Chapter 20 : Bow
Chapter 20: Bow
It’s over.
Why?
Why did Hera suddenly come back?!
Didn’t she say she didn’t want to see her before dinner?
It hadn’t even been half an hour!
Hera simply stood quietly at the doorway. But those golden eyes of hers were like the sharpest blades, dissecting Lilia from head to toe with absolute clarity.
Lilia felt as if she had been stripped naked.
An unprecedented sense of shame surged from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head!
“M-Master…”
Lilia’s voice trembled uncontrollably.
Hera finally moved.
She stepped forward with long strides, slowly entering the room. Behind her, the wooden door silently closed on its own.
“Click.”
Hera walked straight up to Lilia.
She said nothing.
She simply extended a finger.
Lilia’s breathing stopped.
She watched helplessly as that finger slowly—very slowly—landed on the puffed sleeve at her shoulder.
The cold touch of her fingertip passed clearly through the thin fabric onto Lilia’s skin.
Lilia could distinctly feel goosebumps erupt across her skin at that touch.
Hera’s finger slid slowly along the edge of the puffed sleeve.
Across her arm.
Across the white apron tied at her waist.
Finally, it stopped at her back—on the crooked, ugly bow Lilia had hastily tied herself.
“Ugly.”
Hera finally spoke.
Lilia’s face instantly flushed bright red.
“I-I’m sorry, Master! I…”
She stammered, trying to apologize, but didn’t even know where to begin.
【Ding!】
That damned System again!
【Detected that the host’s appearance does not meet the master’s aesthetic standards. Emergency mission triggered!】
【Mission Name: Bow】
【Mission Description: The bow is an indispensable element of maid aesthetics. A perfect bow is not just decoration, but also respect for the master’s taste. That crooked mess on your back is simply a declaration of your incompetence. Within 1 hour, learn at least three standard bow-tying methods and tie the most perfect one for yourself.】
【Mission Reward: D-Rank Skill · Dexterous Weaving】
【Failure Penalty: Copy “A Maid’s Self-Cultivation” one thousand times (system-modified: every mistake will result in an electric shock punishment)】
Lilia nearly choked after reading the description.
That punishment—did they think she was a masochist?!
“Turn around.”
Hera’s command cut off Lilia’s internal outburst.
“Yes!”
Lilia didn’t dare resist in the slightest. She immediately turned stiffly, presenting her back to Hera.
She felt Hera’s hand undo the ugly knot behind her.
Then those cold hands picked up the ribbon again.
Lilia felt Hera step closer.
She could even feel Hera’s breath lightly brushing against the back of her neck.
Her body tensed uncontrollably.
Though she couldn’t see, through 【Absolute Senses】, she could clearly “perceive” every movement, every detail.
There was a flowing, effortless elegance to it.
In just a dozen seconds, a firm and perfect bow had formed behind her.
Hera released her hands.
“Have you learned it?”
She had been too busy feeling nervous and embarrassed—how could she have remembered the steps?!
“Yes, Master! I’ve learned it!” Lilia hurriedly replied.
Hera said nothing further.
Lilia felt the pressure behind her disappear.
She cautiously turned her head to look.
Hera had not left. Instead, she had walked to the only chair in the room and sat down gracefully.
She crossed her legs, hands resting on her knees, watching Lilia quietly with those golden eyes.
The meaning was obvious.
She would personally supervise.
There was no time to complain.
Lilia took a deep breath and walked to the mirror.
She untied the perfect bow and picked up the ribbon, recalling Hera’s earlier movements.
A bow—still imperfect, but already taking shape—finally appeared behind her.
【Ding! Feminization Index +2!】