Chapter 71 : It Rains in Broad Daylight
Under Ailiya’s mix of coaxing and forceful insistence, Liliane finally downed the last drop of the inky, bitter potion. Her pale face drained further, brows knit tight as the acrid, burnt-herb taste lingered, tainting every breath.
“How’s it feel?” Ailiya leaned in, grinning like a cat who’d swiped a fish.
Liliane shot her a glance, silent, and picked up the bowl of yam and chicken porridge, sipping slowly. Surprisingly, it was delicious—silky rice, tender chicken, sweet yam, warmed perfectly by the magical burner, soothing her ravaged taste buds and stomach. After finishing, warmth returned to her stiff body, her spirits lifting. Her workaholic heart stirred, but she knew Ailiya would never allow files.
Instead, she said softly, “I’d like… to take a walk.” Her gaze drifted to the vibrant garden outside.
“Huh? You can walk?” Ailiya eyed her skeptically. “After days in bed, your muscles must be mush. If you collapse halfway, I’m not carrying you again.” And if you get hurt, will they dock my pay? No way!
“I know my limits,” Liliane insisted, her tone firm. “Just a short stroll, I’ll be fine.”
Yeah, right. Ailiya scoffed inwardly. You’ll say ‘short,’ then start planning a decade’s worth of garden designs. But Liliane’s violet eyes held a rare, pleading longing, softening Ailiya’s resolve.
Liliane pushed aside the quilt, her slender legs touching the carpet. She tried to stand, but weakness overwhelmed her, her body swaying.
“Hey, careful!” Ailiya lunged, catching her just in time, her hand landing on Liliane’s waist.
A jolt hit Ailiya. Through the thin silk pajamas, the warmth was startling, the waist so delicate yet soft and supple. Her mind blanked, hand frozen, heart racing, cheeks blazing. I… touched Liliane’s waist? This is… too much!
“Ailiya?” Liliane steadied herself, puzzled. “Why’s your face so red?”
“N-Nothing!” Ailiya yanked her hand back, eyes darting. “It’s… too hot in here!”
Liliane glanced at the open window, cool breeze flowing in, but didn’t press. Ailiya took deep breaths to quell her panic, then carefully supported Liliane’s arm, letting her lean on her. Their closeness brought a faint, pleasant scent—not flowers or perfume, but a unique blend of clean soap, sunlight, and Liliane’s warmth. Ailiya’s heart skipped again.
Focusing, she guided Liliane like handling a priceless artifact, leading her to the sprawling Winter estate garden—a near-royal expanse of white pebble paths, sculpted shrubs, and rare blooms. A jade fountain sprayed rainbows in the sunlight.
They walked silently, the quiet awkward. Ailiya racked her brain. “Uh… your garden’s upkeep must cost a fortune, huh?” Her money-obsessed mind surfaced.
Liliane paused, surprised. “The gardeners and plants are costly, yes,” she said calmly. “But it’s necessary. The garden reflects the Winter family’s prestige.”
“Prestige?” Ailiya pouted. “I don’t get you nobles. Spending so much for ‘face’ when you could stack gold coins at home.”
“Turning wealth into taste and legacy is a noble’s duty,” Liliane replied. “Something you’d struggle to grasp.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m clueless,” Ailiya muttered. “If I had that money, I’d lie in bed counting coins all day.”
Liliane’s lips curved in a faint, helpless smile, amused by Ailiya’s brazen greed.
A brown-and-white beagle burst from the bushes, barking wildly, tail wagging. Spotting Ailiya, it deemed her a “suspicious stranger” and snarled.
“Eek!” Startled, Ailiya instinctively ducked behind Liliane, clutching her arms, practically hugging her. The soft warmth and clear scent enveloped her, freezing her in place.
Liliane didn’t speak. Her violet eyes flicked to the dog, cold and commanding. The beagle’s barks stopped, replaced by a whimper. It tucked its tail and fled at a sharp angle.
Silence fell, save for Ailiya’s pounding heart. She realized she was clinging to Liliane, face near her shoulder, breathing in her sweet scent, feeling her gentle breathing through the thin fabric. This position… too much!
Her face burned, steam practically rising. She let go, stumbling back, but Liliane caught her. Their eyes met, inches apart, light dancing in their gazes.
A cool droplet hit Ailiya’s hand. She looked up—clear skies, sun high, clouds drifting. Huh? More warm drops fell, dotting her face and hair. A sunshower.
Raining now?! She just got better—if she catches a cold, it’s on me! “Don’t move!” Ailiya shouted, yanking off her oversized maid coat, holding it like an umbrella over Liliane. “Let’s go!”
Half-hugging, half-dragging Liliane, she hurried back.
In a secluded corridor, young maids peeked out, whispering.
“Ugh, rain?!” a twin-tailed maid stomped. “The mood was perfect!”
“Right!” a freckled maid griped. “When that dog charged, Ailiya practically glued herself to Lady Liliane! My gosh!”
“I saw!” a curvy maid squealed, covering her mouth. “Lady Liliane’s glare scared ‘General’ off! And Ailiya blushed—definitely blushed!”
“Such a pity…” the curvy maid sighed, dreamy. “If the rain got heavier, maybe they’d hide in a pavilion, and…”
“Two girls, alone, clothes soaked, clinging…” the twin-tailed maid grinned creepily.
Cough. A cold cough interrupted. The maids froze, turning like rusty robots to see Clara, arms crossed, her glasses glinting icily. “Garden cleaned? Laundry ironed? Silver polished?”
“C-Clara!” “We’re sorry!” “Give us another chance!” The maids scattered, terrified.
Clara sighed, watching their retreat. She glanced at Ailiya’s coat shielding Liliane like a clumsy canopy. What are kids thinking these days?
But… if Ailiya could one day stand as Lady Liliane’s equal… Maybe not impossible.
She froze, realizing her thoughts aligned with the giggling maids. Tch. Annoyed, she shook it off, straightened, and returned to her mountain of work.