The woman who had tried to buy Wendy at the Golden Town auction was a powerful local figure in White Stone City.
Enya’s only knowledge of Madam Margaret came from that brief glimpse at the auction and the scantily clad maid she kept by her side.
She narrowed her eyes, deep in thought.
‘What is this Madam Margaret here for? To buy Wendy from me? Is she not afraid of losing herself here?’
Normally, a proper exploratory process would involve sending a gift first and scheduling a visit for another day, much like the Ophield family did.
Who would just show up for a meeting right away? Were they not afraid of the embarrassment of being turned away at the door?
Enya did not spend too long dwelling on Madam Margaret’s motives.
She turned her gaze toward the door and gave instructions to the maid waiting outside.
“I know. Have someone prepare for her.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Outside the door, the young and beautiful maid curtsied by lifting her skirt before slowly withdrawing.
Enya turned her head, her gaze landing directly on Sylvia’s face.
“Tell me, what is this Madam Margaret’s background?”
Sylvia looked at Enya.
Two pairs of eyes—one purple and one pale gold—locked onto each other.
After ten seconds, Sylvia looked away. She began to slowly explain Madam Margaret’s history.
In short, Madam Margaret was once the mistress of a Marquis from the Northern Land.
After disappearing for a period, she surfaced in White Stone City and used her beauty to become the wife of a Viscount.
Not long after their marriage, the Viscount died. Madam Margaret naturally inherited his estate.
Combined with her intricate connections to the Marquis, she eventually grew her influence in this small corner of White Stone City.
Margaret had a penchant for beautiful women; she never refused any woman, regardless of who they were.
However, she had only one requirement.
They had to fit her definition of “beauty.” Fortunately, her taste was not poor; in fact, it was quite exceptional, even fastidious.
“Not a single woman who has entered her manor has died or been humiliated. Instead, they all seemed to fall in love with her as if possessed,” Sylvia concluded her report.
After listening, Enya remained silent for a moment.
For a time, she genuinely did not know how to evaluate this Madam Margaret.
Little girls, young maidens, adult women, wives, widows, and even beastman women who had drifted into the human world—Madam Margaret had bought them all, and in significant numbers.
‘A collecting hobby…’
Enya did not quite understand.
She turned to look at Wendy, who was currently spacing out.
Her own elf maid was certainly beautiful, even if she was a bit of an airhead. Other than that, she was quite wonderful.
‘Is she really here for Wendy? Could she be here for me?’
“Forget it. You’re only useful for this much. We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. I’ll go meet her first and see what she’s planning,” Enya huffed at Sylvia.
This Information Girl was not as useful as she had imagined. Of course, the main reason was that Sylvia still had not figured out her current situation and was holding a lot back from Enya.
“Wendy, let’s go.”
“Ah? Oh, okay, Master!”
The daydreaming Wendy snapped back to reality.
Upon seeing Enya’s gaze, she could not help but shrink her neck, but fortunately, Enya did not make things difficult for her.
Enya had just turned to leave when she suddenly stopped and looked back at Wendy.
“Pick up that cloth on the floor.”
“Yes, Master!”
The elf maid looked down and saw a piece of fabric by her feet. It was the one that had previously covered the birdcage.
She leaned down to pick it up and looked at Enya, preparing to follow. However, she was met with Enya’s fixed stare.
Wendy looked at the cloth in her hand, then at Enya, unsure of what was wrong. She whispered, “Master, did I do something wrong?”
Enya pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a soft sigh. Seeing that Wendy still did not understand, she spoke plainly.
“Cover the cage. Cover it tightly.”
“Yes, Master!” ‘So that was it!’
Wendy finally understood.
She had wanted to tell Enya to just say so from the start, but she feared that if she did, her wages might be docked.
A luxurious carriage was parked at the gate of the estate.
It was pulled by four horses, and the carriage body was as large as a room.
The exterior was magnificently decorated, painted in reddish-brown with various golden patterns.
The iron gates were pushed open by the maids. A slightly older maid approached the carriage and bowed respectfully.
“Our mistress invites the Madam inside.”
After a moment, the carriage door opened.
The first one to step out was the young maid in the revealing outfit. Her face carried a hint of displeasure.
As she leaned out, her eyes stared coldly at the head maid who had come to welcome them.
The head maid of the estate did not lower her head in submission again. Instead, she looked the young attendant directly in the eye.
Although there was a significant gap in their strength, the head maid did not avert her gaze.
*Ahem…*
A soft cough from a woman interrupted the unnecessary petty rivalry between the servants.
Madam Margaret stepped down from the carriage.
Still wearing a blue dress today, she exuded that same seductive charm.
Her graceful curves were outlined perfectly by the form-fitting fabric.
Margaret fit the popular image of a mature, beautiful noblewoman perfectly; she was almost the gold standard.
The head maid stepped aside to lead the way, guiding Madam Margaret into the estate and toward the villa along the straight path.
Madam Margaret looked around. “Quiet, elegant, and really a nice place. It fits her temperament well.”
“Madam…” the young attendant beside her whispered.
Madam Margaret glanced at her with an affectionate look, and the girl immediately pulled back her petty thoughts, following with her head bowed.
Before long, they arrived in the main hall.
Enya happened to be slowly walking down the stairs, and their eyes met.
The hall spanned two stories, featuring a straight central staircase and two curved ones that connected the hall to the small platform on the second floor.
Enya wore a purple dress and toyed with a purple folding fan.
Her pace downstairs was slow and elegant.
She had a cold, indifferent, and intellectual aura of abstinence, yet her attire left a seductive, soul-stirring impression.
The contrast between the two gave people a massive visual shock, deeply imprinting the image of her descent into their minds.
Behind Enya followed a calm-looking forest elf maid.
The elf wore a modest black-and-white dress and carried items for her mistress, following her pace without haste.
‘Exquisite!’
Madam Margaret’s eyes widened as she looked at Enya. Her breathing grew slightly ragged, and her throat felt a bit dry.
‘?’
Feeling the heat of the gaze, Enya could not help but frown.
‘What’s the situation? You wouldn’t really be here for me, would you?’
*Snap!*
She closed her folding fan. The sound was very piercing in the silent hall.
Madam Margaret withdrew her gaze.
She stepped forward with a beaming smile, first offering a polite greeting before looking at Wendy behind Enya.
“Oh my, has Ms. Enya prepared this gift specifically for me?”
“Uh, I never said I was going to give her to you,” Enya said, her lips twitching.
Madam Margaret was not embarrassed at all. Instead, she passionately tried to take Enya’s hand. But how could Enya allow that?
‘This woman is after me. I can’t let her touch me!’
Even though Enya dodged her, Madam Margaret remained unbothered.
She smiled and said, “Ever since I missed the chance with Sister Enya the first time, I have been longing to see you again. Later, Sister Enya stayed behind closed doors, so I could only wait. Now that Sister Enya has opened her doors, I made a special trip. Sister Enya truly is a beauty created by the heavens.”
Enya’s eyelid twitched. This routine felt strangely familiar.
Taking a glance at the noblewoman, Enya thought for a brief moment. She chose not to follow Margaret’s topic and instead spoke very directly.
“Madam Margaret, let’s talk as we walk. Hmm… how about we discuss the future landscape of White Stone City? What do you think?”
“Since Ms. Enya has said so, I am naturally willing to listen.”
Madam Margaret reined in her smile slightly and nodded.
Enya gave the head maid a subtle look and then slowly walked toward the garden within the estate.
Madam Margaret followed at her side, intentionally staying half a step behind.