Chapter 255: Chapter 254: Love Divided

“Why did you change your outfit?” Iris said.

“Don’t you like it?” Antina said.

Iris looked around the private suite. Parmin and Morbi had already left. Only a few Monster Girls were cleaning the room. They peeked at Iris and another lady whom they didn’t recognise. Wasn’t Secain her maid?

“Would you change back if I didn’t?”

“Of course, Mistress.” Antina lifted the rim of her dress and curtseyed. Her flowing hair covered her playful expression. “Your wish is my command, your love my reward.”

“Did The Founder force you?”

“Mother told me to stay by your side. What identity would be more suitable?”

“Are you to compete with Secain?”

“She’s currently away. Lorient, too. Most importantly, you want to give them a break, don’t you?”

Iris wouldn’t have played along if she hadn’t accepted Antina as her temporary maid. Her Secain and Lorient needed to rest, contemplate their goals, and prepare for the future.

No matter what she said, she could never stop them from feeling pathetic. Their most treasured mistress reached the Condensation Phase at a miraculous pace; they could no longer protect her, and they had no way of catching up.

She only hoped that, by sending them away on a mission, they would work out their anxiety.

“They’ll fight you.”

“I’ll compensate them for stealing you. Is an Artefact for each enough?”

“Serving me is an arduous task, even if you’re The Founder’s daughter.”

“Please discipline me when I fall short.”

Iris hmphed. “I’ll be in your care.”

Antina lifted her head, grabbed Iris’s hands, and kissed them. Her mysterious aura fused with Iris’s, morphing into a mild impression befitting an invisible maid who diligently served her mistress.

A Butterfly Girl came to Iris and, fidgeting, asked for her attention. Antina silently retreated to behind Iris, lessening her presence until she became indiscernible. Even though she existed in the physical world, the Butterfly Girl failed to detect her presence.

“Please take a look at this.” She handed Iris a report. “Madam Parmin specified that you supervise this procedure.”

Iris read the report, on which Parmin strapped a heart-shaped note wishing her good health. The task was tedious but simple: she had to sit in a comfortable chair and read through recruitment documents. A perfect busywork to occupy her.

“Where are the documents?” Iris said.

“Madam Parmin said they’d be ready tomorrow afternoon.”

“She could’ve directly told me to rest for today.”

“Would you have listened otherwise?” Antina said. “We’ve learned how to deal with you, Mistress.”

“How could a maid criticise her mistress?”

“A maid’s duty is to help her mistress. She would do so regardless of the consequence.”

Iris shook her head. Antina wanted to be punished, to experience what Secain and Lorient did. What a cutely devious plan.

Iris dismissed the Butterfly Girl, who reluctantly left the room. She absentmindedly opened the door and stepped forwards, but another Monster Girl was in her path.

Lorient caught the Butterfly Girl. She was about to apologise when she spotted, beside her mistress, an unknown Monster Girl in a maid uniform. That Monster Girl clung to her mistress, and her mistress accepted that intimacy.

“Mistress, who is she?”

“Who do you think?” Iris smiled as she placed her hand on Antina’s shoulder, pulling her in. “She’ll be serving me until I recover.”

Lorient swiftly walked to stand in front of her mistress. Her eyes shifted to Antina, who kept her head lowered and her presence minimal. Because of that long purple hair, Lorient couldn’t see the maid’s features.

“Mistress, didn’t you say I’m all you need?”

“You’re all I need, but I can’t always need you.”

“I’ve never rejected you, Mistress.”

“Your mistress’s helping you, my Dear,” Antina said. “Right now, what is it you must do?”

“I’ve sent in your sick notice and also finished checking the nearby ports.” Lorient waved her hastily written document containing routes and schedules of long-distance ships around the nearby coasts. “Right now, my place is by her side.”

“Did you forget the second request of mine?”

“That request . . . needs time; I can’t rush it.” Lorient’s voice trembled. “Am I . . . not to see you until I complete my task?”

Antina glanced at Iris, whose expression shifted ever so slightly, ashamed of her evil trick. Lorient had rushed to her mistress the moment she heard of her condition, yet her mistress played with her heart, nearly breaking it.

“Lorient, my lovely Lorient, take a closer look at who my new temporary maid is.” Iris lifted Antina’s hair, revealing her amused countenance. “Do you recognise her?”

Though she couldn’t recognise Antina, Lorient could feel a speck of familiarity deep within her mind. That face, that aura, that scent, they reminded her of someone she’d forgotten, someone important.

She would’ve dismissed this feeling as artificial if not for her mistress's words.

Antina’s eyes dimmed. “Mistress, everyone you touch becomes extraordinary.”

“I merely provide her with the opportunities.”

“Dear Lorient, you must treasure your mistress. She’s given you a lifetime’s worth of opportunities.”

Lorient couldn’t hide her smile. “I’ll repay her with a lifetime’s worth of devotion. Please allow me to stay by her side.”

“Then you must beseech your mistress. I only follow her order.”

Iris sighed. The longer she avoided answering, the more anxious her knight would become. She indeed wished to send Lorient away, but not with that cruel misunderstanding.

“I gave you this task because you’re the only one that could do it. You should’ve known its importance, Lorient.”

“But why would you . . . get a new maid?”

“The Founder entrusted my safety to Antina. Until I recover, she’ll stay by my side.”

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“Her name is . . . Antina?”

