Chapter 6: You Are the True Holy Maiden (2)
This woman’s acting was worthy of a standing ovation.
The most cunning schemers on Earth paled in comparison to Loseweisse’s masterful manipulation. She could outwit the most cunning characters in those palace dramas, surviving till the very last episode.
In his previous life, he had been utterly smitten, completely taken in by her act.
What a fool he had been, thinking her contrived sweetness and carefully crafted vulnerability endearing.
Now, he saw through her facade, her every word, every gesture, a calculated move in her game of power.
Instead of showering her with empty promises, vowing to restore peace to the land, he merely offered a curt, “I’ll do what I can.”
Huh?
Loseweisse, peeking at him through her fingers, was taken aback by his lukewarm response.
She noticed the faint blush on his cheeks as he stared out the carriage window. Ah, she thought, he must be overcome with shyness, unable to even look at her directly.
The carriage rolled on, entering the heart of the city. The stench that had permeated the slums dissipated, replaced by the scent of expensive perfumes and freshly baked bread. The cobblestone streets gave way to smooth, paved roads, the carriage gliding effortlessly towards its destination.
The garbage bins lining the streets overflowed with barely expired food, deemed unfit for consumption by the city’s wealthy elite. Their refined palates craved only the freshest, most exotic delicacies.
Of course, these discarded morsels were off-limits to the city’s less fortunate inhabitants. Heaven forbid those filthy, ragged orphans should sully the pristine streets of the noble district.
Rumor had it that the Emperor, in his infinite wisdom, had ordered the construction of a wall, separating the impoverished masses from the opulence of the noble district.
Naturally, the wall was built with the sweat and toil of the very people it was meant to contain, their meager earnings funding its construction.
The mansions lining the streets were ostentatious displays of wealth and extravagance, their windows glowing with warm light despite the late hour. Groups of nobles, their voices loud with laughter and drunken revelry, strolled along the sidewalks, their servants trailing behind them.
A single wall, separating paradise from hell.
The carriage finally came to a stop before a palatial estate, its grandeur surpassing even the most lavish mansions in the district. Moonlight glinted off its glazed tile roof, the magical lamps illuminating its entrance with a soft, ethereal glow.
“We’ve arrived, Hero,” Loseweisse announced, gently placing her hand on his arm. “The banquet will be held inside.”
“But first,” she added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “allow me to escort you to the changing rooms.”
Though she hadn’t explicitly stated it, her meaning was clear. His casual attire, while comfortable, would be considered unforgivably gauche by the standards of the noble court.
Qin Chu couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. These pampered fools clung to their precious etiquette even as their world crumbled around them.
“I apologize, Hero,” Loseweisse said, her voice filled with regret. “I have some urgent matters to attend to. I’m afraid I can’t accompany you personally. I’ll send someone else shortly.”
Qin Chu simply nodded, his expression unreadable.
As soon as she was out of earshot, he stretched, his shoulders slumping with relief. “Finally,” he muttered. “That was exhausting. Now, let the real fun begin.”
“What do you have in mind?” Shaye asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
“It’s simple,” Qin Chu replied, a sly smile spreading across his lips. “We’ve lost our powers, at least for now. Our priority is to gather allies, people who share our interests, people who have their own reasons to despise the Church, the nobles… and perhaps, even the Holy Maiden herself.”
“We need to ensure our survival, and that means playing the game, at least for now.”
“I know exactly who’s coming next,” he continued, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “And I have a plan. I think you’ll like it.”
Meanwhile, back in her chambers, Loseweisse slammed her teacup against the wall, the delicate porcelain shattering into a thousand pieces.
Angelica, her emerald green hair contrasting sharply with her black and white maid uniform, flinched, her eyes wide with fear as she watched her mistress pace back and forth, her movements agitated, her expression thunderous.
Loseweisse rushed to the washbasin, scrubbing her hands furiously, as if trying to erase the very memory of his touch.
The mere thought of sharing a carriage with that… that creature filled her with a visceral disgust. Breathing the same air, enduring his presence for even a few minutes, had been excruciating.
She felt tainted, defiled.
And those few stolen touches, his rough hands brushing against hers… the memory sent shivers down her spine.
She scrubbed at her chest with a damp cloth, her skin reddening under her touch.
It was his fault, she thought, her mind rebelling against the unwelcome surge of desire that coursed through her veins. She was pure, untouched, her heart belonging only to Jie Luo.
“That filthy animal!” she hissed, her voice laced with venom. “How dare he look at me like that!”
