Chapter 97: Outburst
“Ah… Miss… waaaah…”
The little fox girl was terrified, biting the tip of her tail, her eyes fixated on Lena.
“This is Ling Ling, my new maid,” Lena said, feeling a pang of sympathy. “Mom, don’t bully her.”
“Oh, what kind of maid?”
“What do you mean ‘what kind’? A maid is a maid.”
“Is she for…”
“Mom, if you say that word, I believe your daughter will be very unhappy.”
Lena’s eyes flashed a warning.
Juliana dropped her playful tone, shrugging and resuming her motherly smile. “Fine… but you really should consider my suggestion. Getting married early isn’t a bad thing, it brings many new experiences.”
Lena thought: Please don’t start with the innuendos…
…
“I’m serious.” Juliana stroked the little fox girl’s head. “Being too famous isn’t a good thing, just like your father, what did he gain…?”
Nothing but fame and achievements, a body riddled with injuries, and a broken heart.
Adelaide’s retirement after the war was due to his weariness of battle, his desire to focus on healing and starting a family… This had been Juliana’s suggestion when they were still engaged.
“You’re very much like your father, when you’re angry, and in the way you do things.”
“But people say I didn’t inherit any of his good genes.”
Lena chuckled, pulling Ling Ling into her arms, holding her tightly.
“Who said that? Who dares say that!” Juliana feigned anger, then her expression softened. “I don’t care what others say, my daughter is the best in my eyes, no one can compare. If anyone dares say otherwise, I’ll have your father give them a taste of his axe.”
“…Mom.”
Lena was touched, almost tearing up.
A tug on her sleeve, and the little fox girl in her arms looked up with wide, innocent eyes, confused. “Is Miss getting married?”
“Yes, mother’s orders are absolute.”
“To whom?”
Ling Ling didn’t fully understand the concept of marriage, but she knew that wherever Lena went, she would follow. Miss wouldn’t leave her.
Indeed, Lena tightened her grip, her mind made up. “Ask Angel yourself, sweetie~”
“Oh.”
The little fox girl nodded, running over to the silent, pink-haired girl, bending down to look at her downcast face.
Angel had been thinking for a long time, her mind in a daze, but a faint light guided her, and she didn’t know whether to follow it.
Marriage?
It seemed so distant…
Marrying Lena, even if it was just in name, would inevitably have consequences.
Her idol image would be ruined, the gossip in the academy, and living together after marriage, not to mention Lena’s promiscuous nature.
There were too many things to consider, the pressure overwhelming.
It was more exhausting than practicing singing and dancing until her throat was hoarse and her feet sore…
“Sister Angel.”
“It’s Ling Ling…”
Angel forced a smile. “What’s wrong?”
“Miss is marrying you, Sister Angel!” The little fox girl jumped up and down, like a child who had solved a riddle. “That’s great, Ling Ling knew Miss wouldn’t change her mind! Sister Angel is the perfect choice!”
Angel and Ling Ling had spent the most time together, Mines still a newcomer. Ling Ling’s instincts told her that Mines was dangerous, like a hidden needle in cotton, a red mist she couldn’t see through.
So, knowing that Angel was the chosen one, Ling Ling was overjoyed.
But Angel showed no sign of happiness, only sighing and worrying, her gaze fixed on the portraits of past Falmouth family heads on the wall.
“Sister Angel, don’t you want to marry Miss?”
Ling Ling looked around; everyone was keeping their distance. She sat beside Angel, gently touching her head.
“Ling Ling, you’re too young…”
“Ling Ling isn’t young, Ling Ling understands many things.”
“…Then tell me, Ling Ling, what is marriage? What does it bring? Can two people who don’t love each other truly be happy? If you can answer these questions, I’ll agree!” Angel’s emotions erupted; she didn’t mean to yell at Ling Ling, but under constant pressure, she couldn’t always maintain her composure.
She was a person, not an object, and her patience had its limits.
“Tell me!” Angel’s eyes were red-rimmed, her lips bitten raw.
“Ling Ling…”
Ling Ling froze, her hand still hovering above Angel’s head. She didn’t dare touch her, her usual comforting gesture seemingly useless, her mind blank.
“Ling Ling said something wrong, Sister Angel, please don’t be angry…”
“Explain yourself, or stay out of this. You know nothing and yet you pretend to understand, who do you think you are?!”
“Waaah…”
The little fox girl ran away crying.
After her outburst, Angel was filled with regret and disappointment. She felt terrible for yelling at a little fox girl who could barely read, who had only meant well, using her as an emotional punching bag.
They were friends!
Ling Ling must hate her now…
Angel covered her face, regretting her words, her outburst so thoughtless. She was such an idiot.
“Sister Angel…”
“Ling Ling.”
Angel looked up, and the tearful little fox girl offered her a handkerchief.
Angel was stunned, tears streaming down her face, disappearing into her collar.
“Wipe your tears… Miss said crying is something only the weak do. Miss never cries, and she doesn’t want to see her future wife crying alone. Ling Ling believes Miss must have thought this through before agreeing to Madam’s request, so wipe your tears and pat Ling Ling’s head like you always do…”
“I’m sorry,” Angel apologized, taking the handkerchief.
“It’s okay…”
Ling Ling’s teary eyes sparkled like stars in the night.
The little fox girl was crying, her tears falling silently, as if she had lived through a lifetime in a single moment, the flickering lights creating a shimmering effect, like the aurora borealis, beautiful yet melancholic.
“Crying is a child’s privilege, only Ling Ling can cry, but if Sister Angel really wants to cry, Ling Ling doesn’t mind lending you this privilege… Ling Ling isn’t good at comforting people, but Ling Ling wants Sister Angel and Miss to be happy. If even choosing happiness is a luxury, then what’s the point?”
