A chill spread from the young girl’s toes. The indoor temperature, which had been slightly stifling just a moment ago, suddenly plummeted.
Lavia asked in a gentle tone, “Did I interrupt you two, Evie?”
Before Harvey could process the meaning behind her words, the weight pressing down on him vanished.
Evelyn had already risen from his body. She smoothed her skirt with a hand, showing no sign of panic.
The black and white fabric draped down her figure, concealing her previous curves under Lavia’s somber gaze.
“The Eldest Miss has misunderstood.”
Evelyn bowed slightly. “Harvey was just tripped by the carpet. I tried to catch him, but I accidentally fell as well.”
“Is that so?”
Faint light fell into Lavia’s azure pupils but failed to reflect back out.
Lavia narrowed her eyes, making the already upturned corners of her eyes look even sharper.
She turned to look at Harvey, who was still half-lying by the side of the bed. His dazed expression made her raise an eyebrow slightly.
“Harvey?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry.”
Harvey stood up awkwardly. Just as he was about to echo Evelyn’s words, he noticed both of their gazes were fixed on his hand.
‘I’m still clutching her nightgown.’
In that instant, his mind went blank.
He hurriedly smoothed the fabric and explained awkwardly, “I-I’m so sorry, Eldest Miss. I was too reckless.”
He felt a frantic need to destroy the evidence.
The chill gradually receded, and Evelyn stood to the side, her thoughts unreadable.
A very faint flush appeared on Lavia’s cheeks at some point, and her eyes softened.
“…Fool,” she couldn’t help but mutter under her breath.
Taking a deep breath, Lavia suddenly raised her hand.
“Come here.”
Harvey hesitated for a moment before subconsciously stepping toward her.
Noticing the distance between them, Lavia frowned slightly. She then took the initiative to approach him, reaching out to straighten his bangs, which had become messy from the fall.
As she brushed them aside, more of Harvey’s eyes and forehead were revealed. His originally gloomy and cowardly appearance became bright and handsome.
They were so close that Harvey could clearly see the shadows cast beneath her eyelashes.
Evelyn stared at the two of them from the side, but she had no intention of stopping Lavia.
Such matters were not for a servant to interfere with.
Her cold gaze fell on Harvey’s face as she observed his subtle expressions.
‘It’s the same as before. There’s no emotional fluctuation like I expected.’
It wasn’t until his long bangs covered his eyes again that Lavia showed a satisfied smile. “This is better.”
“It’s a good thing you fell on the bed this time. Try to be more careful,” she said softly.
Even though her little slave had defiled the bed where she usually slept, there wasn’t a hint of blame in Lavia’s calm tone.
It sounded more like she was being indulgent.
The tips of Harvey’s ears turned warm as he whispered back, “…Yes.”
“Evie.”
Lavia turned to the Head Maid, speaking with polite gentleness. “Thank you for your hard work. It’s my fault for not noticing the shortage of maids and for allowing them to serve me all at once.”
Evelyn bowed slightly. “This is my duty. It was my lack of ability that prevented the work from being completed. My apologies, Eldest Miss.”
Her gaze swept between the two of them without lingering.
But she saw it.
‘The Eldest Miss’s hand is resting on Harvey’s arm, tugging at his butler uniform.’
“It’s alright. I was simply too excitable.”
Although Lavia was the one apologizing first, the matter was considered over only when she said those words.
Evelyn bowed again. “Thank you for your forgiveness, Eldest Miss.”
Following that, Lavia withdrew her hand.
Inside the bedroom, the frost constructed from the Ice Element quickly dissipated, and the temperature returned to normal.
“I’m suddenly a bit tired.”
Lavia commanded, “Harvey, go close the curtains. I intend to rest.”
Harvey looked confused. It hadn’t been long since the two of them arrived at the bedroom; had the Eldest Miss finished her lunch so quickly?
He looked at Evelyn, who had already bowed and asked, “Eldest Miss, were you dissatisfied with the lunch the Head Chef prepared today?”
Lavia stood by the bed and glanced out the window.
“No.”
Her tone was indifferent. “I just don’t have much of an appetite.”
The words sounded casual, but they made Evelyn pause for a moment.
She knew Lavia’s habits very well.
As long as the Duke was not present, the Eldest Miss would not bother eating in the dining room.
Evelyn’s gaze shifted inconspicuously toward Harvey.
“Then I shall have the kitchen send lunch here,” she said.
Lavia shook her head. “No need. I already tasted a bit just now. Leave it at that.”
Harvey slowly pulled the heavy curtains shut. The sunlight was blocked out, and the light in the room became softer.
