Chapter 31: Someone, Take Her to the Bath!
Lin Yan’s outstretched hand froze mid-air. She sighed. “Come in.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The door opened, and two young women, around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in maid uniforms, entered, carrying two boxes. They were identical twins.
Xu Bai immediately recognized them as Lin Yan’s personal maids; she had seen them a few times in the Knights, but hadn’t paid much attention.
The slightly shorter twin skipped over to Lin Yan, her face alight with excitement.
“Miss, Miss! Why did you suddenly ask for the smaller dress? Are you taking us to General Glaimond’s banquet?”
Before she could finish, the other twin pulled her back, scolding her gently.
“Xiaoya, don’t be so impertinent.”
However, Xu Bai could see the same anticipation in the other twin’s eyes.
“Alright, alright, my little miss know-it-all, Xiaona,” Xiaoya stuck her tongue out at her sister, then grinned at Lin Yan.
“No… I’m not.” Lin Yan, flustered under the twins’ expectant gazes, touched her nose, glancing at Xu Bai.
“…Not?”
The twins followed Lin Yan’s gaze, their eyes falling on Xu Bai.
Xu Bai: “…”
“Miss, are you… are you saying,” Xiaoya looked at the box in her hands, then at Xu Bai, her voice trembling, “that you’re bringing… her?”
Xiaona’s reaction wasn’t as dramatic, but her shock was evident.
Lin Yan didn’t answer, only averting her gaze, silently confirming Xiaoya’s question.
Their reaction was understandable. Xu Bai’s hair was disheveled, and she was wearing faded, worn clothes.
Frankly, she looked like a beggar.
And Glaimond’s banquet, as the current ruler of Vikarn Port, even if held in his name only, would be attended by the city’s most prominent nobles, a truly high-class affair.
Xiaona and Xiaoya, although Lin Yan’s personal maids, wouldn’t normally be allowed to attend such an event.
They hadn’t expected an invitation, but they certainly hadn’t expected a beggar-like child to be granted one.
“Miss, may I ask, who is this little girl?” Xiaona quickly composed herself, asking Lin Yan seriously.
“Yes, yes! Who is she?!” Xiaoya chimed in, her voice laced with resentment. This time, Xiaona didn’t scold her.
“She… she’s…” Lin Yan was at a loss for words.
She only knew the girl’s name was “Bai.” She knew nothing about her background or family.
If not for Uncle Lin’s request, she wouldn’t have considered bringing Xu Bai to Glaimond’s banquet.
So, faced with the twins’ questions, she could only stammer, unable to offer a convincing explanation.
She couldn’t just say she met the girl on the street and decided to bring her to the banquet for a free meal, could she?
As the silence stretched, a small, hesitant voice spoke.
“Big sisters…”
“Hmm?” Xiaona and Xiaoya turned to Xu Bai.
“I’m sorry, but I really want to go…” Xu Bai clutched her clothes, a look of fear on her dirty face.
Seeing Lin Yan’s predicament, Xu Bai had no choice but to play the role of a vulnerable child.
Although her performance was a bit stiff, it was enough to fool Xiaona and Xiaoya.
They weren’t cruel; seeing Xu Bai’s pitiful appearance, their expressions softened.
“Whew…” Lin Yan inwardly sighed in relief, looking down at Xu Bai, a slight smile on her lips.
Skilled at using her vulnerable appearance… Bai was quite the actress…
Of course, Lin Yan hadn’t placed her trust in Xu Bai; she trusted Uncle Lin.
If Uncle Lin believed Bai was harmless, then she was harmless.
So, for now, she would treat Bai as an ordinary, adorable little girl.
“Didn’t Uncle Lin say anything, Miss?” Xiaona asked again, her tone less accusatory.
“Actually, Uncle Lin invited her,” Lin Yan replied, her expression relaxing.
“I see…” Xiaona nodded, falling silent.
Xiaoya still pouted, looking at Xu Bai with a hint of disapproval, but her expression was less hostile.
“You two can get acquainted.” As if remembering something, Lin Yan stood up, taking Xu Bai’s hand and introducing her to the twins. “Her name is Bai. You can call her—”
“Just Bai is fine,” Xu Bai quickly added, afraid of another strange nickname.
“Right, Bai.” Lin Yan smiled, ruffling Xiaoya’s hair. “They’re Lin Ya and Lin Na, but you can call them Xiaoya and Xiaona. Oh, and this one, who looks like the older sister, Xiaona, is actually the younger twin.”
“By three minutes,” Xiaona said flatly.
“Still the younger sister, hee hee,” Xiaoya said smugly, her earlier resentment forgotten.
They had no real animosity towards Xu Bai; they had simply been disappointed at not being invited to the banquet and needed someone to blame.
However, as Xu Bai finally looked up, the twins realized she was… truly beautiful.
Even with her face smudged with dirt, her beauty was undeniable.
“Alright, we’ll call you Little Sister Bai from now on!” Xiaoya, holding the box in one arm and placing her other hand on her hip, nodded at Xu Bai. “Yes, Little Sister Bai.”
“Little Sister Bai, hello,” Xiaona curtsied, her face still expressionless, mimicking Lin Yan’s formal demeanor, or perhaps imitating her.
“Little Sister Bai…” Xu Bai wanted to hide her face. Why another nickname…?
Lin Yan sighed in relief. It seemed her efforts hadn’t been in vain. Xiaoya and Xiaona were finally willing to accept Bai.
“It’s getting late. We need to prepare for the banquet… Xiaoya, Xiaona, take Bai to the bath!”
Xu Bai’s eyelashes fluttered.
“They… take me?”
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