Chapter 15
Chapter 15: Lori
Sivey didn’t know that inadvertently, Ye Hao became his “half-brother from the same father but different mother.”
But even if he knew, he would only laugh his head off. The brother of the Child of Destiny, wouldn’t it be prestigious to say it out loud?
…
In the evening, Sivey and Clement returned to Winterkeep, grimy and weary.
On the way back to Winterkeep, the two hungry Gryphons couldn’t fly because of hunger. Sivey had no choice but to stop and let the two idiots find food for themselves. After they were full, they set off again, delaying a lot of time.
When Sivey returned to Winterkeep, he first arranged for Gudbay to report to the guards with Clement. Then he instructed two knights, one to find the priest and the other to invite Mrs. Chris.
Inviting the priest was to treat the bruises on little Lori’s body, while Mrs. Chris was Sivey’s wet nurse. She was knowledgeable about the etiquette and work of maids, and also was absolutely loyal to the Golden Lion family. Such a person was just right to teach Lori.
After arranging everything, the empty lord’s hall was left with only Sivey and Lori.
Sivey looked at the girl who was shrinking not far away with confusion, not knowing how the atmosphere between them, which was somewhat harmonious, returned to its original state.
Lori lowered her head, standing awkwardly in front of the conference table, anxiously awaiting her fate.
From birth until now, she had spent most of her time wandering with her brother on the borderlands of the Cologne Empire. Today was her first time eating soft bread like clouds, the first time seeing the flying beasts with eagle heads and lion bodies, the first time flying so high, and also the first time seeing such a huge town and the magnificent Winterkeep.
All of this overturned her cognition. The man in front of her, who claimed to be the lord, used direct and rough methods to make her re-understand this world, and made her realize her ignorance and insignificance.
The inherent inferiority and weakness in her bones made her feel ashamed. The noble and luxurious decorations and furniture around her made her at a loss. She felt that she might dirty this expensive wool carpet with a single step.
“Lord… Lord, does Lori really just need to be your Personal Maid?”
The girl gazed down at her toes, murmuring quietly.
Sivey regarded her with a perplexed glance. After spending the entire afternoon on the Gryphon, why did she still harbor doubts? Nevertheless, he patiently repeated to the girl:
“Yes, roughly the job is to take care of my daily life. You don’t need to worry. I’m not like other nobles, there aren’t so many rules and regulations. As for the specific job content of being a Personal Maid, Mrs. Chris will teach you later.”
“Oh…”
Lori nodded hesitantly, though her confusion and disbelief remained evident.
She had heard of maids before, but wasn’t sure if being the lord’s Personal Maid was the same as what she had imagined.
In the lower ranks of society, being a maid was a frequent occupation for young women. Nearly two-thirds of them chose to become maids, as it provided an opportunity to learn skills and earn money. Sometimes, they were even rewarded with gifts from their masters.
However, this did not imply that the job was desirable. The quality of a maid’s life typically hinged on the attitudes of the master and his family.
Despite theoretically being part of the household, maids often faced scolding and abuse. They could even be treated as tools for the master, his sons, and the servants to vent their frustrations and desires.
If it weren’t for the fact that she couldn’t go on anymore, which girl would want to gamble with her own fate?
But Lori had no choice. She was already alone, with no relatives.
After her brother’s death, the farmers, who had lost some of their income, were no longer willing to support her kindly.
If it weren’t for the lord, she might have already died in that alley. Even if she survived by chance, she would end up like other demi humans, starving to death on the streets, or being captured as a slave and sold repeatedly, ultimately tortured to death.
In the presence of the lord, she felt a warmth she hadn’t known in a long time.
“Lori understands… Lori will strive to excel as the Personal Maid.”
Feeling Sivey’s gentle gaze, Lori summoned courage, though her voice faltered.
“That’s commendable of you,” Sivey responded, smiling faintly at the girl’s words.
He gazed at the girl’s ragged clothes and grimy face, feeling a pang of sympathy.
Truthfully, the girl couldn’t recall the last time she had bathed. Her hair was tangled, and there was a faint odor clinging to her body. It hadn’t been noticeable while they were riding the Gryphon and feeling the wind, but now, in the confines of the room, it was much more apparent.
Commoners in this world generally didn’t like to bathe, and some nobles in remote territories were the same. They actually believed that bathing would wash away the blessings of the gods. Some people even went their whole lives without bathing.
Anyway, Sivey couldn’t accept this kind of ignorance. He might not be able to control so many of his subjects, but in his castle, anyone who didn’t bathe would be stripped naked and hung at the gate of Winterfell for the whole day.
With a gentle inquiry, Sivey said to Lori:
“Mrs. Chris will be here shortly. It’s been a while since you’ve had a bath. Go freshen up and change into clean clothes.”
Lori grasped the implication in Sivey’s words, sniffled softly, her petite frame trembling slightly. A blush tinted her cheeks, and her fluffy ears twitched atop her head.
Her large tail behind her swayed uneasily, revealing the girl’s restless heart.
Sivey couldn’t help but smile at the various adorable expressions on the girl’s face. He mischievously mused that if he placed a pot of water on her head, it might boil instantly.
Seeing Lori’s surprised expression, Sivey gently took her hand.
“Winterkeep is quite large. You might have trouble finding the bathing area on your own. Allow me to show you the way.”
…
In Winterkeep’s opulent bathroom, Lori’s cheeks glowed with warmth amidst the steam, reclining in a bathtub adorned with scattered rose petals.
She felt weightless, as though she could soar through the air. It had been ages since Lori had enjoyed a bath, let alone in such a luxurious setting with fragrant rose-infused hot water.
At times, it felt surreal, almost like a dream. It wasn’t that Lori didn’t appreciate cleanliness; as a girl, she took great pride in her personal hygiene.
But since her parents died, Lori had been relying on her brother for survival. How could they have had the chance to bathe while wandering around? The borderlands of the Cologne Empire were barren, and the lakes were in dangerous forests. Lori didn’t dare to approach them.
Bathing in the homes of farmers was out of the question. The old woman herself was a devout believer who strongly resisted bathing. Besides, clean water was expensive. Even commoners struggled to eat, let alone afford to pay attention to their hygiene.
As she thought about it, tears welled up in the girl’s eyes, streaming down her cheeks.
If only Mom, Dad, and her brother were still here. Then they might have tasted the soft bread like clouds too.
The girl always felt undeserving of the lord’s kindness towards her. She believed herself to be nothing more than a humble demi-human. Pessimistically, she wondered if there was a hidden cost behind it all.
And whether her role as a Personal Maid was genuine or not, even if the lord commanded her demise, Lori wouldn’t utter a single complaint.
Lori rose from the bathtub, her cheeks flushed from the steam, and dried herself off with a towel. She then tiptoed to a nearby shelf and selected an outfit.
It was a set of oversized black men’s pajamas, almost large enough to be used as a blanket. Were these the lord’s clothes?
Blushing deeply, memories of being held by Sivey involuntarily flashed through Lori’s mind. Her body squirmed with discomfort, but as if drawn by a spell, she slowly pressed her face against the clothes, sniffled softly, and took a deep breath, as if trying to capture the lingering scent of him.
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