“He touched me!” she wailed, her voice cracking with a mixture of anger and something akin to… longing? “Jie Luo never even touched me!”
“Bastard! Scum! I wish he was dead!”
She stomped her foot, her carefully constructed composure shattering under the weight of her emotions.
She didn’t care that Angelica witnessed her outburst. The maid wouldn’t dare breathe a word of this to anyone. No one would believe her anyway.
Angelica, a former Holy Maiden candidate, had once been Loseweisse’s fiercest rival.
But that was before Loseweisse had orchestrated her downfall. Angelica, falsely accused of using dark magic to curse Loseweisse, had been branded a heretic, sentenced to burn at the stake.
It was Loseweisse, the newly appointed Holy Maiden, who had intervened, pleading for mercy, offering Angelica a chance at redemption.
She had personally taken Angelica under her wing, offering her a position as her handmaiden, a testament to her boundless compassion and forgiveness.
The public had eaten it up, praising her for her kindness and generosity.
Only Angelica and Loseweisse knew the truth.
The curse had never existed. It had all been a carefully orchestrated charade, designed to eliminate a rival and bolster Loseweisse’s public image.
Angelica wasn’t a handmaiden. She was a prisoner, a constant reminder of Loseweisse’s triumph, a plaything to be used and discarded at her whim.
Angelica knew that anything she said, anything she did, would be twisted, manipulated. No one would believe her. She had learned to keep her head down, her mouth shut.
But Loseweisse’s rage, her uncharacteristic loss of control, gave her pause.
After a while, Loseweisse seemed to regain her composure. She stared at her reflection, her beautiful features twisted in a grimace. “No,” she muttered, shaking her head. “This won’t do.”
She tossed the broken hairbrush aside, her delicate fingers smoothing the frown lines on her forehead. Slowly, carefully, she rearranged her features, her lips curving into a serene smile.
“Angelica,” she said, her voice regaining its usual melodic tone. “Attend to the Hero in the changing rooms. I believe this task is best suited to your… talents.”
“And Angelica,” she added, her smile widening, revealing a hint of something cold and calculating in her eyes. “If the Hero should… require anything… don’t resist. We wouldn’t want to offend him, now would we?”
“This one… he’s not quite as… gentlemanly as dear Jie Luo. I believe he might have… overstepped his boundaries with Lady Natia earlier.”
Loseweisse’s talents extended far beyond acting and deception. She was also a keen observer. Though she hadn’t spoken to Natia directly, hadn’t even mentioned the incident to Qin Chu, she had noticed the subtle shift in the Sage’s demeanor, the lingering flush on her cheeks.
And now it was time to put Angelica to good use.
The girl might be a fool, but she was still quite attractive. After all, only the most beautiful were chosen as Holy Maiden candidates.
Angelica trembled, her gaze fixed on the floor. “Yes, Mistress,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She had no choice but to obey.
Her heart pounding in her chest, she made her way to the changing rooms, her hand hovering over the doorknob for a moment before she finally knocked.
“Enter.”
She pushed the door open, her black leather boots clicking softly against the polished wooden floor.
Qin Chu, his back to her, turned around. “Ah, Holy Maiden,” he said, his voice warm and welcoming. “You’re here.”
Angelica’s breath hitched in her throat. He was just an ordinary man, his features unremarkable, his build average at best.
But his eyes… his eyes held a strange intensity, as if they could see right through her.
She forced a smile, her lips trembling slightly. “You flatter me, Hero,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m just a humble servant. Please, allow me to assist you with your attire.”
Qin Chu tilted his head, his expression a mixture of confusion and something else… something that made her uneasy.
“But… aren’t you the Holy Maiden?” he asked, his voice laced with genuine surprise.
Angelica’s eyes widened. “No, Hero,” she stammered, shaking her head vehemently. “You misunderstand. Lady Loseweisse is the Holy Maiden.”
Qin Chu frowned, as if deep in thought. “Is that so?” he mused.
“Lady Loseweisse is beautiful, of course,” he continued, his gaze fixed on her, making her skin crawl. “And she seems so… pure. But… there’s something… off about her. As if she’s hiding her true self behind a mask. I don’t trust her.”
“You, on the other hand…” He paused, his eyes searching hers. “You seem… genuine. Pure. You… you’re more of a true Holy Maiden than she could ever be.”
His words were like a balm to her wounded soul.
For three long years, she had endured humiliation and abuse, branded a traitor, a heretic. The beautiful clothes, the outward displays of respect, did little to hide the scars, both physical and emotional, that Loseweisse had inflicted upon her.
But now, for the first time, she felt seen, heard, understood.
Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
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