Early Morning.
Ed cracked open the curtains, letting the bright sunlight fall across his face. He raised a hand to shield his eyes. After a moment, feeling the sun's warmth, he decided to get up. He stretched vigorously, then opened the curtains completely. With his hands in an embracing posture, he faced the window and welcomed the light streaming over him.
"I slept so comfortably last night," Ed muttered through a lazy yawn. "I haven't slept this well since I left my home and Raila. I wonder what she's doing. I hope everyone is okay."
But for a moment, he felt something was off. Ed frowned as the thought crossed his mind. He stretched out his hands and rubbed his temples but couldn't pinpoint anything unusual.
"Am I dreaming?" He wondered, looking around confusedly.
Unable to recall anything strange, Ed made his way to the washroom near the door. Upon entering, he noticed a small mirror beside him.
"Was there a mirror here yesterday?" Ed muttered, confused. After a brief hesitation, he leaned in and touched his reflection.
"You know what? You're quite handsome," He said to his reflection.
After this casual remark, Ed began to wash up. Because the villa had been abandoned for some time, he could only use the emergency water reserve in his Inventory for a proper bath.
Although the water he'd stored wasn't much, for a single person, it could last a few years before running out; he had, after all, emptied an entire small pond in the forest back on his home island. When you're at sea, if there's anything to worry about, it's definitely food and fresh water.
After washing, he returned to his room, dressed, once again donning the guise of a rich noble. As he was fastening his vest, he heard a knock at the door downstairs. He walked down the stairs at a measured pace and opened the door.
Standing outside was a beautiful woman with a striking figure, dressed in expensive clothes and holding a large box. She was, of course, none other than the owner of the villa, Kaila.
"Mrs. Kaila, good morning. You look even more beautiful this morning than you did yesterday. It's as if time is moving backward for you; I'm so envious... Is that my breakfast?"
"It is our breakfast, to be more specific. And thank you for the compliment, Edward. I really wonder where you get those lines," Kaila said with a smile, though fear was clearly evident on her face. Her terror of the villa was shown by the fact that she had brought all her housemaids with her, who stood a few meters behind. This made Ed's corner of his mouth twist; he suddenly felt she had come to collect his dead body rather than to share a meal.
"I see. So it's these beautiful earrings that add to your brilliance. No, I had a feeling something seemed out of place," Ed continued as he took Kaila's hand and walked out of the villa. Since she was so uncomfortable inside, it was better to change locations. After all, this sugar mommy was still very good to him; he didn't want to give her nightmares.
Hearing this, Kaila's face showed a flicker of delight, and she subconsciously reached up to touch her earrings. As they walked away from the wretched villa, her nervousness faded, and her smile soon became genuine.
"Edward, although you're much younger, you're quite the charmer. Are all magicians such gentlemen?" She asked, and then suddenly stumbled on something, falling directly into Ed's embrace and rubbing her ample bosom against his chest.
"No, I'm a special case among them. Most are the very introverted type and couldn't even find a wife for themselves," Ed said with a knowing smile, holding Kaila and continuing to walk toward her house with her in his arms. What he said was also true, after all, three of the greatest wizards of the 20th century in a certain wand-waving magic world were eternal virgins with no romantic lives, and all three died alone at old age.
After some more flirtatious and casual chat, as they neared Kaila's house, she slipped out of Ed's embrace and inquired with a worried expression, "How did you rest last night? Did anything... abnormal happen?"
"Very well, it couldn't have been better. I must say, your villa is exceptionally well-designed, both in construction and interior decoration. It's just that the spiders seem to have misunderstood that it was abandoned and made it their secret hideout."
Satisfied that Ed was well-rested and hadn't met the ghost, Kaila nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. Seizing the opportunity, Ed continued, "Last night's rest made me very fond of the villa. I can't help but wonder if I should build something like it myself in the future."
"Really? As long as you like it. But don't forget to invite me to see it," Kaila said jokingly.
"By the way, would you mind if I asked a small favor?" Ed asked suddenly, sitting at the dining table beside Kaila.
"Of course, just spit it out. There's no need to be shy. But it won't be free—you have to show me some magic tricks," Kaila replied without thinking twice, showing the true power of a sugar mommy.
"That's no problem. Even if you hadn't asked, I would have shown you some to impress you," Ed replied with a knowing wink before becoming serious.
"Actually, it's not a big request. While resting last night, I couldn't help but admire the villa's design. I wonder if you still have the architectural drawings. I'd love to study them for reference. Although, with a magician's income, building such a fine villa might remain just a dream. But anyway, dreaming doesn't cost anything," He added with a self-deprecating smile.
Although slightly surprised by Ed's odd request, Kaila was ready to show off her financial power, she didn't mind and nodded happily. The fact that Ed was safe and sound reassured her that the villa's rumored haunting might be over. After all, it had been a year since anyone had stayed there. Who knows? Maybe the ghost had changed locations after not finding enough targets.
"Of course, that's not a problem. It's a small thing, and I'm more than happy to help. Also, if you need anything else, don't hesitate. Although being a gentleman is good, being a little shameless is also an important part of being a man," Kaila said, rubbing her bare foot against Ed's leg and giving him a knowing wink. She was definitely not going to let him go before he had a taste of her.
Sigh, being handsome is also a curse, Ed thought with a smile. He got up, moved his chair closer to Kaila, put his hand on hers, and, seeing the maids weren't watching, stole a quick kiss on her cherry-red lips.
"I am much more shameless than you can even imagine," He replied with a chuckle, leaving a dumbfounded Kaila in a daze, touching her lips. But soon she too let out a giggle, though she didn't make another move as the maids emerged from the kitchen with breakfast.
Afterward, both ate a wonderful, luxurious breakfast while chatting about all kinds of things. Then Kaila went into a storage room and returned a short while later with a kraft paper file in hand. She pulled out a design drawing and handed it to Ed.
Looking at it, he saw detailed floor plans with markings differentiating the terrain and courtyards on each level. Judging by the notes beside the drawing and the seal in the corner, this was likely the official house purchase record.
Ed blinked slightly, and a faint glow appeared in his eyes. A small point of light marked a spot on the second floor, right in the master bedroom, exactly where he had slept the night before. To make himself look serious, for the next half hour Ed pretended to study the drawing intently before handing it back to Kaila, who sat opposite him on the couch, drinking something like herbal tea.
"Thank you very much, Kaila. I don't know what I would have done without you. You are truly an angel sent to me by the Goddess," Ed said with a smile. He was always a man who never hesitated to offer praise, even if it was full of lies, as long as it made others happy.
"No need to thank me. It's just a small matter, not a big deal," Kaila replied with a smile, waving her hand, though anyone could see she was very pleased with the cliché praise.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Ed said his goodbyes and left. Although Kaila wanted him to stay and spend more time with him, he could only put on a convincingly sad face and easily fool her by saying he had an appointment with the mayor about his magic show in the city.
Because it was a serious matter, Kaila reluctantly let him go, but not without extracting a promise that he would come to her that night.
"Sigh, being handsome is so troublesome. Thankfully, it's a happy trouble, and Kaila is indeed a very hot milf. If it were some ugly b*tch, I might hang myself in despair. It seems in the future I'll have to be more careful; otherwise, God knows when someone's evil gaze might fall on my poor little body," Thinking these odd thoughts, Ed quickly left Kaila's house.