Chapter 321: The Final Taming of the White-Haired Maid, The Complete Overthrow of Mary Sue (3)
Though Tia remained present, to everyone else, she was invisible.
Like a ghost from a forgotten past.
This silent exclusion sent a wave of familiar dread through her.
A long-lost terror seized her heart, dragging her back into the depths of memories she wished had faded.
She had grown up on this estate, yet her childhood had been far from kind.
Her silver hair and reserved nature had always set her apart.
Her pale locks made her an outcast, an easy target.
Her quiet demeanor made her even more isolated.
Even though she had longed to belong, she had always been an outsider.
The world of servants was far crueler than society at large.
And she had been a prime victim.
For years, she endured the bullying of her fellow maids.
Because of her hair, she was ostracized; because she was ostracized, she became withdrawn; because she was withdrawn, she remained ostracized.
A vicious cycle.
Back then, every day had been filled with fear.
There had been no overt violence, but the silent torment had been suffocating.
A snide comment here, a sneering glance there—
Enough to crush a young girl's spirit.
Until she found salvation.
Until she met 'her'.
The one person she had sworn to serve for life.
Lilith had plucked her from her despair.
She had given her a place by her side.
Tia had finally escaped the cruelty of her past, stepping into a life of new purpose.
Being by her lady's side, the scorn had turned into envy and begrudging respect.
Gone were the taunts, replaced by wary admiration.
From that day, Tia had known—
Her life's meaning was to serve Lilith.
A dream-like happiness.
But now, the dream was ending.
Lilith adjusted her position, reclining more comfortably against the cushioned divan.
It was only then that she finally noticed Tia.
"Why are you still here? Go rest."
The surrounding maids turned their gazes toward Tia, their expressions unreadable.
Tia had no words left to say.
She simply bowed, turned, and left.
Her tall figure carried an air of desolation, an aching emptiness in every step.
Would she now return to the life she had escaped?
She kept her expression cold as she walked back to her room.
To an outsider, she appeared unaffected.
But inside, her world was shattering.
The 'aloof, elegant maid'—who could have guessed she was nothing but a fragile, abandoned pet?
The so-called icy exterior, the disdainful attitude—
Just a facade for her own weakness.
Even as she had grown into a confident, strong woman, she had never truly shed the timid girl within.
Especially now.
With her anchor ripped away, she had never felt so exposed.
Tia returned to her quarters and simply sat there.
She had done everything to earn Lilith's favor.
And yet, she had been cast aside.
The memory of what she had seen in Lilith's room lingered in her mind, gnawing at her.
Finally, her composure cracked.
She curled up on the chair, covering her face with her hands.
Like a pitiful, abandoned stray.
Her lady had new maids now.
She didn't need Tia anymore.
'What do I do?'
'For so many years, it was always me beside you. Always me who was most loyal.'
'You were the one who saved me, gave me a new life.'
'And now, you're the one discarding me.'
'Have you really forgotten everything we shared?'
Tia curled into herself, hugging her arms tightly, but the cold seeped into her bones.
Despair crept in, swallowing her whole.
The world she had built around Lilith was collapsing.
A low chuckle interrupted her sorrow.
"What's this? A new look? 'Pitiful stray'?"
A mocking voice filled the room.
Shia.
Tia lifted her head from her arms, her red-rimmed eyes meeting his gaze.
Her face was unreadable, but her sorrow was evident.
Shia leaned lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her with amusement.
"Looks like being thrown away by your lady really hit you hard."
He strolled in, stopping just in front of her.
Tia felt hollow.
Even his mockery didn't stir her usual ire.
Finally, she spoke, her voice hoarse.
"Why are you here? Come to torment me again?"
She let herself collapse fully onto the chair, her body slack.
Lilith had abandoned her.
What did anything else matter?
Being tormented by Shia or not—what difference did it make?
Nothing mattered anymore.
Tia stared blankly ahead, her mind numb.
If even her lady had discarded her…
What was left for her?
Shia looked at her with a hint of boredom in his eyes.
Bullying a lifeless doll was no fun at all.
So he lay down beside her, their heads resting next to each other, his hand reaching for hers.
Feeling the warmth of his palm, Tia turned her gaze toward him.
The boy's sharp features were softened by the gentle light in his eyes.
His voice was smooth and warm, stripped of its usual mocking edge.
"Alright, isn't this just a short break? Isn't a vacation a good thing?"
Under his warm gaze, an urge to confide in him suddenly welled up within Tia.
But something held her back. Whatever she wanted to say, she swallowed it down.
To her, the Lady wasn't just a master.
She was her goddess, her salvation.
How could this villain understand that?
Yet, for a moment, she wondered—he was comforting her so gently. Maybe… he wasn't as cruel as she thought?