An Unsettling Stroll and a Comical Assassination

Along the bustling streets of the royal city, three young women, clad in maid uniforms, drew a significant amount of attention. While maid outfits were not an unusual sight in this world, the venerable Wo Zhiqishuo once wisely declared, ‘A beautiful maiden will always command the spotlight, no matter where she goes.’ True to this adage, the trio of stunning girls, adorned in their maid attire, progressed through the thoroughfare, constantly enveloped by the gazes of passersby.

For Xiao Lü and Xiao Lan, such a degree of scrutiny was nothing out of the ordinary. Having previously accompanied the Queen, they had experienced far more intense public gazes, making this current attention feel trivial. Jiu Hui, however, found herself in a different predicament. While she had, in her past life as a boy, drawn a fair share of curious stares owing to her adorable features and penchant for feminine attire, those instances were mere trifles. In the fast-paced rhythm of her former world, people simply lacked the time or inclination to truly notice anyone, unless, of course, one were to streak naked through the streets; otherwise, most would barely spare a glance.

Thus, Jiu Hui traversed the street, enduring the persistent stares, her discomfort compounded by the intermittent, chilling sensation emanating from her lower body. This confluence of factors left her in a state of constant tension, profound shyness, and a faint undercurrent of vexation.

‘Why aren’t you tending to your stalls? Why must you incessantly gawk at us? Are you trying to ogle?’

‘I’m never venturing out again. Isn’t this simply inviting trouble? Moreover, my body feels strangely weak.’

‘Could it be that ‘my relatives’ are arriving? Speaking of which, don’t girls have those idle ‘relatives’ who invariably drop by every month, just for a stroll?’

‘Surely not?!’

A wave of panic surged through Jiu Hui’s heart at the thought. ‘Wouldn’t it be utterly horrifying if, while simply walking along the street, blood suddenly began to stream down my legs?!’

The mere image of such a spectacle rendered Jiu Hui’s face ghastly pale.

‘Why, for the love of all that is good, did I even step out today?!’

‘Forget it! It’s all that loathsome she-wolf’s fault!’

A memory of the ‘she-wolf’ resurfaced, involuntarily bringing to Jiu Hui’s mind the previous night’s scene: the woman leaning between her legs, ‘sucking strawberries.’ A vivid blush bloomed across Jiu Hui’s otherwise pallid face.

The stark contrast of her pale complexion and the sudden flush of crimson imbued Jiu Hui with an unexpected air of delicate vulnerability, causing the surrounding onlookers’ gazes to inexplicably intensify, burning with renewed fervor.

“Jiu Hui-sama is truly quite popular,” Xiao Lü remarked, her voice gentle and a soft smile gracing her lips as she walked behind Jiu Hui. “One might even say, ‘As expected of Jiu Hui-sama,’ wouldn’t they?”

Xiao Lan, walking beside them, nodded in agreement, a faint chuckle escaping her lips. “Indeed. One can only imagine what a spectacle it would be if Jiu Hui-sama were to venture out alongside the Queen.”

“Ha, I’d frankly prefer to forgo such a ‘welcome’; it’s rather unsettling, to say the least,” Jiu Hui muttered, a distinct unease etched upon her features as she overheard the exchange between the two behind her.

“It appears Jiu Hui-sama is quite unaccustomed to such attention,” Xiao Lü observed, her smile unwavering. “However, this is merely an unavoidable prelude. When you eventually accompany the Queen on her outings, the intensity will only prove far more daunting than this.”

Xiao Lü’s words, delivered with a radiant smile and a voice as gentle as a spring breeze, sent an immediate chill down Jiu Hui’s spine. The mere thought of being surrounded by a throng of lecherous men while in the company of that ‘she-wolf’ made goosebumps erupt across her entire body.

“Ah, haha, yes, it truly sounds quite terrifying.”

Jiu Hui offered a couple of strained laughs, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd, a distinct flicker of apprehension now visible in her eyes.

“Wait, Jiu Hui-sama, something feels amiss,” Xiao Lan interjected abruptly, her expression turning grave. Her voice, now tinged with a subtle coolness, was laced with an undeniable sense of vigilance.

“Hmm?” Jiu Hui questioned, a hint of confusion initially clouding her features before her delicate brows subtly furrowed. “Indeed, something is amiss. Why has the crowd around us thinned so noticeably?”

Casting a quick glance around at the conspicuously sparse crowd, the trio — Jiu Hui, Xiao Lü, and Xiao Lan — halted their steps. A profound gravity settled within Xiao Lü’s and Xiao Lan’s eyes.

“What… what’s happening?” Jiu Hui inquired, her voice tinged with apprehension, as she observed the previously bustling street suddenly become eerily deserted, almost entirely devoid of human presence.

