I gently knocked on the door of the master's room.

Then I heard footsteps ringing inside. I took a few steps back to greet my master, and it didn't take long for the door to open.

"Master...master, good evening."

I lowered my head the moment the door opened. When the cold breeze blew through, it hardly dissipated the temperature on my face.

The master did not respond. I looked up curiously and found that the master's expression was complicated.

The mood dropped to the bottom in that moment. Sure enough the master does not like me like this.

"I...I'd better...better go back and change it."

The legs were shivering. It was not because of the cold breeze outside, but because of the remorse in my heart. The negative emotion of loss made me break down for a while.

I could escape this place as soon as I got a nod and a sign from my master.

"Come in."

The master's expression, however, suddenly turned soft again, leaving me a little confused.

So I dumbly followed my master into her room. Only when she closed the door behind me did I hastily turn my head.

"Master...if you don't like me like this, I'd better go back and change my dressing."

The smile gradually dissipated the master's original cold face. The master stood in front of the doorway sizing me up with interest.

I felt a little embarrassed as I clenched my legs and clasped my hands. At this moment my master's gaze swept over me.

Since the master is now so interested in my costume, did the master's expression just want to make fool of me when she saw me at the beginning ?

"Why are you dressed up like this?"

The master still smiled and asked me.

"I...I don't want to be the master's slave or pet anymore." I truthfully explained, "No, it doesn't mean that I don't want to listen to my master. I will still do whatever she says. I just don't want to be so lowly. But when I thought that I still call you master, I thought it's not bad to be master's maid."

"Hmm."

The master nodded. She brushed past me, and then sat down in a chair at the table in the middle of the room.

"But this is completely unnecessary. Didn't I tell you not to be stuck in your status?"

Looking at the master's face suddenly turned serious, usually when I am alone with the master, she rarely shows this kind of expression. Is the master angry because she thinks I am lying?

"No...no master, I just want to be the master's exclusive maid. At...that...time...when we return back to the imperial capital or usually stop in other cities, I think, I take care of the master. It will be fine... "

I finished explaining. I was too anxious and nervous so I told the truth in my heart.

"Keep talking."

I saw that the master's serious face at this time can no longer hold back her smile, and the corners of her mouth has been shaking slightly.

I felt that I had been tricked.

So I resigned to fate and I confessed all to the master.

"I don't want others to come near the master, washing clothes, cooking and mopping. I can do it. Anyway...I usually have nothing to do, and I won't help the master manage the court. So I might as well help the master do some chores in life. I know...I know the average maid can do this, but I still think...think...think..."

"Think about what?"

Thinking about having the master all to myself, but I can't say that.

"Thinking about I'm the only one qualified to serve my master."

"Hmm. Whether or not you’re qualified, I'm in charge. Why do you feel so greatly confident to compare to those professional maids?"

"I...I..."

I felt like I had fallen into my master's trap, but I didn't know how to defend myself.

This almost confession of honesty has made me ashamed to the point of embarrassment. My cheeks flushed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Standing in place I had not said anything for long.

The master may have felt tired, so she stopped teasing me, but she can’t hold back her smile.

"If you do not want to say, it’s okay. This is a good look. If you like to wear it, you can dress like this."

It doesn't matter if I like it or not. What matters is the master's opinion. I lowered my head down, and my cheeks must flush hard.

"So...does master like me like this?"

"Well, I'm quite happy if you want to do that."

"Great."

Raising my head with joy, I covered my chest with both hands to suppress my extremely fast beating heart, after all, I didn't bother to study for nothing.

I could feel my delighted smile lighting up the small room, and the master's face was gradually infected with a faint smile.

The dim light from the crystal lamp reflected on my master's serene face. Under the occasional sweeping eyelashes were the red pupils that made my heart beat faster.

"Master..."

"Hmm?"

"...Nothing."

The words of confession were about to come out, and the fingers of the interlocked hands kept crossing and playing. I chagrined at why I became silent again, but I didn't want to leave my master's room so soon.

"Sit down."

After a long period of silence, the master turned her head slightly and gestured for me to sit on the stool next to her.

"But...I'm a maid."

"I'm tired of looking at you with my head up."

"Yes."

Warily pressing the hem of my maid's dress, I sat next to my master and got close enough that the rich aroma emanating from the master nearly confused me.

"If you become so nervous after being a maid, just go back to the way you was before."

"No, master, I'm nervous because... because..."

I can't even hear my own voice as I say it. I can still feel my cheeks burning with my head down. Why do I always want to confess my heart when I'm trying to justify it?

A hand suddenly came into my eyes, followed by a cold touch on my face.

"It's hot."

Did my master reach out and touch my face? But this will make my face even hotter.

"Calm down."

The master's soft voice came into my ears, and she also removed her hand from my face.

"Yeah."

I gradually calmed down, and the temperature on my face gradually receded.