Across the room, Delya’s eyes lit up the mont she spotted Liana’s new box of chocolates. She sprang to her feet, still clutching her own half-empty box.
"Nee~! Is that husband’s chocolate too? Can I join?" Delya’s voice was full of hope.
Liana smiled, her gaze warm as she looked at Delya. "Of course... umm... fourth wife?" she said, glancing at Gloria for confirmation.
Gloria nodded once, calm as ever, the faintest hint of a teasing grin on her face.
"Ehhhh!?" Mimi’s cry echoed through the room, her whole body tensing in disbelief.
"Nooo! I even knew Javier before her! How can she be fourth!? That’s not fair!" She stomped her foot, tail flicking in protest.
Liana’s smile deepened, feeling a sense of calm settle over the whole room. For now, at least, there was a peaceful harmony among all of them, a little glimpse of the family they would one day beco.
They all sat together on the balcony, the afternoon sun painting everything in a warm, gentle light. Tea and chocolate made the perfect excuse for a rare mont of peace.
Liana sat with them, quietly enjoying the breeze. Felicia turned to her, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"From what I’ve heard, you and Gloria are Queen Mylezra’s nieces, right? That would make you both elven nobles. Why did you choose to beco maids?"
Mimi, who was stuffing her mouth with chocolate, stopped mid-bite. Delya, more composed but just as intrigued, looked up at Liana as well.
"They’re both nobles?" Mimi asked, blinking.
Felicia clicked her tongue softly. "This is exactly why you need to learn to behave like proper royalty, Mimi. Now sit up straight and act like a lady."
"Mou! Strict onee-sama..." Mimi pouted.
Liana turned her eyes up to the sky, her voice growing soft and a little distant.
"You all know how elves like tend to have a lot of siblings. Back then, I ran away from ho because... well, my father tried to arrange a marriage for . I was only fourteen at the ti." She smiled.
"It’s normal for our kind to marry young, but I... slipped away before it could happen. I worked in the elven town for a while, trying to earn so money on my own."
She glanced at the others, her smile gentle.
"One day, rchants passing through ntioned the Armand region. They said it was different from anywhere else, the people were treated well, the salary was better than anywhere in the Human Kingdom, maybe anywhere in the world. I got curious... so I joined the rchant’s caravan and worked with them until we reached Armand."
Her eyes softened, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"When I first arrived at the border, I found work easily. The people here were kind, the atmosphere was so much better than what I was used to."
"So... how did you end up as a maid?" Felicia pressed gently.
Liana laughed, a little embarrassed.
"After a few months living and working in one of the border towns, I heard the lord of Armand was recruiting new maids for the estate. So... I registered. I just wanted to see what it was like inside everyone spoke so highly of."
Felicia turned her gaze toward Gloria. "And you, Gloria? How did you end up as a maid?"
Gloria tilted her head slightly, that familiar calm smile on her face.
"Ara~ ? Well, my father is an elf, and my mother is human. All my siblings inherited our father’s elven features and magic affinity. But ?" She gave a soft laugh.
"Let’s just say I took more after my mother’s side. I’m half-elf, but I look fully human."
She set her teacup down gently.
"Unlike Liana, I wasn’t forced into any arranged marriage. My parents... well, they’re just a little too in love. Always together, always affectionate, like a couple who can’t bear to be apart."
A faint blush crossed her cheeks at the mory.
"After a while, I thought maybe I should give them so space, let them have more ti for themselves."
"So, I asked their permission to live on my own for a while, to earn my own way. Father ntioned the Armand Region, he said it was a safe, fair place where effort is rewarded. I left ho and ended up working in a small bakery in Gaze Town. That’s where Mrs. Erinnette found and recruited ."
"Oh..." Felicia murmured softly, her expression thoughtful.
Liana smiled faintly and added, "But here in Armand... maids aren’t trained only to clean and serve."
Felicia looked at her curiously. "Hmm? What do you an?"
Liana and Gloria exchanged a knowing glance. "Maids here are trained in much more than household work," Gloria explained. "Combat, defense, magic, etiquette, and discipline. We learn to protect, not just serve."
Liana nodded, then pointed toward Mimi and Delya. "These two already trained personally under Mrs. Erinnette as well."
Mimi and Delya froze, their expressions instantly changing.
"Nope!" Mimi said quickly, shaking her head hard. "Not again! That training is too hard! No way!"
"Mm... I don’t think I want to experience that again either," Delya added, hugging her chocolate box tightly like a shield.
Gloria giggled behind her hand, and even Felicia’s lips twitched in amusent. Liana simply smiled, sipping her tea as the warm laughter carried into the gentle afternoon air.
Felicia tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "So you both... don’t ever think about going back ho?"
Liana and Gloria exchanged a glance, then smiled softly.
"We already did," Liana said with a light laugh. "Last ti, actually. Her brother and my sister got married to each other, you know~" She gestured toward Gloria with a playful grin.
"S-seriously!?" Felicia’s eyes widened.
Gloria chuckled softly. "Yes~ And the best part was... our young master thought we’d both quit working at Armand. He didn’t know we only went back ho to attend the wedding."
Liana giggled. "Mhm~ He actually thought we were getting married to soone else. So, he and his Pekko, Buddy, rushed toward the Elven Kingdom without sleeping for days."
Felicia’s expression softened, her tone dropping to a quiet sigh. "Ara~ what a sweet mont and mory."
"Yes~" Liana replied, her smile lingering, until both she and Gloria suddenly grew serious.
"The problem is," Liana began, swirling her tea slowly, "everywhere he goes, he attracts young won."
Gloria nodded, voice calm but pointed. "Yes~ we couldn’t let him stray, could we?"
Felicia blinked, swallowing hard. "Our... our future husband is that attractive?"
Liana tilted her head, her smile turning faintly teasing. "Hmm? You’re asking that like you aren’t attracted to him yourself?"
( End Of Chapter )
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