pushed it open an even wider crack.
Li Ya jumped in fright and instinctively tried to step back, but her foot slipped—
“Ah!”
The tray slipped from her hands. Both tea pots flipped through the air, splashing tea everywhere.
Li Ya pitched forward, her knees hitting the floor, her palms catching her body—but her pose was as awkward as it could get.
Rex turned at the sound.
A single tea leaf happened to be stuck right on the tip of his nose.
A small amount of tea was dripping down his chest, following the grooves of his abs all the way to his waist.
He looked down at his drenched upper body, then at Li Ya sprawled on the floor.
He reached up and plucked the tea leaf from the tip of his nose.
“Are you trying to treat me to tea, or chase me away?”
Li Ya’s face turned beet red instantly.
She scrambled up from the floor, fished a silk handkerchief from her pocket, and pounced on Rex to wipe him down.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to! I just…”
The moment her hand pressed against his chest, the sensation…
That muscle was really solid.
The thin silk handkerchief couldn’t block the feeling of firm, warm flesh at all.
She could feel the outline of his pectoral muscles, burning hot, and the steady, powerful thumping of his heart in his chest.
Li Ya’s hand froze there, her mind going blank.
“I can do it myself.”
Rex took the handkerchief from her hand and turned to wipe the tea off his body.
Li Ya stood in place, staring at his back, her mind replaying the sensation of that moment she touched him.
Those abs…
That outline…
Oh my god.
“President Li Ya?”
“Huh? Ah! Yes!”
Li Ya snapped back to reality.
“Did you need something from me?”
“I… I have something…”
Her voice was as tiny as a mosquito’s buzz.
“I… I wanted to…”
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
“I came to bring you tea.”
“Tea?”
Rex looked at the overturned teapots and the tea puddles on the floor.
“Well, you certainly delivered it.”
Li Ya wanted to crawl into a hole right then.
She hurriedly called for Victor to clean up.
Ten minutes later, Victor had brewed a fresh pot of tea and brought it up.
The old butler placed the tray on the table.
The water stains on the floor were still wet.
He glanced at Li Ya, who had been staring at the ground too ashamed to look up, then at Rex, who had already put on his clothes.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he said nothing.
He silently turned and closed the door behind him.
Rex picked up the teacup and took a sip.
The temperature was perfect.
The tea was rich in aroma, smooth on the palate, with a faint hint of sweetness.
Back in the Empire Capital and the Ancient Castle in the North, he had gotten used to drinking strong coffee, but he never expected this Eastern tea to suit his taste so well.
The tea liquor was clear and bright, mellow and smooth, with a subtle scent of grass and flowers.
Drinking it soothed his whole body, relaxing even his tense nerves.
“This tea is excellent,” he said.
Li Ya sat across from him, head down, fingers twisting together on her knees.
“Mm… The guild shipped that from the East last month… If you like it…”
“Yeah, I like it quite a bit.”
Rex took another sip and casually flipped open a book on the table.
It was a novel from the Federation, about an adventurer.
He had started reading it yesterday and found it interesting.
Li Ya sat across from him, sneaking glances.
His hair wasn’t completely dry yet.
A few strands of black hair hung over his forehead, covering half an eye.
His expression was focused when he read, his eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes.
Her heart started racing again.
“President Li Ya.”
“Ah?!”
“Did you come just to bring me tea?”
“Yes! Yes, just to bring you tea.”
Li Ya’s voice jumped a few octaves.
“The newly arrived tea. I wanted you to try it. Nothing else.”
Rex glanced at her.
There was a hint of uncertainty in his gaze.
“Thank you. The tea is great.”
“You’re welcome.”
Then silence fell again…
Li Ya sat there, her head in turmoil.
She had originally wanted to ask what his relationship with Hilda really was, but now she couldn’t remember what she wanted to ask at all.
Her mind was completely occupied by the scene from earlier.
Those four claw marks, those firm muscles, and the temperature she felt when she pressed her hand against him.
“Aren’t we going to the Guild tomorrow?”
Rex turned a page without looking up.
“Why doesn’t the President get some rest?”
“I… I’ll go now.”
Li Ya stood up and paused at the door.
“Rex.”
“Hm?”
“Well… since you like this tea, when you head back, I’ll have someone send you some.”
“No problem. As long as it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all! Not at all!”
Li Ya’s voice was quick and urgent.
“Then… it’s settled!”
She pulled open the door and was about to step out when she suddenly remembered her real reason for coming.
“Oh, right!”
“Hm?”
“You… What exactly is your relationship with Hilda?”
Rex finally looked up at Li Ya, then frowned.
“Why is your face so red? Are you sick?”
“I AM NOT!!!”
Li Ya let out a delicate cry, pulled the door open, and ran out.
Then came a loud slam, so strong that the hanging lamp in the hallway swayed.
“What’s up with her?”
He shook his head, closed the door, and continued reading his novel.
Meanwhile, Li Ya threw herself onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow.
Her heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would leap out of her chest.
‘Calm down, calm down…’
She muttered to the pillow.
‘You’re the President of the Granchester Chamber of Commerce. You’ve seen big things. You shouldn’t be this flustered over a man’s abs…’
She buried her face deeper.
‘Aaaaahhhhh!!’
