Chapter 157: I do appreciate the effort.

There's a heavy silence that follows, and I can feel the shift in the already threatening atmosphere around her into one of pure danger. The way her posture stiffens, the subtle tension in her shoulders- everything about her body language screams that she's furious. Her breathing grows heavier, and I can almost hear the barely suppressed irritation in each breath she takes.

"Oh, you appreciate the effort, do you?" she repeats through gritted teeth.

A wicked grin spreads across my face, relishing the satisfaction of knowing exactly how much I'm getting under her skin. "Absolutely. Your dedication doesn't go unnoticed by your benevolent master. You will be handsomely rewarded at a later date."