—The mysteries of magic begin here.
The gates of the Academy of Magic were not as grand as Harvey had imagined.
There were no walls reaching into the clouds, nor were there rows of spear-wielding guards. It certainly wasn’t one of those floating fantasy landscapes often described in stories. There was only a massive Stone Tablet standing at the end of the road.
The gray-white stone surface was mostly empty, bearing only a single line of simple, rustic text. He couldn’t help but look at it a few extra times.
It was already high noon by the time the carriage stopped in the academy’s residential district. A tree-lined boulevard separated the student housing from the teaching area, and the surroundings were noticeably quieter.
Once the carriage came to a complete stop, the door was opened from the outside. Harvey, considering himself polite, stepped aside to let Evelyn exit first before following her down.
Before them stood the student dormitory of the Royal Academy of Magic.
It consisted of detached two-person villas, complete with lawns, gardens, resting gazebos, and more. The specifications were no different from the estate of a minor noble. There was even a fountain, making it feel like a perfect place to rest and relax. Lavia would surely love it.
Lavia had already been welcomed inside by the maids stationed there. The two of them, however, needed to carry the luggage in themselves.
They entered through the side door. Both of their carriages had been parked there.
Before Harvey could finish admiring the beautiful little courtyard, Evelyn’s voice rang out in his ear.
“What are your arrangements from here on?”
Harvey was stunned. “Huh?” For a moment, he didn’t even process what she was saying.
Evelyn looked at him and, thinking he hadn’t heard clearly, repeated herself. “I mean your plans for afterward.”
Harvey grew even more bewildered. “What arrangements?” he asked instinctively.
All this time, he had been the one receiving orders; there was never anything for him to decide. Even coming to the Academy now had been something he was simply notified of. But now, the Head Maid was actually asking him?
Arrangements for what? He hadn’t even figured out what exactly he was supposed to be doing at the Academy.
His dazed and helpless attitude caused Evelyn to frown slightly.
“Currently, there are only the two of us by the Eldest Miss’s side,” she said in a calm tone. “I am discussing the future division of labor with you. After all, we will be taking care of Lady Lavia together for the next few months.”
Harvey blinked. So that was what she meant.
He said quite bluntly, “I’ll follow your lead. Just give the word if there’s anything you need me to do.”
Evelyn’s frown deepened, clearly very dissatisfied with this answer. Her tone even turned cold.
“Is this the only attitude you have toward this mission?”
Harvey was a bit confused by her question. “Uh?”
Evelyn looked at him, her face full of seriousness as she said, “For any matter, we should first communicate and divide the work. Only by coordinating with each other can we do our jobs well. If you wait for me to arrange everything, then what is the meaning of your existence here? You should demonstrate your utility and your thoughtful service to the Eldest Miss.”
Harvey was a bit dazed by this string of words. He quickly nodded. “I understand.”
After speaking, he looked at Evelyn seriously and asked, “Then, what do you need me to do?”
“…”
Evelyn stared at him for two seconds before she couldn’t help but glare at him. “You don’t understand anything at all.”
—
Harvey didn’t understand what he had said wrong this time. He watched as the Head Maid picked up her suitcase and walked upstairs with a series of sharp taps from her shoes, leaving him only with the view of her back.
It was hard to grasp. Was it because of the difference in their races? He felt it was very difficult to understand what the Head Maid was thinking.
Shaking his head, Harvey picked up his own bag and followed her upstairs. He walked into the room that had his nameplate on it.
Harvey placed his luggage by the bed and looked around his new dwelling. The room was much better than he had imagined.
The walls were clean, light-colored stone. The curtains and bedsheets were all brand-new and uniform, and the table and chairs didn’t have a single scratch. A copper basin and a wooden stand stood in the corner, clearly meant for the daily wash of the attendants.
Overall, it was quite plain. But that was only compared to the Duke’s Mansion.
If he compared it to the small room he used to live in at the mansion, or the dwellings of the commoners in the city, this place could already be considered spacious and respectable. The bed was soft and large enough, and there was even a wooden desk and chair for him to read at.
Most importantly—there was a window.
A beautiful, large window. It no longer faced the stone pillars supporting the corridor ceiling, but a beautiful courtyard.
A room with a window is different from one without. A window with a view is also completely different from one without a view. The sunlight could pour in without any obstruction, making the entire room appear bright and quiet. As the cool breeze blew into the room, his heart began to settle.
Harvey pressed down on the mattress, feeling a strange sensation. It was like he was starting a new life.
And indeed, he was.
He simply put the few changes of clothes he had brought into the wardrobe and tossed his empty book bag into the storage cabinet by the desk. Once everything was set, he sat on the edge of the bed and let out a sigh of relief.
With these items in place, this room finally felt like it temporarily belonged to him.
However, before he could finish that sigh, he suddenly remembered something. Lady Lavia wasn’t the only master of this villa.
The Academy arranged for two-person villas. That meant another noble lady would be moving in later.
Harvey frowned. If the other party didn’t bring a male servant… then wouldn’t he be the only male in this entire villa?
As soon as this thought surfaced, he felt it was somewhat inappropriate. It wasn’t that he was being arrogant; it was just that this environment was somewhat awkward for him.
The rules at the Duke’s Mansion were strict, and the activity areas for male and female servants were clearly separated. While it was reasonable for attendants to live in the same building, if he was the only male servant in the villa—even though he was Lavia’s personal Slave and could naturally serve her closely—it might be seen as an offense to the other noble lady.
The more Harvey thought about it, the more awkward he felt. He hesitated for a moment but eventually stood up. This was something he should probably discuss with the Head Maid first.
With that in mind, he left his room and quickly walked to the one next door. It was the Head Maid’s room.
Standing before the door, Harvey raised his hand and knocked.
“Come in.”
Evelyn’s voice quickly came from inside.
The moment Harvey pushed the door open, he froze.
Evelyn’s room was no different from his. It had the same bed, table, wardrobe, and window, and even the furniture was placed in almost the exact same positions. However, she had already placed many personal items, so the room had more signs of life than his.
At that moment, the owner of the room was standing before the mirror with her back to the door. Half of a smooth shoulder was exposed.
The mistress of the room was clearly changing her clothes. To be precise, she was almost finished.
The black Head Maid’s dress was already on her body, but the collar at her chest hadn’t been fully straightened yet, leaving it slightly open. Her skin was exposed from the neckline down to just below her collarbone, looking dazzlingly white in the light shining in from the window.
Evelyn was holding her smooth, long hair up with one hand, revealing her slender and graceful neck. Her other hand was reaching behind her head, seemingly preparing to tie her hair back. She was biting a black hair tie in her mouth.
From Harvey’s angle, her movement made the expanse of white on her chest even more obvious. In the place where the fabric had yet to be gathered, he could even see a sliver of deep shadow.
“…”
Harvey’s brain went blank for a short moment. He instinctively wanted to back out, but his feet felt as if they were nailed to the spot, and he didn’t move for a while.
Evelyn in the mirror had clearly seen him as well. Her originally calm movements paused slightly, and then she nonchalantly took the hair tie out of her mouth.
“Harvey.”
Evelyn’s voice was a few degrees colder than usual. “Do you not have the habit of confirming the situation before entering someone else’s room?”
Harvey shook his head repeatedly in denial. “I—I did knock.”