“An assassination,” Xiao Lü stated flatly, her earlier smile completely vanished. “If my estimations are correct, this is an attempt specifically aimed at Jiu Hui-sama!”

Indeed, the pleasant smile that had graced Xiao Lü’s face was now entirely absent, supplanted instead by an expression of profound gravity and cold resolve.

Beside her, Xiao Lan’s features were similarly etched with an intense vigilance.

“An assassination? Me?” Jiu Hui began, a bewildered question forming on her lips, but then a sudden realization struck her. She recalled the recent events within the royal palace and the consistent emphasis Xiao Lü and Xiao Lan had placed on the crucial role of a personal maid. Her expression darkened considerably.

“They’re here!” Xiao Lü’s gaze sharpened instantly, her eyes snapping forward. A lone figure had materialized in the distance.

It was a diminutive figure, standing barely a meter and a half tall, with golden hair styled into high twin pigtails. Her pale blue eyes, however, held a chilling, detached killing intent utterly unsuited for someone of her apparent age. A form-fitting combat suit accentuated the girl’s slender, almost board-like physique, devoid of any discernible curves. While her face possessed a certain undeniable cuteness, it was unfortunately marred by a perpetual frigidity.

“A… a little loli?” Jiu Hui murmured, a note of profound uncertainty in her voice.

“Though young in years, she is undeniably an assassin, and not one to be underestimated,” Xiao Lan asserted, her voice taut with tension. She subtly shifted, positioning herself slightly in front of Jiu Hui, instinctively adopting a defensive posture.

“You are Jiu Hui, aren’t you? Your end comes today,” the small loli declared, her voice devoid of emotion. She gripped a dagger in a reverse hold, and her pale blue eyes gleamed with an icy, resolute killing intent.

Xiao Lü and Xiao Lan’s gazes sharpened, fixing intently on the young loli before them. Beside them, Jiu Hui nervously swallowed, a dry catch in her throat.

In that instant, the small loli sprang into motion. Her short legs propelled her forward in a rapid charge, though perhaps due to her diminutive stature, her ‘speed’ would have required a rather unique frame of reference to truly impress.

Despite her less-than-blazing speed, the small loli was undeniably putting forth a valiant effort, closing the distance to Jiu Hui and her companions. Yet, just as she was on the verge of reaching them, perhaps in her eagerness, her right foot lifted a fraction too soon, causing her left foot to snag on it.

Splat!

With a resounding thud, the small loli face-planted onto the ground, leaving Jiu Hui and her companions utterly dumbfounded, their jaws quite literally agape.

‘This… this wouldn’t happen to be the legendary ‘left foot tripping over right foot, a stumble on flat ground,’ would it?’ Jiu Hui murmured, a bewildered expression on her face.

Suddenly, the small loli executed a swift roll, sprang to her feet, and immediately scanned her surroundings, her diminutive face now a mask of intense vigilance.

“Who just ambushed me?!”

Upon hearing this, Jiu Hui couldn’t help but press a hand to her forehead in exasperation. ‘It was the ground that ambushed you,’ she corrected dryly.

The instant Jiu Hui spoke, the small loli’s gaze snapped violently towards her, a renewed flicker of murderous intent igniting in her eyes.

“Jiu Hui! Your death awaits you here!”

The small loli, dagger clutched in hand, was about to launch herself at Jiu Hui when, in a sudden blur, a dark silhouette materialized directly before her. A gleaming silver longsword was instantly pressed against the loli’s slender neck.

“Do not move.”

A low, spectral voice whispered into the small loli’s ear—a chilling, utterly emotionless tone that caused her body to instantly stiffen, a sheen of cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

‘Such… such murderous ki.’

Jiu Hui’s pupils constricted as she stared at the figure that had so abruptly appeared.

‘This individual.’

Xiao Lü and Xiao Lan, in contrast, visibly relaxed. Noticing Jiu Hui’s wide-eyed stare at the enigmatic figure, Xiao Lan offered a reassuring smile. “It’s quite alright, Jiu Hui-sama. This is one of the Queen’s personal guards. Her Majesty must have dispatched them specifically to protect you, anticipating potential trouble.”

Hearing this, the tension in Jiu Hui’s eyes eased somewhat, though her gaze remained fixed on the mysterious figure.

‘To protect me?’

From a secluded corner not far from the group, a shadowed figure had been silently observing the unfolding events. Once the small loli was apprehended, the presence vanished without a trace.

****

Within the Royal Palace,

Lisa Kael regarded the blonde loli standing before her, then shifted her gaze to the trio of Jiu Hui, Xiao Lü, and Xiao Lan. Her eyes narrowed imperceptibly as she replayed their earlier account of the incident, before settling her piercing stare back on the small loli.

‘A thrown bait? Or merely a test?’