Judith was not exactly sure how to respond to this. Of course she was hours late, but what was she going to say?
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Qui Lin asked once more with a very neutral voice. She just stared at her scrolls, reading through them like there was nothing or no one occupying her thoughts.
Judith thought on what to say, before failing in all regards to this, and just settling on the truth.
"Please forgive me Lady Qui Lin. I know I have a duty to uphold as your personal maid, but alas I was very overwhelmed by the ordeal we labored through the night prior, that I was completely absorbed by the sweep embrace of slumber." Judith raised an brow after she finished talking, and then began to wonder to herself if she was even the one saying all those words.
'They don't even talk like that.' Judith thought with a bit of anxiety, as she feared Qui Lin would take this as a form of mockery instead of her sincere apology.
"To put it simply, you were tired." Qui Lin restated her words in the worst way possible. But it was the truth no less.
"Yes." Judith said, falling her gaze.
"Do you know what the punishment is for this sort of behavior?" Qui Lin had asked, a strange intensity present in her voice, but deeply contrasted by her calm, which made Judith all the more frightened.
Taking a deep breath and trying to steel her nerves, Judith responded, "Several lashes, followed by several hours in the stocks." Judith said, grimly remembering the various kinds of punishments described in her novel and feeling a pit rise in her stomach.
"Correct, you seem to be well versed in our culture Westerner." Qui Lin said.
"I am." Judith answered.
"Well, that is good. Because next time you fall short of what is expected from you, I'd advise you seek out the taskmaster of the castle, to give you what is duly yours, and not come face me with your shortcomings. I can guarantee that you will face much much worse." Following these lines of words Judith thought about three things.
The first was not much a thought, as it was what she felt. That being relief. Judging by the way Qui Lin was speaking, it was evident she was going to spare her this day. Which made Judith rest a little easier.
Then the second thing she thought on, was the fact that Qui Lin was treating her personal maid in the exact opposite manner one was supposed to. A personal maid was more of an assistant to a noble, they were present to set certain things in place, ensure their master got what they desired and saw to their needs personally.
They were not meant to act as slaves. That was why personal maids had maids of their own. Of course Qui Lin had never had a personal maid before, so one could say she wasn't sure on how they were treated. But then again, that wasn't exactly an excuse. If anything, Qui Lin was either doing this to spite Judith for knowing so much, or she was just being her regular self. At this point, Judith didn't know which of these assumptions were true.
And the last thought Judith had, was accompanied by anger. Did this insane woman really not care if her secret was exposed to the whole world? Of course there was a chance Qui Lin knew she was lying through her teeth on that part, but was she really willing to risk it? Judith wondered. This secret meant too much to her to let it get out, so why was Qui Lin being so annoying?
Judith thought for a moment about really telling her secret to the King should this behavior toward her continue. But in all honesty, that would do more harm than good.
Feeling a bit defeated, Judith let it go. What she thought to make herself feel better was the fact that very soon, she would be all powerful and Qui Lin would be way beneath her and would get what was coming to her.
'All good things come with time.' Judith thought with a smile. Then realizing herself, she responded at once. "I understand Lady Qui Lin. It won't happen again."
Qui Lin did not respond to this, she just kept Judith silent as she fixated on the scroll in front of her. But after a moment of silence, she finally spoke.
"Ah right, I have a few questions for you. And I expect an answer." Qui Lin had said, which left Judith very uneasy.
'Not this again.' Judith thought, then immediately spoke. "I've already told you I can't reveal how I know what I know."
"So you've said. And I can assure you my memory works just fine." Qui Lin responded, and Judith kept silent, wondering if Qui Lin aimed to still persist. "Which is why my questions have nothing to do with that."
'You could have started with that.' Judith wondered. "Then what is it?"
Without wasting any time, Qui Lin spoke, "Do you know who this man is?" Qui Lin said, and before Judith was allowed to be confused, she summoned her Alkalis Rings and a Vortex appeared in the middle of the room slightly above the ground. Staring at the Vortex, Judith yelped when she saw a man fall from the Vortex and onto the floor.