Serious.
Warm sunlight accompanied by a gentle breeze streamed through the open window, occasionally stirring Cecilia’s golden hair that draped over her shoulders, yet it never once disturbed the soft scratching of her pen on paper.
Every so often, she paused, the sound blending harmoniously with the rustling leaves outside, as if composing the perfect soundtrack for this quiet afternoon.
Rita sat beside the desk, propping her chin up with one hand, watching Cecilia busy at work and yawning from time to time.
How pleasant, how wonderful, right?
According to the story’s development, the girl should suddenly realize her feelings at this moment, harbor a secret affection for the other person, and thus begin a forbidden romance that crosses the boundaries of master and subordinate.
But Rita didn’t think that way at all.
Come on, would you really fall for your boss?
Even though the boss was a golden-haired, cute, and perfectly legitimate young lady—really cute, really legitimate, truly a beautiful girl—
No way! What won’t happen just won’t happen! To Rita, those shimmering golden locks were no different from the Golden Drumstick in a MacSpicy Chicken Burger!
Well, admittedly, the hair was easier on the eyes.
But it wasn’t as delicious.
Surely Cecilia had misunderstood her intentions!
When Rita said she was fine, she meant it literally.
She just wanted to step out and check up on the aftermath of that night’s events.
She didn’t mean to jump straight back into work! Nor did she expect Cecilia to kindly move a chair over for her!
Come to think of it, when did she start being assumed as Cecilia’s personal bodyguard?
The day they bought crepes? Or the day after the Riot ended?
It didn’t matter anymore.
Rita just wanted this tormenting day to be over as soon as possible.
After a long while, when the breeze outside had turned slightly cool but the sky was still not fully dark, Cecilia put down her pen, ending her work for the day.
Rita could tell that this was Cecilia’s choice, made with consideration for her feelings; otherwise, based on what she knew about Cecilia, she would have worked late into the night.
“Let’s go. Take me out to eat.”
Cecilia tidied up the desk and ordered, then tossed Rita a bulging wallet.
Accompanied by Rita, Cecilia left the city lord’s manor and entered a restaurant that clearly wasn’t cheap, sitting down in a seat in the main hall.
This was not a place ordinary citizens could afford, and with the past few days’ unrest, many had no mood to enjoy delicacies, so there weren’t many customers inside.
“You sit too. Today we eat together,” Cecilia instructed, pushing the menu to the Waitress. “Pick some nutritious but not greasy dishes for us. Price doesn’t matter, but choose according to our tastes. And no alcohol—two glasses of fresh juice instead. Oh, Rita, is there anything you won’t eat?”
Rita knew Cecilia rarely liked eating out; if anything, her standards for food weren’t high.
This meal was probably a reward for herself.
Only Cecilia wouldn’t say this out loud, so Rita silently took the hint and sat down.
“No, nothing. I’ll follow Lady Cecilia’s choice.”
The restaurant served dishes individually, so even sitting together wouldn’t cause any awkwardness.
The most awkward part was that Rita didn’t understand dining etiquette and could only imitate Cecilia’s mannerisms, making the meal somewhat exhausting.
But the kind of scene Rita hoped for—where suddenly a guest bursts in yelling “Where did this bumpkin come from?” followed by a quarrel, Cecilia revealing her identity, and the other party slinking away—like in those exhilarating web novels—did not happen.
What was she thinking? If she were the protagonist of a web novel, she would have already rampaged through the city with a System last night instead of being so scared.
After dinner, the sky had just begun to darken, and Cecilia returned to the manor with Rita.
This time, Cecilia didn’t ask her to stay, and Rita didn’t want to linger, so after bidding her good night, she went straight back to her room.
Perhaps still feeling the aftereffects of the previous ordeal, Rita soon felt sleepy again after lying down.
In her drowsiness, she dreamed.
In the dream, she and Valfis marched deep into the jungle with the army.
Along the way, Valfis whispered all kinds of well-known intelligence into her ear.
The entire journey was filled with a lively, joyful atmosphere.
Suddenly, the earth shook violently, and countless monsters surged out from all directions.
Valfis spread her green wings and sided with the monsters, commanding the overwhelming horde to charge toward the troops.
Waking up, Rita realized none of it had happened, and Valfis was no longer here.
Yet only one day remained until the next round of the assessment.
Outside the window, it was still pitch black.
Rita had no idea how long she had slept.
No matter.
She’d get up and take a walk.
Putting on her shoes, she passed Cecilia’s room, which was already dark, and wandered aimlessly down the corridor.
A maid working the night shift noticed Rita and smiled politely, asking if she needed help, but Rita declined each time.
After two or three attempts, Rita simply chose a hallway where no maids were around and continued strolling.
As it turned out, not only were little insects attracted to light, but so were nightmare spirits.
After a few steps, she was drawn to a reception room with its lights still on.
Approaching the room, voices reached Rita’s ears.
Though unclear, in the quiet night she could barely make out the conversation.
It was Angus’s voice, and another man’s whom Rita had never heard before.
“My lord, if this is true, then… if we don’t act, Soros City will suffer a great calamity!”
“But… it really can’t be done.”
“We can’t suffer another blow! Princess Celestria doesn’t know yet; we must strike first! Otherwise, the consequences will be unbearable.”
Great calamity, blows, striking before Cecilia knew?
Had things changed?
Rita couldn’t help but think of the dream she’d just had, and Valfis’s warning.
The second round of the assessment wasn’t going to be simple.
Combining what Angus said and the fact that he intended to remain in Soros City, Rita couldn’t help but suspect that Angus, with his bushy eyebrows and imposing stature, might also be a traitor.
As she was thinking this, Angus suddenly shouted.
“Who’s at the door!”
So sharp! She was standing right at the door without moving and was already discovered.
Before Rita could think of what to say, Angus strode to the door and flung it open.
Rita stepped back cautiously, looking up at the towering Angus, who looked down at her from above.
Seeing it was Rita, Angus’s dark expression deepened.
She heard a distinct gulp, followed by a heavy breath, as if he was thinking hard.
It felt like he was plotting how to deal with her…
If this were a wuxia novel, it would be the moment Angus threw down a chopstick and stabbed his own throat wide open.
Thinking about the walking cane he once carried, Rita felt such a thing really could happen.
In short, she had accidentally overheard a secret related to Cecilia.
And that secret might very well be a death sentence for her.
“Rita, what did you hear?” Angus asked in a low voice.
“I just went out for a walk. I didn’t hear anything,” Rita replied instantly.
Would he attack?
Though unwise, and despite being in the city lord’s manor, Angus was a warrior capable of suppressing a sea monster alone.
If she didn’t strike first, she might not be able to escape later.
But attacking would expose her identity completely. Not only Angus, but even Cecilia might become her enemy.
Either she’d be disposed of as the princess’s confidante or become the enemy of all humanity.
This was a tough choice.
But Rita wasn’t terribly afraid.
Even though Angus was formidable, she had become calmer.
Though it was a bit embarrassing how scared she’d been in the warehouse earlier, her courage had been tested through this adventure, and now it had grown into unyielding resolve.
“Sigh.”
Angus’s tense posture suddenly relaxed.
He let out a heavy sigh and stepped aside, allowing passage through the door.
“Come in.”
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