Hannah rushed towards the lord's bedchamber after hearing screams coming from it.
Once she stood before the large door, she inhaled, knocking twice.
However, only a loud crash was heard.
She froze for a moment, recalling the times when Zayden would get a high fever to the point he wouldn't be able to get out of his bed. Or when he would return from quests, injured.
What if he is hurt?
"Excuse me for intruding, My Lord!" she said loudly, before opening the door.
However, inside, Zayden didn't look sick at all. His face wasn't flushed in a shade of red.
Instead, he calmly sat on the bed with an extremely suspicious-looking… circle in his hands.
"What is that?! Please throw this! What if it explodes!" She rushed towards him.
"Hold on!" Zayden rose from the bed, carefully placing the egg on the blankets. He quickly closed the door behind her, as if he hid some treasure inside.
"What is going on? I heard some noise from your room, and now this?!" She pointed at the egg, his eyes twitching.
"Calm down. Let me explain…"
After Zayden explained what happened, Hannah's frightened expression eased.
"So… this is not a new tactic to kill you," she sighed, relieved.
Zayden laughed at her words.
"You have a wild imagination."
"You might have forgotten but I have not. Your father scolded me so much that day. I still remember," she grumbled. "But putting that aside, what do you plan to do? You brought it with you but… will you really raise it as your—child? You are not married yet…" she sighed.
"You can just let it hatch and give it away to the magic tower. They would lose to raise a baby dragon because they cannot get their hands on any dragons lately."
"No," Zayden shook his head, lowering his head. "I made it an orphan so the least I can do is take care of it."
And I do not trust the magic tower…
He clenched his jaw, looking away.
A brief silence filled the room. None of them spoke and simply stared at the golden egg.
"Oh, tell Diana to prepare the forms for adoption, or whatever needs to be done," he added.
"You really use her as you need," Hannah chuckled.
"Why? You feel sorry for your daughter?" He sneered. "I have not seen her since she left to go work for the emperor."
"I shall let her know you miss her. But it is not as if you cannot visit the royal palace as you please," she smiled, her dimples deepening.
"I do not miss her. And I go there for work," Zayden shook his head. "Oh, and get me a new personal attendant."
Hannah tilted her head.
"What happened to James?" She asked, perplexed.
Everything was fine this morning. Did something happen after the general's return?
Zayden snorted, unable to say it in a calm voice.
"What happened?… You are worrying me. You always laugh when things are serious," her eyebrows raised, she clutched onto her chest.
"Nothing," he sighed. He couldn't worry this poor woman who served him all her life. What if she died from a heart attack after hearing he was sent by the Duke of Danman to verify if he was able to have proper sex?
"Tell me the truth," she looked into his eyes, her voice sharp.
"I fired him," he simply answered.
Hannah looked at him in disbelief.
She couldn't trust this man, even if she had served him ever since he was born.
But she had to obey him. He was the master, and she, the servant.
"I shall do that," she exhaled, turning her heels and exiting the room.
***
In the library, Ren kept arranging the books. After dinner, he couldn't fall asleep, still haunted by the memories of the past.
After arranging half of the books, he sat on the window's edge, looking at the moon. His red eyes carried no light. He appeared no different than a dead man.
The door was wide open when Hannah passed through the hallway. She witnessed him, and his empty expression. Her heart ached, seeing such a young man in such a state.
He must have been through a lot before coming here…
She pursed her lips. How could she help him? Arranging these books was a simple task. She asked because she wished to keep him busy, so that perhaps his empty eyes would once again find some light through the texts of the library. But he hadn't even opened one book. He did his work perfectly—and he had already placed half of the books.
"Find me a new person attendant," Zayden's words echoed in her mind.
But of course!
Her lips formed a soft smile.
She entered the library, clearing her throat to catch Ren's attention. But he was too immersed in his thoughts to hear her. She gently rested her hand on his shoulder, but he jolted, his face pale as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Are you feeling sick? You look pale…"
"N-No," he fumbled. "Uhm… did you need something?"
Hannah shook her head, then nodded.
Ren looked at her, perplexed by her response.
"I did need something… The general needs a new attendant urgently. So, I wanted to tell you that from tomorrow, you will be doing that instead of coming here."
The young man's mouth parted a little. He wanted to say something but the words couldn't form in his mind.
Work for the general?
"General… Zayden?" He finally asked.
Hannah nodded.
"Do not pay much attention to the rumours around him. They are all made up," she smiled brightly. "He is a great person," she reassured him, holding his hands in hers.
But Ren's hands were cold. Almost as if he had drenched them in a bucket of ice.
"Are you truly alright? Your hands—"
He instantly pulled them away from her grip.
"I am fine. I was sitting near the window," he explained, looking straight into her eyes. He didn't blink once.
"… Alright. I will explain to you everything tomorrow. The general is not hard to please," she grinned, although her eyes said otherwise.
Ren looked at her, his eyes filled with distrust.
That wasn't what he heard during dinner earlier.
"He is so hard to please!"
"Refused to have dinner…"
"I tried so hard to clean up the dirty floor at the entrance but… It's not clean like he wants it. What if he kills me?!"
"He is so heartless."
"One time, I broke a glass, and he stepped on my hand when I was cleaning up."
"He tried to strangle a servant because…"
And the list kept growing…
Would I be alright, working under a man like this?
Ren wondered. Then, he shook his head.
He had to stay here no matter what. Even if it meant serving a heartless man like General Zayden.