Volume 4 Chapter 37

Volume 4 + Chapter 37: Cream Puff

“Lalalala~ la-la-la~ I’m the cheerful laundry dragon maid~!”

In the royal maid corps, the little apprentice maid—Elly—was in the courtyard washing clothes and bedsheets.

Today was bright and breezy, perfect weather, so Elly had taken on this task.

Not long ago, a huge incident had occurred. Because she had been forced to help the princess secretly escape the Dragon Palace, she had disguised herself as Xia Yi and moved around within the palace.

Such a thing was a capital crime, and she had even been discovered by the Silver Dragon Queen.

Elly had thought she was absolutely doomed, yet the Silver Dragon Queen instead gave her a chance to atone. Elly did everything she could to bring Xia Yi back to the Dragon Palace, and only then escaped death.

Long live Her Majesty the magnanimous Silver Dragon Queen!

But—while the death penalty was waived, Elly still had to accept punishment.

She had been so close to becoming a fully recognized member of the royal maid corps… yet now she had no choice but to start over again.

She realized that every time she was just about to be promoted, some disaster would fall on her head…

But there was nothing she could do about it.

Now she threw herself into every tedious chore she could find, hoping to earn another chance at promotion.

“Heaven rewards hard work! Elly, come on, you can do it!!”

Elly slapped her cheeks lightly, cheering herself up.

Her task today was to wash all these clothes to perfection, so that the other members of the royal maid corps would look at her with new respect.

Meanwhile, in a hidden corner, a silver-haired loli peeked her head out. Seeing the green-dragon maid washing laundry, she revealed a pleased smile.

“Elly, so you really were here.”

Xia Yi watched her for a moment. After confirming no one else was around, she stepped out.

Then she pretended to pass by casually.

“Oh my, Elly?”

“P-Princess!?”

Seeing Xia Yi walking by, Elly stood up so fast she didn’t even wipe the suds from her face, bowing to the Silver Dragon Princess.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

“Mm. Good afternoon, Elly.”

Xia Yi walked up beside her.

“Elly, you’re really working hard. Cleaning this much stuff?”

“It’s nothing, Your Highness! This is my duty!” the bright-spirited apprentice maid declared. “I don’t feel tired at all—I can finish everything!”

“Elly, you really are amazing… Sigh, I just don’t understand.”

Xia Yi sighed as if pitying her.

“A maid as excellent as you… why haven’t you been promoted yet? What a shame!”

“This… well…”

“Elly, you’re very capable! How about this—if others don’t praise you, then I will reward you!” Xia Yi suggested.

“Reward… me?”

Elly blinked, pleasantly surprised.

“Your Highness is giving me a reward? Really!!?”

“Mm. Come, come, Elly—take a break for a moment!”

Xia Yi grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a shaded area. After confirming once more that no one else was around, she took out a drink.

“Elly, this drink is for you, an ice-chilled, freshly blended fruit mix!!”

“Th-this is…?”

“That’s right. I personally made it for you, Elly.”

Xia Yi began talking nonsense without hesitation.

“I felt a bit guilty about last time too, dragging you into all that trouble. Seeing you work so hard today really moved me. With those feelings, I made this drink for you with my own hands…”

“Uuugh!! I’m so touched—Your Highness actually made a drink just for me!!”

Elly was deeply moved, and fully believed her.

“I—I can really drink this?”

“Go ahead, Elly.”

Xia Yi pushed the chilled drink into her hands.

Elly lifted it and downed it in one gulp.

“The flavor is kind of strange… it tastes a little like—”

“Don’t mind that, Elly!” Xia Yi hurriedly cut her off. “Just—don’t tell anyone else, alright? I’m afraid the other maids might get jealous. This drink is exclusively for you.”

“E-exclusively for me? I’m so honored, Your Highness!!” Elly beamed.

Hah! What a silly little maid—so easy to fool!

Xia Yi laughed secretly in her heart.

The drink was actually bitter-melon juice mixed with other fruit juices.

Which meant Elly had just helped her get rid of the bitter-melon juice that she herself was supposed to drink! No more suffering!

“Work hard, Elly—toward becoming a full member of the royal maids!” Xia Yi patted her shoulder.

Elly was deeply touched, feeling endless motivation surge through her.

“Yes, Your Highness! I’ll do my best!”

……

Xia Yi munched on a cream puff, feeling completely blissful~

These days, the Bitter-Melon Decree was practically meaningless to her.

Every day, Serra found ways to sneak sweets and snacks into her afternoon tea.

As for the bitter-melon juice, she always managed to trick Elly into “disposing” of it!

The little princess had returned to her wonderful life.

“Hehehe~”

Xia Yi savored her cream puff, smiling from ear to ear. The cream inside was sweet but not heavy, and generously filled.

Suddenly, she felt something, an odd sensation, like a faint resonance. She reached into her pocket and took out—A seed.

It was the seed given to her by the vampire princess Miu Miu. Xia Yi didn’t know what it meant, Miu Miu had only told her to take good care of it.

She didn’t understand why she had suddenly felt compelled to take it out.

“Could it be… Miu Miu…?”

Knock knock knock!

Urgent knocking sounded outside the door.

“Your Highness, are you inside? I have something to report.”

It was Lucia’s voice, not Serra’s.

Xia Yi panicked, quickly hiding Miu Miu’s seed, stuffing the remaining cream puff into her mouth in one gulp, erasing all evidence, and then posing as if nothing had happened.

“Lucia? What is it?”

Standing outside, Lucia explained: “Your Highness, Her Majesty wishes to see you. She is waiting in the rear garden.”

“She wants to see me?” Xia Yi raised an eyebrow. “Lucia, I’ve been soooo obedient lately—following the Bitter-Melon Decree, not doing anything wrong. Why is Xia Lulu suddenly calling for me?”

“I don’t know either, Your Highness. I was only told to notify you. Now that I’ve delivered the message, I will take my leave.”

With that, Lucia departed.

Xia Yi hurried to the rear garden of the palace, where only Xia Lulu stood waiting for her.

The little princess mustered her courage and walked over boldly.

“Good afternoon! Xia Lulu, you wanted something from me? Don’t pick on me without reason, I’ve been taking my punishment, and I haven’t eaten any sweets at all!”

Seeing her daughter, Xia Lulu smiled quietly without speaking.

Xia Yi felt a chill. Why was Xia Lulu smiling like that??

“W-why are you smiling!?”

“Daughter… are you sure you haven’t been eating sweets?”