Just as Belfast had predicted, Dido clutched the silver tray with both hands, dashing forward at full speed.
The tray was covered by an exquisite silver lid meant to keep the food warm. Even so, that distinctive scent, a blend of fish and freshly baked pastry, still drifted through the air.
Sirius ran close behind her, easily matching her pace as she spoke with heartfelt admiration.
"As expected of Sister Dido! In such a crucial moment, you're without question the bravest!"
Hearing the praise from her younger sister, Dido continued running without the slightest trace of joy on her face. Instead, the frown between her brows deepened.
Her lips moved faintly, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"Delivering Master's meal before the Head Maid arrives... If he discovers I'm the kind of terrible child who breaks the most fundamental rules just to win his attention... he'll definitely abandon me..."
Despite her anxious murmuring, Dido's hands remained perfectly steady on the tray, as if the silver plate had been welded to her palms. Her pace didn't slow in the slightest.
Watching her sister's back, the admiration in Sirius's eyes only grew stronger.
To her, Dido's effort to push past such deep insecurity was clear proof of how deeply she loved their Master.
'That's right, Sister Dido. Even with all those worries, you still have to convey your feelings as soon as possible.'
That level of determination made Sirius feel like she couldn't compare. The only thing she could do was encourage her.
"It won't happen, Sister Dido! Master is so gentle, he'll definitely understand your feelings! When it comes to loving Master, you, me, the Head Maid, and all the other sisters feel the same."
The encouragement brought a flicker of relief to Dido's expression.
'Yes... Sirius is right. Everyone feels the same.'
At last, the restaurant door came into view. Dido rushed toward it on pure instinct before suddenly coming to a halt.
One step.
That was all it would take to complete her mission and place Jun Hao's meal directly into his hands.
Yet that single step felt like an uncrossable chasm.
Realizing that her sister had already pushed far beyond her usual courage, Sirius stepped forward and gently took the tray from her hands.
"Sister Dido, it's alright. I'll handle the rest from here."
Jun Hao seemed to catch Sirius's voice and turned to look at them. His eyes brimmed with expectation, in every sense of the word.
Meeting Jun Hao's expectant gaze, Sirius addressed Dido softly.
"Master is inside waiting to taste what we've prepared. We shouldn't make him wait much longer. Sister, how about this?" She leaned in close, whispering into Dido's ear. "Let me bring the meal to Master instead. You can walk right beside me. Master's so kind, there's no way he'd blame you."
Sirius's suggestion brought a faint light back to Dido's dim eyes.
'This could work!' she thought, a hint of relief filling her heart.
This way, she could stay close to him and still avoid any accidents.
Even if she couldn't deliver it personally, at least she wouldn't risk upsetting her master because of her own loss of composure.
With that thought, she finally nodded and handed over the stargazy pie, along with all the courage she had gathered, to Sirius.
"Then... I'll leave it to you, Sirius."
"Mhm! Leave it to me, Sister!"
Sirius accepted the tray with a solemn expression and gave Dido a reassuring smile.
After lightly straightening her skirt to maintain her composure, she turned and gently stepped through the door.
Although Jun Hao couldn't hear their conversation clearly, he could tell that the food was finally being served.
But remembering Sirius's naturally clumsy nature, he immediately stood up.
His sixth sense warned him that if he didn't act now, he might regret it for the rest of his life.
He watched as Sirius approached, holding a tray covered with a silver lid. Her steps were elegant, yet slightly stiff, as if she were concentrating on every movement.
Behind her, a small silver-white head peeked nervously from the doorway.
It was Dido.
"You're finally here. I'm starving. Let me see this stargazy pie!"
Sirius originally planned to place the tray carefully on the table. Knowing she could be a little clumsy, she slowed every movement to the extreme, afraid of making even the smallest mistake.
"My honourable Master, sorry to keep you waiting. This is the... Eek!"
Sure enough, before Sirius could finish her sentence, an accident occurred.
Sirius's left foot suddenly caught on her right. With a short cry of surprise, she lost her balance, and the tray in her hands flew into the air.
In that instant, Jun Hao's body moved on pure instinct. He dove forward, his left hand snatching the tray cleanly from the air.
His right arm circled Sirius's waist, catching her falling form and drawing her into his embrace. The whole sequence flowed together in one smooth, heart-stopping motion.
For Sirius, everything happened in a blur. Her world spun for a moment before she found herself held within a warm and steady embrace.
Dazed, she looked up and met Jun Hao's eyes, which were filled with concern.
"Are you okay?"
Jun Hao's voice snapped her out of her daze.
Sirius's face instantly turned bright red, the blush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. She hurriedly pulled away from Jun Hao's arms, took two panicked steps back, and bowed deeply.
"I... I'm sorry! My honourable Master!" Her voice trembled slightly with shame and nervousness. "I caused trouble for you again! I'm such a clumsy maid! Please punish me!"
Seeing that she looked on the verge of tears, Jun Hao simply shook his head with a faint smile. He carefully placed the tray on the table before speaking.
"Haven't I said it before? You don't need to be so tense. It was just a small accident. There's no reason to be this nervous."
Instead of dwelling on what happened, Jun Hao knelt down.
"What matters more is whether you hurt your ankle."
"No!" Sirius shook her head frantically. "I'm perfectly fine. Thank you, my honourable Master."
At that moment, Belfast quietly appeared beside Dido as if she had been there all along. The instant Dido noticed her, she looked like a child who had just been caught doing something wrong.
"Head Maid, I'm sorry..."
There wasn't a trace of anger on Belfast's face. Rather, an understanding smile graced her lips.
She extended a hand and carefully adjusted Dido's disheveled appearance.
"It's fine."
Belfast's tone remained as composed and gentle as ever.
"You love Master deeply as well. Such feelings are only natural."
The reassurance melted away every bit of anxiety weighing on Dido's heart.
Belfast then looked into the restaurant, where Sirius was still blushing furiously and flustered under Jun Hao's gentle concern. A thoughtful glint flashed through her eyes.
The clumsy maid persona truly suited Sirius best. Her sincere awkwardness and genuine panic were things no amount of acting could ever replicate.
If Belfast herself tried to imitate it, it would likely appear calculated and unnatural.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Belfast suddenly realized something that even surprised herself.
She had begun to naturally accept her own imperfections.
'In less than a single day, Master has already displayed such frightening charm... It seems the time has come. Tonight, I should entrust my imperfect side to him. Otherwise... how long will it be before another opportunity appears?'
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Novels Available:
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