There’s No Way My Maid Is a Villain

Aili

Dark clouds drifted across the sky, casting a gloomy hue over everyone's hearts.

Soon after, raindrops began to fall, and the pedestrians on the road quickened their pace one after another.

Aili was walking on her way back home, thinking about how to get Louguan Xiya to ingest this packet of poison, and how to do so without her miss finding out.

"Only this, only the princess—I will never let go. The princess doesn't need any magic; having me protect her is enough. The princess doesn't need any friends; having me at her side is enough. No matter what, it's clear that relying on me is enough. The princess is my everything. Louguan Xiya—she absolutely cannot be allowed to exist, she must not take away my reason to live."

Aili's words were filled with obsession, and her gaze overflowed with possessive desire.

At some point, a Snowsoft Flower had appeared in her hand, covered in various magical seals—its pure white appearance like an angel in bondage.

When she returned home, she found the atmosphere extremely oppressive. The maids kept their heads down, quietly doing their work without a word.

Aili went into the living room and placed the groceries on the table. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Lili stepped forward and said, "Head maid, the young miss asked you to go to your room after you return. She is waiting for you there."

"Miss wants me to go to my own room? Is something the matter?"

Aili frowned. Because of Yinhua's trust, she managed everything in the household, and she did it well.

Only Aili would go to Yinhua's room to wake her up, but Yinhua rarely asked for Aili or entered her room.

"I don't know," the maid replied.

"I see. I understand. I'll head over right away,"

Aili said, climbing the stairs.

She stood in front of her own door and knocked. "miss, are you inside?"

"Come in,"

Yinhua's voice came from the room. Then Aili pushed the door open and went in, closing it behind her.

"You called for me—is there something you need?"

Aili asked politely, bowing.

"You know, Aili, you really like Snowsoft Flowers, don't you? Not just in the garden or on the window in your room; they're everywhere."

Yinhua didn't look directly at Aili but gazed out the window.

"Yes. Seeing them always puts me at ease."

Although she didn't know why Yinhua was sidestepping her question, Aili still answered politely.

"Is that so? You like flowers, do you? Well, that's not surprising, but to always carry one with you—that seems a bit much,"

Yinhua's tone grew cold.

"I don't see anything wrong with keeping something I love close to me."

Up until now, Aili had no idea what affected Yinhua's mood. She had absolute confidence in her disguise and wasn't worried her miss would discover her.

Wait. How did miss know she always carried a flower with her?

"Last night, Xiya was attacked in an abandoned building near the school. If I hadn't arrived in time, we might never have seen Xiya again. The enemy was strong—able to use both lightning and fire magic. For some reason, after I arrived, they had no intention of continuing the fight,"

Yinhua continued.

When Yinhua said this, Aili's heart was filled with disbelief.

"When they left, I smelled a familiar scent on the wind. Only just now did I realize it was the scent of a Snowsoft Flower."

Yinhua turned to meet Aili's gaze.

"Then I asked the maids where you went yesterday afternoon, and when you returned."

Yinhua slowly walked towards Aili.

At that moment, Aili knew her miss already suspected her.

"Of course, they all told me, 'The head maid was at home all day yesterday.'"

Aili clenched her hands tightly.

"But, having grown up in the royal family, I learned long ago how to tell when someone is lying."

Yinhua watched the look on Aili's face closely and continued:
"Of course, just these points aren't enough to conclusively prove that it was you. I'm not that intelligent, and I can't find any more evidence."

Yinhua stopped in front of Aili.

"Aili, do you remember what you once told me?"

"I remember."

"Can you repeat it once more?"

Aili bit her lip, and with a soft voice, said:
"I am willing to offer this body, this soul, completely to you. I will follow your every command. I will eliminate anyone who poses a threat to you. Until this heart stops beating, I will shield you from every attack with my body. Until this soul dissipates, I will live in this world for you."

"So you remember—good. Actually, back when we were in the palace, you already saved me many times. In fact, I'm only able to stand here because of you. You owe me nothing now. So I ask you, does this oath still hold?"

"Of course!"

Aili replied resolutely.

"Then tell me, was the person last night you? This is an order—I do not permit you to lie. Whatever you say, I will believe you. If you say it wasn't, then I will apologize for everything I've said today."

"It was me. That's correct."

Without any hesitation, Aili answered.

"Why?"

"........."

"Answer me! Why?"

Yinhua grabbed Aili's collar.

Holding onto a shred of hope, she now received an even more despairing answer.

"........."

Aili kept her silence.

"I see. You cannot answer."

Yinhua released her hold.

"So, what do you intend to do next?"

"I've already bought enough poison to be fatal. Next time Miss Xiya comes over, I'll mix it in her tea, and that will be that."

As she spoke, Aili produced the poison.

Yinhua snatched up the poison.

"Where did you get this?"

"Ghoul Street."

"You actually went to a place like that? You really did put in a lot of effort."

Yinhua ground her teeth as she spoke, mixing the poison into a glass of water.

"Drink it."

She placed the poisoned tea in front of Aili.

"........"

With a thunderous crash, rain poured down outside.

"What's wrong? Didn't you say you would follow my every command? I'm ordering you now—drink it!"

"Yes."

Aili accepted the teacup, brought it to her lips, and was about to drink it all.

"Enough! That's enough!"

Yinhua slapped the cup from Aili's hands, then hugged Aili and wept. "Why? Why are you always like this, never cherishing your own life? From nobles to prisoners, you've already killed so many for me, and now you want to kill even yourself? Can't you value your own life a little?"

"You are my life,"

Aili replied in a gentle voice.

"There you go again, saying things like that,"

Yinhua said as she wiped away her tears.

"Do you forgive me?"

Aili asked.

"............"

"............"

The two of them fell into silence.

"Swear to me that you'll never cause trouble for Xiya again. If not, then leave this place,"

Yinhua uttered a threat that struck at Aili's very core.

"I swear to you, I will never trouble Miss Xiya again."

Unknowingly, the moon had risen high above, heralding the arrival of night.

"That's good. I'm returning to my room now—don't forget what you said."

With that, Yinhua, as if exhausted, went into her room.

Aili then gazed up at the ceiling.

"That really was a serious blunder."

She went downstairs, ready to sort out tomorrow's work, but found the table full of food.

"Miss asked us to prepare this meal for you. Please rest assured, she's already eaten."

Lili said.

Judging from these dishes, Yinhua still cared deeply for Aili—even if she was very angry about the matter with Xiya.

"You really are so gentle."

At some point, the clouds overhead had already cleared away, leaving behind clear air and a street shimmering with puddles, a splendid rainbow stretching between the white clouds.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
What caused Aili to be so loyal to Yinhua?
【「(°ヘ°)?】