Volume 4 Chapter 7

Volume 4 + Chapter 7: Isn’t Really That Great…

At the doorway, Xia Lulu sensed someone watching her.

She forced her eyes open.

“Who’s there?”

“Your Majesty, it is I.” Lucia of the Royal Maid Corps bowed respectfully.

“Lucia? You’ve suddenly become so discourteous… barging in without a word… That’s not very proper…”

“My apologies, Your Majesty. I had been calling for you from the office for quite some time, but you never responded. I grew worried, so I took the liberty of entering. Please punish me as you see fit,” Lucia explained.

“I see…”

Xia Lulu lowered her gaze—so it was simply that she hadn’t noticed.

“Lucia, did you come to see me for something?”

“Your Majesty, the welcome banquet for the princess is nearly ready. I came to inform you.”

“Oh, right—there was indeed such a thing…”

Xia Lulu rose from her chair.

“Then let’s head over.”

“Your Majesty, perhaps… you should rest first.”

Looking at Xia Lulu’s exhausted state, Lucia couldn’t help but feel concerned.

“If you’re tired, you shouldn’t force yourself.”

“It’s nothing serious, Lucia. Don’t worry,” Xia Lulu said calmly. “It’s just that being woken so abruptly today left my body a little out of sorts. Merely a minor issue.”

But Lucia knew very well—this was by no means a “minor issue.”

Earlier, when Xia Yi returned to the Dragon Palace, Lucia immediately went to find Xia Lulu and woke her.

That was why Lucia had not appeared earlier when Xia Yi had been searching everywhere.

Xia Lulu truly wasn’t intentionally teasing Xia Yi by disappearing these past few days.

Lucia hesitated, unsure if she should speak.

“Lucia, do you have something you want to say?” Xia Lulu asked.

Lucia nodded. “Your Majesty, I truly don’t understand…”

“You cannot understand why I chose to do this?”

“Yes.”

After a moment of silence, Xia Lulu smiled gently. “Because I want to spend as much time with Xia Yi as I still can… and create more memories with her while I’m able.”

“Your Majesty, you…”

“Come, Lucia.”

Xia Lulu walked out of the office.

As a member of the Royal Maid Corps, Lucia chose to respect Her Majesty’s decision without questioning it—and to support her fully.

“By your command, Your Majesty.”

……

……

“Ehehehe!”

Xia Yi was currently hiding atop a chandelier in the Dragon Palace corridor, lying in wait like a hunter ready to ambush her prey.

After a while, someone approached.

There she is, there she is!!

The little princess’s heart leapt with excitement. It was none other than her personal maid—Serra!

At the moment, the elder maid seemed unaware there was someone hiding in the chandelier and continued walking forward.

Just as she passed beneath it…

“SERRA!!”

Xia Yi popped out and shouted.

“That voice… Princess?!” Serra exclaimed, glancing around in surprise—yet saw no sign of Xia Yi.

“Up here! Up here!!”

“Hm?”

Serra lifted her head—and immediately saw her princess directly above, diving toward her.

Heave-ho!

As the ever-graceful perfect maid, Serra caught Xia Yi securely, letting the silver-haired loli fall safely into her arms.

“Did you miss me?!”

Nestled in her maid-sister’s soft, sweet-smelling embrace, Xia Yi beamed.

“Of course I did—very much!”

A smile blossomed on Serra’s face.

“With Your Highness gone these days, the palace felt… far less lively.”

“Hehehe, I knew Serra would miss me! So I gave you a surprise! I was hiding on the chandelier just now—unexpected, right?” Xia Yi said proudly.

“That is indeed very much like Your Highness.” Serra sighed fondly.

Yes—this familiar feeling. The Dragon Palace’s most mischievous little princess.

Only she would come up with the idea of ambushing someone from a chandelier.

“But, Princess… now you’re covered in dust,” Serra reminded gently.

“Nyah~”

Xia Yi stuck out her tongue.

“Your Highness, the welcome banquet for your return will begin soon. For your public image… I should take you to bathe and change,” Serra suggested.

“Okay~!”

Xia Yi accepted.

If everyone saw her looking this dirty, her dignity would take a huge hit.

And if Vanessa were there…

Ugh. She definitely didn’t want to get scolded by her etiquette instructor. If Vanessa got angry, she might very well tie Xia Yi to a chair for remedial lessons.

Following Serra, Xia Yi entered the bath and stripped completely.

Standing before the mirror, she stared at her soft, delicate loli body—no matter how she looked at it…

“It’s fine… the soul determines one’s gender!” she muttered.

Pressing a hand to her forehead, Xia Yi gave herself psychological reinforcement.

“As long as my spirit remains uncorrupted, it doesn’t matter if my body is temporarily female! I am still an unyielding Sword Saint—my outer form cannot shake my beliefs! In fact, the harsher the situation, the more it proves my unwavering sword-saint resolve!”

She felt the holy-sword crest on her hand glow lightly.

At once, a smile rose on the silver-haired loli’s face. Surely this was the holy sword acknowledging her!

“Gram, you think so too, right?! I knew it—old friend, you understand me best!!”

The crest flashed twice more.

“Your Highness, who are you talking to?” Serra entered with the bathing supplies, curious.

“N-nothing!”

Xia Yi slapped the holy-sword crest twice, hid her hand behind her, and hopped into the bath.

Then began her exclusive maid-attended bath service.

Serra’s fingers were nimble, her technique practiced. Xia Yi relaxed instantly, feeling as though her whole body were melting.

It had been so long since she’d enjoyed such comfort.

When it came to caring for people, Serra truly was an all-purpose maid.

“Princess,” Serra asked curiously, “while you were in the human world… Did you meet anyone you fancy?”

“Anyone… I might fancy?” Xia Yi was puzzled.

What did that mean?

If she meant a combat rival…

Then the little fox girl probably counted?

After all, last time she had promised that one day they would fight a world-shaking duel.

“Probably Yue Liu, I guess?”

“Yue Liu? You mean the fox-clan princess, the one with the high-class Nine-Tailed Fox bloodline—Yue Liu, of the Gitusezhuoya family?”

“Yep. I met her in the human world.”

“Did you… do anything special with her?” Serra pressed on, increasingly intrigued. “Something… different from how you treat others.”

“Something special?” Xia Yi thought for a moment. “Well, I guess we slept together! Actually, Yue Liu really wasn’t that great… It was only one night, and she still managed to soak the entire bedsheet!”