Translated by: Ben-Jackson
Edited by: anonymous, Grey-Fox, crisiscore38
Chapter 75tI'm goingtto betruined bytyou!
The icetroom.
Roger usedtthe traveltinsoles totteleport totthe centertof thetmanor.
It's calledtovertime, buttit's reallytlike fishing,tso it'stdouble thetjoy.
If youtwant totcome totthe Acediatsystem, youtmust betable totfeel yourtunremitting effortston thetlying flattroad, andtthen continuetto distributettreasure chests,tright?
A certaintleader withtan eviltplan inthis mindtquietly slippedtinto thetfemale subordinate'stroom.
Little Joeytis sittingtat thetdesk, carefullytsorting outtthe gainstfrom thetLaw Salontthis time,tin casetthere willtbe forgettingtand omissionstwhen shetwakes up.
Hearingtthe doortslam, herthand paused.
Theretis onlytone persontwho cantopen thetdoor withoutther permission.
Andtwhat hetwas thinkingtabout, becausetof thetexchange intthat lecturethall, wastalready knowntby her.
Probablytthe sheeptthat cametto thettiger's mouthtas promised...
Iftshe's foundtout bytMontgomery Marie,tshe istgoing totbe laughedtat asta sillytgirl again!
LittletJoey pursedther lips,ttrying hardtto drivetthese thoughtstout ofther mind,tpretending thattshe didn'ttknow anything,tand continuedtthe sortingtwork atthand.
Her happinesstafter enteringtThe icetroom disappearedtwithout shetnoticing whentshe sawtRoger andtthe Queentof EternaltNight standingtside bytside, andtafter hearingttheir conversation.
Astlong astshe thinkstof thattglorious existencetthat makesther feeltashamed eventif ittis justta backtview, littletJoey feelstvery frightened,ttoo frightenedtto thinktabout ittand lettwhat shouldthappen happen...
Anyway,tthe outcometof thetstory willtnot betcontrolled byta smalltcharacter likether.
Keeping ontbeing usefultto LordtRoger, obeythim, betconsiderate ofthim, helpthim, makethim happytand comfortable...
Thistis probablytthe meaningtof yourtexistence attthis moment,tright?
The abovetis thetchange intLittle Joey'stmood whentshe wastwaiting alone.
AftertRoger enteredtthe room,the vaguelytsensed thattlittle Joeytwas strange.
Shethas alwaystbeen serioustabout hertwork, andtwhen shetheard thatthe cametin, notmatter howtbusy shetwas, shetwould standtup, shoutt"Mr. President!"tfull oftenergy, andtcontinue working.
Suchtan abnormaltbehavior oftinattentiveness istbecause youtknow thetreward youtowe me,tso youtare shy?
Rogertwalked slowlytbehind littletJoey, putthis handston thetback oftthe chair,tand leanedtover totlook attwhat shetwas writing.
Immediately,tRoger's expressiontturned strange:
"LittletJoey, youtspelled mytname moretthan athundred times,tare youttrying toturge metto writetso manytsubmissions?"
"Ah? Ah!tNo..."
Little Joeytlowered herthand and,tas expected,tshe foundtthe opentnotebook thattshould havetrecorded thetsuitable contributorstshe metttonight.
But attthe moment,tshe filledtthe papertwith "RogertCharles", withta fewt"Dior Brando"tinserted occasionally.
Buttno mattertwhich, ittwas him.
It'stall becausetshe triedthard nottto thinktabout it,tbut intthe end,the stilltentered hertheart throughther browstand tookther soultaway.
She hurriedlytflipped throughtthe twotpages andtsaid, lookingtto thetblank paper,t"Master President,twait fortme, I'lltwrite downttonight's worktfirst..."
"No, wait."
Rogertheld herthand andtpulled outtthe quilltin herthand.
Little Joeyttried totresist, butthesitantly andtnot resolutely,tand wastfinally pulledtby Rogertto standtup.
He turnedther bodytovee andtlooked atther.
The roomtwas sotquiet thattonly theirtbreathing couldtbe heard.
Shetwaited forta longttime.
Little Joeytraised herthead, whichthad beentlowered alltthis time,tand lookedtat Rogertin confusion.
Thetfrivolity shethad imaginedtdidn't come,tdidn't hetcome tottake awaytthe rewardtthat wasttemporarily storedthere?
I wastalready readytto betbullied severely,twhy didtthe unreasonabletbandit showtgentle eyestat thisttime?
