Chapter 73: The Promise with Angelica
Angelica had only prepared dinner for Qin Chu and herself. The guards’ meals were provided by the army, delivered in convenient lunchboxes.
She was supposed to prepare Ekaterina’s food as well, but after the Valkyrie’s attack on her master, Angelica held a grudge. If Ekaterina wanted to eat, she could fend for herself. The kitchen was well-stocked.
She had heard that Ekaterina’s cooking skills were… explosive… literally.
Perhaps a charred steak would suit her taste.
As a maid, Angelica wasn’t supposed to dine with her master, but Qin Chu insisted, forcing her to sit beside him.
Her face, pale and delicate, was adorned with a silly grin.
She ate her food in small, measured bites, but her mind was elsewhere, her thoughts consumed by a single, exhilarating realization: her master had finally noticed her.
Her heart fluttered with anticipation and a hint of fear.
Anticipation for his… attention… and fear of… his preferences…
She had been studying… certain books… to prepare herself for this moment… though those books had made her blush.
Of course, she would accept him, no matter his… inclinations… She clenched her fists, her resolve firm, even missing his compliment about her cooking.
After dinner, she cleared the table with remarkable speed.
Then, grabbing a towel, she rushed into the bathroom. This was her special night, her sacred duty. She had to be clean, pure. Anything less would be disrespectful.
An hour later, she emerged from the bathroom, her pale skin practically glowing against the white towel wrapped around her. Water droplets clung to her smooth shoulders, her green hair, still damp, cascading down her back. Her legs, long and toned, carried her gracefully, her bare feet padding softly against the floor.
Her bed was covered in clothes: Holy Maiden robes, nun’s habits, maid uniforms… black stockings, white stockings, cat ears, a tail…
She surveyed her collection, a proud smile curving her lips.
Hmph!
She had prepared meticulously for this moment, studying those books, acquiring these… tools… The shopkeeper had assured her that these items would drive a man wild.
Considering her master’s… maid fetish… she chose a maid uniform. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she added a pair of black stockings… just in case he had… varied tastes…
You can do this, Angelica!
She pumped her fist, offering herself a silent pep talk. She wouldn’t disappoint him.
The sky was dark, the moon hidden behind clouds. Her heart pounding with anticipation and a hint of trepidation, she approached Qin Chu’s bedroom, her knuckles rapping softly against the door.
“Come in.”
His voice, a low rumble, beckoned her inside.
She took a deep breath, then pushed the door open. He was still awake, sitting in a chair, his posture suggesting he had been expecting company. But there was no one else in the room.
She didn’t dwell on it. Her fear, now stronger than her anticipation, overwhelmed her. She wasn’t afraid of the… pain… she was afraid of disappointing him…
Qin Chu’s eyes widened as she entered, his gaze lingering on her outfit: a maid uniform and black stockings. Perfect.
But he couldn’t stare. It would be… ungentlemanly…
“Angelica, I have something to tell you…”
She walked towards him, her fingers twisting the hem of her maid uniform, her face flushed. She didn’t sit down. Instead, gathering her courage, she spoke. “Master, I… I’ll make sure you’re… satisfied…”
“Huh?”
“Satisfied?”
He blinked, confused. He hadn’t even assigned her the task yet. But her enthusiasm was… commendable…
“Good, good. I appreciate your dedication.” He nodded, gesturing towards a chair. “Please, have a seat”
“Eh?” Angelica’s eyes widened. “Sitting?”
Even with her limited knowledge of these matters, she knew that… sitting wasn’t conducive to…
“Do you prefer standing?” Qin Chu asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. He wasn’t one for strict protocols. Most nobles wouldn’t even allow a maid to sit in their presence, but he wasn’t like them. Angelica had been with him for a while. Surely she knew that?
Angelica blushed. “It’s not about… preference… well, it is… but… it’s not… possible…”
“Is your… bottom… uncomfortable?” he asked, her behavior baffling him.
“No, no, it’s fine.”
