Chapter 42: Enter the Text

At this moment, Tina felt an unprecedented pressure, suffocating her.
Though Althea hadn’t spoken, her eyes screamed: Come upstairs.

Tina hadn’t done anything wrong—just catching up with an old acquaintance.
Yet, in Althea’s eyes, she must’ve seemed like a flirt, avoiding her in the café while cozying up to others, isolating her.

“I’m here.” Tina shuffled after her, not daring to say a word.
On the second floor, at the room’s door, Althea stepped aside, leaving a path.

“Me… go in?” Tina pointed at herself.
“Do I need to invite you?” Althea finally spoke, her tone impatient—or perhaps eager.

“Oh, okay.”
But the moment Tina stepped inside, a bang echoed behind her, followed by the sound of the door locking.

“Huh? What’s this about?” She panicked.
Althea, still stone-faced, crouched, scooped Tina up in a princess carry, and tossed her onto the bed.

The bed was large and soft—Tina bounced twice.
“Coming to an inn in that outfit—do you really not get it, or are you playing dumb?” Althea raised an eyebrow, looking at her like an idiot.

“Get what? You’re the one who told me to come!”
“True, I said you’d show me your place, but seeing you… I couldn’t help myself.”

What? Six years, and the shy princess who hesitated at a kiss turned into a ravenous queen ready to pounce?
“Wait, I never said I’d do that here!”

“What’s ‘that’?” Althea bit her lip playfully, waiting for an answer.
“You know, that! You locked the door—still acting?”

“Tch.” Althea clicked her tongue. “Why overthink? Just lie there, and it’s done. Name your price afterward—anything you want.”
“No way! I’m here to chat, maybe play some games at most. That… if we do it, there’s no going back!”

“You’re a café maid and you care about that? One time could earn you a lifetime’s fortune—isn’t that enough?” Althea pinned Tina’s wrists to the pillow, her forceful demeanor brooking no refusal.

“Ugh—”
Silver hair brushed Tina’s face. All she saw was Althea’s almost manic expression as her outer clothes were slowly peeled away, leaving exposed skin.

“No, this can’t…” Tina struggled weakly, her voice tinged with a sob.
Her feeble resistance only fueled Althea’s excitement. The maid’s breathless whimpers wormed into her ears, her mind overtaken by primal desire.

I want her. This feeling—she’d only ever felt it with Tina.
Althea lifted Tina’s hair, tucking it behind her ear, then leaned in, sealing their lips.

“Mmph—”
Tina was distraught. Althea didn’t even pretend—just went straight for it. Any resistance? Kiss harder. Any objections? Do it until she surrendered.

This could not happen!
But the worst part? Her body was responding.

“What’s this? Your mouth says no, but your body’s honest. You get paid and have fun—what’s wrong with that?”
In their banter, Tina’s last shred of cover was stripped away.

Althea’s hand slid downward.
“No, really, we can’t…” Tears blurred Tina’s eyes, her voice pleading, stirring pity.

“You know, you like this make me really like you.”
The maid’s figure began to overlap with a certain girl from memory. Althea’s years of longing and anger sought release on her.

“Mhm…”
Althea’s fingers circled Tina’s stomach, slid to her waist, then around her back.

Finally, she enveloped Tina entirely, gazing down with the air of a predator eyeing prey.
“Please, I’m begging you…”
“Begging’s got a queue.”
“You’re… so disappointing…”

Seeing resistance was futile, Tina closed her eyes, surrendering to her fate.
Just endure it, right?

Her curses and tearful face suddenly reminded Althea of Tina’s expression when she lost all trust in her.
Distracted, her feverish heart doused with cold water, Althea froze. What am I doing?

Looking at the marks and kisses left on the maid, she stopped her hand from reaching further.
This was just a maid she’d met this afternoon—was she really forcing her into this?

“S-Sorry, I don’t know why I did this.”
“What? Playing the gentleman now, acting coy at the last step?” Tina’s voice was flat, as if she’d given up hope.

“No, I’m not like that! I mistook you for someone I know, that’s why I did this!”
As Althea moved to get up, the door was kicked open. A blonde, masked girl stormed in.

Oh no, this is unexplainable.
“Who are you? What are you doing? Why are you bullying her?”

Irene drew her sword, its silver blade aimed at Althea, ready to strike.
“Answer me!”
“I…” For the first time as queen, Althea was speechless.

“No answer? Scum, explain it to my sword.”
As Irene’s blade neared Althea’s neck, Tina weakly intervened.

“Stop, no fighting. Irene, let’s go home.” Tina shook off Althea’s lingering hand, gathered her clothes, and dressed as if nothing had happened.
—Except for the tears still clinging to her eyes.

“I’ll let you off this time. Do this again, and I’ll carve you to pieces.” Irene sheathed her sword, snorted coldly, and carried Tina out.

Only after they left did Althea snap out of it—she’d nearly harmed an innocent girl.
But that feeling… it was so like Tina. Was she too obsessed?

Her trembling hand rose and fell repeatedly. With a sigh, she wondered:
Will that maid forgive me?

Even with her status, this behavior must’ve hurt her deeply.