Chapter 105 : Who Taught Her
Chapter 105: Who Taught Her?
The door wasn’t locked.
Or rather, for the one outside, the chair Lilia had wedged against it and the two locks she had secured were no different from paper.
The handle turned gently.
The chair legs scraped against the floor, producing a grating “creak.”
Then, the door opened.
A small figure stood at the doorway.
She held that one-eyed ragged bear in her arms, its button eye lifelessly staring into the room.
Mary tilted her head, seemingly a little surprised that Lilia neither screamed nor hid under the bed trembling.
“Good evening.”
Lilia spoke.
Her voice trembled slightly, but it was still clear.
She even put away the two short blades—which, to Mary, were no more threatening than nail clippers—and stepped aside, making a standard “please” gesture.
“Lady Mary, please come in.”
Now it was Mary’s turn to be stunned.
She blinked her ruby-like eyes, and even the ragged bear in her arms seemed to tilt its head along with her.
“You’re not afraid of me?”
“I am.”
Lilia answered honestly.
Mainly because she couldn’t escape.
Since she couldn’t escape, she might as well act with some dignity.
Maybe this little lunatic would take a liking to her and go a bit easier on her?
Mary stared at Lilia for quite a while.
Then suddenly, she smiled.
A smile that was innocent—yet carried an eerie chill.
“Interesting.”
Mary walked in with the bear in her arms. Her small black leather shoes made no sound as they stepped on the floor.
“Much more interesting than those who only know how to scream.”
Lilia quietly let out a breath of relief.
First hurdle, passed.
The room was small.
A single bed, a table, and a simple wardrobe.
But Mary didn’t seem to mind.
She tossed the ragged bear onto the bed and hopped up after it, her short legs in white lace stockings swinging back and forth at the edge.
“I want tea.”
Mary issued her command.
“Sweet. Very, very sweet.”
“Yes.”
Lilia turned to boil water.
She added double sugar.
Then thought for a moment, took out a jar of honey, and scooped in two big spoonfuls.
Sweet enough to kill you.
She handed over the teacup.
Mary held it with both hands and took a small sip.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Delicious.”
She stuck out her small pink tongue and licked the sugary residue from her lips.
“Much better than the bitter water at Sister Hera’s place.”
Lilia stood to the side, eyes lowered, acting like a transparent person.
“Hey.”
Mary suddenly spoke.
“Why do you live here?”
Lilia froze.
“I’m a maid. Of course I live in the maid’s quarters.”
“That’s not right.”
Mary set down the teacup. Her large eyes stared straight at Lilia, as if trying to see through her.
“You’re covered in Sister Hera’s scent.”
Lilia’s heart skipped violently.
Well…
There had been hugging and kissing (even if one-sided), and she had worn her nightgown—of course there would be a scent.
“Sister Hera is very possessive.”
Mary grabbed the ragged bear and squeezed its belly hard, producing squishy sounds.
“Anything she marks—whether person or object—has to be kept under her watch.”
She pointed toward the towering Bedchamber next door.
“Why aren’t you sleeping on her bed?”
Lilia’s face twitched.
That question was too sharp.
“Well… this…”
“Um…”
Lilia organized her thoughts, trying to use the most official wording to brush it off.
“Lady Hera is of noble status. I’m just a lowly servant. How could I possibly—”
“Cut it out.”
Mary interrupted her.
She jumped off the bed, barefoot on the floor, walking step by step toward Lilia.
Mary looked up.
Her delicate, adorable face was filled with confusion.
“Sister Hera clearly likes you so much.”
“At the meeting, just because you glanced at that vixen once, she almost flipped the table.”
Mary reached out and poked Lilia’s thigh.
Lilia stiffened completely, not daring to move.
“If she likes you that much…”
Mary tilted her head and asked the question that instantly fried Lilia’s brain.
“Then why hasn’t she (slept) with you yet?”
……
Silence fell like death.
Lilia’s mind buzzed.
(Slept)?
Was this what they called childish innocence?
Wasn’t this a bit too much?!
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Lilia choked on her own saliva, coughing violently.
Her face turned bright red.
Half from choking, half from embarrassment.
“Um… Lady Mary…”
Lilia stammered, trying to explain.
“That kind of thing… is very private… and I’m a maid, I have to keep night watch, I have work…”
“You know what I mean.”
Mary’s gaze was so clear it felt almost cruel.
“I mean that kind of sleep.”
She deliberately emphasized it.
“The kind that goes ‘oh ho ho ho (off I go)’.”
Lilia froze completely.
This little girl knew way too much?!
Who taught her this?!
Was this really the level of knowledge a minor demon should have?!
“Could it be…”
Mary suddenly widened her eyes, as if discovering a new continent.
She leaned in close to Lilia, her nose nearly touching Lilia’s lower abdomen, and sniffed hard.
“No scent.”
Mary looked up, her face full of shock.
“Only the scent from the outside… but inside, it’s empty.”
“You… are actually still clean?”
Lilia felt like she was going insane.
What inside and outside?!
What empty and full?!
This conversation was moving too fast—she wanted off!
“Sister Hera actually hasn’t touched you?”
Mary muttered in disbelief, as if witnessing a miracle.
“She brought you back for so long, made you wear this kind of outfit, even gave you a ring—and she’s just treating you as decoration?”
“That’s such a waste!”
Mary stomped her foot, frustrated.
Lilia could only laugh awkwardly.
Inside, she was screaming: Can we change the topic?! Even talking about murder and arson would be better than this!
“Um…”
Lilia tried to salvage the situation.
“Maybe… Lady Hera doesn’t have that kind of intention toward me. After all, I’m just a useless human…”
“No intention?”
Mary let out a disdainful laugh.
“If she had no intention, that ring would’ve already crushed your finger.”
She pointed at the ancient-looking ring on Lilia’s hand.
Mary’s eyes shifted.
That once lifeless red gaze suddenly filled with a strange excitement.
The kind of excitement of discovering a new way to play.
Lilia instinctively felt danger.
She recognized that look.
That lunatic in the Batori mining cave had looked at her the same way.