The afternoon sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the reception hall, cutting the carpet into bright, neat squares.
Ailiya stood in her spotless black-and-white maid uniform, hands clasped in front of her, posture straight as a ramrod beside the rosewood coffee table. She perfectly played the part of an emotionless background prop.
Just moments ago, Young Master Cedric had swaggered into the reception hall, mysteriously bringing along a “distinguished guest.”
Ailiya lifted her eyelids slightly, sizing up the guest seated on the sofa.
The man wore a rather refined black suit, with a silver mask covering half his face—an attempt to project an aura of mystery and a “keep away” expert vibe.
The most eye-catching detail was the long, wrapped object on his back, bundled in coarse hemp cloth. He refused to take it off even while sitting on the sofa.
Cedric sat in the main seat, wearing his signature, condescending smile.
“This is Mr. G, an adventurer I befriended in the royal capital. A genuine Third-Order Expert,” Cedric said, stressing “Third-Order Expert” to show off his muscle.
However, standing off to the side, a familiar translucent panel had already popped up at the edge of Ailiya’s vision.
She certainly recognized this person.
[Servant: Shadow Gunner “Graves” (Lv.35)]
[Status: Mildly Nervous]
[Loyalty: 68]
‘Hah, a suit with a mask, that aesthetic…’
Ailiya silently mocked him in her mind.
In truth, Graves was sitting here today entirely because of Ailiya’s forceful orders.
Two days ago, Graves had reported the Main Family in the Royal Capital’s plan through the mental link. As soon as Ailiya heard it, she ordered him to take the job, smoothly coming to Cedric’s side.
“Ailiya.” Cedric snapped his fingers, putting on his young master’s airs. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour tea for Mr. G.”
“Yes, Young Master Cedric.”
Ailiya replied in a flat tone.
She turned and walked to the tea station, starting to warm the cups, rinse the tea leaves, and brew with extreme skill and elegance. The entire set of movements was fluid, impossible to fault.
Seconds later, carrying the tray, Ailiya stepped lightly in front of Graves.
“Mr. G, please have your tea.”
Ailiya bowed slightly and steadily placed the steaming cup of black tea on the coffee table in front of Graves.
The instant she set down the cup, her ice-blue eyes, hidden very discreetly through the holes of his mask, met Graves’ gaze for just a moment.
Graves’ expression beneath the mask froze instantly.
‘What the hell!!!’
He screamed like a groundhog in his mind.
Since their previous meetings had been at night or in the dim warehouse, this was his first time seeing her in broad daylight.
Looking at that signature silver hair and that coldly beautiful face—the same one that had once stepped on his mouth with the sole of a shoe—Graves felt his legs start to ache again.
The reason he was sitting here today was entirely because the fool Cedric had demanded a face-to-face meeting at the manor to discuss the follow-up plan. He hadn’t expected that fool Cedric would brazenly bring him right in front of this woman!
He’d originally wanted to find an excuse to refuse, but she had ordered him to come.
On one hand, there was the organization’s rule: take the money, do the job. On the other, there was this woman’s contract command. He had no way out.
Worse still, this woman was dressed in a maid outfit, respectfully pouring tea for him?!
What was she up to?
Was she that into playing maid?
If he drank this tea, could he even make it out of the estate alive today?!
“Th-thank you…”
Graves’ voice trembled slightly.
Clink… clink…
The teacup rattled against the saucer, making a sharp scraping sound. The tea nearly spilled.
“Sir, your hand seems unwell? Would you like me to find you a potion of Elsa for hand cramps?” Ailiya’s ice-blue eyes stared calmly at him, a hint of mockery in her tone.
Thud!
“No need! I’m fine! I’m not sick!” Graves nearly jumped off the sofa. He gripped the teacup tightly with both hands and shook his head frantically.
Cedric, sitting across, frowned.
He set down his cup, looked at Ailiya’s ever-chilly face, and irritation welled up inside him again.
Cedric frowned, clearly dissatisfied with her service attitude.
“Ailiya, your expression is too stiff.” Cedric leaned back on the sofa, speaking in a condescending, critical tone. “Mr. G is a Third-Order Expert who walks the edge of the blade—a distinguished guest deserving of courtesy.
“As a servant, when you pour tea, you should bow lower, show more respect. Is this how the Kastian Estate teaches its servants manners?
“You should wear a smile. With that cold face, you’re embarrassing the Kastian clan.”
Cedric had a calculated plan: since he couldn’t taste this ice-cold maid for now, he might as well use this chance to crush her pride.