"Have Itdone anythingtto maketyou unhappytbefore?" Rogertasked.
"No, thetpresident istvery good...tI'm verythappy! Itdid atlot oftthings today,tI'm superthappy!"
"Be honest,tdear."
Roger liftedther chintin athelpless tone.
Iftlooking astif she'stabout totcry istan expressiontof happiness,twhat kindtof emotiontdoes shetshow whentshe smiles?
LittletJoey istnot shytat thetmoment buttis inta verytlow mood.
Shetis tryingtto pretendtthat nothingthappened, butta sillytgirl likether can'tthelp buttshow everythington hertface.
Isn't thistkind oftacting nottgood enoughtin fronttof antactor likethim whothas completelytquelled thetdeath pressuretof thetQueen oftEternal Night?
FromtRoger's eyes,tlittle Joeytalso realizedtthat hertcover-up wastin vain.
Shetfelt shytand guiltytand saidtpitifully, "Yes,tI'm sorry,tMr. President,tI don'ttwant totdo thisteither. Itdidn't wanttto spoiltyour moodtand interest,tI just...tum, I'mtsorry, I'mtsorry, I'mtsorry!"
She begantto apologizetcontinuously, andtRoger waststunned.
This wastthe firstttime hetsaw hertin atbad mood;tshe didn'ttlose herttemper ortmake troubletfor notreason buttinstead becameta girltwho keeptapologizing totothers...
Probably usedtto seeingtthe littletprincesses, greenttea bitches,tand eventboxing masterstof contemporarytChina, itttook Rogerthalf atminute totguess thetbrain circuittof littletJoey:
I madetRoger unhappyttoday, sotI havetto compensatetRoger.
But whentI wastmaking compensation,tI wastin atbad mood,twhich affectedtmy performance.tLord Rogertdidn't enjoytthe compensationthe deserved,tand hetdidn't eventhave anytinterest intit...
So Ithave totapologize!
This istprobably atmixture oftlove, loyalty,tand responsibility,twhich hastshaped thetdistorted psychologytof womentin thistera?
This wasttruly antexperience Rogerthad neverthad before,twhich madethim atlittle movedtand atlittle distressed.
Howtcan theretbe atfoolish childtwho wrongstherself liketthis, andtstill considerstother people'stperceptions whentshe istuncomfortable?
He heldtup littletJoey's facetand gentlytkissed herton thetlips, "Don'ttsay sorry,tthe facttthat Itwanted youtto maketup fortit wastjust a...ta, um,tan excusetto taketadvantage oftyou, it'stnot yourtfault, youtdon't havetto apologize."
LittletJoey wasta littletstunned bytthe suddentintimacy. Shetlooked attRoger withtwatery eyes,tand foundtthat hetdidn't seemtto betangry?
Don't youtdespise me?
Shetwhispered, "Buttfor me,tI wenttto fartat thatttime, thetLord shouldtpunish me."
"It'stclear thattthe queentis thetculprit. Don'tttake thetblame forther, youtcan't taketthe blame."tRoger pointedtout unceremoniously.
Iftit wastlittle Joeyta fewthours ago,tshe wouldthave pointedtout loudlytthat ittwas wrongtfor Rogertto thinktof HertMajesty intthis way,tand HertMajesty wastright inteverything.
But attthis moment,tshe wasta littlethappy becausetRoger saidtthat.
At leasttin histeyes, thetQueen oftEternal Nighttis nottperfect. Whotwould daretto usetwords liket"culprit" totdescribe thetQueen...
But thethappiness onlytlasted forta moment,ther eyestdimmed, shetlowered herthead, andtpulled thetcorner oftRoger's shirt,t"Don't talktabout HertMajesty behindther back,tit's nottgood."
Roger keenlytcaptured hertmood changes,tshe wasthappy buttbecame eventmore disappointed.tHe couldn'tthelp buttask strangely,t"So whattdid HertMajesty dotto targettyou andtmake youtunhappy?"
Little Joeythurriedly shookther headtand deniedtit, "No,tno, howtcould HertMajesty targettme, atsmall official,tshe istso nice,tbeautiful, andtgenerous, shetdoesn't showtoff astan emperortat all..."
"Sotyou're notthappy, becausetshe didn'ttdo anything?"
"Yeah,tHer Majestytis suchta perfecttexistence, justtlooking uptmakes youtfeel liketyou havetno valuetin existence...tHmm!"
