Chapter 100: Maid's Dilemma
Elves were known for their love of nature and animals, so surely Nia would find her adorable.
But reality was cruel.
Nia simply frowned, clearly unimpressed.
"You're not cute at all," she said bluntly, swatting Lilith away.
Though her pride stung, Lilith refused to give up.
"A thousand slaps from my goddess are nothing—I'll always love her like it's our first romance!"
Despite the setbacks, Lilith's determination remained unwavering. Her relentless pursuit of Nia continued, driven by sheer devotion and a touch of madness.
Lilith was busy plotting to steal Nia's attention and hadn't realized she herself was on the verge of being outmaneuvered.
Meanwhile, her maid, Tia, had found an excuse to lead Shia away. Now, the two of them were alone together.
Shia stood with his arms spread wide as Tia meticulously measured him.
Her expression remained icy and detached, exuding a reserved, unapproachable air, but the faint, cool fragrance of her perfume lingered as always.
Sliding the measuring tape around Shia's waist, she leaned in to ensure precision.
Shia caught a whiff of the soft, lingering scent she carried. "So, does your lady always treat you like this?" he teased without hesitation.
Tia glanced at him briefly before recording the numbers on her clipboard, her movements precise and deliberate. She ignored his comment completely, her icy demeanor unbroken.
"Cold as ever," Shia muttered, chuckling.
"Was this her plan all along?" Shia continued, reclining slightly to meet her gaze. "Distract me so she can make her move?"
He paused, his tone teasing yet laced with curiosity. "Let me guess—her target is Nia, right? My elven 'slave,' who also happens to be the third-year princess?"
When Tia didn't respond, Shia smirked. "What? Is she not interested in you, her loyal maid?"
Tia's hands stilled momentarily before pressing the pen against the clipboard with noticeable force, denting the surface.
"Well, if you won't answer, let's get straight to the point," Shia said, dropping his arms and flopping onto the sofa with a casual air.
"Prove your value to me," he said bluntly, tilting his head to observe her reaction.
Tia hesitated, her grip on the measuring tape tightening as her eyes flickered to Shia. His sudden shift in tone caught her off guard.
Moments earlier, she had been ignoring his comments, determined to remain unbothered. But his unexpected change in approach left her unsettled.
Shia, however, wasn't letting up. "Your lady sent you to buy time, didn't she?" he asked, his voice smooth and calculated. "Well, if you want to stall me, I'll oblige… but whether you succeed depends entirely on your abilities."
His gaze dropped, deliberately lingering on her figure.
"Serve me well, and maybe I won't interfere with your lady's plans. Don't you think that's fair?" His warm smile was disarming, but the intent behind it was unmistakable.
Tia followed his gaze and realized where it had landed. A blush crept up her pale cheeks, and she bit her lip, struggling to maintain composure.
She felt a deep sense of humiliation, like a concubine summoned against her will to please an emperor.
No autonomy. No dignity.
Yet, her lady's orders rang clear in her mind.
Tia's teeth pressed harder into her lip, leaving faint indentations. Slowly, her knees bent, and her posture sank lower.
Something inside her cracked, a faint glimmer of defiance extinguishing under the weight of duty.
She didn't want to comply. She loathed the idea of listening to Shia's demands.
But his unspoken threat loomed. If she refused, he could interrupt her mistress's plans at any moment, and failure was not an option.
Tia had always followed her lady's orders without hesitation. Even if it meant enduring humiliation, she wouldn't falter now.
Shia closed his eyes, sinking further into the sofa.
As for Nia's way of offering comfort?
There was absolutely no need to worry about that!
The simple ability to listen to someone's heartfelt thoughts made her presence safe and reassuring.
After all, this naturally naive elf princess was also one of the most challenging characters to win over early on.
In the room, the aroma diffuser in the corner quietly worked, as fragrant liquid climbed up the wooden stick and dispersed into th e air.
The room was serene, save for the faint scent of fragrant oils diffusing from a corner.
Before him knelt Tia, the usually stoic maid now subdued. Her white stockings clung tightly to her legs, highlighting their soft, supple curves. The angle of her position accentuated the contours of her body, her maid outfit dipping low enough to reveal an enticing glimpse of cleavage.
At that moment, Shia's feet rested casually on the plush expanse of her chest, the soft sensation beneath them drawing a satisfied sigh from his lips.
Tia's head remained bowed, her ears tinged a deep crimson.
Though her previous disdain for Shia had somewhat diminished, the act of serving him filled her with shame.
Her hands worked methodically, massaging his feet with precise, deliberate motions. Her fingers pressed against key pressure points, expertly relieving tension and fatigue.
This wasn't the first time she had performed such duties—her lady had often praised her skill in these matters.
But now, doing the same for someone other than her mistress left Tia feeling like a traitor.
Guilt gnawed at her, spreading through her chest like a slow, suffocating weight.
'How did it come to this?' she thought. 'I'm loyal to my lady… and yet…'
Shia's voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts. "Not bad. You've done this often, haven't you?"
Tia didn't respond immediately, her inner turmoil silencing her. But the ingrained discipline of a maid left her no choice but to answer eventually.
"Yes," she whispered, the word barely audible.
Her heart sank further. It felt as though she had acknowledged Shia as her master, betraying her mistress completely.
'I'm despicable…' she thought bitterly. 'How could I lower myself to serve anyone but her?'
Shia, seemingly unaware of her internal struggle, rested his chin on his hand and mused aloud. "What should you call me, I wonder?"
His tone was light, almost teasing, as if to draw her deeper into the abyss of her guilt.
Tia's blush deepened, her crimson ears a clear indication of her mounting embarrassment. Guilt and shame swirled within her, threatening to overwhelm her entirely.
A Special Thank You!:I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Jose Daniel Garcia Aguilar], for supporting me on Patreon!