The night sky was torn apart by enormous leathery wings.
The cave wyvern stirred up a fierce gust of wind as it descended precisely onto the clearing at the center of Blackwood Town.
The townsfolk were already accustomed to their Lord’s sometimes appearing, sometimes disappearing mount, and as usual, they cast respectful glances in its direction.
But this time, when they clearly saw who dismounted from the wyvern’s back, everyone was stunned into silence.
Behind the Lord followed a woman.
A woman so beautiful she seemed almost unreal.
Beneath the moonlight, her silver hair shimmered like liquid light.
Her full-body silver-white armor, carved with intricate patterns, perfectly outlined her tall and slender figure without any hint of heaviness.
She stood there quietly, radiating a sanctity and dignity that made people afraid to look directly at her.
“Oh my god, the Lord has been away for only a few days…and he’s brought back a Lady Lord?”
Hans, the cook, dropped his ladle with a clatter, his eyes wide with shock.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Tom, the groom standing beside him, elbowed Hans sharply.
“W-well, she looks like the Duke’s Daughter, doesn’t she?”
Whispers spread quietly through the crowd.
“Quiet.”
Leo’s voice was low but sharp, cutting through everyone’s ears.
The noisy scene immediately calmed down, and all eyes were fixed on him, burning with curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of gossip.
Alfred hurried over, his gaze briefly lingering on the female knight.
A flicker of astonishment flashed in his eyes before he returned to his usual composure.
He bowed slightly and asked respectfully, “Young Master, you’ve returned. Who is this lady?”
Before Leo could answer, two figures pushed through the crowd.
Lila and Nia.
“Y-Young Master!”
Concern was written all over Lila’s face as she scanned Leo from head to toe, confirming he was unharmed before turning her gaze toward the female knight.
Her small mouth pursed slightly, a sourness creeping into her tone that she hadn’t even noticed herself.
“You… you’ve been with this lady all these days?”
Nia was more composed.
She approached Leo with a gentle smile, gave a slight bow to the female knight, then said to Leo, “Young Master, congratulations.”
“Congratulations on what?”
Leo said, half amused, half exasperated.
These people’s imagination was beyond anything he could have anticipated.
He felt that if he didn’t clarify things soon, tomorrow the whole territory would be buzzing with rumors like “Lord secretly betrothed, and the bride is a goddess descended from the heavens.”
Clearing his throat, he raised his hand and tapped the female knight’s vambrace, producing a clear metallic ring.
“Calm down, everyone. Don’t make up stories. Let me introduce you—this is Alice.”
“She’s also my summoned being, just a rather special kind.”
“Su-summoned being?!”
This time, the gasps were ten times louder than before.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at Alice.
A living, breathing person—actually a summoned being?
This completely overturned their understanding of magic.
Even Alfred, a man of much experience, couldn’t help but gape, speechless for quite a while.
He had seen skeleton soldiers and elemental beings, but a summoned being indistinguishable from a real person, even possessing an extraordinary aura, was unheard of.
“As you can see, Alice is a knight,” Leo continued, his tone tinged with unhidden pride.
“From today on, she will serve as the captain of the Blackwood Town’s Guard.”
Captain of the Guard?
Where did we get a guard force?
The crowd exchanged puzzled glances.
Leo saw through their thoughts and smiled.
“Just because there isn’t one now doesn’t mean there won’t be later.”
“A proper territory can’t go without even a gatekeeper, right? Recruiting soldiers should be put on the agenda as well.”
His words were filled with unwavering confidence, reassuring all the townsfolk.
Indeed, the Lord was all-powerful!
He could reclaim wasteland, build new houses—assembling an army should be nothing to him.
“Alright, stop standing there looking dazed.”
Leo waved his hand.
“Hans, cook something delicious. Tonight, we’ll have a small welcoming banquet to celebrate… the expansion of our family.”
“Right away, Lord!”
