Chapter 66: The White-Haired Maid’s Shameful Punishment, Dragging the Noble Miss Down Too (2)

Chapter 66: The White-Haired Maid's Shameful Punishment, Dragging the Noble Miss Down Too (2)

But Shia's cold demeanor and sharp tone silenced her rage.

"Attacking your master without permission—where did you learn such insolence?"

His voice was as icy as the night air, cutting through her defiance.

Tia flinched, her body trembling as though facing the head of the family.

Her once-overbearing demeanor crumbled into fear and submission.

"As a maid, you dare to disrespect your master and act so arrogantly? Is this how the Guen family trains their servants?"

"Do you want to bring shame upon your mistress?"

Tia's lips parted, but no words came.

The honor of her family couldn't be tarnished.

Yet Shia's words struck a nerve. She had failed her mistress, failed her role as a servant.

Her gaze wavered, her body shook, and the daggers in her hands nearly slipped from her grip.

Her mental defenses crumbled, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.

Shia's voice rose sharply, carrying the weight of undeniable authority.

"Kneel and admit your mistake!"

**"Thud!"**

Without the slightest hesitation, driven by her instinct to obey, Tia dropped to her knees.

The rough cobblestone path dug painfully into her legs, her hands releasing the daggers, leaving her prostrated on the ground with her forehead pressed against the stones.

The once proud and defiant white-haired maid had been reduced to submission, stripped of her usual arrogance and sharp tongue. Wha t remained was obedience and fear.

Even Tia herself couldn't fully understand why she felt so terrified of Shia.

After all, he was just an ordinary man with no talent for cultivation.

The thought was humiliating—how could she, someone so capable, be afraid of someone like him?

She quickly rationalized it:

It's for the mistress.

Her earlier actions had been reckless, and if she truly went through with it, she would have disrupted her mistress's plans and given this "useless man" a reason to retaliate.

Yes, this was all for her lady's sake.

Tia clung to this excuse, deceiving herself to justify her submission.

"You're quite fond of your mistress, aren't you?"

Shia crouched before her, his hand tilting her chin upward, forcing her to meet his gaze.

His words struck a nerve.

For a moment, Tia's icy composure crumbled as she felt he had peered into the deepest corners of her heart. Her body trembled, a shiver running down her spine.

But Shia wasn't using this to threaten her. Instead, his lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Mere admiration won't get you anywhere. It will only widen the gap between you."

Tia didn't want to hear such nonsense.

Her lady was her mistress—a noblewoman she served loyally, someone far above her. As a servant, it wasn't her place to dream of anything more.

Their statuses were worlds apart.

Even being allowed to stay by her side, to serve her every day, felt like a blessing.

Tia told herself this was enough. Her mistress was close to her, reliant on her, even trusting her to protect her when necessary.

This closeness—they were already so intimate. How could they be drifting further apart?

He's lying.

The thought lit a spark of defiance in Tia's mind.

Such secrets mustn't be exposed, especially not to this "useless man."

"I don't."

Her denial was swift, though her shaky voice betrayed her.

Shia's mocking gaze remained fixed on her. It seemed to say, *I already know the truth. Denying it is pointless.*

"You think you're unworthy?"

Tia pressed her lips together tightly, unwilling to respond.

The humiliation of having someone she despised speak her innermost fears aloud was unbearable.

She remained silent, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge his words.

"What if I were to bring her down to your level?"

Her eyes widened slightly, shock flashing across her face.

The idea was so audacious, so absurd, that she hadn't even considered it possible.

But… a small part of her couldn't deny the appeal.

Her mistress, the noble and elegant heir of the Guen family, standing on the same ground as her?

Impossible.

Shia pressed on, his voice dripping with temptation.

"You're too afraid to desire her because of the difference in status. But if I made her your equal, wouldn't that change things?"

Tia's heart raced as she mulled over his words.

What if, one day, she didn't have to look up to her mistress?

The thought was intoxicating, even if she dared not admit it.

Shia smirked as he pulled out his phone and tapped a few times.

"Let me show you something."

He turned the screen toward her, revealing a video.

Her attention was immediately drawn to it.

It was a recording of Lilith, her golden-haired mistress, crawling on all fours, clad in a dog costume. The sight of her wagging tail and obedient demeanor was almost surreal.

Tia's eyes went wide, transfixed by the screen.

The soft sound of Shia's voice dripped like poison in her ears.

"A mistress like this—do you still need to look up to her?"

She stared at the screen, captivated by the sight. Her usually sharp eyes softened, almost glowing with a strange mix of disbelief and longing.

This… this wasn't her noble mistress, was it?

But the image was undeniable.

Tia shook her head slightly, her mind a haze of confusion and temptation.

For a brief moment, she imagined her mistress not as the untouchable figure she idolized but as someone kneeling before her, obedient and approachable.

The mere possibility sent a shiver of excitement down her spine.

If her mistress could be brought down to her level, then perhaps…

The once steadfast loyalty of the white-haired maid wavered.

Her heartbeat quickened, her breath hitched—she was tempted.

Shia observed her closely, noting the glimmer of desire in her expression. His lips curved into a sly smile.

He had planted the seed of an unthinkable idea in her mind.

But just as quickly as the thought consumed her, Tia snapped out of it, violently shaking her head.

"No! I don't!"

How could she even entertain such a filthy thought about her mistress?

Her mistress was her goddess!

Her body squirmed in protest, her rejection manifesting in her physical struggle.

"Disgusting bug! You won't drive a wedge between me and my lady!"