“You…”
Masha’s eyes widened in shock. Samuer’s words had bluntly conveyed one meaning to her—the Northern Beastmen intended to make a move against the human Empire.
Of course, she knew that cooperating with the Northern Beastmen carried risks, but she hadn’t expected Samuer’s ambitions to be… so vast!
She could accept a smuggling partnership, but if Samuer harbored such intentions, then she, who associated with him, would be guilty of treason!
The rain outside the window grew heavier, mirroring the turbulent undercurrents in Camberlan City.
“In any case, I’ll find a way to arrange everything. All you need to do is cooperate with my actions…”
Xiliya pressed her ear hard against the wall. This rain had come at the worst possible time—the downpour was so loud that she could barely make out what they were saying inside.
Just as Xiliya focused intently, the study door suddenly “bang”ed open from within. Without hesitation, Xiliya darted behind the curtains at the end of the corridor.
That was close!
The pattering rain had completely masked any footsteps from the study. Or rather, they had been chatting normally one second, and the door flew open the next—how?
A robust man about 1.8 meters tall emerged from the study. His facial lines were stern, and he wore a somewhat dirty beastskin cloak.
He had deliberately kept up the conversation to lower the guard of any potential eavesdroppers outside… Xiliya held her breath. Samuer’s instincts were terrifyingly sharp; she hadn’t shown the slightest flaw.
“I think you’re overthinking it, Samuer.”
“It’s just intuition. Checking a bit more doesn’t hurt. I still feel like there might be someone.”
The robust man’s voice was Samuer’s. It seemed that beastskin cloak was some kind of magitool that helped Samuer disguise his appearance.
Compared to Ximo’s, though, this magitool was rather rudimentary—at least, it hadn’t altered the thick, distinctive voice of a beastman.
Samuer advanced step by step toward the end of the corridor, his eyes unnaturally glowing in the darkness. Xiliya’s heart raced; she was hiding right behind those curtains at the corridor’s end!
The study was the deepest room in Camberlan Mansion, meaning the only way to slip away downstairs was now blocked by Samuer. Her only hiding spot was behind that curtain. If he kept approaching, exposure was inevitable!
Xiliya was confident she could escape—she could leap straight out the window at the corridor’s end and leave the mansion behind. Samuer wouldn’t catch up. But he was staring fixedly in this direction; any movement from behind the curtain, and he’d spot it for sure.
If she fled like that, it would expose the fact that someone had been eavesdropping to these two.
Damn… If this beastman insisted on coming over to check the curtain, she’d have no choice but to jump out the window!
Xiliya prepared herself to act at any moment. Samuer drew closer and closer; he even reached out to lift the only piece of fabric in the corridor that could hide a person—
“Mommy?”
At that moment, a hesitant call interrupted Samuer’s action. He whipped his head around, glaring coldly toward the source of the voice.
Sleepy-eyed and clutching a little bear, Malisi jumped in fright, her mouth twisting as if she were about to cry.
Masha rushed out of the study immediately. She scooped up Malisi and shielded her view with her body. “It’s okay, Malisi. Mommy was just talking business with a friend. Why did you come out?”
“It’s raining outside… I was scared… so I came to find you…”
Malisi’s voice hitched. She’d probably woken up terrified by the thunder and found Mommy gone—quite frightening for a child.
Masha clearly couldn’t bear to harm Malisi. She’d only drugged the milk meant for Xiliya. She probably hadn’t anticipated the sudden rain tonight either.
Samuer withdrew his gaze and yanked open the curtain—nothing behind it, just the open window letting cold wind and rain pour into the corridor.
“It looks like Madam Masha still needs to soothe the child. I won’t disturb you further.”
Samuer brushed past Masha, who expressionlessly covered Malisi’s eyes.
“Anyway, we’ve discussed everything that needs discussing. Remember what I said. Good night, Madam Masha.”
Samuer’s footsteps faded into the distance. Masha picked up Malisi and gently patted her back.
“It’s okay now. Let’s go back to bed…”
…
Xiliya took a long detour, ensuring no one spotted her, before returning to the mansion.
By the time she reached her room, Ximo was still sleeping soundly on the bed. The torrential rain outside hadn’t disturbed her at all; Masha’s drug was quite potent.
Xiliya let out a long breath and went to the bedside to touch Ximo’s cheek. “Masha won’t come anymore. You can go back now.”
After waiting a moment, Xiliya patted Ximo again before realizing the drug had knocked her out cold; calling wouldn’t wake her.
Xiliya hadn’t considered this problem. She couldn’t wake the sleeping Ximo, and carrying her back to her own room would be troublesome if discovered—hard to explain.
It seemed there was only one option…
Xiliya glanced at her bed; it was plenty big enough for two. But in all her years, she’d never shared a bed with a peer, let alone with Ximo, who was currently disguised as her.
Sharing a bed with someone who looked exactly like herself felt strangely wondrous.
Thunder crashed outside again, but Ximo didn’t even stir, her breathing steady. Xiliya thought no more of it. She undressed, climbed into bed, nudged Ximo aside a bit, and lay down at a distance from her.
It was almost funny. Not long ago, on another night, in this very room with the two of them, Ximo had been nothing but a little assassin in Xiliya’s eyes, trying to kill her.
And so, the room filled with two sets of steady breathing. After ten minutes, in the dark room, one figure suddenly sat bolt upright on the bed.
This was just normal scientific curiosity—Xiliya assured herself in her heart.
She rolled over to sit beside Ximo, scrutinizing that face identical to her own. Her hand trailed slowly down from Ximo’s cheek…
Xiliya had seen Ximo’s size with her own eyes. A couple of days ago, when Ximo had changed into the cat-ear maid outfit, she’d gotten a good look—perfectly rounded, not too big or small. Now, Ximo’s chest showed only a slight rise and fall.
…Well, she just wanted to inspect whether Ximo’s disguise had any flaws at all. Not just the exposed parts—the inside needed checking too, right?
That way, she could ensure no one would spot any issues when Ximo impersonated her.
Xiliya wouldn’t admit that Ximo lying there so quietly and obediently, like a doll, made her possessiveness swell uncontrollably.
And with the drug in her system now, no matter what Xiliya did to Ximo, she wouldn’t wake…
