End Times, Surviving with My Beastly Army novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45 Not a Freeloader

“Tough talk from someone on the floor.”

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Finished

Robin crouched beside him. “I look forward to it. But until you’ve taken Shangri–La back, Mr. Henry, this is my territory. And in my territory, we play by my rules.”

“Now go clean the first–floor common area.”

She looked down at him, the faintest smile on her lips.

Being looked down on like that was deeply unpleasant.

Henry gritted his teeth through the pain and sat up. “You’re treating me like a servant? I’ve never cleaned in my life. I won’t. Besides, you have a robot vacuum.”

“Is that so?”

Robin’s hand shot out.

Henry’s face changed. He tried to block, but his wrists were locked before he could blink, his arms twisted behind him, his body folded forward and pressed face–first against the cold tile. The position was utterly degrading.

“Let me go!”

His cheek was pressed to the floor. His blood was boiling. His face was so red it looked ready to bleed.

The humiliation was unbearable.

He was in such a humiliating position.

He couldn’t see Robin clearly from this angle–only felt her knee settle into his back, a strand of her hair brushing past his ear, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. “Mr. Henry, what era do you think this is?

“I don’t keep freeloaders. You were smart enough to think of Shangri–La, so I’ll assume you’re smart enough to know what a smart person does in this situation.

“Sweeping, mopping, laundry–if you don’t know how, you can learn. I’m generous. I’ll give you all the time you need. The question is whether you’re willing to put in the effort.

“I am generous, but my patience is finite. This is your last chance. Don’t disappoint me.”

She released him.

Henry scrambled up–furious, mortified, face red to his collarbone.

Robin raised an eyebrow. “What are you waiting for?”

Henry’s fists clenched so hard his knuckles cracked.

He tried to storm off with some dignity, but Cotton’s earlier work had left him covered in bruises. The dramatic exit turned into a pained grimace.

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Chapter 45 Not a Freeloader

71

Finished

But when he caught Robin’s gaze, he swallowed the pain and acted as though nothing had happened. “What are you looking at? Where’s the broom?”

“There is no broom.”

“You-!”

Robin shrugged. “You’ll have to pick up the trash by hand.”

Henry’s face was turning purple.

First, it had been rage mixed with embarrassment. Now, it was pure fury.

This woman was doing this on purpose.

After painstakingly gathering every last feather Cotton had shed, Robin tossed him a rag. “Now mop.”

Henry held up the tiny cloth, incredulous. “You want me to mop with this? I can see the mop right there. You’re deliberately making this harder.”

“Got a problem with it?”

Robin said. “You’re welcome to fight me for the mop.”

That shut Henry up.

If he could win a fight, he wouldn’t have been pinned to the floor like that.

And so, when Ella and the others emerged, they found their proud, aristocratic young master on his hands and knees, scrubbing the floor with the devoted energy of a Jetriona housewife.

The domestic energy was unreal.

Ella couldn’t help herself. “Wow…”

Robin really does have a way with people.

“What are you looking at?!”

Henry whipped around, baring his teeth. “Traitors! Haven’t any of you ever mopped a floor?!”

Ella startled. “Oh–just remembered–Princess Ruby hasn’t had a bath in days. I’ll go wash her.”

She scooped up the pig, who’d been bathed just yesterday, and bolted for the bathroom.

Ruby’s four trotters kicked helplessly in the air.

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