“Th-Thank you, Alice…”
Luo Lin scratched his head, his voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, and even his ears were bright red. Luo Lin’s throat bobbed slightly—he actually wanted to say more, but words of gratitude got stuck at the tip of his tongue, impossible to utter.
Seeing Luo Lin looking so embarrassed like a child, Alice couldn’t help the lilt in her voice.
“Idiot Luo Lin, have you forgotten even the most basic manners?” Alice put on a stern face and gestured with her eyes toward the girl standing like a painting beside her.
“Hurry up and thank Miss Lucia, you fool. She did you a huge favor this time.”
Luo Lin quickly turned around and thanked Lucia. Lucia elegantly lifted her skirt in a curtsy in return. The afternoon sunlight fell through her hair, making her sparkle like an angel who had fallen to earth.
After spending some time with her, Luo Lin felt that maybe Lucia wasn’t so scary after all—it must have been the deep stereotype from the original owner’s memories.
Ah, how bad was this original owner? In the past life, he was stupid and did bad things and still framed others.
Creak
Just then, the heavy redwood door of the study was gently pushed open.
Young maids carrying sets of pure silver tea sets walked in with their heads lowered.
“Miss Lucia, you’ve worked hard today. If you don’t mind, please also have a taste of the unique pastries from the Dukedom of Mosart that Luo Lin brought~”
Alice warmly took Lucia’s hand and led her to the tea table, instructing the maids to serve tea and snacks.
The well-trained maids moved with practiced ease. Soon, glossy crimson cherry blossom pudding, crispy butter cookies, and several cups of fragrant Ceylon tea steaming with aroma were neatly placed before the three of them.
After a morning of hustle, the three of them began to enjoy this hearty and healing afternoon tea in rare leisure.
At the table, Alice and Lucia chatted amiably while covering their mouths and giggling at Luo Lin’s wolfish, graceless eating habits.
In the midst of this peaceful and serene scene, a new maid—probably because it was her first time serving the princess—took unsteady steps.
As she bent down to set down the tray of pastries, her wrist suddenly jerked, the silver tray tipped sharply, and dark red cherry jam mixed with crispy cake crumbs fell precisely all over Alice’s moon-white dress.
The previously light and pleasant air in the room instantly turned heavy.
“Y-Your Highness! I…I really didn’t mean it! Please forgive me!” The maid named Nina snapped awake as if from a shock, her face as pale as paper. Her legs gave way, and she dropped to her knees with a thud.
She didn’t even have the courage to look up at the stain; her thin shoulders trembled like leaves about to fall in the autumn wind.
The senior maids around were even more horrified, not daring to breathe. After all, this was a birthday gift from His Holiness the Pope to Her Highness the Princess—Alice’s favorite dress!
Alice slightly furrowed her delicate brows and slowly stood up. Looking down at Nina trembling into a ball, her tone carried a hint of mockery.
“It’s okay. According to Papal State law, if you break something, you just pay double compensation.”
Hearing “double compensation,” Nina trembled even harder, despair in her eyes. She was an intern maid with only two silver coins a month in salary—even if she sold herself piece by piece, she couldn’t afford it!
Seeing the girl about to faint from fear, Alice’s lips curved deeper. She changed her tone: “But then again, since this dress has been worn by me for so many years, it should be depreciated according to the law. You just pay me ten copper coins. Then we’ll be even. Be more careful next time. You may go rest now.”
“Th-Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy! Thank you for your grace!”
Nina, as if pardoned, squeezed out a few tears of overwhelming joy from her reddened eyes, lifted her skirt, bowed repeatedly, and stumbled out quickly.
After handling this small incident, Alice turned to the two on the sofa.
“I’m really sorry for getting so messy. Please excuse me while I go to the side hall to change.” Alice lifted the jam-stained skirt and gave Lucia an apologetic smile.
Then she immediately changed her expression, glared fiercely at Luo Lin, and ordered in a commanding tone: “Luo Lin, you entertain the guest properly. If Miss Lucia feels neglected in any way, I’ll smash your stupid head.”
With that, she walked through the door held open by a maid and hurried out.
‘Wait, she’s not even married yet and she’s already taking his side? Alice, you’re a fair-weather friend!’ Luo Lin continued eating pudding with one hand and drinking black tea with the other.
“Young Master Lorin, for this assistance, may I ask you for a reward?” A cool voice came. Lucia leaned her slender waist against the back of the chair, squinting slightly, a beautiful smile on her delicate face.
“Phew…of course.”
Seeing that she wasn’t beating around the bush, Luo Lin felt more at ease. After all, counting this time, he already owed this leading lady two favors. Could Lucia really be a good girl?
Just as Luo Lin happily pushed over from his Storage Ring a full chest of heavy gold coins and precious jewelry, expecting this wave of “money power” to satisfy the future Her Majesty the Empress, Lucia’s delicate face still wore the same smile.
She squinted, and with a light push of her slender fingers, returned the generous gift that would make any ordinary noble envious.
“Young Master Lorin, it seems you misunderstand something.”
Lucia leaned back in her chair slowly. Luo Lin cautiously looked—there was no disgust at the gifts on her face, but instead a smile that made his heart uneasy.
“Phew…alright.”
Seeing no reaction from her, he let out a long breath, his previously stiff shoulders slumping, and scratched his head self-deprecatingly: “My apologies. Indeed, a big fool like me with my head full of cherry jam really has no other moves besides throwing money. I forgot that you, Miss Lucia, are noble and upright and may not like these worldly things.”
To ease the atmosphere, Luo Lin started using his Blue Star native self-deprecation skills, mocking the original owner’s absurd past while gesturing vividly.
Lucia listened quietly, her golden eyes narrowing slightly as if appraising something.
“Young Master Lorin.” Lucia suddenly parted her cherry lips, her voice as beautiful as an orchid in a valley, but precisely cutting off Luo Lin’s nonsense, “I heard that day in the Mist Forest, you were attacked by cultists?”
“Yeah! I ran super fast that day!”
Not realizing the danger, Luo Lin even began to gesture animatedly. “I’m telling you, the fog in the forest that day was as thick as watered-down milk. That cultist looked like a dried salted fish, charging at me with a serrated kitchen knife.
If it weren’t for my legs creating afterimages…”
Mid-sentence, Luo Lin’s waving arms froze in midair.
‘Wait.’
‘Something’s off.’
‘This… isn’t she trying to fish for information?!’
Cold sweat instantly ran down Luo Lin’s spine.
‘Damn it!’