Second floor of the main building, Elsa’s study.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting dappled patterns across the large oak desk.
Lady Elsa set down the potion bill she had been annotating, her brow slightly furrowed as she looked at her son standing before the desk, still covered in dirt and sweat, like a stubborn little calf.
“Out on an adventure?”
“Leo, do you even know what you’re saying? The outside world isn’t the training ground in the backyard. There’s no pulling punches—only life-and-death battles.”
“I know!”
Leo pressed his hands against the edge of the desk, his tone more serious than ever.
“Mother, today at the training ground, I beat Uncle Garick head-on while he was fully armed! He admitted himself that my strength has reached the second-order level.”
“Garick was letting you win.” Lady Elsa ruthlessly shattered his illusion. “As the captain of the guard, would he actually dare draw his sword and wound the young master?”
“But I need real combat!”
Leo grew anxious. “Mother, didn’t you promise Cedric that we’d go to the royal capital in a month for his coming-of-age ceremony?”
At the mention of the royal capital, Lady Elsa’s eyes darkened, and she fell silent.
“The royal capital is full of people like Cedric, who eat people without spitting out the bones.”
Leo gritted his teeth, his amber eyes flashing with a maturity beyond his years.
“If I stay shut up in this estate, wasting away as nothing but a kid who can only shoot water bullets to wash vegetables, then when I get to the royal capital, all I’ll do is embarrass you and get mocked and bullied by those royal family members. What else can I do?”
“I don’t want to be the one hiding behind you or anyone else when danger comes anymore. I want to get stronger—at least strong enough that when I go to the royal capital and something unexpected happens, I can protect myself. That way, I won’t be seen as a soft target!”
The words rang out with conviction, and the study fell into a long silence.
Lady Elsa looked at her son, who had suddenly grown up before her eyes. A complex mix of emotions flickered in her gaze—pride, heartache, and deep worry about the trip to the royal capital.
Did she not know the dangers of the royal capital? It was a gilded cage that devoured people.
Leo was usually carefree, but deep down he understood things better than anyone.
His initiative to seek training, this sense of responsibility to become stronger and protect his mother and himself, made it impossible for her to refuse outright.
Lady Elsa let out a long breath and rubbed her temples.
“Hoo…”
“Fine. You’ve grown up, and having your own ideas is a good thing. I agree to let you take on some low-rank adventuring requests to test the waters.”
“Really?! That’s great! Thank you, Mother!” Leo nearly jumped up in excitement.
“Don’t get too happy yet.”
Lady Elsa cut him off sternly. “There are a few conditions you must follow. First, the quest rank must absolutely not exceed normal level.”
“Second, an experienced adventurer must lead and protect you fully. Third, you must obey the team leader’s orders without fail—no acting like a spoiled young master!”
“No problem! I’ll do whatever you say!” Leo nodded vigorously. As long as he could get out, he’d agree to anything.
“Then, regarding the accompanying personnel…”
Lady Elsa tapped her fingers lightly on the desk, lost in thought.
“If I hire people temporarily from the Adventurer’s Guild in the city, I can’t trust those mercenaries who only care about profit…”
Just as mother and son were worrying about finding a reliable leader—
Knock knock knock.
The study door was gently tapped.
“Madam, your black tea.”
Ailiya pushed open the door, carrying a silver tray, and walked in with steady steps.
She placed the steaming black tea on the corner of Lady Elsa’s desk, then naturally picked up the empty teacup, acting like a dutiful maid who took no interest in her masters’ conversation.
But just as she turned to leave, she spoke flatly.
“If madam is worried about finding someone for the young master’s training, perhaps I could offer a suggestion.”
Lady Elsa looked up in surprise. “Oh? Ailiya, do you have someone in mind?”
Leo’s eyes widened as he stared at Ailiya like she was a monster.
‘Is the sun rising in the west?’
“Yes, madam.”
“Sise, the owner of the Wind Moon Tavern, has a permanent adventuring team under her.”
