Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
That morning, an extravagantly decorated, spacious carriage, escorted by two teams of knights, slowly rolled through the gates of the Kastian manor.
On both sides of the carriage, the Kastian family crest was emblazoned, gleaming brilliantly under the sun and proclaiming the visitor’s status.
The carriage door was respectfully opened by a servant.
A young nobleman, dressed in an impeccably tailored dark tailcoat, stepped down from the carriage.
He had a head of meticulously groomed, brilliant golden hair, handsome and deep-set features, and a gentle smile that seemed as warm as a spring breeze playing at the corner of his mouth.
This was Cedric, the Third Young Master from the main family in the royal capital.
“Aunt Elsa, it’s been a long time. You remain as radiant as ever.”
Cedric walked up to Elsa, who was standing on the steps to greet him. With the utmost gentlemanly grace, he placed a hand over his chest and performed a flawless junior’s bow, befitting a noble.
In this world, aristocratic family relations were often complex and tangled.
Although Elsa was merely a mistress the Marquis had installed outside the main family back in the day, lacking the official status of the main wife, she herself was a Potion Master. Even a proud young master like him had to show her surface-level respect.
After all, what nobles valued most were propriety and profit.
“You are too kind, Young Master Cedric. The journey must have been tiring,” Madame Elsa replied with an equally impeccable, dignified smile. “Your room is ready for you.”
“How could I possibly find it tiring to visit you and Leo?” Cedric said with cultured elegance, his smile never wavering.
However, his eyes, seemingly gentle, inadvertently swept across the entire front courtyard.
His seemingly mild gaze was, in reality, like a precision instrument, conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the manor.
He calculated coldly in his heart.
‘The guards on duty have weak, unstable auras. A few of them even stand a bit stiffly, clearly still recovering from serious injuries.’
‘This is the place that made the ace assassin of Night Owl fail?’
Cedric sneered contemptuously inside.
‘It seems that assassin, Graves, was really just making excuses for his own incompetence.’
‘The defensive strength of this manor is as fragile as paper.’
‘The only thing of value here is probably this Potion Master before me.’
“Where is Leo? I don’t see him,” Cedric asked, withdrawing his gaze and adopting a concerned tone.
“He is practicing magic. You’ll see him at lunchtime.”
Madame Elsa dismissed the question casually, then gave a slight glance to the butler standing beside her.
The butler immediately stepped forward, holding an exquisite rosewood box.
Madame Elsa said with a smile, “Knowing you were coming, I specially prepared a few bottles of meditation soothing potion. These might be of some help to you.”
“Given your level of magical skill, you should find them useful.”
A faint gleam appeared in Cedric’s eyes. He accepted the wooden box with both hands, his tone becoming three parts more sincere.
“Thank you so much, Aunt Elsa. The main family often praises your craftsmanship as well. I truly appreciate this gift.”
Of course, he liked it.
Even if he didn’t use it himself, it would make a fine social gift to give as a favor in the royal capital.
The two stood in the front hall for a while longer, exchanging more pleasantries and discussing some trivial, meaningless family matters.
Cedric set down his teacup and said with a smile, “Madame Elsa, actually, aside from representing my father to visit you and Leo, I came this time because I heard there was some unrest near the royal capital a few days ago, with assassins on the loose. The main family is very concerned for your safety.”
“Thank you for the main family’s concern.”
Madame Elsa went with the flow, her tone calm. “We did encounter a minor issue a few days ago, but fortunately, with the help of the holy see’s clergy, the danger was averted.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” Cedric put on an expression of relief.
“Well then, I shall retire to my room to rest for a bit. I will come to formally greet you and Leo again later.”
“Of course. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to instruct the servants.” Madame Elsa nodded.
Having played his part sufficiently in the social dance, Cedric bid farewell to Elsa. Led by the butler, he walked along the second-floor corridor, its long carpet stretching ahead, toward the luxurious guest room prepared for him.
The corridor was quiet.
Freed from the earlier hypocritical pleasantries, Cedric’s expression gradually returned to its usual cool indifference.
As he walked, Cedric mentally assessed the value of the antique vases and oil paintings displayed along the corridor.
Just as he was about to reach a corner of the hallway.
A figure stepped out quietly.
It was a young woman wearing a black and white maid’s uniform, holding an empty tray, as if she had just finished clearing the dishes from a room.
