Zila sat obediently on her lap, her back nestled against Xia Mo’s chest.
Slowly, she lifted her head to look at Xia Mo. Her pitiful, glistening eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "R-Really… is it really okay?"
"Mm! Hurry~ be a good girl!" Xia Mo replied gently, her voice warm and steady like a caring older sister.
"Sister Xia Mo! I’m so huuungry, I wanna eat~" Zila pouted, pouring every ounce of cuteness into her plea.
Wow! So adorable!
"Okay! Master, Sister Xia Mo’s off to get yummy food! Wait right here!"
Without hesitation, Xia Mo gently set Zila on the bed and dashed out the door.
As she ran, she clutched her pounding heart. "Eep! Master’s too cute… even an iron heart would melt!"
Zila sweat-dropped, clutching her growling stomach. "Xia Mo, hurry! I’m starving!"
Weak from hunger, she listlessly lowered her head.
Her heterochromatic violet-and-gold eyes drifted to the slightly wrinkled maid outfit. At first, she’d been surprised—her disciple’s childhood clothes fit her petite frame perfectly, as if tailor-made. Almost… destined.
She hopped off the bed to admire herself in the full-length mirror. But the moment her toes touched the floor—
She wobbled, barely catching the bedside table to avoid collapsing.
"Oof! This little body’s so frail! A tiny bit of hunger and I can’t even stand? Ugh!"
How could she fight like this? How avenge her kin slain by demons?
If she met demons—or even humans—she’d have no chance to run or resist.
Just reaching the mirror exhausted her. But when her reflection appeared…
Two soft ponytails cascaded down to her thighs. The maid outfit highlighted her delicate charm.
Those slender calves, the gentle curves of her figure—she nearly blushed at herself!
So pitifully cute… Zila hesitated. *Maybe… looking like this isn’t so bad?*
Suddenly, Xia Mo’s earlier fuss felt… understandable.
Noon sun broke through the gloom, spilling golden light into the room.
Zila’s fair skin, tinged pink, glowed like river opal in the rays.
Her eyes caught a glint in the mirror.
"This thing… hmm… that old hag’s?"
A black necklace rested on her collarbone—a purple gem pendant edged in silver filigree, shimmering faintly. Lavish. Luxurious.
She remembered clearly: Demon Empress Zili had fastened it herself after Zila awoke, transformed by the Succubus Curse.
An enemy’s ornament—no matter how beautiful—filled her with disgust. A knight wouldn’t covet a foe’s trinket.
Wearing it felt like being a beggar, coins tossed into her bowl.
*Why keep it?* During her escape from the Violet Spirit Domain, she’d tried everything—pulling, breaking—until she hurt herself. Useless.
Now, it branded her a "pet" of the Succubus Empress. A "dog tag" for retrieval.
Even Xia Mo failed to remove it while bathing her.
Frustrated and drained, Zila tiptoed back toward bed—but tripped on flat ground.
Luckily, the mattress caught her.
"Wah… so hungry… Xia Mo, bring food back soon~" she whimpered.
Fumbling for support, her hand *clatter*-ed a photo frame off the bedside table.
"Ouch~" She propped herself up, cradling the yellowed photo.
A little boy grinned on an uncle’s lap, both flashing victory signs beneath a sunset sky.
Though faded, Zila remembered: a summer seaside trip with her adoptive father, back when she was Xue Yu—before knighthood, before the academy.
Uncle Ye had died young in an accident, deepening the pain of already being orphaned.
He taught her priceless lessons. Her greatest mentor. Her truest father.
"Uncle Ye… I miss you…" A trace of sorrow swelled. She hugged the frame close, tears falling silently.
---
After a while, Xia Mo burst through the door, arms full of bags, food aroma trailing behind.
"Master! Sister Xia Mo’s back with yummy—eh?!"
Inside, a tiny maid-clad loli lay face-down on the bed, utterly limp.
"Wahhh!" Zila wailed into the sheets.
"Master! What’s wrong?!" Xia Mo dropped the bags and rushed over. "Don’t scare me!"
At her voice, Zila slowly lifted her head, eyes dull with hunger.
"Wah-wah! Xia Mo, I want food! Delicious food! Wah~"
"Oh! S-Sorry I’m late! Sister Xia Mo brought it! Hehe!"
