…
In the room, Lalatina and Luna, clothes askew, springlike beauty bared, beamed with glee. Both were pinning Liora to the bed.
Liora, beneath, fought back, tugging clothes, struggling, refusing to lose.
After a while, exhausted, Liora lay still, defeated. Sobbing, she pleaded.
"I was wrong, Sisters, spare me… I can't take it… Stop…"
"I didn't badmouth you to the Manor Lord. Those words were just anger talking…"
Lalatina, seeing Liora's feigned pitiful look, remained unmoved, eyes lofty, like a ruler over life and death.
"Princess Liora, acting won't help."
Luna, mirroring her.
"We worried for you, not knowing why the Manor Lord kept you so late.
Yet you repay kindness with slander, speaking ill of us to him."
Lalatina pressed.
"Quick, who am I, maybe her?"
Liora, startled, like a cat with its tail stepped on, stole a glance at her. Clothes disheveled, springlike beauty bared, that solemn air—truly alluring. Suddenly thought, If Brother Manor Lord saw this, would he reward me? This Sister Lalatina might be her. Better not offend her.
"Sister, I can't say. The Manor Lord forbade it. If you want to know, ask him directly."
Lalatina's heart raced inexplicably. What? I'm maybe someone? And he said so? Liora's wary glance… Could it be…
Luna, stunned, blurted.
"Liora, you mean Sister Lalatina might be the Kongming from the Manor Lord's story?"
Liora, panicking, protested.
"Sister Luna, don't slander me! I never said that. You did… Why such baseless guesses?"
Lalatina's face flushed, a smile hovering.
"Liora, tell me everything you know, and I won't blame you."
Luna nodded.
"Yes, just spill it all, and we'll still cherish and pamper you."
Liora, expression blank.
"Sisters, you're misunderstanding something.
What do I know?
If you want to know what he told me, ask him yourself."
Lalatina, seeing her stubbornness, cut to the chase.
"Fine. Tomorrow morning, we'll ask the Manor Lord who I might be.
If he asks, I'll say you spilled it."
"Let her go, Luna."
Luna, enlightened.
"Sister Lalatina, brilliant! I'll follow you.
Liora, sorry for pressuring you. Go bathe and rest."
Lalatina and Luna, straightening their clothes, lay on their beds, closing their eyes.
Liora, eyes brimming, glared at them, then burst into tears.
"You bullies! Sister Lalatina, so mean… Sister Luna, joining her… just as mean…"
Seeing Liora sob, Lalatina, beside her, gently smoothed her tangled hair, soothing softly.
"Liora, be good. Tell me everything, and I promise to keep it secret. I won't ask the Manor Lord."
Luna, whispering gently, adjusted Liora's disheveled clothes with care.
"I swear, this stays between us three. No outsiders.
You know our character, don't you?
If the Manor Lord forbade it, just hint.
But if you stay stubborn, I won't force you."
Liora, inwardly cursing, weighed her options. This might not be bad. If handled well, I could even help them come together.
"Sisters, I promised the Manor Lord not to tell. But…
How about I tell a story?"
Both, delighted, nodded. Luna sat up, locked the door, blew out all candles but one, then climbed back, hugging Liora.
"Done. Tell it, no one will know."
Lalatina, confirming no one was near, signaled all was clear.
Liora, taking a deep breath, whispered.
"I'll tell the ending of tonight's story.
After the man sought her through many lives, unable to be with her, he realized it led nowhere.
So, he stopped searching. Finding her only brought pain.
Through countless reincarnations, he fell into deep slumber, gradually forgetting her form.
One day, he met three women, all tied to his past. One, maybe her; one, his beloved little sister; one, his old enemy."
Liora paused, eyeing them, then continued.
"The first, he couldn't confirm if she was her. His memory blurred. But he didn't care—true or false, the outcome was the same.
The second, his little sister. Planned to help her silently, not reveal himself. But her words, 'I'll always stand by you,' touched his deep loneliness. So, he told her everything.
The third, his old rival, once his equal in contest. Meeting again was fate, so he set aside grudges to aid her."
Liora stopped, glaring at the enraptured sisters.
"If you two leak this or betray the Manor Lord, I won't forgive you.
That's all. Don't spread it, in any form."
Lalatina's eyes, dreamy, radiant, stirred with emotion. Recalling everything—her interrupted betrothal, easy entry to the manor, appointed as personal maid, the Manor Lord teaching her absolute focus… He suspects it. If true, does that mean my fate…
Luna's gaze, complex. I was his enemy in a past life? Though he's generous, I can't afford discord. Granny Kim said this is my chance. I must seize it.
Imagining herself in his place…
Recalling recent events…
The Manor Lord spends time with Lalatina and Liora. With me, he gently helps Granny Kim reconstruct her body, unravels my knots with a story. All showing he's superior…
Still holding a grudge after so long?
For now, avoid displeasing him. Let him shine, praise him subtly. Losing my place would be trouble.
Seeing them silent, Liora nudged.
"Sister Lalatina, Sister Luna, did you hear me?"
Their thoughts interrupted, they exchanged awkward glances.
"Liora, haven't bathed yet? Go bathe. We'll come, scrub your back."
Seeing their enthusiasm, Liora, unable to suppress a strange joy, burst into laughter.
"Alright, come help me scrub!"