After getting out of the carriage, Luo Xiya held Roman’s hand and looked down to see the female knight Irene kneeling on one knee.
She smiled helplessly and extended her right hand toward Irene.
“I told you before—there’s no need to keep up all these formalities once we’re back in the territory.”
Irene took Luo Xiya’s fingers and gently kissed her fingernail, then stood up respectfully and gave a formal knight’s salute.
Roman watched all this silently.
The people here treated Luo Xiya with sincere respect and affection—deference without fear.
Such details said a lot.
Gradually, Roman felt more at ease.
“My lady, I’ll take my leave now.”
Having gotten a moment of closeness, Irene bowed and prepared to withdraw.
“Go ahead. After a day of travel, you must be tired,”
Luo Xiya said, patting her shoulder.
Only after Irene left did Luo Xiya turn toward the rows of maids who had quietly lined up at the manor’s entrance.
Seeing her gaze, they followed the lead of the head maid and all spoke softly in unison,
“Welcome home, my lady.”
What a delightful headache…
Luo Xiya stepped forward with a sigh and greeted the head maid first.
“Elise, thank you for your hard work while I was away. Managing such a large estate—I’ll have to keep relying on you.”
“With your kind words, my lady, no amount of work feels burdensome.”
The head maid Elise wore a lace-trimmed maid uniform in black and white.
Her lovely face was composed with serious professionalism.
Luo Xiya glanced around.
The surrounding girls were all sneaking glances at her, their eyes full of concern.
At the same time, they were sizing up the boy behind her—curious and attentive.
“This is…?”
Elise asked, suddenly turning her gaze to the figure behind Luo Xiya with evident curiosity.
Luo Xiya turned to find that Roman had quietly slipped behind her, trying to avoid eye contact with the maids.
Amused, she pulled Roman forward.
Only then did the maids truly notice the child whose beauty was impossible to look away from.
Held close in Luo Xiya’s arm, Roman was gently pulled into her embrace.
She brushed aside the long hair he always used to hide his right eye and rested her hand on his shoulder as she introduced him to everyone at the manor.
“From now on, Roman will be one of us. I hope you’ll all take good care of him.”
The maids all nodded while carefully eyeing Roman, stunned by his goddess-like beauty—yet unable to suppress a twinge of jealousy.
Only Elise caught the nuance in Luo Xiya’s words, and her eyes widened in shock.
He?
She frowned and stared at Roman.
Sensing her scrutinizing gaze, Roman met her eyes.
The white flower in his right eye held Elise’s attention for several extra seconds.
Her gaze swept over him from head to toe, and she nodded in clear approval.
Though the lady had always upheld a clean and restrained image, Elise was well aware of Luo Xiya’s burdens.
She couldn’t remain willful forever—especially now, with Duchess Kelden pressuring her more heavily than ever.
In recent years, the duchess had even declared that she wouldn’t impose any conditions—so long as Luo Xiya found a man and produced an heir.
So the lady has finally made up her mind?
As Elise was thinking this, Luo Xiya began giving instructions.
“Elise, take Roman to change into something else.”
“Yes, Lady Luo Xiya,” Elise replied.
Then she noticed Luo Xiya raising an eyebrow at her, followed by a barely noticeable wink of her right eye.
As someone close to her, Elise instantly understood what Luo Xiya meant.
She blinked her left eye in reply to show she got the message.
Elise stepped forward and gave Roman a warm, friendly smile.
“Please come with me.”
Following behind Elise, they arrived at an empty room.
Elise went to the window and drew the curtains closed, then opened the wardrobe doors wide.
“Would you like to choose something yourself, or shall I pick one for you?”
She looked back and smiled as she spoke.
Knowing Roman’s background, Elise showed no discomfort.
She still addressed him respectfully.
“You can choose for me,” Roman said, overwhelmed by the dazzling variety of clothing.
He had no idea where to begin.
As she rifled through the wardrobe, Elise spoke over her shoulder without turning around.
“Please take off your clothes first.”
Roman glanced at the closed door, then pressed his lips together and reached for the collar of his outfit.
He found the tie at the back of his neck and gently tugged.
The garment slipped to the floor at once.
He was wearing only a single piece—and nothing else beneath it.
“All done…” he said softly, his face flushed red as he covered himself with both hands.
With a smile on her lips, Elise took a dress from the wardrobe and handed it to Roman.
Five minutes later.
In front of the full-length mirror, Roman stood shyly, twisting the hem of the dress in his hands.
The translucent fabric of the dress made his pale skin look even smoother and more luminous.
His fair wrists, exposed through the sleeves, were as dazzling as frost.
His slender legs, visible beneath the skirt’s hem, rubbed together involuntarily.
It was unbearable…
With nothing underneath, even the slightest movement caused the fabric to brush against that part of him.
The silky, cool sensation was starting to make things… stand at attention.
Roman could only press down hard on the hem with tightly clenched fists, trying to keep the skirt from lifting.
Silently standing behind him, Elise held a comb and gently brushed his hair.
Smoothing down any unruly strands, the comb glided through the silken silver locks.
The texture felt like flowing silk, and Elise couldn’t help but admire and envy it.
If she hadn’t glimpsed proof between Roman’s legs earlier, and if she couldn’t see his Adam’s apple up close, Elise would’ve found it hard to believe he was a boy.
Looking at the beauty in the mirror, aside from the flatness of his chest being a slight drawback, Elise thought back to the prettiest girls in the territory—and not one of them could compare to Roman.
The lady really did find a hidden gem at the royal capital’s auction this time…
“You can just call me Elise from now on.”
She’d noticed Roman’s timid behavior, so while brushing his hair, Elise tried to establish a friendly connection.
After all, they were all part of the lady’s household now—getting along was essential.
“Okay… Miss Elise,”
Roman replied softly.
Holding Roman’s hair in her hands, Elise continued chatting while figuring out a hairstyle for him.
“The lady will probably host a welcome dinner for you tonight, so you’d better be mentally prepared. Don’t be too nervous when the time comes.”
“Mm. I understand, Sister Elise.”
So well-mannered.
Elise thought to herself.
She worked at Roman’s hair in front of the mirror for quite a while, though in the end she didn’t style it elaborately—just tidied the bangs near his cheeks so they wouldn’t look messy.
“Sister Elise…”
“Hmm?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Ask whatever you like.”
“Does Sister Luo Xiya… often bring people back like this?”
Elise froze, then after a few seconds, gave a wry smile and answered.
“The lady has never shown any interest in men. The girls in the estate don’t have any special involvement with her either.”
“Our lady simply has an extraordinary sense of compassion and a desire to protect things that are rare and beautiful. Most of the girls in this territory have had hard lives.”
“Then I…” Roman grew even more confused.
“I can only guess at her thoughts. If you really want to know, you might as well ask her directly. Don’t be afraid—she’s completely different from other nobles,”
Elise said, studying Roman with a smile and shaking her head gently.