Xiliya’s gaze swept around the kitchen, quickly noticing Ximo sitting on the chair.
“Let’s go.”
She crooked her finger at Ximo, as if summoning a pet, intending to take her away.
“Young Lady, what do you need Ximo for?”
“To find a personal maid. I think Ximo would be perfect.”
“This…” Annaer’s face showed a troubled expression. “If the Young Lady needs a personal maid, how about I arrange a different one for you?”
“What do you mean?”
Xiliya’s expression darkened slightly. Annaer had worked in their household for many years, and she remembered that this head maid was one of the few people in the mansion who truly cared about her. Xiliya hadn’t expected Annaer to obstruct her on something like this.
“I don’t mean to overstep, Young Lady,” Annaer said, lowering her head slightly. “It’s just that Ximo seems to be ill. I don’t think she’s fit to take care of the Young Lady right now.”
“The Young Lady’s own health also needs looking after…”
At this point, Annaer suddenly realized that Ximo’s symptoms were identical to those Xiliya had when she fell ill earlier. Regardless, Ximo definitely wasn’t in any shape to work as a personal maid right now.
“A problem with her health?” Xiliya’s gaze slid past Annaer, coldly fixing on Ximo, who was shielded behind her, and the bloodstained handkerchief on the table.
Sick and coughing up blood?
Last night, when Xiliya had knocked Ximo out to put the necklace on her, she’d checked her body. She’d been fine then. So why was she suddenly coughing up blood today?
And right after Xiliya had released her from the basement… Xiliya realized something and let out a cold laugh at Ximo.
She’d clearly warned her not to try any tricks.
Xiliya knew Annaer was the soft-hearted type despite her sharp tongue—otherwise, she wouldn’t have cared for an ignored young lady like her in her previous life. Ximo must have figured out Annaer’s temperament and come up with this scheme to use her as a shield.
No wonder Ximo had agreed so quickly in the basement. She thought the Slave Seal hadn’t fully activated yet, leaving her some wiggle room… No, most importantly, she probably thought Xiliya was easy to bully.
It seemed Ximo still saw her as the pushover young lady from before, thinking these little tricks could help her escape.
“No need. I want Ximo.”
Xiliya’s attitude was firm. Even Masha couldn’t stop her, let alone Annaer. She strode forward, grabbed Ximo’s hand, and whispered in her ear.
“I told you, I have plenty of ways to kill you.”
Ximo stiffened in fright, not understanding the sudden threat.
“Young Lady, this…”
Annaer opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. She had no right to interfere with Xiliya’s decisions. Watching Xiliya’s departing back, she frowned with worry.
She had been a maid in the Camberlan Family since the time of the late Madam. She knew the Young Lady’s personality better than anyone. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but today’s Xiliya seemed somehow different.
The old Young Lady would never have been this assertive.
“Young Lady, your medicine for today…”
“You should go upstairs and check on Aunt Masha first, Annaer. She’s probably desperate for someone to help clean up her mess right now.”
Xiliya waved dismissively without looking back. Take medicine? Hah, she hadn’t needed that in ages.
Years of exile had toughened her up. She was no longer that sickly young lady. After reincarnating, discovering she hadn’t reverted to her frail former self had delighted Xiliya.
But if Ximo found out, she’d probably vent to the System again.
Xiliya herself is all better! Why the hell do you insist on making me the sickly one?!
Unfortunately, such complaints probably wouldn’t help. That machine-like System seemed convinced that Ximo was the Camberlan Family’s young lady.
Xiliya moved swiftly, dragging Ximo back to her room like a chick, then locked the door and set up a one-way soundproofing spell.
As she did all this, Xiliya spoke casually, “If a pet doesn’t behave, it needs proper discipline, don’t you think, Ximo?”
“What pet? Do you have a pet? A kitten or a puppy?”
Ximo forced a smile she thought was ingratiating, but to Xiliya, it looked utterly foolish.
Hah, she was good at playing dumb. But that was fine—the dumber Ximo acted, the more Xiliya wanted to make her cry later.
Xiliya realized she’d been too merciful. Just verbal warnings wouldn’t make someone like Ximo, who had infiltrated the mansion to kill her, submit so quickly.
Her years in exile had taught her one truth: the simplest way to make others obey was a strong fist.
“Kitten or puppy? No, no…” After finishing her preparations, Xiliya turned back and gently patted Ximo’s head. “You’re my pet now, aren’t you?”
“As a pet, the most important thing is obedience. So now…”
“—Take off your clothes.”
Xiliya’s voice turned icy in an instant, her gaze on Ximo carrying a dangerous edge.
“Huh?”
Ximo was startled, instinctively shrinking back as she recalled Xiliya locking the door.
“Aren’t you sick? Let me check your body.”
Ximo loved acting, didn’t she? Xiliya didn’t mind playing along.
“Hurry up. Don’t make me say it twice.” Seeing Ximo hesitate, Xiliya’s voice grew even colder. “Or do you want me to do it for you?”
“I-I’ll do it myself.”
Ximo pulled a long face and slowly began undressing. The black-and-white maid outfit fell to the floor, leaving her in only her undergarments and thin stockings on her legs.
Seeing Ximo’s timid and embarrassed expression, Xiliya felt a surge of pleasure. Was this the thrill of domination? She could somewhat understand those bossy types from her previous life now.
You call this a sickly young lady? Ximo desperately wanted to drag the System out and show it the girl smirking coldly before her. How was this demon anywhere near “sickly”?!
But soon, Ximo realized Xiliya’s demonic nature went far beyond that.
“Did I tell you to stop? Keep undressing.”
Xiliya stared at the last scraps of fabric on Ximo’s body and spoke coldly.
