Chapter 46: The Cat Ears and the Crowd

What was wrong with Setia all of a sudden?

Eileen could feel Setia’s breath fanning against her feet, a sensation that was strangely ticklish.

Moreover, Setia had been staring intently at her feet, a gaze that made Eileen feel undeniably shy.

“Ah?!” Eileen suddenly exclaimed.

“Hehehe! Ambush successful!” Setia suddenly tickled the sole of Eileen’s foot, using it as a clumsy cover for her earlier strange actions.

Ultimately, reason prevailed over Setia’s desires. Such matters, she decided, were best reserved for when Eileen was unconscious…

Setia did not want Eileen to despise her.

With one hand, she gently held Eileen’s bare foot, while the other picked up a pair of stockings. The slow, silken fusion of fabric and skin sent a shiver of anticipation through Setia’s heart.

It turned out this was an agonizing task indeed.

A process that should have taken less than a minute dragged on for several excruciating minutes before Setia finally finished.

She then picked up a pair of small leather shoes, gripping one with one hand at the top while the other supported Eileen’s stocking-clad sole. The touch of the hosiery-covered foot offered a distinctly different sensation.

“There,” Setia announced, rising to her feet.

Eileen stood, feeling a slight numbness in her leg. The process had lasted quite a while, though she chose not to voice it.

After all, this was likely Setia’s first time doing such a thing, so a bit of extra time was understandable.

She stamped her foot, finding no discomfort.

Eileen looked at Setia.

“What is it?” Setia averted her gaze, a hint of guilt in her eyes. Had her secret thoughts been discovered?

‘Oh no…’

‘Perhaps I should just confess sooner?’

‘Maybe Eileen would forgive me that way?’

“Hey!” Eileen swiftly placed a pair of black cat ears on Setia’s head.

Yes, that was much better.

“Eileen?! What are these?!” Setia exclaimed, observing the cat ears in the mirror. They moved in sync with her thoughts, as if they were real.

“Just cat ears,” Eileen replied. “They seem to suit you perfectly.”

“Why do you have something like this in your backpack?!”

Eileen fell silent. ‘Some things are better left unasked!’

“I saw them yesterday on my way back and thought they’d suit you, so I bought them,” Eileen explained.

‘Only you would believe that excuse!’

“Do I really have to wear these?” Setia asked.

“Not really,” Eileen said, taking off the cat ear accessory.

She had only wanted to see the effect. While having Setia wear them privately was fine, making her go out in public with them would be akin to a death sentence.

Setia sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

“Thank me for what? Let’s go, shall we?” Eileen extended her hand.

“Mm!” Setia clasped Eileen’s hand, and together they descended.

Once Eileen stepped down, a crowd immediately swarmed around her.

“Excuse me! Are you the Necromancer’s servant?”

“What did she do to you?”

“What is it like to be a Necromancer’s servant?”

“Why didn’t she take you with her?”

“Is it true that you became her servant because your sister was captured?”

“Is it true that the Necromancer can control corpses?”

“Have you learned any necromancy?”

A cacophony of questions assaulted Eileen, giving her a headache. These people… they were as eager for gossip as ever.

They all wanted to get firsthand information and sell it for a good price.

Setia hid behind Eileen, unsure how to face such a scene.

“Excuse me, is that your sister behind you?”

“Is she alright? Did the Necromancer do anything to her?”

“I heard the Necromancer can plant a seed in people’s bodies…”

Eileen ignored their incessant questions. However, from their inquiries, she pieced together her current fabricated situation.

Setia was her sister, who had been captured by the Necromancer. Eileen had been threatened, forced to become the Necromancer’s servant.

Then, yesterday, because the Necromancer needed to focus all her power on attacking the Golden Temple, Eileen was given a chance to rescue her sister.

Though a bit far-fetched, it seemed somewhat plausible when attributed to the Necromancer.

“My sister has just escaped from the Necromancer’s clutches, so please, would you kindly step aside?” Eileen said, maintaining a polite tone.

Everything was resolved; they simply wanted to enjoy a peaceful stroll. Eileen had no desire to stir up any further trouble.

Yet, some people simply loved to create problems.

Eileen waved her hand, summoning a gust of frost. “Of course, you’re welcome to test whether my strength is truly just that of a C-rank Dragon Slayer.”

The surrounding temperature began to drop sharply.

What a joke. No one would believe that a maid favored by a Necromancer capable of single-handedly slaughtering an entire S-rank Dragon Slayer team was merely a C-rank Dragon Slayer.

“We wish you both a pleasant journey and a wonderful time in Gran Town.”

Indeed, this more direct approach proved far more effective than endless chatter.

After they dispersed, Liana slowly descended the stairs.

“It seems the matter has been resolved.”

“Miss Liana, have you been waiting up there for long?” Eileen asked, looking at Liana. It was too much of a coincidence; those people had just left, and Liana immediately appeared.

“How could I?” Liana smiled faintly. “Wasn’t I busy writing a report, which I need to hand over to those dispatched from the Empire soon?”

Eileen wore an unconvinced expression. The events of late had been too strange, sparking a bold idea in her mind. “Would it be convenient to talk somewhere else?”

“Oh… of course,” Liana nodded, leading Eileen to the previous room. After closing the doors and windows and pressing a hidden button, she said, “Speak freely. It’s very safe in here; no one outside will hear anything.”

Eileen looked at Liana, her eyes filled with confidence. She had seen through it all.

Liana felt a pang of guilt under Eileen’s gaze.

“Everything that has happened here was done at Lady Faltis’s command, wasn’t it?” Eileen asked.

[Caught!]

Liana and Setia simultaneously cried out in their minds.

So, they were discovered after all?

But could they truly be blamed? They had tried their best.

Seeing their panicked expressions, Eileen’s conviction grew stronger. It was exactly as she had suspected!

“Even though Lady Faltis isn’t here, she devised all sorts of ways to test me, didn’t she?” Eileen confidently declared the “truth.”

“Eh? Eh?!” So that was the truth of it?!