A Ticklish Predicament and Unspoken Feelings

Jiu Hui lay on the bed, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

A series of knocks echoed from the door.

“Lady Jiu Hui, your coffee.”

Xiao Lü’s voice drifted in from beyond the door.

“Come in,”

Jiu Hui said softly, then sat up. She certainly didn’t want anyone to see her in such a state.

With a soft creak, the door opened. Xiao Lü entered, carrying a cup of coffee. Catching sight of Jiu Hui sitting on the bed, she paused for a moment.

She then walked to the table and placed the coffee down.

“It’s freshly brewed and quite hot right now,” Xiao Lü said. “You might want to let it cool a bit before drinking it.”

Xiao Lü spoke with a gentle smile.

“Thank you,” Jiu Hui replied, offering a small smile.

Xiao Lü chuckled softly as she looked at Jiu Hui on the bed. After a slight purse of her lips, she asked, “Does Lady Jiu Hui perhaps have something on her mind?”

“Ah?” Jiu Hui, startled by Xiao Lü’s words, asked with confusion, “Why do you say that?”

“Hehe,” Xiao Lü chuckled, her gaze fixed on Jiu Hui. “It seems Lady Jiu Hui wears her thoughts quite openly.”

“Uh, haha, is it that obvious?” Jiu Hui asked with a dry laugh.

“Extremely obvious,” Xiao Lü confirmed. “Lady Jiu Hui seems to have no idea how to hide her thoughts; they’re always clearly displayed on her face.”

“Is that so?” Jiu Hui murmured softly. Abandoning any pretense of hiding her emotions, her face instantly clouded with a somber expression.

“So, what exactly is Lady Jiu Hui thinking about? Would you care to tell me?” Xiao Lü moved to Jiu Hui’s side, settling down beside her with a faint smile.

“Of course, if Lady Jiu Hui prefers not to speak, I won’t press the matter. However, some things are often better said aloud. Pondering alone will hardly resolve anything.”

Jiu Hui glanced at Xiao Lü beside her, her eyelids lowering slightly as she fell into a moment of hesitation.

Indeed, asking Xiao Lü might provide a direct answer. But what if that answer confirmed her worst suspicions?

‘Heh!’

Jiu Hui chuckled inwardly. ‘Even if it’s true, what then? I’ll find out sooner or later. Perhaps knowing earlier would be for the best.’

With this thought, Jiu Hui steeled herself. She looked at Xiao Lü, her lips pressed together, contemplating how to begin, only to realize she didn’t know how to phrase the question.

A direct approach was definitely out of the question. There were certain things she couldn’t say, and she simply couldn’t bring herself to voice them.

‘Could she really ask if Lisa Kael had ever been intimate with other maids before?’

‘That would immediately expose what had transpired between her and Lisa Kael! And besides, she was Lisa Kael’s maid even before I arrived.’

‘So, to ask…?’

‘No, that absolutely wouldn’t work!’

Lost in thought, Jiu Hui hesitated, then spoke softly. “Um, well, has Lisa Kael ever had a personal maid like me before?”

Xiao Lü observed Jiu Hui, who seemed to be treading very carefully. A flicker of doubt crossed her face, but she answered Jiu Hui’s question nonetheless.

“No, she hasn’t. I believe I mentioned this to Lady Jiu Hui before, didn’t I?” Xiao Lü replied. “Her Majesty has never had a personal maid until now. Lady Jiu Hui is the very first.”

Hearing Xiao Lü’s words, Jiu Hui recalled that Xiao Lü had indeed told her this previously. A small sigh of relief escaped her.

“Then, in your eyes, what kind of person is Lisa Kael?”

“Her Majesty?” Xiao Lü mused for a moment, then spoke with a smile. “In everyone’s eyes, Her Majesty is seen differently. From my perspective, she is a kind person.”

“Even though she is the ruler of the entire Human Race, Her Majesty has always maintained her inner goodness. Xiao Lan and I were orphans who survived a war, and Her Majesty took us in despite widespread opposition, keeping us by her side.”

“Perhaps others see Her Majesty as majestic, cold, and at times even a little indolent. But to me, she is truly very kind.”

Though Jiu Hui didn’t receive the exact answer she sought, listening to Xiao Lü’s words allowed her to understand Lisa Kael—who, in her mind, had been nothing but a lecherous woman—a little better.

“Then,” Jiu Hui began again. This time, she intended to get straight to the heart of the matter. Her gaze hardened, her eyes fixing directly on Xiao Lü.

“Does Lisa Kael… have anyone she likes?”

“Eh?” Xiao Lü paused, seemingly surprised by Jiu Hui’s question. She quickly recovered, however, and after a moment’s thought, replied, “I don’t believe so. We’ve never heard anything, after all.”

“Moreover, I don’t think anyone could truly capture Her Majesty’s heart. She is the Queen of the Human Race, so who could possibly be worthy of her? And Her Majesty has never shown any inclination in that regard. So, I imagine the answer is no.”

“Is that so?” Jiu Hui’s face involuntarily broke into a smile as she listened to Xiao Lü’s words.

Xiao Lü, observing Jiu Hui’s reaction, suddenly saw a slight upturn at the corner of her own lips.

“Why would Lady Jiu Hui ask such a question? Could it be that Lady Jiu Hui…”

Jiu Hui’s face flushed crimson as she saw Xiao Lü’s expression. “How could that be possible?” she exclaimed hastily. “How could I ever like that lecherous woman!”

“Oh my,” Xiao Lü’s smile grew even more mischievous. “I didn’t say anything, did I? Why is Lady Jiu Hui getting so flustered?”

At this, Jiu Hui’s face twisted with a mix of shame and anger. “Xiao Lü!”

With a shout, Jiu Hui pounced, tackling Xiao Lü onto the bed. She straddled Xiao Lü’s waist, a mischievous curve playing on her lips, her hands playfully grasping at the air.

“Xiao Lü, if you do something wrong, you have to be punished, you know.”

Xiao Lü looked up at Jiu Hui, who was sitting on her. The perpetual smile on her face finally gave way to a flicker of panic.

“Um, Lady Jiu Hui…”

“Hehehe,” Jiu Hui cackled, her lips still curved. Then, her hands descended directly to Xiao Lü’s waist and began to tickle her mercilessly.

“Ah hahahahahaha, no, stop! Please, let me go, hahahaha, Lady Jiu Hui, hahahaha~~~”

Xiao Lü lay on the bed, convulsing with laughter from Jiu Hui’s relentless tickling, tears streaming from her eyes.

Jiu Hui, however, had no intention of letting her off.

“How dare you tease me like that? A little punishment is in order! Prepare yourself, Xiao Lü!”

With that, Jiu Hui tickled even more vigorously.

Just then, the door suddenly swung open. Two figures appeared in the doorway: Lisa Kael and Xiao Lan.

Both of them stared at Xiao Lü lying on the bed and Jiu Hui straddling her. Their expressions shifted; Lisa Kael’s brow furrowed, while Xiao Lan’s face went pale.

“You two seem to be having a lot of fun,” Lisa Kael stated. “By all means, continue.” With that, she turned and departed without another word.

Xiao Lan, her face still stark white, forced a strained smile before turning and fleeing.

Inside the room, Jiu Hui and Xiao Lü stared blankly at the scene that had just unfolded. Once both figures had gone, a sudden dread seized their hearts.

“We’re in trouble now.”

****