When he turned around, Lavia was already sitting on the chaise lounge, and Evelyn was kneeling to untie her shoelaces.
There were no plans to go out or meet anyone today, so the outfit the maids had prepared for her was much simpler and more elegant than yesterday’s.
Lavia leaned against the back of the lounge. Her light-colored silk skirt slid down naturally, revealing the curve of her legs down to her toes.
Her feet were crossed quietly. The tops of her feet were white to the point of being nearly translucent, delicate enough that the faint blue of her veins was visible. Her toes were long and symmetrical, and when they curled slightly, they looked like the petals of a shy white magnolia. Her nails were a healthy, pale pink.
The reclining posture made her thin silhouette look even more fragile, yet it possessed a refinement that made one afraid to touch her.
Evelyn set the soft satin shoes she had just removed to the side and prepared to stand up.
“Evie,” Lavia suddenly spoke.
“Eldest Miss.”
Evelyn knelt back down beside her.
Perhaps influenced by the dimness of the room, Lavia’s mood had become sluggish.
“The enrollment for the Academy is next week, right?”
Evelyn nodded slightly. “Yes, next Monday.”
Lavia looked down at her fingers as if thinking about something.
“Then the choice of attendants for this year… Is it the same as last year?”
Evelyn’s expression did not change. “If the Duke has no other arrangements, then yes.”
“The same two maids who attended you last year will accompany you.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Harvey stood a little further away, just close enough to hear their conversation.
He had known for a long time that the Eldest Miss would take attendants with her to the Academy, but he never imagined he would have anything to do with it.
After all, his status was not suitable for being taken out in public.
But it would be great if he could go. That way, he wouldn’t have to go through the Head Maid to learn about the situation in the Royal Capital.
His earlier attempt at communication had left him feeling a bit defeated; he simply didn’t understand how to get closer to people.
Lavia cast an unintended glance at the distracted Harvey, then spoke to Evelyn with dissatisfaction. “I don’t want to take them.”
She said it very bluntly.
Evelyn looked at her. “Is there something about them that dissatisfies you, Eldest Miss?”
Lavia fell silent for a moment.
In truth, she didn’t have a reason.
Those two maids were very reliable and never caused her any trouble.
Except—
She remembered her days at the Academy last year.
Three months.
For three whole months, she couldn’t see Harvey.
She only half-understood those dry Magic Theory classes.
She often made mistakes when practicing Spell Formulas.
Whenever she returned to her dormitory, the room only contained two silent maids.
They would make her bed, organize her books, and help her wash up, but they would never accompany her as she read through those ridiculously thick Magic Books one by one like Harvey did.
Without Harvey to answer her questions, last year’s enrollment experience had been anything but interesting.
At that thought, Lavia’s brow furrowed even deeper.
“No.”
She shook her head. “It’s just… I don’t want to take them.”
Evelyn did not answer immediately, watching Lavia calmly.
“If you are dissatisfied with them, Eldest Miss, you may state the reason.”
She continued, “I can report it to the Duke and reconsider your choice of attendants.”
This sounded like a concession.
Lavia was a bit surprised, and even Harvey couldn’t help but look at Evelyn.
She looked up, staring at the Head Maid.
“If I say I’m dissatisfied, what will happen to them?”
Evelyn explained calmly, “Naturally, they will be dismissed.”
“If they were originally slaves of the Duke’s Mansion, they will be expelled from the estate.”
Harvey’s heart gave a small jolt.
He had originally thought it would just be a few words of reprimand or being reassigned to work elsewhere. He hadn’t expected such a result.
But thinking carefully, it wasn’t surprising.
A servant being despised by their master and expelled from the mansion was the most common end.
Harvey didn’t know where those maids would ultimately be sent.
But he knew very well what it meant for a young girl to be left alone in the Royal Capital.
With no Magic Talent and no family to rely on.
For an ordinary person, simply surviving was extremely difficult.
Lavia clearly understood this as well, and her expression darkened.
“Then never mind.”
Her voice suddenly became cold. She lay flat on the lounge and covered her eyes with one hand.
“I want to rest.”
“Evie, you may leave.”
Evelyn bowed her head.
“Yes, Eldest Miss.”
With that, she turned and walked toward the door.
Harvey also prepared to follow her out.
“Harvey.”
Lavia suddenly called out to him.
He stopped in his tracks. “Eldest Miss, do you have a command?”
“Go pour me a glass of water,” she said.
“Yes.”
Harvey nodded and turned toward the pitcher on the table.
At the door, Evelyn paused for a moment.
She seemed to want to say something, her gaze lingering between the two of them.
But in the end, she said nothing.
Before leaving, she closed the bedroom door.