However, in the face of absolute physical prowess, the so-called courage was nothing but a joke.
The price Lily Ji paid for standing up for Sherya was being shoved and falling to the ground alongside her.
Her tender knee collided with the ground, and one could clearly see the immediate redness.
The girl displayed a pained and helpless expression, her golden hair trembling along with her shoulders.
The freshly tidied white skirt unavoidably gathered dust.
Even so, Lily Ji still endured, forcing a smile to comfort Sherya beside her.
“It’s okay… I’m fine.”
Sherya’s cherry-colored pupils trembled, and in the shimmering tears, an unspoken apology glistened.
Seeing this, Lily Ji reached out and tightly held the elf girl’s cold hand, smiling.
“Fool, what are you thinking? It’s not because of you that I got involved!”
Before you came along, as an anomaly among the maids, I’ve also been bullied and insulted plenty, treated as someone who could be freely bullied.
Just like now, the leading maid said condescendingly.
“Heh, lower-class people and lower-class elves are indeed a perfect match!”
Other maids chimed in.
“That’s right, one idiot and one mute!”
“Who knows how Lady Ji Lian managed to gather them together? Or is it a case of oddities being drawn to each other?”
“Haha… Hahaha!”
The maids’ words instantly garnered the laughter and approval of onlookers.
Those people were potential bullies, indifferent spectators.
Even if they didn’t directly bully Sherya and Lily Ji, they stood by, observing the act of bullying with amusement.
Showing no intention of stopping this behavior.
The leading maid took this as everyone’s support for her, laughing more unrestrainedly, even bending over backward.
Yet, she failed to notice that at some point, the mocking laughter from those echoing her had gradually faded away.
In its place came a series of swift, rhythmical footsteps, reminiscent of drum beats.
Before the maids could react, someone arrived at her side.
—Snapped!
A sharp and crisp sound echoed through the otherwise silent restaurant.
The black-haired maid’s cheek was unexpectedly met with a sudden slap, forcefully turning her head to the side, her hair swaying chaotically.
A loud ringing filled her ears, and her figure swayed unsteadily.
If she hadn’t held onto the nearby serving counter, she would have fallen to the ground more pitifully than anyone else.
Witnessing this, the other maids trembled in fear.
Some simply had their knees go weak and knelt directly in front of the newcomer, completely submitting.
“Pl-please forgive us, Second Young Lady!”
Indeed, the girl who entered the restaurant was none other than Ji Lian, the second daughter of the Ji family.
Yes, she was not favored.
She had no significant authority.
In her veins flowed the so-called “unclean Western blood.”
But don’t forget, within Ji Lian’s body also another half, belonging to the most prestigious lineage of the Ji family!
Disrespect towards her could similarly escalate to disrespect towards the entire Ji family!
Despite the maids often mocking Ji Lian’s lineage and name behind her back, they had grown accustomed to the belief that Ji Lian wouldn’t pursue them, and they dared not exhibit such behavior in front of their mistress.
However, once Ji Lian truly decided to confront any of them head-on.
None of them could endure the wrath unleashed by Ji Lian!
As evident now, Ji Lian finally revealed her less forgiving side.
The maids immediately fell to their knees, begging for mercy.
The contrast between their previous and current attitudes was laughable to the extreme.
Ji Lian looked coldly at them, and her gaze fell upon the fallen and pitiful little elf, Sherya.
Seeing her with a pale and delicate face, tearful and pitiful, and thinking about the cruel treatment she had endured just last night, a twinge of pain pierced the girl’s heart.
It was as if a knife called “guilt” cut through her.
As a result, Ji Lian, unusually, lost some control over her emotions, no longer maintaining her usual graceful and composed demeanor.
Her chest heaved violently as she angrily declared,
“Get out, all of you!”
The maids who participated in the bullying immediately scattered in panic.
Even those who were not directly involved were afraid of incurring the Second Lady’s wrath, and they hurriedly left with their tails between their legs.
For a moment, the restaurant was left with Ji Lian and the two young girls, staring at each other in silence.
“…”
Ji Lian hadn’t yet decided on her stance or what to say.
She observed Sherya, who now appeared more frightened and distressed than when facing the maids who had bullied her earlier, with tears streaming down her face.
Simultaneously, the small elf girl couldn’t help but shrink back into a corner.
When there was no escape left, she finally hugged her knees, trembling all over, resembling a frightened little kitten.
She could only curl up in this way, seeking the only trace of warmth she could find, as if that was the only way to prevent her heart from completely breaking and despairing.
Lily Ji, bewildered and worried, called out the girl’s name.
“Sherya! Sherya, what’s wrong with you!”
“Lady Ji Lian is here, she saved us!”
“But why… are you becoming scared instead?”
Everything happening in reality far exceeded Lily Ji’s little understanding.
She was at a loss, not knowing how to comfort Sherya in this moment.
So, the girl could only look towards her trusted Second Young Lady Ji Lian, seeking help.
But Ji Lian understood better than anyone else why the elf girl had ended up in this pitiful state.
One could even say that she was the instigator, the one who caused all of this.
What face did she have now to comfort the girl and ask her not to cry?
Sherya…
This is the name that my sister chose for you.
The tip of the tongue touched the palate in three steps, gently falling from the upper palate to the teeth—Sherya…
Such a beautiful name, but Ji Lian’s mouth was dry, and she hesitated, lacking the courage to call it out.
Thus, one stood frozen in place, while the other wept, hugging her knees.
Although they were physically close, it felt as if a galaxy separated them.
It was uncertain how much time had passed.
Perhaps it wasn’t long, but for Ji Lian’s heart, there had never been a moment as agonizing as now, making the time seem prolonged.
Yet, Sherya seemed to have finally emerged from the sorrow and distress, finding strength within herself.
Ji Lian saw her discreetly wiping away her own tears.
Under the silver fringe of her hair, a pair of cherry blossom-colored eyes, crystal-clear like jade, were breathtakingly beautiful, yet pitiful enough to make people sigh.
Sherya looked at Ji Lian with a delicate and timid gaze, difficult to interpret.
In the next moment, she picked up the scattered writing board and pencil from the ground.
Placing it on her knee, aligning it.
With trembling fingertips, she began to write.
“Swish… Swish, swish…”
I don’t know what was written on it.
Just as Ji Lian felt curious, Sherya had already flipped it over, simultaneously raising it to cover her still-sniffling face.
Displayed in front of Ji Lian was, surprisingly, writing done in a childlike, tender handwriting.
“Sorry…” were the three words.
The pitiful elf girl.
Apologizing to her, Ji Lian, for crying, as if it were her fault!
A profoundly suppressed sadness suddenly surged from the depths of Ji Lian’s heart, welling up in her chest and eyes.
It was a poignant sensation, making one want to shed tears!
Immediately, she knelt down on both knees and tightly embraced Sherya in front of her.
Without any reservation.
If you like my translation, you can support me by sending me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/zackeisha
Thank you so much. Enjoy reading!