Antina, the name of the Court Founder’s daughter, the personification of The Founder’s discretion, the urban legend within Court of Indulgence itself. That Antina was standing respectfully beside Mistress, as her maid?

“Mistress, you’re too much.” Lorient didn’t know what to say. “I . . . is it even possible to catch up to you?”

“Would I have reached this point if it were impossible?”

“Please teach me.”

Antina giggled. “Mistress’s path is unique, too unique for us to traverse. Nevertheless, there are other paths, even if more tedious, that you can take. Are you willing, Lorient?”

“Anything to be by her side.”

“You . . .” Iris decided against persuading her knight; she’d lost the right when she herself plunged into the abyss just to accelerate her pace. “Please take good care of yourself. Your body is mine, Lorient. Don’t damage it.”

“If Mistress wishes so.” Lorient giggled. “Then, may I stay—”

“Antina will help you after you finish your task.”

Lorient pouted, though she couldn’t argue against it; anything related to Mistress’s safety was the priority. She reticently bid farewell before rushing out of the suite. The rest of the Monster Girls, starstruck by Antina’s identity, rigidly returned to their work.

As curiosity suffocated the atmosphere, Iris left the suite. Antina was always a few steps behind her; she handled for her mistress minor tasks—adjusting her clothes, receiving documents, opening doors—as if she were her shadow.

And yet the rest of The Court, who knew not of her identity, appeared unconcerned by her actions.

Once Iris finished touring the salon, she redonned her black-and-white cloak. Her flowing hair shifted its azure colour to black. Her exotic aura permeated her body, replacing her bewitching elegance.

In the carriage heading for White Rabbit Café, she ordered Antina to sit opposite her. Antina brushed her hair, which glimmered dimly inside the curtained interior. Her palpable mystique radiated a cool air in keeping with the evening mood.

“Why must you hide your identity?” Iris said.

“The more mysterious we are, the more formidable our influence becomes.”

“Is that your answer as the daughter of The Founder or as the maid of your mistress?”

Antina didn’t expect Iris to take advantage of her little prank. “My apology, Mistress. Your maid has deceived you. She wishes for a second chance.”

“Secain and Lorient always praise my magnanimity.”

“As Mother’s Split Soul, I possess fragments of her power, including her Domain of Nightly Concealment. For a Solidification Phase Monster Girl to advance her power, she must exercise her Domain until she holds complete mastery over it.”

“Must I forget you too?”

“Whether the power succeeds or fails doesn’t matter, although those who overcome it do pique my interest.”

“What do you think of my Lorient?”

“She’s a candidate for a senior seat. It’s the failure of The Court to let her talent go unnoticed.” Antina contemplatively tapped her cheek. “Or, it’s you who’s too special. She awakened her potential because of you.”

“The Garcient Kingdom would’ve fallen long ago if my touches were that potent.”

“Are you willing to grace that many ladies?”

Iris turned away, gazing at nowhere. A vivid image floated up in her mind. In silky translucent pyjamas, she sat on a sofa, surrounded by scented smoke of colourful candles, whose illumination highlighted the charming curves of other Monster Girls. They leaned on her shoulders, stroking her hair. They hugged her legs, kissing her thighs. They lay on her lap, stood behind her, read poetry, whispered, urged, and begged for her touch.

She caressed their hearts, tainted them until they broke, and seized their souls.

Such an exciting life, she only needed to let go of herself.

Iris harshly shook her head, dispelling her wicked thought. She shouldn’t have felt that way. She shouldn’t enjoy crushing the innocent. Why did she have that desire?

The heat in her chest rose. The Mark of Love on her hand lit up.

As she bent forward and panted, suppressing her irrationality, Antina grabbed her hands. Antina’s dark purple Corruption Power flowed into Iris and formed a series of runes which connected with the Mark of Concealment inside Iris.

Under Antina’s control, the mark twisted spacetime until Iris’s presence vanished from the world.

The Mark of Love dimmed. Iris gradually regained herself. Pink flushes on her body sank beneath her skin, though their remnant feelings lurked in her heart, waiting for another chance to surface.

She had to quickly deal with this issue, or she might do something regrettable.

“Do I still appear elegant?” she said. “If Lorient were here, I . . . I might not be able to control myself.”

“She would’ve received you with her warmest embrace.”

“She wouldn’t take advantage of me, but she also couldn’t resist me.” Iris lowered her head. “I hate this, Antina.”

“I’ll protect you, Mistress.”

Those words, spoken in the natural tone, simmered in the carriage like perfume which obscured all worries. Iris could rest assured that Antina would protect her until the curse no longer plagued her.

But she couldn’t rely on Antina forever.

“I . . . made a promise to Morbi, that I’d ask her about the last Monster Girl to receive your mother’s grace.”

“Are you to break that promise?”

“I must’ve disappointed her.”

“I won’t let you.” Antina leaned closer to Iris. “That path . . . is of no use to you.”

“How would you know that?”

“Even if it were, the price you must pay . . . I won’t let you.”

“It’s . . . only . . . only an insignificant promise.” Iris’s voice lessened until she choked on her shame.

She had never broken any promises made in earnest, and she dreaded any thought of failing them. Her tainted, devilish body and soul had cast away her morals, her innocence, her chastity, and even her honour, but she clutched onto her hope, her promises, no matter how absurd they were.

If she never betrayed her promises, would all those impossible ones remain so?

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