Volume 6, Chapter 43 – Master and Servant

“Um… how should I say this… Can Anastasia accept this?”

“Accept this…?”

Anastasia looked up in confusion. Although she didn’t know what was in the paper bag, it didn’t stop her from habitually accepting it. As a servant, accepting things handed over by her master was only natural, even if Fia’s expression looked embarrassed no matter how one looked at it.

She glanced secretly at the contents of the paper bag below—an exquisite black lacquered wooden box. As a maid who had worked in the Royal Palace, relying on her experience, Anastasia vaguely sensed that it likely contained jewelry like a ring. But she couldn’t understand Fia’s true intention in giving it to her, so she asked hesitantly.

“Does Your Highness want me to accept it for safekeeping and return it to you when the time comes?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Fia denied it hurriedly, but due to shyness, she was embarrassed to say directly that it was an apology for her slip of the tongue that day.

To be precise, she couldn’t say it directly. She already sensed that Anastasia might hold ambiguous feelings for her that went beyond master and servant or even sisters. Saying directly that it was an apology would mean telling Anastasia that she understood Anastasia’s feelings. If Anastasia over-interpreted it, the one embarrassed would be her.

Whether Anastasia understood it as rejection or implied acceptance, the result would be tricky. Anastasia was very attractive, but Fia wasn’t mentally prepared for that. Once Anastasia really asked her, she would probably only answer with incoherent, embarrassed sounds like “Ah… ah…”.

Currently, it could still be understood as hazy feelings that wouldn’t be noticed unless thought about deeply. But this was only a thin layer of paper away; a little force could pierce it.

It’s a difficult problem on the same level as Claire’s curse.

If only there were a relationship expert to give me some ideas. But there’s no one around me I can talk to. Claire might be good at this kind of problem, but asking Claire about this would be no different from confessing directly.

Having no relationship experience is truly a failure.

Annoyed by her lack of experience, Fia’s outward expression became even guiltier. She twisted her hands together fidgety, her voice lowering.

“Anastasia can open it and see first…”

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“Okay.”

Obeying Fia’s order, Anastasia held the paper bag with one hand and took out the gift box to open it with the other. When she saw the silver cat ring lying quietly in the box, obvious blankness appeared in her spirited azure eyes, and her pupils contracted significantly.

“Ah…”

She shouldn’t be attracted by the ring’s cute appearance like me, right?

After all, the ring itself as a carrier has very rich meanings.

With her mouth half-open in surprise, Anastasia slowly looked back at Fia.

“Your Highness, this is…”

“Ahem,” Fia pressed her right fist to her lips, clearing her throat with feigned seriousness. “Yesterday when passing by a jewelry store, I suddenly got interested, so I went in to take a look. Thinking back carefully, I haven’t given everyone decent gifts all this time. Now that life has finally settled down, I thought about giving Anastasia something that can truly be called a gift.”

“But didn’t you give your subordinate this mithril sword back in Bern City?”

“That can’t be called a decent gift. And looking back now, the mithril sword doesn’t match Anastasia at all. I mean the mithril sword isn’t worthy. Although this ring is just a cheap item worth three silver coins, I like it very much. Look, I have one too.”

Fia raised her right hand, showing Anastasia the silver cat ring on her ring finger. The smooth texture and cat ears were exactly the same as the ring in Anastasia’s hand.

Although the cat ring in Anastasia’s hand wasn’t paid for by herself, the thought counted in a gift. Giving Anastasia something she liked could represent that Anastasia was very important in her heart. This was also the reason Fia still chose to give the cat ring to Anastasia even though it wasn’t valuable.

However, considering Anastasia’s personality of being bad at refusing her, Fia made preparations. Below the gift box storing the cat ring, another much smaller gift box was hidden. That one contained the exquisite and beautiful jewelry Fia initially bought. Originally, the cat ring should have been placed in the small gift box, and the exquisite jewelry in the large gift box. Before coming out, Fia specifically swapped their positions to reflect importance.

“If this doesn’t suit Anastasia’s taste, the other ring below should be able to satisfy Anastasia.”

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“I like it very much!”

Before Fia could finish speaking, Anastasia snatched the chance to agree. Her gaze first lingered on the cat ring on Fia’s ring finger for a moment, then moved to her own cat ring as if comparing.

Unconcealable joy flashed in Anastasia’s eyes instantly. The intense emotional change made the surrounding raindrops scatter. However, this scene lasted less than a second before disappearing. As if treating an extremely precious treasure, Anastasia extended her index finger and thumb, picking the ring out of the gift box with exceptional solemnity. Her azure eyes flickered slightly, as if countless emotions flashed through them in these few short seconds.

“Your Highness, may I wear it?”