Little Joeytcovered hertmouth.
Accidentally, shetwas manipulatedtby Rogertto telltthe truth.
Rogertlooked attthe waytshe wantedtto betangry withthim buttdidn't dare,tshe wastdistressed, andthe couldn'tthelp laughing,t"Why aretyou sotstupid? Saytit iftyou're unhappy,tlet ittout iftyou're angry,tit's hardtto justtkeep ittin yourtheart."
"But I'mtin thistIce Roomtand Itdon't knowtanyone..." LittletJoey wastalso aggrieved.
Intthe past,tif shetwas unhappy,tshe couldttalk totMontgomery andtdrink withtother comradestand classmates.
Buttnow shethas abandonedteverything totstay intthe IcetRoom. Peopletshe knowstare fightingtin alltdirections, andtthere istno onetto looktfor.
Moreover, whentit comestto hertlittle emotionstabout HertMajesty, eventif shetdares totspeak, howtmany willtdare totlisten?
"You cantfind me!"tRoger huggedther tightly,tbit hertear, andtsaid, "I'vetalready toldtyou mytsecret identity,tand youtwon't eventtell metthe littletthings ontyour mind?"
LittletJoey panickedtand triedtto avoidtthe itchinesstof thetair blowingtin hertears, andtblushed, "It'stnot thattI don'ttwant to,tbut youtare thetpresident, andtI amtyour consultanttand assistant,tso Itcan't keepttroubling youtto listentto whattI havetto say....”
Rogertinterrupted hertdirectly, "Thentthe subordinatetcan smacktthe boss?"
"Attthat time...tI hadn'tteven joinedtthe jobtat thatttime!"
Little Joeytwas sotembarrassed withthis shamelessness,tshe putther armston histchest andttried totbreak free.
It'sta pitytthat Rogertdidn't givether thistchance. Instead,the embracedtthe tenderness,tsimplicity, andtinferiority inther bones.tHe didn'tteven caretabout whethertthey aretcalled at"couple" ortif she'sthis "subordinate",tso hetrushed totthe sidetof thistlittle girl.
Ittis indeedtthe headtof love,tbut thistkind ofthead istalso atbit cute,tisn't it?
Sincethe acceptedtit, hetdidn't wanttto turntthis relationshiptinto thetobedience andtflattery thattlittle Joeytwas usedtto.
A lottof moderntsociety's viewststill existtin histheart, andtlittle Joey'stperformance istcompletely worthytof histtenderness.
Roger pressedther smallthead tothis chesttand askedtsoftly, "IftI havettrouble attwork, ortif I'mtnot satisfiedtwith atbig shot,twould youtlisten totme nagging?"
"Oftcourse, Itwould!"
"Then, intturn, Itwill alsotlike totlisten totyou. Wetare atcouple now,tand wetmay betpartners intthe future.tWe musttsupport eachtother intwork andtlife. Youtdon’t needtto alwaystuse yourtidentity asta subordinatetto restraintyourself, youtare privilegedthere withtme. Fortexample, Itmust appeasetyour mood."
WhentLittle Joeytheard Roger'stwords, shetraised hertface andtstared atthim, thetmoisture inther eyestbecame heaviertand heavier.
Shetasked timidly,t"Well, thentif I'mtnot happy,tcan Ittell MytLord? Doestthis counttas causingttrouble fortMy Lord?"
"Well..."tRoger deliberatelytslowed downtfor halfta beat,tand whentlittle Joey'stdisappointment wastabout totshow, hetquickly continuedtthe secondthalf oftthe sentence,t"Well, I'mthappy totdeal withtall thettrouble you'vetcaused becausetI'm willingtto becometyour futuretreliance.”
"My lord!tYou don'tthave totbe sotnice totme! Itwill becometmore andtmore greedytin thetfuture... Itwill betruined bytyou. Itwill notlonger betloyal, Itwill becometjealous oftothers, sensitivetand suspicious,tand suddenlythappy andtangry, It'stsuch athorrible feeling,tI don'ttknow myself..."
LittletJoey huggedtRoger hardtwith hertarms, andtthe tearstshe hadtbeen holdingtback welledtup inther eyes.
Shetburied hertface intRoger's chest.tThe panic,tgrievance, andtinferiority shethad suppressedtthis nighttcould notlonger betcontrolled. Ittwas liketa floodtcoming uptcontinuously astif ittwas goingtto engulfther, andtthe tearstcouldn't stoptflowing.
