Free Web NovelIn the courtyard—
A sea of blossoms bloomed in brilliant colors, filling the air with sweet fragrance.
White cobblestone paths crossed and intertwined through the garden, all converging on a small pavilion adorned with a sign that read “Peace and Joy.”
As they walked, Jiele Xiyin muttered sarcastically, “You can’t do a single decent thing, can you? Why not receive guests like a proper maid for once? Instead, you had to tie those two little knights to the pavilion pillars. What, to show how strong you are? Strong, strong—what’s the use of that, huh?”
“You talk easy, but you weren’t the one on guard duty this morning—woken up at dawn by all that pounding on the door!” Elizabeth grumbled, sulking. “If I’d known this would happen, I’d have egged you on to rebel against the big white-hair. Maybe she’d have nailed you to the cathedral wall in the convent.” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Jiele Xiyin puffed up proudly and stood next to Vieya. “If I’d known today would come, why bother regretting yesterday?”
Vieya led the two of them through the flower-filled courtyard straight toward the classical-looking pavilion. There, tied to its two supporting columns, were two knights.
They looked quite young—two knight maidens, faces flushed red, mouths gagged with wads of white stockings of uncertain origin. The moment they saw people approach, they began to squirm and mumble furiously, their eyes red with humiliation.
Elizabeth muttered a curse under her breath and hurried to defend herself. “It’s not my fault! These two were rude—they came banging on the door at the crack of dawn! It’s a good thing, Master, that you’ve taught us to stay positive, or else I’d have neutralized them as bandits before even opening the door!”
With a wet squelch, Jiele Xiyin pulled the saliva-soaked stockings from their mouths and tossed them into the trash bin.
The darker-skinned knight maiden immediately shouted, “We clearly identified ourselves when we knocked! You’re slandering us—twisting right and wrong!”
“You’re the ones who pounded on the door like bandits,” Elizabeth folded her arms and pouted. “How was I supposed to know you weren’t impostors pretending to be knights? Maybe even the letter you brought was fake!”
“You—you insolent maid! We’re both certified, registered knights of the Church!” said the other one, a plain-faced girl. “Have your master come out and speak to us!”
“Yes! Tell your master to come out! What kind of maids do you even keep here? We demand an apology!”
“I am their master,” Vieya said flatly.
She frowned, studying the two tied-up knight girls. Her expression didn’t change, but she waved lightly to Jiele Xiyin.
“Let them down. There’s probably some misunderstanding.”
Jiele Xiyin raised a finger and ran her nail along the silk ropes—clean and sharp as a hot knife cutting through butter.
The dark-skinned knight maiden swallowed nervously. Despite all her earlier bluster, she could tell these two maids had abnormally high combat strength.
“Uh... everyone calls me Blackie,” she said quickly. “I usually run special delivery and transport tasks for the Church. This one here’s my partner, Erhua. Don’t mind her empty stare—she took a club to the back of the head during a battle with the demons in the north. Brains never quite recovered. Bit slow these days.”
Blackie went on, “Because of her injury, this’ll be our last job for Lady Lilian. After this delivery, we’ll retire early. But don’t worry—Church Express, mission guaranteed!”
She thumped her chest with her fist and saluted properly. “Except for the letter that rude maid snatched away, all other valuables are still at the gate!”
Valuables.
Could that mean the items mentioned in the letter?
Vieya signaled to Elizabeth with her eyes. Elizabeth, clearly unwilling, stomped off toward the door. A moment later she came back, carrying a half-man-tall wooden crate in her arms.
“You can inspect the contents right here,” said Blackie. “Once you’ve confirmed everything’s in order, we’ll sign the handover.”
“Isn’t this a bit too bureaucratic?” Vieya frowned.
“Not bureaucratic—efficient,” Blackie corrected. “Erhua, take out the photo device and record tablet for the handover signature with the homeowner.”
“Use the red pen or black pen?” Erhua asked.
“Red pen.”
Before Vieya could react, a sheet printed with the Church’s official seal was shoved into her left hand, and a red-feather quill was placed in her right.
Click!
Erhua lifted a strange camera-like device and snapped a photo of the white-haired girl beside the crate—quick, clean, efficient.
“All done. Pleasure working with you. Erhua, pack up—after we file our voluntary retirement papers at the Church, we can go home, farm, and live out our old age.”
Blackie grabbed Vieya’s hand and shook it up and down. “Please discipline your maids better next time! That one’s got no manners!”
Elizabeth’s teeth ground audibly.
“Hmm, sounds like you’ve got mice in your courtyard,” Blackie added, scratching her brow. “You should get a cat to deal with them.”
“......”
Vieya fell silent. In her homeland, bats had another name—salt mice.
So yes... salt mice counted as mice, didn’t they?
Her gaze turned slowly toward Elizabeth.
“......”
Elizabeth: I’m seriously so pissed today! freewebnovel.cσ๓
Creak!
Blackie flinched, grabbed Erhua, and turned to run.
“Stop them!”
At Vieya’s command, Jiele Xiyin flashed to the gate and blocked their path.
Blackie skidded to a halt, scratching her head. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“Apologies, my master still has questions for you,” Jiele Xiyin said calmly. “So please, stay for tea before you go.”
“Fine.”
A moment later, Jiele Xiyin returned to the hall with the two knights, poured each a cup of tea, and silently resumed her post beside her master.
“So, uh... what else would you like to ask? If we’re working overtime like this, we’ll have to charge extra,” Blackie said, sipping her tea.
“Dumb White, pay them,” Vieya said, glancing at Elizabeth.
Why should I?!
These two knights were too much—threatening her master like this! She’d turn them into harmless targets right now if she could.
Furious, Elizabeth slammed her palm onto the table in front of Blackie. “Here’s your money!”
Splash!
Erhua’s teacup toppled over from the impact, spilling steaming-hot tea all over her legs.
Blackie gasped, ignoring the money. “Quick, take it off! That’s ninety-degree water!”
Erhua blinked. “Take off my shirt or my pants?”
“Your pants!!!”
“Underpants or outer pants?”
“...Whichever got wet—ugh, forget it. Just make ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) them pay for it.” Blackie’s eyelid twitched.
Erhua blinked again. “Oh. I think my thigh’s cooked.”
“No worries. Cooked meat’s more popular,” Blackie replied.
Their exchange was bizarre—like a malfunctioning puppet and its handler.
Vieya was speechless. So this was what the war in the north had done to people...
Turned perfectly good humans into lunatics.
