A man hurriedly ran along a corridor, reaching the end of the path. He then stopped to adjust his posture, standing properly before knocking on the door.
After a short while, a loud male voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
After receiving permission, the man placed his hand on the doorknob and pushed open the door carved with what seemed like a picture.
The scene inside the room was even more extravagant and luxurious than the door the man had entered through.
Various exquisite antique items were displayed on shelves around the room, and the walls were covered in all kinds of gorgeous, priceless paintings.
After entering, facing him was a long table, with a person sitting behind it.
On the wall behind were rows of large windows, through which the bustling night scene of the city could be seen.
The man only glanced up when he entered, then lowered his head.
“News has arrived…”
“Oh? Tell me about it.”
The person sitting behind the long table ordered his subordinate to report the news truthfully.
The man lowered his head again and said.
“The insider we planted in Lily of the Valley Manor sent word that a carriage returned. On it were Parit and that black-haired maid Lucia, along with two other people.”
“Those two are not Gro and his rumored daughter Kalian, but two women—very beautiful women!”
At this point, the person behind the long table pondered for a moment.
“Women?”
“Yes, two women. One with silver hair and golden eyes, the other with light cyan hair. And that light cyan-haired woman has unusually long ears, like an elf from the north,” the messenger said with some shock.
“What are their names? What did they do at Lily of the Valley Manor?”
The person behind the long table spoke with a hint of urgency, clearly surprised by the appearance of those two women.
Under his imposing pressure, the messenger lowered his head further, his forehead now covered in sweat.
“N-not yet known. They found a house and haven’t moved since. Parit hasn’t told his subordinates anything, and that Lucia has been staying close to those two women. But with a bit of time, we should be able to find out…”
The person behind the long table rose from his chair.
He walked to the window, put his hands behind his back, and looked out at the night view. No one knew what expression he wore or what he was thinking.
The messenger mustered his courage to take his leave.
The man at the window turned around, looked at the room filled with his various antiques, and slammed his fist heavily on the table in front of him.
After calming down a bit, he began to pace back and forth. If the messenger hadn’t left, he would have seen his gloomy expression.
Enya declined the maid’s offer to help her bathe. She simply soaked in water for a while and then came out.
The water droplets on her fair skin instantly evaporated into white steam. She used Invisible Hand magic to bring over the hanging nightgown.
It was a relatively understated, dark gold silk spaghetti strap nightgown with a V-neckline.
As a progressive city in the Northland States, Lakeside City had quite bold women’s fashion.
On the streets, women were already happy to show off their long legs wrapped in fine silk stockings.
So Enya’s nightgown could be considered very conservative. Its hem only reached mid-thigh. If that wasn’t conservative, what was?
Enya put on the soft wool bathrobe the maids had carefully prepared and returned to her room.
Just as she sat at the desk and crossed her legs, she heard a knock at the door. Enya said indifferently, “Come in.”
Lucia walked in, lifting her maid outfit’s skirt in a curtsy.
“Mistress, Head Maid Katherine wishes to see you.”
“Mm, have her come to my room.”
Enya did not turn around, saying this with her back to Lucia.
Before long, the Head Maid followed Lucia’s lead to the door of Enya’s room.
Lucia cast a deep look at Katherine, as if wanting to say something, but they were at Enya’s door.
She was now Enya’s personal maid, so it wasn’t appropriate for her to say those things to Katherine.
After Lucia knocked, she silently stepped aside.
Katherine was also watching Lucia.
From when Lucia went to inform Enya, to when she returned to lead her to the door, Katherine had been observing Lucia, who seemed to have grown a lot.
The Head Maid reached out and placed her hand on Lucia’s head, giving her a smile.
But this startled Lucia a bit. She instinctively wanted to grab Katherine’s wrist, but she was already too slow.
‘How could this be…’
Lucia watched Katherine push open the door, watched her walk in, and then the door closed. There was no sound from inside.
Now stuck outside, she grew more and more anxious. If there was anyone in the manor she was closest to, it was probably Katherine. Just now, Lucia felt a sense of finality from Katherine, which made it hard not to be extremely worried.
“Sister Katherine… she wouldn’t fight with the Mistress, would she?”
After thinking of this possibility, Lucia became even more terrified.
Inside the room, Enya put down her crossed leg. As she stood up, her hand turned the chair around, and then she sat back down.
Enya’s pale golden eyes looked at this dignified and mature beautiful Head Maid. She tilted her head slightly.
“Is there something you want to see me about?”
“I want to know, what exactly do you intend to do?”
Katherine replied thus.
The Head Maid was naturally dressed in a maid outfit, but hers was custom-made, looking more gorgeous and pretty than ordinary maid outfits, mainly due to the addition of a lot of black and white lace.
Katherine had good features herself.
Her chestnut hair was tied into a bun at the back of her head. Her delicate face had light makeup.
Coupled with her cool and aloof demeanor, she gave off the impression of a refreshingly capable, cold beauty.
How could Enya not guess why Katherine had come? Naturally, it was to figure out why the ones who returned to Lily of the Valley Manor were not Gro, nor even Gro’s daughter Kalian, but two completely unrelated outsiders like Enya and Wendy.
