Chapter 55: The Colors of Nature
Was Angelica, his little maid, interested in… that sort of thing?
This disobedient maid needed some… discipline.
Qin Chu understood. Angelica was jealous.
He had to appease her… but he wasn’t good at handling women… He pondered, trying to recall how the womanizers on Earth handled such situations.
…
Her master had never made any advances towards her. Their two kisses had been initiated by her. She had been the one who had chosen to follow him…
But now he was with Ekaterina.
The thought filled Angelica with a painful ache.
She knew he was the Hero, a person of high status. She was fortunate to be his maid. And with his identity and his immense potential, he would attract even more exceptional women in the future.
She understood this.
She had thought she wouldn’t mind, but now, witnessing this situation firsthand, she realized the depth of her pain.
Perhaps she cared for him more than she had realized.
She had trembled with fear when she had learned about what had transpired between her master and Ekaterina. She knew such things were common among the powerful in the Heavenly Continent, but she couldn’t help but worry that he would no longer need her, that Ekaterina would replace her.
Ekaterina was beautiful, strong, and accomplished.
And she… she was just a maid.
A lowly maid had no right to question her master’s actions. It would displease him.
She knew she shouldn’t have said anything, but she couldn’t help it. Her heart was in turmoil. She regretted her words, fearing that she had angered him.
He didn’t respond.
His silence was agonizing.
Her shoulders shook with fear. She felt like a criminal awaiting judgment, her scalp tingling with dread.
She peeked at him, trying to gauge his mood. Was he angry? Would he punish her, perhaps hang her upside down and whip her… He was a terrifying man.
But to her surprise, his expression was calm. He was even smiling…
His smile made her feel… embarrassed.
She stamped her foot. “Master, why… why are you laughing?”
He wasn’t angry. Thank goodness.
He chuckled, raising his hand. He hesitated for a moment, then ruffled her green hair playfully.
She swatted his hand away, her cheeks puffing out. “Master, what are you doing?”
He tilted his head, his expression amused.
“Are you an idiot?”
“What? An idiot?” She defended her intelligence. “I’m not an idiot! I’m smart! I wouldn’t have been chosen as a Holy Maiden candidate if I was stupid. And I was one of the best among the four candidates. I’m definitely not an idiot!”
“Then stop overthinking things.”
“You heard Nikles and the others. It’s embarrassing, but I was the one who was… dragged into the room.”
Though the roles had reversed once they were inside.
But he wouldn’t tell her that.
Angelica thought about it. He was right. According to Nikles, Ekaterina had been drunk, barging into his room. He had tried to leave, but she had dragged him back.
Had she misjudged him?
Then, his expression turned serious.
“Angelica…”
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again.”
“You’re the only one I trust in this world. Understand?”
“No matter what happens, no matter how much time passes, you’ll always have a place by my side.”
She placed her hand over her heart, struggling to suppress her smile.
This was all she had wanted, his reassurance, his promise.
“At least for now, you’re the most important person to me.”
She was worrying over nothing.
There was no possibility of a relationship between him and Loseweisse or Ekaterina.
Physical intimacy, perhaps, but no emotional connection. Only hatred.
His words comforted her, her smile widening. “But Master, why haven’t you ever…”
She was more relaxed now, but she still had questions.
Was it her body? Was she not attractive enough?
It would be a blow to her ego. Despite being a maid, she was confident in her appearance.
“It’s not that. I just don’t want to hurt you,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re beautiful…”
“I’m happy to have you by my side.”
“I’m a man. Of course I have… thoughts.”
His honesty made her blush.
“But when you first arrived, you were covered in injuries…”
“And yesterday… how could I take advantage of you in that state? It would have hurt.”
Her cheeks burned, her heart pounding. He did find her attractive. He was just being considerate, caring, protecting her.
Her golden eyes, filled with adoration, gazed at him. Meeting him was the greatest blessing in her life.
He sighed, relieved that he had appeased her. He patted her head. “Go change your clothes. We’re going to the Holy See.”
“Why?”
She was apprehensive about visiting that place.
He had warned her not to mention yesterday’s incident. If anyone asked, she was to claim that a mysterious person had saved her, but she didn’t know their identity. She didn’t understand why they had to go to the Holy See.
He touched the collar around her neck. “It’s time to remove your shackles…”
…
Meanwhile, it was midday.
Ekaterina groaned, her head pounding.
Had she truly overindulged last night?
She was awake, but her eyelids felt heavy, her body aching as if she had endured a grueling battle, even more exhausting than her fight with the Raging Gorilla.
Her throat was dry, a sticky feeling that made her uncomfortable.
Her mouth tasted foul. She had definitely drunk too much.
Alcohol might be enjoyable in the moment, but the hangover was a cruel mistress.
But she was also confused. Her alcohol tolerance was legendary. She could outdrink any human, even most Demons.
She vaguely remembered consuming… three or four barrels of liquor? Or was it five or six?
It wasn’t that much.
She had once emptied an entire tavern’s stock. This was nothing to her.
As a Valkyrie, her Battle Qi constantly circulated within her body, quickly metabolizing the alcohol. Her drunken state never lasted long.
Her head throbbed. She lifted an arm, massaging her temples, her eyes fluttering open.
She saw an unfamiliar ceiling. Her blurry vision caught a glimpse of a messy room, a strange scent lingering in the air…
And a hat, resting on the bedside table, its design… nature-themed?
A hat?
She never wore hats!
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