Chapter 17: Aisha’s Unveiled Resolve

I had never truly understood why Aisha was angry.

However, during our journey to Windward Port these past few days, I made an unexpected discovery.

Unlike the maid Aisha I had encountered in the Lord’s bedroom before, the girl now accompanying me showed none of that earlier obedience or fawning demeanor.

She consistently maintained a cold, aloof posture, speaking little and subtly exuding an air of arrogance.

This wasn’t just directed at me; she behaved similarly towards the other maids, and even towards the Head Maid, Bena.

Perhaps this was precisely why she was ostracized by the others.

Yet, beyond this characteristic, I observed that when Aisha performed her duties, she was like a born workhorse, capable of enduring any hardship.

For instance, while washing clothes for everyone:

“You can’t even wash this little bit of laundry properly? Get out, get out, get out! Don’t butt in blindly. Either bring me what needs washing, or take what I’ve already washed to hang. Standing there like a block of wood is just an eyesore!”

And when dealing with the chamber pots:

“Are you kidding me, you stinky brat? You brushed it like *that*? This is for the Young Miss, not for a horse, alright? You dare give this to her? I’m telling you, if you truly have nothing to do, you might as well use this opportunity to wash your own clothes. Damn it, they reek; I feel sick just smelling them.”

Though she always spoke with a fiery temper, making her as unapproachable as a volcano, I vaguely perceived that she was using this method of ‘disdain’ to allow me a chance to rest.

Thanks to her efforts, I felt my wounds had healed considerably, and some of the blackened bandages could finally be removed.

But…

‘Why would she do this?’

I recalled that day in the Lord’s bedroom, and even at the very start of our journey, the look in her eyes seemed filled with anger when she gazed at me.

Every day during my rest periods, or at night before sleeping, I pondered this question. I didn’t believe she had any leverage over me, nor did she have any reason to curry favor.

In fact, I would have found it more normal if she had ostracized me like the other maids.

‘Could it be pity?’

I examined my own body, noticing that due to malnutrition and overwork, I had indeed become much thinner recently, with the contours of my bones clearly visible.

Streaks of black and purple bruises also marred my legs and arms, appearing tragically stark against my skin tone.

‘That’s certainly a possibility…’

But…

I always felt that wasn’t the real reason.

Finally, on the evening we arrived at Windward Port, after our work was done, we were granted a rare period of rest. Seizing this opportunity, I posed the question to Aisha.

Her response was direct and blunt:

“What’s wrong with you? What I want to do has nothing to do with you. Besides, isn’t it good for you to benefit? Why do you have to keep asking?”

She snorted with disdain, turning to leave.

I quickly grabbed her arm.

“What do you want?” She glared back fiercely. “Let go!”

“Aisha.”

It seemed to be the first time I had called her by name, and my tone was earnest.

“Please, I’m truly desperate to know your reason for doing this.”

“You ask me, and I’ll tell you? Who do you think you are?”

Indeed, there must have been some underlying reason for her actions. Perhaps it was a momentary act of kindness, or perhaps pity for me.

Regardless, she had every right to keep her reasons private.

However…

Sighing softly, I slowly bent at the waist, lowering my head, my hands resting on my knees. In this respectful manner, I spoke again:

“Please, Miss Aisha, tell me. I truly want to know why you’ve helped me, especially since you are, so far, the first person who hasn’t been… particularly bad to me.”

“Ugh… why are you being so melodramatic?”

Aisha’s face twitched slightly, as if my words had disgusted her.

“Damn it, I knew I should’ve worked you to death, you whiny, stinky brat! I don’t even know if there’s water in your brain; you have so many injuries yet you’re forcing yourself to work here. If I wasn’t afraid you’d collapse and die right in front of me, I would’ve pushed all the work onto you all day long!”

“So…”

I tilted my head slightly, looking at her, and asked uncertainly,

“You were worried I’d collapse from exhaustion?”

“Hmph?”

