Chapter 837: Privilege, Pity, and Possibility ( 837 )
Javier was about to lean in for another kiss when a familiar voice drifted over, teasing, melodious, and impossible to ignore.
"Ara~ it seems that after the young master claimed his elf, he’s already forgotten about his future second wife~"
Both Javier and Liana turned, blinking in surprise.
Gloria stood just a few paces away, the picture of poise, glasses catching the morning light, and not a single fold out of place on her crisp maid’s uniform. She slipped down from her Pekko with practiced grace, smoothing her skirt.
Without missing a beat, Gloria let out a theatrical sigh and collapsed to her knees, skirt swirling around her. One hand pressed to her brow, the other fluttered a handkerchief toward her cheek as if dabbing away imaginary tears.
"Oh~ young master, how cruel," Gloria declared, her voice quivering with mock anguish.
"You ran away to the royal capital with Liana and left me here, all alone, abandoned to the cold, heartless nights... Sob, sob..."
She pressed her sleeve to her eyes, fake tears and all, making an extravagant show of sorrow.
"Devoured, discarded... truly, once the honey is finished, the residue is tossed aside. Such is the fate of this poor half-elf..."
She sniffled loudly, casting a sideways glance to make sure Javier was watching.
"All because I look too human, while this flawless elf beside you shines like the dawn~ of course, of course you would forget about this humble Gloria... sob..."
Liana couldn’t help it. A small laugh escaped her lips, bright and clear, chasing away any awkwardness left from their public display.
Javier rolled his eyes, but a reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "Gloria, if you keep that up, the entire town’s going to think you’ve lost your mind."
Gloria peeked at him from behind her sleeve, glasses glinting. "Oh, but young master, my heart has already been lost, to you! How else could I survive such heartbreak?"
Liana sighed and chuckled. "Gloria, if you keep this up, people will start thinking the Armand household breeds nothing but troublemakers."
Gloria grinned, lowering her handkerchief with a wink. "Ara, but isn’t that true?"
"O–oi! I’m not a troublemaker!" Javier sputtered, his face flushing as Gloria stood, brushing dust from her skirt with a little flourish.
Before he could recover, Gloria darted forward and threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. Then, rising on her toes, she pressed a full, passionate kiss to his lips, a kiss that left no room for doubt about how much she’d missed him.
For a moment, Javier was frozen in surprise, but then his arms instinctively circled her, returning the embrace.
When Gloria finally pulled back, her cheeks were pink but her eyes shone with unfiltered joy. "Young master, I missed you~"
Javier looked down, his own smile turning gentle. "I missed you too."
"Really? Really? Really?" Gloria’s voice was almost childlike, her eyes wide as she searched his face, needing to be sure.
He chuckled, nodding. "Really."
Just then, Liana’s gaze sharpened. She noticed the faint dark circles under Gloria’s eyes. A telltale sign hidden behind her glasses.
"Gloria?" Liana called softly.
"Hmm?" Gloria turned, still clinging to Javier’s arm.
Liana frowned, her tone half teasing, half concerned. "Don’t tell me..." But before Liana could continue.
Gloria quickly let go, adjusting her uniform and straightening her glasses with practiced composure. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Liana~" then looked at Javier.
"Ah, young master! You must be hungry, right? How about we find somewhere to eat?" She slipped neatly behind Javier, pushing him forward with gentle insistence, eager to change the subject.
Liana sighed, a knowing smile on her lips as they walked.
Gloria wrapped herself around Javier’s left arm, her smile bright and eyes sparkling despite her lack of sleep. Liana strolled on his right, her step light and calm, but her thoughts quietly swirling.
She’s really changed, Liana mused, glancing at Gloria with a small, wistful smile.
When she first became head of the household maids, she was always so composed, dignified, always keeping her distance, never letting her feelings slip. She carried herself with such maturity... but now, look at her. Not even trying to hide how much she loves him.
Liana’s own smile softened as she watched Javier joke quietly with Gloria, letting himself be pulled along with no resistance.
But who am I to judge? I’ve changed too. I remember how strict I was, how rigid, no-nonsense, always clinging to rules and discipline. Everything had to be proper, controlled, never letting my guard down...
She squeezed Javier’s arm a little tighter, warmth blooming quietly in her chest.
Now... I don’t think I could go back to the way I was. Not after meeting him. Not after letting myself care this much.
She remembered back.
So much had happened.
There was a time when she herself had been the head of all maids, long before Gloria took up the role. She’d been responsible for every corridor and every secret in the estate, yet somehow her real trial began the day she was assigned as Javier’s personal maid, alongside Lithia and Meira.
When Meira was reassigned to Cedric, and Lithia to Marcellus, it was Liana left alone with him, day and night. No one else lasted long in the job. He’d always been different, even as a child, too clever for his own good, with that mischievous glint in his eyes and a stubborn streak that could shame any noble.
She bit back a laugh, recalling the early days.
There was the time when he was just a baby, clinging to her insistently, demanding to be breastfed, even though she’d never had milk. The look on his face when she tried to stop him, how stubbornly he’d refused to take no for an answer and end up getting what he wanted. Looking at how he was happy.
Other days, she’d end up dragging him down the corridor by the collar, the only way to stop him from sneaking out through the kitchens or trying to climb out a window. He’d wriggle, protest, even throw a tantrum, but in the end, she always won.
There were times she’d lost her patience and socked him right in the forehead, punched him in the face. She’d chased him around the estate more times than she could count.
No other maid had ever managed to keep up with him.
And now, as she glanced up at the tall, handsome young man beside her—his face striking enough to turn heads wherever he went. She smiled softly, a gentle ache of pride and affection blooming in her chest.
Gloria fell for him too, after me, she thought, a gentle warmth in her chest.
Who could blame her?
After all...
I also fell hard for him.
Liana smiled to herself, barely holding back a quiet chuckle. The thought felt ridiculous and inevitable all at once.
A caretaker, a personal maid, who once so strict and rule-bound, now completely undone by the same boy she’d once had to chase around the halls.
Really... someone who was supposed to just look after him, keep him out of trouble, ended up falling for him completely. What a mess...
( End Of Chapter )