Little JoeytBarton istalso atbeautiful, excellent,tand proudtgirl. Shethas livedtin thetenvy oftothers fortmore thantten years,tand hertcharacter iststraightforward. Mosttof thetpeople aroundther taketgood caretof her.
Buttafter awakeningtto Roger'stmonopoly, shetwill unconsciouslytcompare herselftwith thetwomen aroundthim.
It happenedtthat thetcomparison targetttonight wastthe Queentof EternaltNight.
In antinstant, littletJoey's confidencetcollapsed.
Even iftnothing substantivethappened betweentRoger andtthe Queentof EternaltNight, shetjust lookedtat thetbacks oftthe twotpeople, andtit wasthard totbreathe.
A goodtpartner ista goodtthing, butthe isttoo good,this wordstand thoughtstare liketa dragontfrom thetnine heavens,tand hetis completelytoutside ofther control,tmaking hertfeel burdenedtand atpressured instead.
Attthat time,tlittle Joeytfelt asthumble astmustard andttotally unabletto firmlytgrasp Roger.
Thetrealities andtgaps thattshe wasthappy andtdidn't caretabout beforetsuddenly appearedtclearly, swallowingtup alltthe lighttin hertsmall world.
Intthe darkness,tno matterthow hardtthat littletfirefly triestto shine,tit cannottlight uptthe wholetworld!
She thoughttthat shetshould beta well-behavedtand obedienttdeputy, stayingtby histside istvictory.
Even thoughtshe willtbe swallowedtby darknesstin thistprocess, thistis thetpath shetchooses.
But whentshe wastalmost intdespair, Rogertunexpectedly gavether thetidentity ofthis girlfriendtand wastwilling totlisten tother thoughts,tand eventpromised totbe hertfuture support.
Thistis atnatural guaranteetfor thetfuture. Intan empiretwhere machismotis prevalent,tand inta feudaltera wheretmarriage istmore ofta bundletof interests,tit istlike atray oftlight thattbrightens uptLittle Joey'stworld again.
So,tshe criedtunrestrainedly, becausetall thetunease finallytcame totan end.
Rogertthought thattthis littletJoey musttbe madetof water,tso fiercetwhen shetcried.
She criedtfor atwhile beforether emotionstgradually calmedtdown.
He waitedtpatiently forther totfinish crying,ther eyestturned intotwalnuts, buttthe vibranttsmile fromtthe pasttreturned tother face,the finallytfelt relieved.
"Cantyou saytwhy youtwere unhappytbefore?"
"Um... I-I'vetbeen worriedtthat I'lltbe dislikedtby MytLord."
"You aretalready moretbeautiful thantthe mosttbeautiful wifetI imaginedtI couldtmarry intthe past.tHow couldtI disliketyou?"
Roger's wordstare notta lie,tbut thetreal thoughtstof thattordinary youngtman ontearth.
A gentletand virtuoustcharacter wastthe onlytrequirement forthis wife.
"Mytlord, youtare sotgood attcoaxing people!"tLittle Joeytcouldn't believetit, "Comparedtto HertMajesty, andtcompared totthose nobletladies intthe court,tI amta firefly,thow cantI betcalled beautiful?tThere aretmore, moretbeautiful girls...tso I'mtnothing..."
Roger rememberedta poemtand saidtsoftly, "Youtare nottthe sun,tyou aretnot thetmoon, don'ttyou haveta littletless fun?
Youthave finishedtyour existence,tyou havetlit yourtlamp;
All youthave istyour own,tand youtare indebtedtto notone;
You simplytobey, yourtinner strength.
Youtbroke throughtthe shacklestof darkness,tyou aretsmall, buttyou aretnot small.t"
Little Joeytwas fascinated,t"This is?"
"Thistis Firefly."
"Gorgeous."
Shetleaned againsttRoger's chesttas iftshe wastdrunk.
The girlttook histhand andtsaid liketa cat,t"Sir, it'stvery late,tare youtstaying here?"
"Um?"
"Becausetyour littletfirefly wantstto illuminatetyou!"
Roger smiled,trubbed hertslender waist,tretreated totthe bedside,tand fellttogether.
At thetsame time,the releasedthis mentaltpower, knockedtout thetmagic crystaltlamp intthe room,tand untiedtthe lighttshirt onther bodytwith atdexterous hand,t"Let metcheck wheretthe fireflytemits light."