Aisha crossed her arms, turning her head away with a scoff.

“I didn’t think that much about it, anyway.”

Even now, she maintained that aloof, unapproachable demeanor. Yet, at this moment, I felt I finally understood her.

This child’s heart was not as cold as her exterior suggested. Her inner self, like her vibrant red hair, held an undeniable warmth, like sunlight encased in ice—capable of bringing comfort to someone like me, despite her cold, proud facade.

“I see…”

Having received a satisfactory answer, I decided not to press for more details. Sometimes, leaving a little unsaid can make interactions more comfortable for both parties.

In any world, human nature seemed to be thus.

However, I still had another question. Why was Miss Aisha, who was beautiful, hardworking, capable, and even cared for others, being ostracized?

Seizing the moment when no outsiders were present, I couldn’t help but voice this query.

“Huh? Ostracized? Actually, it’s just that old hag Bena who can’t stand me; my relationship with the other sisters isn’t that bad.”

When she spoke of Head Maid Bena, Aisha’s eyes seemed to conceal a man-eating lion.

“She’s getting on in years and constantly fears her position will be taken by a younger maid like me, so she’s always resented me. Of course, the main reason is that I recently slept with the Lord and earned ten silver wolves, but didn’t give her a cut. That’s why she got so agitated and has been targeting me at every turn.”

“Oh…”

I mused thoughtfully. Indeed, upon reflection, according to the tradition of Windfrost Manor, the Head Maid was usually replaced by a younger candidate once she reached a certain age.

Bena, having served as Head Maid for so long, surely had her own preferred successor. Miss Aisha, being so sharp-witted and unwilling to offer a ‘filial’ cut of her silver wolves, was certainly not her chosen type. It was hardly surprising that Bena would suppress such a competitive young woman.

“So… why did you defy Bena like that? If you had just yielded a little, perhaps she would have proposed you as the next Head Maid?”

I voiced my confusion.

“Yield? I’ll yield her mother!”

Miss Aisha erupted in a torrent of curses, seemingly unconcerned with her image, bearing no resemblance to the delicate and charming figure she had been in the Lord’s arms.

“The Head Maid is appointed by the Lord, not by her, Bena! An old hag who’s almost retired, trying to act all powerful with the fox’s might? And telling me to split the silver wolves seven-three, with seventy percent going to her?”

“Damn her mother! I almost thought *she* was the one sleeping with the Lord! Such a shameless proposal, and you’re telling me to endure it? If I endured that, what’s the difference between me and a beggar?”

“Hiss—”

Upon careful consideration, I couldn’t help but nod.

“That actually makes sense…”

“Right, right!”

Miss Aisha excitedly clapped me on the shoulder, her face serious as she declared,

“I slept with the Lord precisely because I didn’t want to live under the thumb of such people! Originally, I planned to climb up and thoroughly reform this strange exploitative atmosphere in the Manor, but now I’ve been assigned to Moon Island? How unlucky!”

After hearing Miss Aisha’s reasons for being targeted, and her somewhat outrageous aspirations, I suddenly felt that this child was actually quite naive and straightforward. I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“What are you laughing at?”

She angrily pinched my cheek hard.

“Didn’t you ask me? I told you, and you’re still mocking me? You have a truly wicked heart, you know!?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”

I struggled to suppress my laughter, then said helplessly,

“So, now that you’ve been assigned to Moon Island with me, there’s probably nothing you can do about it, huh?”

“Hmph—what’s there to be afraid of?”

Aisha once again adopted her haughty demeanor, her eyes gleaming with an unyielding spirit.

“If I failed in Windfrost Territory, I’ll just climb back up on Moon Island. The Lord of Windfrost is a man; isn’t the Lord of Moon Island also a man?”

“Men are all the same. I’m young, beautiful, have a good figure, and I’m capable—those are my assets!”

“I swear, I will use every possible method, step by step, step by step, step by step, to climb to the very top!”

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