He’d been repeatedly snubbed by this woman lately, and today he had to put her in her place—to make her understand the gap in class and power.
On hearing this, Graves nearly had a heart attack.
Respect?!
‘I beg you, shut up!’
“No no no! No need to bow! No need for respect!” Graves shot up from the sofa, moving so abruptly that the magic gun on his back nearly hit the coffee table.
He held the scalding cup of black tea in both hands, waving frantically, his tone servile—even ingratiating: “The tea is perfectly poured! A perfect temperature, professional technique! I’ll drink it standing—standing aids digestion!”
Cedric was dumbfounded. He stared blankly at the man who had just been putting on a mysterious, aloof front, now standing ramrod straight, clutching the teacup like a punished child.
“What are you doing? Sit down.”
“It’s just a maid. No need to be so polite.”
“I like standing! My legs get numb when I sit too long!” Graves refused to budge, his peripheral vision frantically and fearfully darting toward Ailiya.
Seeing Graves’ ridiculous display, Ailiya’s eyes flickered with an imperceptible hint of amusement.
She obediently lowered her head slightly, her tone exceedingly submissive: “Young Master Cedric is right. Mr. G, please excuse the poor hospitality. If the tea gets cold, I’ll replace it anytime.”
“It’s not cold! Not cold at all! It’s delicious!”
To prove his words, Graves threw his head back and gulped down the freshly brewed, steaming hot black tea in one go.
“Hss—!”
The scalding tea burned its way down his throat, twisting his features under the mask. But he bit back the cry of pain, only trembling violently all over.
Cedric watched in shock. ‘So this is how a Third-Order Expert drinks tea? Chugging boiling water?’
Just as the atmosphere in the reception hall reached a bizarre, awkward peak—
Bang!
The heavy carved wooden door of the reception hall was kicked open violently.
“Ailiya!!!”
Leo rushed in like a whirlwind, drenched in sweat, panting heavily. Even his bow tie was twisted around to the back of his neck.
He spotted Cedric sitting on the sofa and the masked man who looked like a psychotic killer, and alarm bells rang in his head.
‘That blonde brat is definitely up to no good!’
Without a second word, Leo dashed to Ailiya, grabbed her wrist, and jumped up and down in panic, shouting:
“Quick quick quick! Follow me! Something huge has happened!”
Cedric’s face darkened. He slammed his teacup onto the table with a thud.
“Leo! Don’t you have any manners?! Can’t you see I’m entertaining an important guest?! What’s all this shouting about now?”
“Big trouble!”
Leo didn’t even bother to think of a proper excuse this time; he just blurted out, “The pigpen in the backyard collapsed! The pigs are rampaging through Chef Carter’s vegetable garden, digging up the cabbages! The guards can’t catch them—Head maid had to go take charge!”
The reception hall went dead silent again.
Cedric’s face was as black as a pot bottom.
He took a deep breath, barely suppressing the urge to strangle this waste, and gritted out: “Catching pigs?! You send the Head maid to do such lowly work?! Is there no one else in the estate?!”
“Can’t be helped! Those two pigs are way too tough. My water bullet spell hits them like they’re taking a bath!”
Leo shot back with full confidence, then yanked hard on Ailiya’s sleeve, dragging her toward the door. “Ailiya, hurry up! If we’re late, there’s no cabbage for dinner!”
Ailiya looked down at her sleeve, firmly gripped by Leo, then glanced at the trembling Graves standing nearby. A trace of helpless resignation flickered in her eyes.
Though this excuse was ten times more ridiculous than “a wand stuck in a toilet.”
“I’m terribly sorry, Young Master Cedric, Mr. G. It seems I must go deal with the estate’s… urgent agricultural affairs.”
Ailiya bowed slightly, her tone still flat. “Please excuse me.”
With that, she let Leo pull her quickly out of the reception hall.
Just before the door closed, Graves’ mind clearly received Ailiya’s utterly calm telepathy.
[Keep playing your role as the bodyguard. Find out all his plans from here.]
[Yes…]
Graves felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
He finally let out a long, relieved sigh. His whole body collapsed onto the sofa like he’d been drained, the back of his suit soaked through with cold sweat.
“What’s wrong with you? I brought you here to work, not to play sick.” Cedric looked at him, drenched in sweat, puzzled.
“It’s… nothing.” Graves wiped the cold sweat from his brow and muttered to himself, still shaken.
“Cough… Young Master Cedric.” Graves forced his voice to sound like a cold-blooded killer. “The assassination… we need to plan carefully. After all, I need more observation time, to find an opportunity.”