At this moment, Priscilla was lounging on a luxurious sofa, quietly reading some documents. Her lazy posture only highlighted her infinite charm as a woman.
"Princess, your tea."
Graham's expression was strange as he gently placed the cup of tea on the table beside Priscilla, then stood by and observed her.
Priscilla's nose twitched, and her sharp gaze suddenly swept over him...
Gracefully extending her fair hand, Priscilla gently lifted the teacup and slowly brought it to her lips.
Just as Graham thought Priscilla was about to drink, she suddenly stopped, her teasing gaze abruptly falling on him.
"Graham, you have quite the nerve to serve me tea that you've already drunk! Tell me, how do you wish to die?"
"What is the princess talking about? I don't understand." Graham tried to widen his eyes, looking innocent.
"Hmph! What a dull performance. Do you know that your actions have seriously offended me? Even beheading you ten thousand times wouldn't be enough to quell my anger!"
Priscilla put down the teacup and stood up abruptly, glaring at him.
"Please, Princess, I only have one head. There's no need to behead me ten thousand times! I confess, I drank it, but how did you find out?"
Graham looked frustrated.
"Fool, do you really think I'm an idiot? Not to mention the unique aroma of my special tea on your breath, don't you know my tea is always measured precisely? If some is missing, do you think I wouldn't notice?"
With her arms crossed, Priscilla looked at Graham as if he were a detestable mongrel.
Graham: "..."
"Speak, do you have any last words?"
"I do. Before you behead me, I want to explain that I drank the princess's tea entirely for the princess's sake!"
Priscilla squinted her eyes, looking intrigued, "Oh? Let's hear it. If it's interesting, I might find it in me to forgive you this once."
"It's like this, Princess," Graham took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"Although the servants in the mansion appear to be loyal to the princess, there are certainly some with ulterior motives. You should know, the old man personally told me that all the servants are his pawns! So if someone with ill intentions poisoned the tea, the princess would be in danger! So, as the princess's knight, I took it upon myself to test the tea for poison first!"
Priscilla's gaze became dangerous, "That's it?"
"That's it." Graham nodded earnestly.
"Get out!" Priscilla glared at him coldly, pointing to the door.
"Alright..." Graham sighed, realizing he wouldn't be able to admire her sleeping face for the next few days.
"Wait! Take this tea away! Bring me a new cup later! If you dare steal another sip, watch out for your head!"
Hearing this, Graham smiled, "As you command, my princess."
"You're still here? I said get out!"
Priscilla frowned, seemingly displeased with his use of 'my princess', her face showing an extremely awkward expression.
"Got it~!"
Graham picked up the teacup, drank it in a few gulps, and left swiftly before Priscilla could get angry again.
"Hmph! What a rude fellow..."
Priscilla was still angry. In the past, if someone had deceived her like this, she would have taken out her 'Yang Sword' and incinerated them long ago.
But for this guy, she had a special feeling—she just didn't want to kill him.
The feeling she had whenever she was close to him was something she had never experienced before in her life.
This person was very interesting.
Not only did he boldly confess his love to her, but he even proposed marriage, and his abilities were outstanding.
However, sometimes he would suddenly become silly, and just watching him made her worry about his intelligence...
She felt uncomfortable when he couldn't guess her thoughts sometimes.
After all, she still longed for someone to understand and care for her.
So, although Graham's explanation was clumsy, she accepted it.
In short, she just needed an excuse to forgive him...
~~~~
"Yo, Lord Graham, back so soon? Why not stay a bit longer?"
"What do you think?"
Seeing Yae's teasing gaze, Graham looked displeased.
"Haha, please tell me you didn't really drink the tea, did you? It seems the Lady really values you, forgiving you like that!" Yae looked surprised.
"Anyway, go make another cup." Graham looked helpless, not wanting to say more.
"Alright. Poor me, still having to clean up the mess Lord Graham left behind." Yae complained, but her hands moved skillfully, picking up the kettle and starting the tea-making process like it was an art.
"Stop exaggerating Yae, it's not that difficult, right? It's just a cup of tea!" Graham pointed out.
"Of course, it's not that simple! Didn't the Lady bring it up when she caught you stealing a sip? The tea is measured precisely, that's why I advised you not to steal it earlier, but you didn't listen~"
"So, the princess's tea, you're the only one responsible for preparing it?"
"Of course, only I have the skill. Do you expect that rookie butler who was just sent away to do it?" Yae pouted unhappily.
The rookie butler referred to the pink-haired boy, Schult, brought by Priscilla.
He was accidentally injured by Leip's Meteor, so he couldn't stay in the mansion to work.
"Since you're working so hard, you can ask for a raise." Graham rolled his eyes, now certain that this head maid didn't always slack off.
"Haha, so, I've been working hard to make tea to please the Lady, shouldn't you show some appreciation?" Yae cutely raised her eyebrows.
"Alright, I'll mention it to the princess, but the princess likes straightforward subordinates. Are you sure you want me to bring it up in your stead? With the princess's awkward nature, it might backfire and she might end up deducting your salary instead."
"What!?" Yae was dumbfounded. Thinking it over, it was true, "Then... forget it, I still want to live a few more years and save some money."
"No worries Yae, just be brave. Look at me, I always speak my mind in front of the princess, and I'm doing just fine."
Graham patted her shoulder, giving a thumbs up.
Hearing this, Yae's face twitched, then she turned away, ignoring him...
'Do you think everyone can be like you, acting recklessly and still being valued?' Yae mused.
She was sure that if any servant dared to act up in front of Priscilla, they would be dead without a trace!
...
[T/N: Anyone read ahead? I want to know at what chapter must I expect a semblance of progress and some action to start...]