A flicker of calm light passed through Ailiya’s ice-blue eyes.
“Among them is a storm swordsman named Balk. His strength is at the peak of the second order, and he’s recognized as one of the strongest swordsmen in Fengyue City. Moreover, his team operates in this area year-round and is extremely experienced.”
“More importantly, their team has an excellent reputation—when they take on escort missions, they never abandon their employer for profit.”
Lady Elsa’s eyes showed a hint of approval after hearing this.
“Lord Balk… he does sound like a good choice.”
She took a sip of the black tea, but her brow was still slightly furrowed.
“Last time, because of those rogue mercenaries, I tried to recruit him, but he made excuses and declined. I’m worried that with the complicated situation of the main family, Balk won’t want to get involved in noble troubles.”
“You can rest assured on that point, madam.”
Ailiya’s tone was extremely confident.
“Before I was hired at this estate, I worked at the Wind Moon Tavern for a while. I have some connections with Sise and Balk.”
“If I handle the negotiation and offer a reasonable hiring fee, I believe Sise will be happy to take this job.”
Ailiya added silently in her mind—
‘As long as the money is enough, that rough guy who only cares about gold coins and booze will definitely jump at the chance.’
“Very well, then let’s do as you say.”
Lady Elsa nodded with satisfaction.
“Ailiya, I’ll leave this matter entirely to you. Take some time tomorrow to go to Fengyue City and finalize the details with Sise.”
“As you command, madam.”
Ailiya gave a slight bow and turned to leave the study.
Leo stared at her blankly, his mind buzzing.
“She… she actually helped me?!”
Leo muttered in disbelief.
He had thought that given Ailiya’s personality, even if she didn’t mock him, she would at least stand by and watch coldly.
But not only had she spoken up for him and gotten his mother’s approval, she had even used her old connections at the Wind Moon Tavern to find him a team.
This maid, who usually hit him with a mop, had actually spoken up for him now!
Leo scratched the back of his head, feeling like he couldn’t understand this woman at all.
‘What is she really thinking?’
‘Could it be… that when she used to hit me with the mop and jab at me with words, it was all some special method to motivate me to get stronger?’
‘Maybe she actually cares about the young master’s safety deep down?’
At that thought, Leo’s heart skipped a beat, and a surge of inexplicable joy rose from the bottom of his heart.
“Hehe…”
Leo couldn’t help grinning foolishly in the study, earning a disgusted glare from Elsa.
“What are you standing around for?”
Lady Elsa tapped the desk impatiently.
“Since Ailiya has arranged the escort for you, why don’t you go to your room and pack your gear?”
“Yes, Mother!”
Leo snapped back to reality and dashed out of the study like a whirlwind.
In the corridor.
“Ailiya, thank you!”
Leo caught up with her, his tone extremely sincere, even with a hint of excitement.
“I knew it—you’re actually a good person, aren’t you? Do you want me to get stronger too?”
Ailiya looked down at this face pressed close, full of expectation, and a flicker of undisguised disgust passed through her eyes.
“Young Master.”
She stepped back half a pace to create distance, crushing his fantasy.
“Please do not develop any unrealistic misunderstandings about my actions.”
‘She wasn’t helping this stupid young master at all.’
‘She just needed a reasonable excuse that wouldn’t arouse suspicion to go to Fengyue City.’
The smile on Leo’s face instantly froze.
“I knew it.” He turned away angrily. “Not a single good word ever comes out of your mouth.”
Ailiya nodded expressionlessly.
“I’m pleased that you have such a clear understanding of yourself.”
“Also, instead of wasting your overactive imagination here, why not go back and check whether your water bullet spell can actually pierce a boar’s hide.”
“Hmph! Just you wait! After I train with Uncle Balk and come back stronger, we’ll see if you can still hit me with that mop!”
Leo threw out a tough parting line and stalked off.
“Heh.”
Ailiya let out a disdainful laugh, then pushed the cart and walked away.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.