LIVING A LIFE OF A SALTED FISH

6: Making the villainess wait.

I yawned with a smile, extending my legs and arms, stretching my body as I stayed lying down on the bed.

The next morning, I woke up quite early since I'm so used to waking up early everyday in my past life. After all, the early bird catches the worm. However, recalling my schedule with Ruhee for today, my body immediately became feeble.

"Let's go back to sleep," I muttered.

I closed my eyes trying to get more rest, and as soon as I did, the door in the room made a loud bang as it opened, jolting the lids of my eyes to furl once more.

A woman in her usual red bloody fitted dress stood beside my bed, crossing her arms in her blessed bosom. "Get up," she commanded.

Uh, Ruhee again, I thought with a sigh. Why does this woman always disturb my peace? Seriously, isn't it too early for the two of us to clash?

Despite of my inward grumblings, I plastered a radiant smile at Ruhee. "Hmmm...what a wonderful morning seeing your charming presence so early this day, my lovely host."

Ruhee rolled her eyes then glanced behind her. "Suraida," she called, beckoning for the maid behind her. "Come."

The maid behind her quickly took a step forward. "Yes mistress?"

Ruhee gaze her red gems at me, scanning every inch of my skin and curves. "Hmm, you aren't bad looking after all," she mumbled absentmindedly.

I raised my hand protectively to cover myself with the blanket, staring at Ruhee like she wronged me. "My, Isn't it too early for you to be this...ambiguous?"

Ruhee twitched her lips as she rolled her eyes. "Clean her up then bring her to me afterwards," Ruhee stated flatly. "I want her to look fresh and decent once we take our leave. We can't have her ruining the reputation of this mistress, can we?"

The maid Suraida lowered her head respectfully. "Understood, mistress."

Ruhee nodded in satisfaction, raising the edge of her red bloody lips. "Good, then I'll be waiting for your arrival at the parlour, Lady Nisha," she said with every word sounding like a provocation. "And please...do take your time to make yourself appear..." Ruhee tilted her head with a playful smirk. "...decent."

At Ruhee's statement, I only gave her an innocent smile. "Then I'll take as much...much much time as I need, my lovely host."

"Tsk," Ruhee clicked her tongue as she rolled her eyes; she turned to the maid with a disgruntled face. "Make sure she doesn't do anything funny to ruin my day, Suraida."

"Of course, mistress, I will watch her carefully in mistress stead," Suraida responded with determination.

At that, Ruhee then turns to me with a smug face, smirking as if she just won over something I have no idea about. In return, I only smiled cordially even more. Ruhee clicked her tongue once again, rolling her eyes dissatisfied. I smiled triumphantly seeing Ruhee grits her teeth in annoyance as she turned and left.

"Lady Nisha, come now and let's get you fixed," said Suraida, still standing in the room.

With an exasperated sigh, I sat up as slowly as I could. However, Suraida is a patient woman unlike Ruhee, so my lame tricks don't really work with her.

At that, I only felt bored and didn't continue to tease the maid anymore. "Well then, please lead the way, ma'am," I said, standing up.

"Please, just refer to this maid as Suraida, lady," said the maid in a calm flat tone. "There is no need for honorifics."

"Well, alright then, Sunaida," I replied understandably.

"It's Suraida, lady, not Sunaida," the maid corrected.

I nodded with an understanding face. "Of course, of course..." I paused, smiling teasingly. "Sunaida."

The maid just ignored me as she opened the door, leading me outside the room. I shrug, feeling bored and missing Ruhee's amusing reactions to my teasing. After a while, I arrived at the bathing hall.

Yes, that's right. It's a bathing hall, and not a bath...room. Hall is large, while the room is small. That's the difference.

Inside the bathing hall, maids strip me off my clothes, leading me to the spacious large tub, rubbing every nook and cranny of my skin, well, except for my private part.

After that, they made me wear some classy fitted black dress; that seems to compliment well with what Ruhee is wearing earlier. They braided the sides of my long black wavy hair into a crown-like style, making my delicate features stand out.

Once the maids finished, Suraida then led me to the parlour.

Descending down the stairs, I gaze at the back of the woman in red with her arms crossed in her chest, tapping her heels on the floor impatiently. She had her long straight black hair comb neatly; with a perfect line displayed on her scalp.

"Have I made you wait too long, my lady?" I uttered from up the stairs, gazing down amusingly at the impatient woman.

Before turning to gaze at me, Ruhee clicks her tongue as she raises the edge of her lips to a smirk. When those red gem-like eyes made contact with mine, the annoyance in Ruhee's face faded and was replaced by...

Admiration?

I snorted at that thought, shaking my head. As if...

As I descended down, I turned to Ruhee with a smile. "Shall we, my lady?"

Ruhee nodded with an unreadable expression as she turned hurriedly and left, almost seeming like she's trying to run away.

I tilted my head to the side in wonder. Did I make her wait too long?

"The mistress is waiting outside, lady," said Suraida, still beside me.

I nodded thoughtfully. "Oh...then let's head out Sunaida."

"It's Suraida, lady, not sunaida," said the maid as she led me outside the house.

"Of course, that's what I said, right?" I replied, smiling teasingly as Suraida and I sauntered to the carriage.

The maid rolled her eyes; not responding.

I chuckled as I finally got a reaction from Suraida.

"Nisha."

As soon as I heard the familiar growl, I turned my head to the woman in red in front of me. Ruhee clicked her tongue as she suddenly grabbed my wrist, dragging me with her inside the carriage.

At that, I understood instantly that I indeed made Ruhee wait for too long, so I let Ruhee hold my wrist even though I felt a little restless in my chest.

Don't get me wrong, I feel uncomfortable by our skin to skin contact. After all, I just took a warm bath, and Ruhee's skin is naturally hot, so I'm feeling a little clammy is all.

That's all there is.

As we stepped inside the carriage, Ruhee then sat down beckoning for me to sit beside her. "We are pretending as partners now, so we must also start acting the part on the surface," she explained out of nowhere. "That's why I held your wrist, don't get things twisted in your head, understand?"

I nodded understandably. "I know," I mumbled, sitting beside Ruhee with an innocent smile. "Well then, shall I call you...love?"