Enya was not one to enjoy explaining verbally. She gently raised her right hand.
“… Ten centimeters above her open palm, a Void gap formed, and a yellow letter fell out.”
Enya caught the letter and threw it directly at Katherine, who was six or seven meters away.
Katherine watched the flying paper.
She couldn’t help but furrow her brows. Though she had some reservation, she still caught it.
But the moment she caught it, the letter burst into flames.
At the same time, Katherine’s pupils dilated.
After three breaths, the letter burned away into nothingness. Katherine’s eyes refocused. Her body swayed slightly, but she quickly stabilized and looked at Enya.
Enya’s expression was calm.
The letter she had given was a memory image copied from [Survival’s Creation].
Rather than describing it verbally, it was better to let Katherine experience it firsthand.
That’s right, what she showed were the two times Enya met Gro.
Through it, Katherine saw Gro’s final death and the promise he made with Enya before dying.
Katherine’s eyes were wide open. She breathed lightly. Even though she had been mentally prepared, she still couldn’t quite recover.
“He shouldn’t have gone. At the very least, he should have invited a Sixth-Rank expert, not… Sigh, it’s too late to say all this now.”
The previously stern Head Maid actually showed a hint of dejection.
But soon she composed herself, raised her head, and looked again at this woman before her.
Enya didn’t mind others looking her straight in the eye.
Earlier, Katherine had used a mental probe on her, so she had to retaliate against the Head Maid.
But a hurdle was a hurdle, and that matter was over.
Katherine took a deep breath and asked hesitantly.
“Ms. Enya… will you really take revenge for Gro and Miss Kalian?”
“That’s just a side matter. My real goal is to obtain the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce. Who told me I love gold coins so much?” Enya raised an eyebrow and said.
Katherine lowered her eyes, lifted the hem of her Head Maid skirt, and slowly walked toward Enya.
When she reached Enya’s front, she knelt on one knee directly, her gaze fixed on the floor.
She exhaled softly and said, “Lady, would you allow me one insolent act?”
“Huh?”
Enya was stunned. Even she didn’t quite understand this situation.
At this moment, Katherine, with her head bowed and face toward the ground, smiled.
“Lady, you are a noble person. My intuition tells me you are not here for gold, nor for any power.”
“Then what am I here for?”
Enya narrowed her eyes slightly, sizing up the Head Maid kneeling before her. Katherine lowered her head humbly.
“For fun.”
“Hehehe~”
Enya laughed, even shaking with mirth. After a moment, she spoke with a beaming smile.
“You really know how to flatter me.”
“I only state facts,” Katherine replied thus.
Enya let out a playful “Hah,” crossing her right leg over her left, leaning back against the chair, her eyes always on Katherine.
The room fell silent. After a full minute, Enya broke this inexplicable stillness.
“Are you looking to resign?”
“… Katherine paused for one breath, then shook her head to deny resignation.”
“Lady, I will continue to serve as Head Maid and fulfill my responsibilities.”
“Do you really believe what I showed you just now?”
After saying this, Enya’s smile faded a bit.
This time, Katherine paused for three breaths. She chose to speak her innermost thoughts without any concealment.
“Compared to letting the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce fall into the hands of those with ulterior motives, handing it over to you, Lady, is much easier for me to accept. And isn’t this exactly foiling the evil schemes of those enemies?”
“Tsk tsk, women sure can be petty, huh…”
Enya teased her with a joke. Katherine gave no response, still kneeling on one knee before Enya, facing the floor.
A pleased smile curled at the corner of Enya’s mouth.
“You said earlier for me to allow you one insolent act? Fine, I allow it. Katherine, begin your insolent act.”
“Yes, Lady.”
Katherine nodded.
Then she reached out with both hands to hold Enya’s right foot, which was suspended because it was crossed over her left leg. She bent down and kissed the top of that foot.
This insolent act even startled Enya.
Enya stared dumbly at the Head Maid kissing her foot for a full minute. For that minute, Enya didn’t even breathe!
Katherine slowly raised her head and released her hands holding Enya’s right foot. She backed away a bit, lowered her head, and said.
“Lady, from now on, I will serve by your side.”
Enya swallowed a mouthful of saliva. She looked at her own right foot, silently placed it back on the ground, and sat up a bit straighter.
She liked to tease and play tricks on people, but that didn’t mean she actually liked others touching her.
‘Though it’s not like I hate it.’
Enya pursed her lips, tilted her head up slightly, and looked down at Katherine through her nostrils.
“You don’t have a…?”
“No, this is only for you, Lady.”
Katherine knew Enya had misunderstood and quickly explained. Enya blinked and nodded.
“Mm, is there anything else? If not, I’m going to sleep.”
“I can stand guard by the bed.”
“No need.”
“Understood, Lady. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Katherine backed away a bit more, then stood up and exited the room.
Enya watched her go. After the door closed, she looked at the spot that had been kissed, only to see a red lip print.
The corners of her mouth twitched. She covered her face with both hands.
“Ugh!”