Li Ya tossed and turned, kicking off the blanket, pulling it back, then kicking it off again.
She tried hard to force herself to sleep, but her eyes were as wide as an owl’s, completely awake.
Her mind was full of Rex.
The glance he gave her from the Farmland.
The tone of his voice when he talked to her these past few days.
And just now, the image of Rex bare-chested, water droplets trickling down his abs.
She sat up abruptly and rubbed her face vigorously.
‘What is wrong with you, Li Ya·Granchester?’
‘How many excellent men have you seen? Noble sons of the Federation, princes of neighboring countries, business elites… You never looked twice at any of them. And now you can’t sleep over a Duke?’
Then she caught a scent.
Not the heavy aroma of a feast, but something simple.
The smell of meat, bread, and a hint of caramel sweetness.
‘Is Uncle Victor making a midnight snack?’
She wondered.
The thought had barely formed when she dismissed it.
Uncle Victor went to bed at ten every night without fail.
He never entered the kitchen in the early hours.
Then who?
She threw on a coat, tiptoed out of her room, and went down the stairs.
Li Ya pushed open the door and froze.
Rex was standing at the stove, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, stirring something in a pot with a long ladle.
On the counter were sliced bread, a small dish of butter, and two glasses of hot milk already poured.
Hilda was sitting on a chair nearby, holding one of the glasses of milk and sipping it in small mouthfuls.
When she saw Li Ya enter, she gave a slight nod as a greeting.
“You…”
Li Ya stared at Rex.
“What are you doing?”
“Making a midnight snack.”
“A midnight snack at one in the morning?”
“Because Hilda was hungry.”
Li Ya’s gaze shifted to Hilda.
Her expression showed no sign of being hungry at all.
Then Li Ya’s eyes fell on a plate by the stove.
On it were several freshly fried meat pies, golden and crispy, glistening with oil.
Meat juices oozed from the cracks in the crust, pooling into a small, enticing puddle on the plate.
That was where the aroma was coming from.
“Would you like one too?”
Rex asked.
Li Ya wanted to refuse.
She always ate very little at night—that was her rule for maintaining her figure.
She had stuck to it for over ten years, unshakable.
But the smell was truly irresistible.
“Just… half is fine.”
Rex said nothing, scooped up a meat pie with a spatula, and slid it onto a small plate in front of her.
Li Ya picked up a fork, cut off a small piece, and put it in her mouth.
The crust was slightly crispy.
The moment she bit into it, there was a faint crunch.
The meat filling inside was tender and juicy.
The meat juices exploded in her mouth, mixing with the aroma of herbs and a hint of black pepper’s spiciness.
The warm fragrance spread down her throat, instantly warming her entire body.
She paused.
Then she stopped tasting it in small bites.
She started eating ravenously.
The pie was so hot it made her hiss, but she couldn’t bear to let it go.
“One… one more.”
She pushed the empty plate forward.
This time, Li Ya didn’t even bother with the fork.
She grabbed it with her hands and bit into it directly.
Crust crumbs fell onto the plate, meat juice dripped down her fingers, and she didn’t care at all.
Halfway through eating, her hand suddenly slowed down.
This taste…
It wasn’t a complex flavor with a lot of spices.
It was very clean, very warm.
It felt like…
Like something made especially for her by family.
Her eyes suddenly turned red.
Ever since her parents passed away, she had never eaten anything with this taste.
Although the food Uncle Victor made was delicious, it lacked this kind of intimate, homey feel.
And this meat pie reminded her of her childhood.
Back then, her mother was still alive.
On weekend mornings, she would make meat pies for breakfast.
Her father would sit across the table reading the newspaper, occasionally reaching over to steal a piece of her pie, and she would chase him around the house.
But those days were never coming back.
A tear slid down her cheek and fell onto the plate.
She didn’t wipe it.
She just silently ate the pie, letting the tears fall freely.
Rex and Hilda exchanged a glance.
The same question was written in both their eyes: “What’s wrong with her?”
Rex pulled out a tissue and handed it to her.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Li Ya took the tissue, wiped her eyes, and blew her nose.
“Nothing,” Her voice was a little hoarse.
“It’s just… too delicious.”
Li Ya stuffed the last bite of the meat pie into her mouth and chewed for a long time before swallowing.
She stood up, her back to the two of them, and stood there for a moment.
“Thank you.”
After saying that, she walked quickly out of the kitchen without looking back.
The sound of hurried footsteps on the stairs, then the sound of a door closing.
Hilda put down her empty glass and looked at Rex.
“My Lord.”
“Hm?”
“She cried.”
“I saw.”
“Why did she cry?”
Rex thought for a moment.
“I don’t know. Maybe it brought back some memories.”
“Then you should make more.”
“Why?”
“Because next time she’ll cry again. I can feel she’s under a lot of pressure. Crying is a great way to relieve stress.”
Rex listened to Hilda’s answer and suddenly laughed out loud.
“You’re pretty considerate of her.”
Hilda didn’t reply.
She just silently washed the dishes with Rex.
“My Lord.”
“Hm?”
“That meat pie… I want to eat it again too.”
“No problem. I’ll make it again tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
In the hallway, Hilda’s footsteps were light.
But the corner of her mouth curved upward, wider than before.