"Do you only listen to your master?"

"Of course."

Liang Anya glanced at the Little Meatball in her arms. "Doesn’t Xiaoxiao count as your master too?"

The subordinate was dumbfounded. Just as he hesitated, Beth chimed in from the side, "Miss Liang and Miss Xiaoxiao just want to take a quick look at the King and Queen—no more than five minutes. It’ll be fine! Handsome, give us a break!"

Before the subordinate could react, Liang Anya had already bypassed him with Xiaoxiao in her arms and headed downstairs toward the basement.

"Hey, hey..." The subordinate could only stand there helplessly as the trio went in.

...

In the basement.

In the large iron cage, the King and Queen lay on the ground. Upon seeing familiar faces, they jumped up and rushed to the cage door, barking and howling eagerly.

Liang Anya handed Xiaoxiao to Beth, crouched down, and reached through to vigorously rub the heads of the two large dogs. "King, Queen, you’ve suffered so much. Your master is such a scumbag for locking you up in a place like this! When you’re out, remember to bite him to death!"

Beth joked on purpose. "The Hall Master is seriously angry this time. It seems the King and Queen are in for a longer punishment..."

Liang Anya’s expression shifted subtly.

After five minutes, the subordinate came to call them. Liang Anya said her goodbyes to the King and Queen and prepared to leave.

The two dogs, realizing she was leaving, paced in circles within the cage, howling reluctantly.

Liang Anya felt torn but had no other choices as she left with Beth.

On the way back, Beth struck while the iron was hot. "Miss Liang, why not plead with the Hall Master?"

"Dream on."

Knowing she would refuse, Beth covered her mouth and laughed. "Then at least prepare a birthday gift for the Hall Master. When you present it to the Hall Master, you can slip in a plea. Anyway, the Hall Master is asking *you* to give the gift this time, so you wouldn’t lose face, right?"

Liang Anya fell silent and said nothing further.

**

After making up her mind, she contemplated for a long while. On Beth’s suggestion, Liang Anya decided to bake a birthday cake for Si Yuheng.

It seemed practical and fitting for the occasion.

Girls often have a soft spot for sweet treats. During her time studying in Italy, she was particularly fond of baking, often spending entire days experimenting by the oven. This time, it could serve as a way to put those skills to use.

The next day, Beth led Liang Anya to the kitchen.

The kitchen was spacious and well-equipped with utensils and ingredients. For the next few days, she spent her daylight hours immersed in the kitchen.

On Si Yuheng’s birthday, the entire castle was abuzz with excitement.

From noon, outdoor lawns and the first-floor banquet hall hosted a grand birthday celebration. Numerous guests arrived one after another.

From upstairs, Liang Anya could hear the lively chatter wafting in persistently through the windows.

By evening, Liang Anya and Beth headed to the kitchen and retrieved the cake, which had been molded and shaped in advance, from the oven.

The lush white icing cream was decorated with fresh fruits, and the sweet aroma filled the entire kitchen.

In the blank space on the cake, she used a piping pen to etch out several raised sculpted English words: "Happy-Birthday-to-REX."

"Who would’ve thought Miss Liang had such a talent! The Hall Master is bound to love this. I’ll go with you to deliver it," Beth exclaimed with delight.

Liang Anya thought for a moment, then placed the wrapped cake on a silver tray and handed it to Beth. "I’ve already made the cake. You take it over for me and tell him to release the King and Queen while you’re at it."

Beth was stunned. "You’re not going?"

"He only asked me to prepare a birthday gift, not to deliver it to him personally," she insisted stubbornly.

Since getting lost in the forest that night, she hadn’t seen him again. The thought of facing him made her feel flustered.

Perhaps it was because he’d been so domineering that night, leaving her with lingering fear.

"That won’t do..."

Beth was about to persuade her further when there was a knock at the kitchen door.

The female butler, who had informed her earlier about preparing a birthday gift, poked her head in.

"Is the birthday gift ready? The Hall Master just came upstairs from the banquet hall and returned to his room. Miss Liang is to deliver it personally."

These words immediately dispelled any thought Liang Anya had of avoiding the situation.

Beth nudged Liang Anya eagerly. "Miss Liang, hurry up and go. If the Hall Master gets upset, you can forget about pleading for the King and Queen. Worse, he might come up with another way to punish you." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Under the butler’s intense gaze and Beth’s persistent nudging, Liang Anya had no choice but to steel herself. She held the cake and walked out of the kitchen.

The kitchen was on the first floor. As soon as she stepped out, she could see guests who weren’t ready to leave holding wine glasses, scattered around the hall, chatting and laughing.

She hadn’t expected so many people to show up to celebrate Si Yuheng’s birthday.

Quickening her pace, she moved through the hall toward the stairs.

Luckily, her simple attire made her far less noticeable amid the elaborately dressed female guests wearing heavy makeup. She suspected most thought she was just a regular maid.

Just as she reached the base of the spiral staircase and was about to step up, a soft, familiar female voice called out behind her:

"Oh, isn’t this Miss Liang?"

The voice carried an unusual charm, almost like it belonged to the mistress of the house.

Its very presence seemed to hush the surrounding chatter, drawing everyone’s attention to Liang Anya.

The Asian woman wore her long hair in a ponytail, her face untouched by makeup, dressed in a plain T-shirt and jeans, with a work apron thrown over her outfit—completely resembling the castle staff.

Moments ago, no one had even glanced her way. But now, with Vivi’s words, all eyes were on Liang Anya as whispers spread among the guests.

Liang Anya turned around as anticipated, only to find Vivi standing there amid a group of female companions.

Among them was none other than Kasey.

Recalling the sight of Kasey being escorted into the castle a few nights ago, Liang Anya’s previously calm demeanor felt like it had been disrupted by a rock thrown into still waters. Her gaze stiffened for a moment before she quickly looked away.

Vivi was clad in a violet dress today, enhancing her usual elegance and radiance. Every gesture she made brimmed with a dazzling presence. Both her appearance and her aura made her undeniably the most important woman in the castle tonight, at least in the eyes of the crowd.

The beauty of Eastern women was often reserved, like a quiet stream that flowed gently and silently over time.

On the other hand, Western women of pure lineage possessed a kind of god-given allure that could make their youthful beauty utterly breathtaking.

Vivi was no exception.

Especially in tonight’s glamorous attire, Vivi’s magnificence stood in stark contrast to Liang Anya’s hastily assembled appearance, making Liang Anya eager to end the conversation quickly.

What did she mean by "Oh, isn’t this Miss Liang?" Wasn’t that just unnecessary?

Are you blind? Or did you get amnesia and suddenly forget who I am?!

Liang Anya rolled her eyes internally and replied perfunctorily, "Yes."

But Vivi clearly had no intention of cutting the conversation short. Her lips curved into a faintly playful smile as she leisurely remarked, "Today’s the Hall Master’s birthday, and everyone dear to the Hall Master is here. I was just wondering why I hadn’t seen Miss Liang all day—turns out you were busying yourself in the kitchen instead."