“Then sit down. I don’t have those kinds of rules. I won’t punish you for such a minor transgression.”
Angelica, her cheeks burning, sat down, her body stiff and awkward.
Gods, she had anticipated some… unusual… requests, but this… sitting? How was that even… possible…? Images, vivid and embarrassing, flashed through her mind. She shook her head, banishing them. No, those positions were… advanced… beyond her current skill level.
Qin Chu, seeing her seated, spoke, his voice carefully neutral. “Angelica, I called you here tonight because I have an important task for you.”
“I understand. I’ll make sure you’re… eh?” She blinked, her mind catching up to his words. “A task?”
A sense of foreboding washed over her.
“Yes, a task.”
Aaaaaaaaaah!
She groaned inwardly. She understood now. Their conversation had been a series of misunderstandings.
He hadn’t called her here for… that… He had a mission for her. And she had spent all this time preparing, anticipating…
She pouted, her disappointment evident.
But she quickly composed herself. If he was being so serious, it must be important. She had to listen carefully, to every word, to every nuance. She wouldn’t disappoint him.
“I’m going to be away for a few days,” Qin Chu said.
Before he could continue, Angelica interrupted, her voice urgent. “I’ll go with you, Master!”
Her eagerness warmed his heart. He reached out, ruffling her neat green hair.
“No, I have another task for you.”
He raised his hand, silencing her as she tried to speak. “Let me finish. I know that the royal family, the Holy See, and the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess are all… interested… in me. While I’m gone, I need you to keep an eye on them. Monitor their movements, gather information. This is a crucial task.”
“But your safety is paramount. Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Don’t put yourself in danger to gather information. If anything happens to you, I’ll be… devastated… I might even do something… reckless… which could put me in danger. Understand?”
He knew her personality. If he simply assigned her a task, she would do anything to complete it, even if it meant risking her life. She had regained her magic, but she was still no match for the truly powerful individuals lurking within the capital.
But if her actions could potentially affect him, she would be more cautious.
Angelica bit her lip, her disappointment evident, but she was a good girl, an obedient girl. She didn’t want him to worry. She nodded, accepting the task.
Qin Chu sighed in relief. He had to prepare for every contingency. After Benson’s death, the story would deviate significantly from his previous life. He needed to anticipate his enemies’ actions, using his knowledge of their personalities and Angelica’s intelligence reports.
Angelica, bless her heart, didn’t ask any questions. She knew he was… different… more than anyone realized.
She took a deep breath, then, gathering her courage, she spoke.
“Master… will you promise me something?”
“Of course,” he said, his voice gentle.
This time, she didn’t hesitate. She faced her feelings head-on. “When you return… I want to be yours…”
She didn’t desire a title, a wife’s status. To be his… that was enough.
He had saved her, pulled her from the abyss, when she had been at her lowest point, her spirit broken.
She wanted to offer him everything.
Even though her request, coming from a maid, was… audacious…
Qin Chu stared at her, surprised. He hadn’t expected such a request. For a young woman to express such desires… it took courage.
Perhaps she had been preparing for this ever since he had summoned her to his room. She smelled of soap, her hair was neatly brushed, and she had even changed into a more alluring outfit.
She had been expecting something and he had disappointed her. He truly was a terrible person.
He didn’t respond. The silence made her tremble. She knew he wasn’t cruel, but she couldn’t help but worry that he would think she was shameless, indecent.
Her fingers, twisting the hem of her maid uniform, were clammy with sweat.
He felt a surge of tenderness, reaching out to caress her cheek.
“When…”
He was about to agree, but then he hesitated.
Wasn’t this… tempting fate?
What was the difference between this and “When you return, we’ll get married”?
He stopped himself, taking a deep breath. She had been brave. He had to respond.
He pulled her close, his arm encircling her waist, pulling her against him. She gasped, startled by his sudden movement. She felt his breath against her cheek, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Master, what… what are you…”
“Silly girl, I told you. You’re mine.”
He didn’t give her time to react, his lips capturing hers in a tender kiss.
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