Chapter 8
Chapter 8
What should she call her, hmm?
She walked to the mirror. In it, the silver-haired girl was wearing a standard maid outfit, one that was even somewhat luxurious.
That beautiful face was now full of resistance and helplessness.
She steadied her emotions and opened the door.
In the hall outside, Scarlet Moon was sitting on the sofa by the window, elegantly holding a cup of black tea.
The morning light passed through the stained glass window, casting mottled shadows across her body.
Hearing the door open, she slowly shifted her gaze over, her eyes resting on Ling Xi for a moment.
‘Oh my, it fits quite well.’
Ling Xi lowered her head, her hands nervously clutching the edges of her apron, not knowing how to begin.
What should she call her? Scarlet Moon?
That sounded far too disrespectful.
Lady Scarlet Moon? That felt overly formal instead.
Her hesitation was completely seen through by Scarlet Moon.
‘What’s wrong, my little maid?’
Scarlet Moon set down her teacup and leaned forward slightly.
‘When meeting your employer, do you not even know the most basic greeting?’
The pressure came crashing down on her.
Ling Xi bit her lower lip and spoke in a dry voice, ‘G-good morning.’
She stood up and walked in front of Ling Xi.
She was not wearing shoes. Her bare feet stepped on the icy floor, yet she did not seem to feel it in the slightest.
The oppressive feeling brought by her height made Ling Xi unconsciously take half a step back.
‘Good morning—?’ Scarlet Moon drew out the last syllable.
‘Such a plain greeting does not suit your new clothes at all.’
‘Shouldn’t there be a more special form of address?’
‘Think about it, what kind of person am I, the one who provides you with lodging and wages?’
‘And how would those tamed pets address their one and only…?’
Ling Xi clearly understood her hint.
She absolutely could not say that form of address!
The moment it left her mouth, an invisible shackle would be fastened around her.
So, just before Scarlet Moon’s fingers were about to touch her chin,
Ling Xi suddenly lowered her head and, in the most respectful tone she could manage while still keeping some distance, quickly said:
‘G-good morning, Miss!’
‘May I ask where today’s cleaning work should begin?’
‘Miss... is it?’
That ‘Miss’ was as if she held it in her mouth and savored it for a moment before slowly swallowing it.
‘Mm, that will do.’
She sat back down on the sofa, casually crossing her legs.
Scarlet Moon gestured with her chin toward the spotless floor around the sofa, as well as a row of bookshelves in the distance that had gathered dust.
‘Then start with the area in front of me. Before lunch, I do not wish to see this eyesore of dust again.’
The order sounded specific, but the area was still far from small.
Ling Xi estimated it in her heart. That row of bookshelves alone was equal to an entire wall in her previous residence, and they were filled with all kinds of ornaments that looked expensive at a glance.
‘What? Is there a problem?’ Scarlet Moon’s voice came over.
‘N-no!’
Ling Xi answered at once, then turned around and found something in the corner that looked like a cleaning tool.
A long duster with a cluster of feathers tied to the end.
She weighed it in her hand. It was not exactly light, either.
Well, having tools was better than having none.
She walked to the nearest bookshelf and raised her head.
On the top shelf sat a demon statue carved from obsidian, its wing crevices packed with dust.
If she used this duster to sweep it, she would probably end up with a mouthful of dust.
She took a deep breath.
Now was the moment.
Ling Xi gripped the feather duster in her hand like a magic staff and raised it with a showy gesture. Then she quietly extended the index finger of her other hand, aiming at the spot on the statue where the dust had accumulated most thickly.
She focused her mind.
[Cleaning Spell].
Her fingertip pointed at the statue, and the dust in that area vanished.
It was that useful?
It was practically a divine tool for housecleaning.
She suppressed the excitement in her heart and continued pretending to sweep the other parts of the bookshelf with the duster, while secretly activating the skill again and again.
One ornament after another regained its original luster, and the wood grain of the bookshelf became clear once more.
Over by the sofa, Scarlet Moon rested one hand against her cheek, her gaze falling on Ling Xi.
‘Eh?’
A soft sound of surprise was heard.
Ling Xi’s movements stiffened, her heart leaping into her throat.
‘When did you learn this kind of magic?’
There was a trace of curiosity in Scarlet Moon’s voice.
‘Did you practice in advance in order to be my personal maid?’
She had been discovered!
Ling Xi’s mind raced.
‘Um… I saw it in a book before, so I just… remembered it…’
Even she felt that excuse was pale and unconvincing.
‘Is that so?’
Scarlet Moon did not press further. She merely shifted into a more comfortable position and continued drinking her black tea.
Ling Xi did not dare let her thoughts wander again and quickened the movements of her hands.
One entire bookshelf was cleaned.
Then came the paintings on the walls, the crevices of the windowsill, the suit of armor displayed in the corner…
The Cleaning Spell consumed very little mental energy.
But there were simply too many things that needed to be cleaned, and each one had a complicated structure.
By the time Ling Xi finished cleaning the third gigantic painting, a fine layer of sweat had already formed on her forehead.
Her head felt as though it had been stuffed with cotton, swollen and heavy.
Even lifting her arm felt strenuous.
Every time she activated [Cleaning Spell], it felt as if a thin thread was being drawn out from her brain.
She braced herself against the icy wall, panting.
This would not do. She had to rest for a moment.
If this continued, her mental energy would soon be depleted.
‘You’re tired already, at just this level?’
Scarlet Moon’s voice drifted over, devoid of much emotion.
‘My tea is only half finished, after all.’
Ling Xi turned back for a glance.
Scarlet Moon on the sofa was still holding her teacup at an unhurried pace, her gaze resting on Ling Xi with amused interest.
That leisurely look made Ling Xi’s teeth itch a little.
She gritted her teeth and could only drag her heavy body toward the next target—the enormous floor-to-ceiling window at the end of the hall.
The sunlight passed through the dust-covered glass, appearing dim and weak.
Ling Xi raised her hand and aimed at one of the highest panes.
[Cleaning Spell].
Her vision suddenly blurred.
The dizziness from overconsumption of mental energy came crashing over her.
Her feet gave way, and her body pitched forward uncontrollably.
The impact with the cold floor that she had expected never came.
Several shadows silently emerged from the ground and wrapped around her falling body in midair.
‘This will not do as you are now.’
As her words fell, the shadows coiling around her body tightened further.
Her body was dragged by that force, gliding through the air until she finally stopped in front of Scarlet Moon.
Those feet clad in black translucent stockings were suspended right beside Ling Xi’s cheek.
If she turned her head just a little, she would brush against that thin layer of fabric.
Scarlet Moon bent down, the tip of her nose nearly touching Ling Xi’s.
A peculiar scent slipped into her nose.
[Scarlet Moon took pleasure in your powerless state, Fate Points +1]
‘If a toy runs out of power, it stops being fun.’
She extended her hand and pressed her palm directly against Ling Xi’s forehead.
Her palm was warm.
An indescribable warm current seeped in from where her forehead was touched, then quickly spread through her entire body.
The dizziness in her head receded.
The weakness in her limbs disappeared.
It was as though something had been poured back into her body.