"Miss Vanni, I'm afraid I cannot hire you according to the terms of the commission," Owen said, deliberately putting on a solemn expression.
"How could this be…?"
Hearing this, Fanny lowered her head in disappointment. Although she had mentally prepared herself before coming, being truly rejected was still a big blow.
"However," Owen continued, "if you are willing to stay in Border Garrison Town, I intend to sign a long-term contract directly with you. Although the short-term remuneration is not as high as that commission, it is definitely substantial and very stable. In addition, I will also arrange magic lessons for you to make up for your shortcomings."
That's right, Owen intended to keep Fanny now with a contract, so he could confidently train her.
"Are you serious?" Fanny immediately brightened. "I'm willing."
"Eh?"
Owen was slightly startled, not expecting her to agree so quickly. Signing a contract was a serious matter, and usually, those being contracted would ask for a few days to consider.
Of course, Owen didn't know that Fanny's visit to Border Garrison Town this time had an element of desperation. If she could stay in Border Garrison Town, with stable work income and accommodation, she would agree to almost any condition that wasn't too excessive.
"Then let's sign the contract now!"
Fanny urged him quickly, as if worried Owen would suddenly change his mind.
"Uh… Ryan."
Owen turned to look at Butler Ryan, who nodded and immediately went to the study to prepare the necessities for signing the contract.
Spreading out a blank parchment, Owen picked up a quill and drafted the contract on the spot. After drafting it, he handed the contract to Fanny for review.
After confirming that the content was fine, both parties signed and pressed their handprints on the contract, and the contractual relationship was officially established.
Everything went too smoothly, so smoothly that Owen was a little suspicious. If he hadn't already confirmed Fanny's magical power with the Magic Sensing Orb, he would have thought he was signing a contract with a swindler.
Putting away the contract, Owen was about to give Ryan new orders when he was interrupted by a childish voice.
"Now, can I eat it?"
Fanny's sister, Lilika, was drooling, her eyes fixed on the cake on the table, but she didn't dare to touch it.
It turned out that before entering the Lord's Castle, Fanny had warned Lilika not to touch anything in the Lord's Castle. If she broke anything, she couldn't afford to pay for it.
"Lilika."
Fanny pulled her sister, telling her to be careful. Then, Fanny looked at Owen with an apologetic expression.
"I'm so sorry, my sister is still young and doesn't know any better."
"It's alright, all children are like this, I've seen it many times."
Owen shrugged indifferently, then smiled at Lilika and said gently, "Of course you can, this was prepared for you anyway."
"Big brother, you're such a good person!"
Her eyes sparkling, Lilika immediately beamed, reached for the cake, and ate it without any regard for her image.
"Oh dear, eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you."
Fanny went over and brushed away the hair from her sister's mouth, to prevent her from accidentally eating it.
After Lilika patted her little belly with a satisfied expression, Owen then had Ryan arrange accommodation for the two of them.
Before leaving the reception room, Owen also informed Fanny that she should come directly to the Lord's Castle for magic lessons tomorrow morning. If she was worried about Lilika, she could bring her along, or entrust her to the small church in Border Garrison Town for care.
Under Ryan's guidance, Fanny and her sister left the Lord's Castle.
At the Lord's Castle gate, Ryan explained Fanny's situation to the Guard, so she could freely enter and exit the Lord's Castle starting tomorrow. Next, Ryan led Fanny and her sister to the church in Border Garrison Town, so they could learn the way, and he could explain a few things.
Finally, they arrived at a renovated wooden house, which would be Fanny's new home. The furniture inside was mostly complete, and it could be lived in after a quick clean.
"Is this really our house? This is too good."
Compared to their previous small and dilapidated wooden house, this was so much better that Fanny couldn't quite believe it for a moment. And according to the contract, the rent was waived this year, so she and her sister could live there in peace.
"Is that so?" Ryan stroked his chin. "But the Lord was initially worried that only being able to provide such accommodation would displease a magician."
"What's there to be displeased about! I'm already very content," Fanny said.
"If you are satisfied, I think the Lord will be very happy."
With that, Ryan took out a key and handed it to Fanny, saying, "From now on, this house is yours."
After Ryan left, Fanny and her sister immediately opened the door and entered the house allocated by the Lord. This house was much more spacious than their previous one; Lilika even excitedly rolled on the floor, not caring about the dirt at all.
Next, Fanny spent the entire afternoon tidying the house and was exhausted. In the evening, she held her sister, and they both quickly fell asleep in the same bed.
Perhaps it was because she had already signed a contract with the Lord, Fanny's previous anxiety completely disappeared, and she slept especially soundly.
"An Li, thank you," she mumbled in her sleep.
Perhaps it was due to being too comfortable or too tired, but Fanny overslept.
She had clearly agreed to go to the Lord's Castle for lessons early the next morning, but she ended up sleeping until Owen's personal Guard came knocking on the door to wake her.
Making such a mistake on the first day, Fanny panicked. She quickly woke her sister, and they swiftly handled various matters. After entrusting her sister to the church's care, she rushed to the Lord's Castle.
She did this because Fanny was worried that her sister might unintentionally make a bad move that would displease the Lord. Yesterday, when Lilika suddenly said she wanted cake, it scared Fanny, but fortunately, Owen was magnanimous at the time and didn't blame her, but it was hard to say about the future.
However, for now, she should worry about herself. What kind of fate would she face after standing up the Lord on the very first day?
With a feeling of unease, Fanny entered the Lord's Castle. Led by a maid, she arrived at the study on the third floor, where Owen was said to often work.
After the maid announced her, Fanny nervously entered the study, only to see Owen looking at her with a calm expression.
"It seems you slept well last night, so I'm relieved."
Actually, Owen was quite angry at first. Waiting for half a day and not seeing anyone, wasn't that a waste of his time?
After sending someone to call Fanny, he gradually understood that he should blame himself for being too eager and not considering the other party's situation properly.
The two had just arrived in Border Garrison Town yesterday, and they must have been tired from their journey. He should have let them rest for a few days before teaching magic lessons.
"I am truly sorry, Lord, I overslept, and it will absolutely not happen again."
Fanny didn't think Owen wasn't angry with her. Perhaps he only appeared kind on the surface, but inwardly, he was already furious, which was the most terrifying thing.
"You don't need to apologize, it was my oversight. You just arrived in Border Garrison Town yesterday, I should have let you rest for a few days."
Huh? Is he really not angry? Fanny wondered, perhaps this Lord's personality was even better than she had imagined.
"No, no need to rest. I also want to finish the magic lessons as soon as possible and contribute my strength to the Lord."
"Not for me, but for Border Garrison Town," Owen corrected.
"Hmm?"
Fanny was confused. Anyway, Border Garrison Town was Owen's territory, was there a difference between the two?