Chapter 322: The Final Taming of the White-Haired Maid, The Complete Overthrow of Mary Sue (4)
Shia turned his head, catching the emotions flickering in her eyes. He understood everything she wasn't saying.
A sliver of pity crept into his expression.
So foolish.
Kind? Comforting? A warmhearted man?
Not even in his worst nightmares.
"Do you really think she was the one who saved you back then?"
At his words, a strange shift crossed Tia's face.
He 'knew'?
"Tell me, among thousands of servants, why would Lilith take notice of you?"
"Why would she pull 'you' out of the cycle of bullying?"
"What special trait did you have that made her send you to train?"
"You went from a powerless maid to standing above the others. Do you 'really' believe it was all thanks to Lilith's kindness?"
A creeping dread settled in Tia's stomach. Some part of her knew she wouldn't like what he said next.
But she couldn't look away. Her eyes were locked onto his lips as he spoke the final blow.
"It was all because of me."
Her eyes widened in shock.
She could only shake her head, her lips moving soundlessly.
No.
No, that wasn't possible.
Back then, it was her lady who had stepped up to protect her—
"You think a pampered noblewoman like Lilith would bother noticing a bullied maid among many?"
"I was the one who saw what was happening to you. The one who understood what they were doing."
"She wouldn't have known what real bullying looked like, but I did."
"That day at lunch, when they forced you to clean the greenhouse instead of letting you eat—it was 'me' who made her stop them. That's why you got that warm meal."
"When they cornered you in the shadows, pulling at your hair—it was 'me' who directed her attention to that spot so she could see what was happening."
"Back then, I was nothing but an outsider she had picked up, but I knew what you were going through. I understood your fear."
"So I convinced her to take you in."
"Your status wouldn't change, but at least you could live with dignity."
Tia bolted upright, looking down at him, shaking her head wildly.
"No… that's not right."
Shia sat up too, locking eyes with her.
"What isn't?"
"It was my lady who saved me! What does this have to do with 'you'?!"
Tia felt her entire world tilt.
If what Shia was saying was true, then everything she believed about her past was a lie.
She clutched her head, mumbling to herself.
"She took me to train, she nurtured me…"
Shia cut her off.
"You know I can't train. But I knew you had potential."
"Before, you were bullied because you were different—because you had no power to defend yourself."
"That's why I pushed for her to train you. To give you the strength you needed to stand on your own."
"Liar!"
Tia clamped her hands over her ears, shrinking away from him.
Her voice was loud, as if trying to convince herself more than him.
She curled up in the corner of the bed, shaking her head repeatedly.
Her voice grew softer, turning into a broken whisper.
"Liar…"
She felt like she was going insane.
The person she had idolized, devoted her life to—was she wrong about 'everything'?
Her breath hitched, her chest tightened, her vision blurred with tears.
She snapped her head up, eyes red with fury and pain.
"Get out!"
Shia shrugged.
"Don't want to believe it? Then go and confirm it yourself."
With that, he turned and walked away, his back unhurried and confident.
As if he had no fear of being proven wrong.
Tia watched his retreating figure, her heart sinking.
This had to be some twisted trick of his.
How could any of it be true?
And yet…
A seed of doubt was planted.
There was one way to find out.
She would go to Lilith. She would ask her.
But Lilith—
She was too busy basking in the attention of her maids, too indulged in their service to care for old memories.
When Tia finally approached her, offering a cup of tea, she barely acknowledged it.
She sipped the tea distractedly and waved her away.
"You're still recovering. Go rest. No need to trouble yourself here."
Tia froze.
This tea—
It was the same blend she had once gifted Lilith as a thank-you, years ago.
Back then, it had been the best tea she could offer, given with the deepest gratitude.
She had once believed Lilith cherished it because she cherished 'her'.
But now—
Lilith didn't even remember.
Not the moment she had saved her.
Not the choice to keep her by her side.
Nothing.
Meanwhile, Shia had remembered every detail.
Her fingers trembled as she carried the empty tray back to her quarters.
Locking the door behind her, she slumped against it, staring at the ceiling.
Shia's words echoed in her mind.
"Because I was the one who told her what to do."
If that was true…
Then everything—
Tia's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
Her lips parted, her breath shallow.
Her past had always been a blur of pain and salvation.
But now, for the first time, memories she had long buried came rushing back, crystal clear.