Cedric didn’t pay her any mind. Just a servant.
But when they were just a few steps apart, about to pass each other.
Cedric’s footsteps involuntarily slowed by half a beat.
He glanced sideways.
What met his eyes was hair of a silvery-white that seemed to emit a cold light under the corridor’s illumination, and a face so exquisitely beautiful it was stunning, yet utterly devoid of expression—a visage of pure coolness.
What surprised him even more was her gaze.
Back in the royal capital, or when visiting other noble estates, the servants who saw him always had looks in their eyes—either awe, flattery, or deep fear, not even daring to lift their heads.
But this maid showed not a single trace of emotional fluctuation.
No awe, no curiosity, not even a hint of the most basic subservience.
However, he didn’t feel offended.
Given his popularity in the royal capital, he naturally assumed this was just a woman’s trick to catch his attention.
He habitually put on that devastatingly charming, gentle smile, ready to receive the servant’s reverence.
Ailiya did indeed stop. She stepped to the side of the corridor, standing at the edge, making way for him.
She stopped about two paces away, turned slightly to the side, lowered her head, and performed a flawless curtsy, clearing the path for him.
Her movements were perfect, her posture impeccable.
Even Cedric, who was accustomed to the famous ladies of the royal capital, couldn’t help but feel a flash of astonishment in his eyes at the sight of her.
‘To think such a top-tier demi-human maid was hidden away in this manor?’
“Hello there, beautiful lady.” Cedric’s voice was soft and magnetic.
He waited for her to be flustered and overwhelmed by the honor.
He waited for her cheeks to flush crimson because of his address, even for a stammering response.
However.
The air remained quiet for three seconds.
Ailiya maintained her curtsy, her tone as flat as if she were reciting an employee manual.
“My respects, Young Master Cedric.”
“Welcome to the Kastian manor.”
“I am the head maid of the estate.”
“Your guest room has been prepared. The butler will guide you.”
“If the Young Master has no further instructions, I must go to the kitchen to check the ingredients for lunch. I beg your pardon, but I cannot linger here any longer.”
“I wish you a pleasant rest.”
Having said that.
Before Cedric could even process this utterly emotionless, mechanical response.
Ailiya had already straightened up. Holding the tray, she passed by Cedric like a ghost, making no sound whatsoever.
An extremely faint, cool fragrance brushed past Cedric’s nose with the slight breeze stirred by her movement, then drifted away without the slightest hesitation.
Cedric stood frozen in place, the gentle smile on his face beginning to strain slightly.
‘Was I… just ignored?’
‘Dismissed by a maid from a backwater manor, with the laughable excuse of needing to check kitchen accounts?’
He had seen all kinds of women in the royal capital.
Countless noble ladies and wives, how many proud women had he not encountered?
“‘Playing hard to get, is she?'”
“‘Thinks putting on this icy act will make me think more highly of her?'”
Cedric sneered inwardly, the corner of his mouth curling up.
‘To think I’d run into a servant playing such an advanced game.’
‘By paying me no mind, she thinks she can pique my desire to conquer?’
‘Thinks it’ll make me look at her differently?’
‘Hah, what a vain and clumsy trick.’
That overwhelming sense of self-confidence instantly took over his mind.
He turned his head, watching the slender figure receding into the distance. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze revealing a playful, determined possessiveness.
‘Though, with that beauty, she does have the capital to play such games.’
“‘Staying here for a few days, she might make for a decent way to pass the time.”‘
Cedric adjusted his cuff, preparing to continue toward his room.
However…
‘Hmm?’
For some reason, recalling the moment they passed each other.
Cedric frowned slightly and subconsciously reached up to touch the back of his neck.
‘Was it an illusion?’ Just as that maid passed by his side.
He had felt a fleeting, needle-prick sensation of danger.
He glanced back toward the end of the corridor, but Ailiya’s figure had long since vanished.
“‘A servant couldn’t possibly have that kind of aura…”‘
Cedric shook his head, quickly finding a reasonable explanation for himself.
“‘Could it be one of that woman Elsa’s potion tricks? Deliberately spreading some hallucinogenic agent around the manor to warn me? Does she have the nerve?'”
Thinking this, Cedric’s eyes turned cold.
“‘It seems I should be more cautious in dealing with that woman.”‘