East Street was even livelier than usual that day, with people bustling about and vendors endlessly setting up their stalls.
As Xiliya admired the street scenes, she couldn’t help but sigh. She remembered that in her previous life, when the Empire went to war with the Northern Border Beastmen, Camberlan City—as a border city—had quickly fallen into ruin. Although she had never returned to Camberlan City after that, this bustling and peaceful city probably no longer existed.
The trio had barely walked two steps when they spotted an unexpected person. Charles stood at the entrance of his family’s shop with his hands on his hips, directing the clerks to move goods.
“Hurry up, you’re so clumsy even at moving things. Once these are done, there’s another batch to ship out of the city.”
The young master of the chamber was as arrogant as ever. When he saw the three approaching, Charles’s expression clearly changed, and he snorted before ducking into the shop.
Xiliya ignored him. Charles was just that kind of fool, wearing his emotions on his sleeve. Luo Keke, overhearing his words, sighed.
“Sigh, I always feel like other chambers have it easier shipping goods. Yesterday, Dad had a batch held up by the City Guard, saying it was overloaded…”
Xiliya frowned. Masha had gone too far. While she wouldn’t meddle in the City Guard’s minor day-to-day affairs as their overseer, now that the position was hers, was Masha still tripping them up through the Guard?
Xiliya knew the Black Currant Chamber had sent Masha plenty of wine to curry favor—she loved tasting fine liquors, and they were the best brewers in the city.
Even so, Masha’s hostility toward the Black Currant Chamber was obvious. Was it because Luo Keke was close to her?
In her previous life, when Xiliya had been relentlessly bullied, only Luo Keke had spoken up for her. Naturally, such misplaced loyalty drew Masha’s ire.
“Overloaded? Tomorrow, I’ll go to the City Guard and ask exactly what’s wrong with the Black Currant Chamber’s shipments.”
Xiliya sneered. The City Guard let the big chambers smuggle goods through, so why block the Black Currant Chamber’s legitimate transport?
At that moment, Ximo—who trailed a short distance behind—suddenly looked troubled and muttered a quiet curse.
“Damn it, you call this a simple task?”
The System’s plot task this time was for her to follow the original storyline and spend the day out with Luo Keke. The first step was to vent to her.
“Facing the empathetic Luo Keke, even the reclusive Sickly Young Lady couldn’t help pouring out her troubles and received heartfelt comfort.”
“What’s so hard about that? With how Masha and Charles have been bullying you lately, just tell her your grievances. Luo Keke is so kind; she’ll comfort you for sure.”
Ximo gritted her teeth. She’d thought spending a day out would complete the task—she’d overestimated this idiot System.
But to finish it, Ximo braced herself and squeezed into the conversation. Luo Keke was just complaining about how busy the chamber had been lately, so she chimed in smoothly.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve been really busy lately too. Work is so tiring…”
Never mind that she’d nearly demolished Masha and Charles with her barbs these past couple days—she couldn’t follow the original plot and vent as the young lady. Besides, she was just a little maid now, so she had to complain from a maid’s perspective.
It reminded her of a joke she’d seen: the quickest way for coworkers to bond was to huddle up and badmouth the boss behind their back.
“Oh… yeah,” Luo Keke blinked. “Didn’t the Camberlan Family dismiss a batch of servants earlier? The maids must have more work now. That sounds tough.”
Luo Keke really was kind. Ximo had just relaxed when a friendly voice came from beside her.
“So tiring, huh, Ximo? Why don’t you tell me specifics? I’ll bring it up with your young lady.”
This little maid was getting bolder, daring to throw shade at her to her face?
No wonder Luo Keke had hesitated earlier. Badmouthing the boss built rapport, but Ximo was Xiliya’s personal maid, right? No subordinate badmouthed their boss right in front of them.
“Haha… I was just going with the vibe…” Ximo broke into a sweat. “The young lady treats me great. She even dragged me to sleep with her last night.”
A vein throbbed on Xiliya’s forehead. This little maid definitely needed another lesson.
“Yeah, you two do seem really close.” Luo Keke smiled warmly. For Ximo to joke like that in front of Xiliya proved her young lady was approachable and got along well with her maids, right?
Then Ximo behaved herself and said no more. But while shopping, she went on a buying spree, her hands soon laden with bags.
“Don’t buy too much—you’ll strain yourself carrying them. Let me take a couple.”
Xiliya reminded her kindly. She remembered Ximo had the same congenital illness as her; carrying weight while walking wasn’t good for her body.
“No need, no need—don’t trouble yourself, Miss,” Ximo quickly changed the subject. “Look, candied hawthorns up ahead! Want some?”
“I’m fine with whatever.”
“Great! I’ll have strawberry ones~”
Ximo watched both Luo Keke and Xiliya pick strawberry ones, then deliberately ordered hawthorn ones herself, continuing to trail sneakily behind them.
Xiliya frowned. She felt Ximo was acting strangely today, but couldn’t pinpoint why. Soon enough, she figured it out.
After walking a hundred meters or so, Ximo casually turned to Luo Keke. “Luo Keke, are strawberry candied hawthorns tasty?”
“Try mine? I’ll try the hawthorn flavor too. Here—”
Such a normal swap made Luo Keke think nothing of it, and she handed over her skewer. But Ximo glanced at her full hands and spoke awkwardly.
“Um, my hands are full… How about you feed me a bite?”
Oh—
Xiliya narrowed her eyes. So that’s what this little maid had been waiting for.
Meanwhile, Ximo smugly congratulated herself inwardly on her little scheme.
The System had said the next plot phase was Luo Keke cheering up Xiliya by treating her to food and feeding her intimately.
Ximo knew asking Luo Keke outright to “feed me” wouldn’t fly, so she’d devised this.
Plan successful!
But at the critical moment of success, Xiliya suddenly intervened, holding out her own skewer to Ximo.
“Here, mine’s strawberry too. Eat this one.”