“This is something given to Anastasia; of course Anastasia can wear it.”

“Thank you very much.”

Although the voice and performance were very normal, Anastasia’s self-address changed from “your subordinate” to “I”. Whether Anastasia changed the address because she felt there were only the two of them here now, or because she was too excited and changed it unconsciously, was intriguing.

While Fia was thinking, Anastasia had already put the cat ring on the ring finger of her right hand, corresponding to Fia’s. She extended her hand, her eyes firmly fixed on the brilliance reflected by the ring. Although there was no sun now, and Anastasia only curled her lips slightly without fanatical joy on her face, Fia felt the current Anastasia was incredibly happy, dazzling just by standing there.

She stared at the ring for quite a long time, as if she couldn’t see enough of it in a lifetime. In the end, she even forgot Fia was still standing there. Her lips moved, murmuring Fia’s name in a low voice, her fingers gently stroking the ring’s surface as if caressing a lover’s back.

Is this consciously suppressing facial expressions but unable to fully suppress them?

Anastasia’s reaction now should be liking it, right?

Her suspended heart quietly lowered. Fia breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. She was worried before that Anastasia would think a three-silver-coin item was looking down on her. Now thinking about it, she worried too much. Making Anastasia happy could be considered making up for the guilt of disappointing Anastasia earlier.

Without disturbing Anastasia, Fia quietly waited for Anastasia to recover from her joy. It wasn’t until a dozen seconds passed, with the rain making a splashing sound on the ground, that Anastasia finally jolted all over as if awakened by something, causing the mithril sword to clatter.

“Ah, Your Highness! I—”

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Her gaze turned to Fia, only to find Fia smiling back at her. Realizing her loss of composure, Anastasia’s cheeks under the hood turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even her pointed ears were dyed pink.

“I… I was too happy and forgot… forgot you were still here…”

“If Anastasia weren’t happy, the one losing composure would be me. It’s good that Anastasia doesn’t find it cheap.”

“How could I find something Your Highness wears cheap? Rather, this is a treasure with no second piece in the world!”

Now the excited reaction is reasonable. Fia couldn’t help but chuckle. She stepped forward, raising her hand high to pat Anastasia’s shoulder.

“Alright, alright. The other gift box in the bag is also yours; open it when we get back. Although it was my idea, standing in the rain being happy feels weird somehow. Let’s go to Claire’s side.”

Following Fia to turn around, Anastasia didn’t immediately take a step. Her face, full of mature feminine softness, was filled with worry.

“This ring… did you not prepare one for Miss Claire? If it were accessories like a pendant or a brooch, maybe it would be fine. But this happens to be a ring, which easily causes misunderstandings. Not preparing one for Miss Claire, your fiancée, might destroy the relationship between you and Miss Claire. B-Better give this ring to Miss Claire; I only want the one below…”

Although she said this, Anastasia’s left hand caressing the ring was full of reluctance to part. Fia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She held down Anastasia’s hand that was about to take off the ring.

“I prepared Claire’s share too. Anastasia, just accept it with peace of mind. Everyone’s ring color is different.”

“But in that case, wouldn’t only my ring be the same as yours, Your Highness? This is even more misleading!”

“I’ve given it to Anastasia, yet Anastasia wants me to take it back? Does Anastasia not like it?”

“How could I not like your gift? Your phrasing is too cunning.”

Anastasia was both hesitant and happy, not knowing how to react for a moment. It wasn’t until Fia pushed her forward that Anastasia reluctantly moved her feet.

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“Don’t worry about it so much; we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Besides, as long as it’s not discovered, no one will know, right?”

“Your subordinate doesn’t believe paper can wrap fire… It will definitely be discovered. Both Claire and Princess Liti are people with keen observation skills.”

Anastasia frowned while walking slowly.

Fia responded in a cheerful tone.

“Then it will depend on Anastasia. Anastasia can make up a suitable excuse to muddle through, like I held many colors of cat rings in front of Anastasia, and Anastasia chose this silver one.”

“But the ring was clearly given to me by you…” Before her voice fell, Anastasia’s voice gradually faded, beginning to mutter to herself in a low voice, “Lowering my evaluation is better than lowering Your Highness’s. As long as Miss Claire thinks I am selfish, it won’t affect Your Highness…”

Hey, this statement is the most cunning one, right?

After hearing this, I can’t push the problem onto Anastasia anymore.

Better make matching cat rings with materials myself later and give them to everyone. Maybe I can even add some useful magic then.

As for now, let Anastasia have a little joy and muddle through with other styles of cat rings first~

Thinking this, Fia put on a happy expression. Pushing the worried-looking Anastasia, she walked step by step toward Liti’s group not far away.