Time slipped like sand through fingers; in a blink, hours fell away. It was a little past eight, night draped like indigo silk.

Through Yumigawa Senki’s string of failures from afternoon till now, we could say for sure—she had zero talent for being a maid, like a goose that can’t swim. No, more like no talent for household chores, a blade that refuses to cut vegetables.

To be honest, I didn’t get it; the steps looked fine, yet the results crashed every time, like a kite snagged on a tree. Big reason? Yumigawa Senki wouldn’t follow steps; cleaning or cooking, she wanted to finish in one breath, like trying to sprint a marathon.

If we hadn’t stopped her in time—well, late—we’d probably have no dinner, like a campfire doused by rain. Luckily, Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya worked hard, tidied the mess she left like raking storm-tossed leaves, then restarted dinner right away, like lighting a new stove. They finished within an hour, so our stomachs didn’t howl at the moon tonight.

…

In the room, Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya carried dishes to the table, like lanterns bringing warmth, while we sat waiting, chopsticks poised like little spears. Only one person… left us speechless, like a bell that rings at the wrong time.

“Haah—after a whole busy day, I can finally rest and eat. So tired! It’s my first time working this hard outside cultivation.” Yumigawa Senki kneaded her shoulder like dough, sighing as if she’d climbed a mountain.

From one angle, maybe she was tired, like a horse that ran crooked lines; but no one here would agree with that kind of tired, like clouds that look heavy but don’t rain.

“Qianji Sister, you dare call it tired? We’re the ones exhausted! Always dragged into your chaos.” My little sister puffed her cheeks round, like a steamed bun, clearly not happy.

“Exactly! Yumigawa Senki, thou have no right to say you’re tired!” Even Elyar couldn’t help but throw shade, like a cat flicking its tail. Funny—neither lifted a finger; they just watched, like sparrows on a fence.

“Uu… uu…” Pierced by her own sister and Elyar, Yumigawa Senki drooped her head, like a wilted flower. Pitiful—but I wasn’t in the mood to sympathize, like a stone that refuses to warm.

“Ahaha… let’s drop it and just eat,” Eastern Moon Aixue cut in, voice like a breeze over tea.

“Yeah, it won’t taste good once it’s cold,” Faya added, smoothing the air like a hand over ripples.

“Qianji Miss, please don’t mind! Everyone has things they’re bad at; in magic and swordplay, your talent’s sky-breaking.” Eastern Moon Aixue spoke like moonlight on water.

“Aixue’s right! Please cheer up, Qianji Miss!” Faya’s smile was a small flame in the hearth.

“Mm… thank you.” Yumigawa Senki bounced back fast, like spring grass after rain; that aggrieved look vanished like mist. See—she even served herself first, ladle flashing like a silver fish.

“Everyone, eat up! It’s late,” she urged, eyes like a fox eyeing the henhouse.

If we weren’t still here, she would’ve started without us, like a wolf with its own bowl. I could only be silent, tongue like a tied ribbon.

“…”

I shot Yumigawa Senki a helpless glance, like tossing a pebble into a pond. We filled our bowls quietly, rice mounding like pale hills, and then—

“Let’s eat!” (x5)

After letting Yumigawa Senki drag us this late, we finally got dinner, like finding fire after dusk. Sigh—the taste of disappointment is bitter, like over-brewed tea. I’d thought she’d surely become a maid; now it seems she can’t handle even basic chores, like a sword that chips on a carrot.

She’s the Servant’s older sister—why such a gap, like two stars on different skies? From Yumigawa Senki, a woman, I feel no hint of feminine touch; meanwhile the boy Servant’s feminine touch explodes off the charts, like roses blooming in a boys’ garden.

Thinking all that, I lifted food slowly, chopsticks like cranes, and placed it in my mouth. Chew, gulp, swallow—motions like waves rolling to shore. The taste was decent, it fit my stomach like a warm blanket; yet after getting used to Servant’s cooking, I couldn’t enjoy others’ dishes, like tea after honey—it never measures up.

Sigh, I hope Servant returns soon, like waiting for swallows to bring spring.

“Xinuo Miss, is our cooking not to your taste?” Eastern Moon Aixue asked, eyes like clear lakes.

“No, it’s fine. From now on, my meals are in your hands,” I said, voice like a bell settling.

Egisia Academy’s food never sits well with me, like bread that dries the tongue—still, better than nothing.

“Really?! Thank you! I’ll work hard!” Eastern Moon Aixue brightened, happiness rising like sun on a window.

“Mm, I’ll also do my best to make dishes you like, Xinuo Miss!” Faya’s promise was a ribbon tied neat.

They looked truly happy, like flowers hearing rain. Do they enjoy making food for others? It felt a bit off for their status—princess and lady—like jewels polishing spoons.

“Then I’ll look forward to it, a little,” I nodded, a small lantern of hope. I kept sending food to my mouth, wishing the flavor could climb just a bit higher, like a kite catching wind.

…

Half an hour later, dinner was done; Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya cleared the table and left, movements like swallows tidying nests. My little sister flopped on the soft carpet, stroking her round belly like a cat after cream. Elyar and Yumigawa Senki ran to the shelves to pick manga, fingers fluttering like butterflies—when did they start loving comics?

As for me, I had nothing in mind; books felt stale, like bread left out, and I wasn’t in the mood.

“Time for a bath,” I murmured, voice like a stream in shade.

It was the right hour, so I took a nightgown from the wardrobe, fabric like moonlit silk, and headed for the bath… uh, no one had drawn hot water for me. Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya went out to wash dishes; my little sister and the others always wait for someone else to run the bath—no use hoping.

“Forget it, hot water’s a trivial mountain; I’ll handle it,” I said, breath like a small flame.

…

Inside the bathroom.

How do you get the water running? I glanced around—the space was broad, like a quiet grotto. There was a bath pool (dry), a shower, faucets, towels, shampoo, body wash—things lined up like soldiers. Huh, a button beside me; I pressed it.

Whoosh…

The wall-mounted shower burst into spray—cold water like winter needles. In a blink I was soaked, dress clinging like seaweed; mood sank like a stone. No choice; self-reliance it is, like lighting your own lamp.

I peeled off the wet long dress, fabric sighing like river reeds, and walked to the bath. I pointed, and boiling water bloomed in an instant, filling the tub, steam curling like white dragons. Another point—hot water vanished at once, like a dream snapped. I didn’t know if the tub was clean; better to wash it first, like sweeping dust before tea.

When the water disappeared, the bath gleamed far cleaner than before, shining like a mirror that reflected the nearby scene, crisp as dawn. Satisfied, I pointed again; unlike the previous heat, this time clear water rose, temperature just right, a touch milky like spring clouds.

“Phew… I feel oddly tired today,” I breathed, settling into the bath, warmth wrapping me like lake mist. It’d been a while since I felt this way; Yumigawa Senki is impressive, in all sorts of ways, like a storm that knocks at every window.

Better not overthink; I shook my head, drops flying like sparrows, and reached for shampoo and body wash, bottles smooth as river stones.

Still, without Servant, everything’s inconvenient—eat poorly, sleep poorly, dress poorly; the lack spreads like frost. I sighed at the thought; lately I’d been sighing a lot, like wind in a pine. Whatever—hair first, hair first, fingers working like combing clouds.

…

In short, this messy day finally ended; everyone got mentally wrung out by Yumigawa Senki, like laundry in strong hands. Hopefully nothing like this happens again, like wishing for clear weather after rain.