Hans eagerly grabbed his ladle and dashed back to the kitchen.
The entire Blackwood Town was thrown into a state of euphoric celebration due to Alice’s arrival.
At the banquet, people curiously studied the silent and reserved female knight.
Alice stood like a perfect sculpture behind Leo, indifferent to every gaze directed her way.
***
Night deepened, the noise faded.
Leo relaxed comfortably in the only large wooden tub in the Lord’s manor.
The hot water steamed and rose in mist, slowly dissolving the fatigue from his entire body.
The intense battles these past few days had strained his spirit to the limit.
“Young Master, is the water temperature suitable?”
Lila and Nia’s voices sounded outside the door.
They usually prepared his bathwater and sometimes came in to help wash his back.
“It’s fine. You both have had a long day as well, so go get some rest early.”
Leo replied.
“But—”
“It’s alright. Alice is here.”
Leo said casually.
Footsteps hesitated outside, then gradually faded away.
Leaning against the tub’s edge, Leo closed his eyes, savoring the rare tranquility.
Suddenly, a pair of delicate yet strong hands rested on his shoulders and began to knead gently but firmly.
He opened his eyes through the misty steam and saw that Alice was standing behind the tub.
She had removed her elaborate armor and worn a simple white dress, her silver hair flowing down, less fierce, more graceful.
“You… don’t have to follow me around all the time.”
Leo’s body stiffened slightly.
Though he knew she was a summoned being, having such a beautiful woman watch him bathe was still somewhat unsettling.
“My duty is to assist my master.”
Alice’s voice was as calm and ethereal as ever.
“Helping with your bath is also assistance.”
“Alright, alright.”
Leo gave up arguing and closed his eyes again.
Well, it’s just my summoned being giving me a bath; no harm done.
As a modern man, how could I be so old-fashioned in my thinking?
Alice’s hands were steady, her pressure just right, quickly helping Leo fully relax.
Just as his mind began wandering into awkward thoughts, a warm, moist breath suddenly whispered into his ear.
“Master, from a structural standpoint, my body should be no different from a normal human female.”
Leo’s whole body stiffened instantly, a shock running up his spine.
W-what did she say?!
He snapped his head back and met those clear blue eyes, which held no hint of distraction or ulterior motives.
Could she read minds?!
I was just thinking that!
As if to confirm his suspicion, Alice continued in the same emotionless tone:
“Yes, Master. To more accurately and swiftly carry out your commands, I can vaguely perceive part of your mental fluctuations.”
That really was true!
Leo felt his cheeks burning as if he could fry an egg on them.
So that means some of my brain’s random thoughts are being broadcast live?
Then… what should I do now?
Or rather… what can I do?
Bolder ideas popped uncontrollably into Leo’s mind.
“As long as it is Master’s wish,”
Alice’s voice sounded again by his ear, clear and deliberate.
“Whatever it is, I can fulfill it.”
“Cough! Cough, cough!”
Leo choked on his own saliva, coughing violently.
Embarrassed, he turned away, avoiding Alice’s gaze and trying to sound calm.
“Listen, Alice. From now on, unless I give you explicit verbal orders or direct mental commands, don’t… don’t respond or act prematurely on my thoughts!”
“…Yes, Master.”
Alice paused for two seconds before replying obediently.
The air around them seemed to freeze.
Leo could hear his own heart pounding loudly.
He took a deep breath, battling within his mind.
Reason told him this was insane.
But another voice shouted, This is your own summoned being, completely yours—what’s the harm?
Finally, he turned around, looked at this silver-haired knight who was flawless from every angle, and spoke slowly with a mixture of awkwardness and hope.
“Alice.”
He paused, as if making a resolute decision.
“As a meticulous summoner, I must conduct a… comprehensive, thorough, and in-depth… structural study on the unit I summoned.”
“Yes, Master.”
Alice’s answer was as calm and swift as ever.
That night, Leo spent half of it unable to fall asleep.