The silence in the study didn't last long.
Ron broke it.
"Since you both believe someone is pulling strings behind the scenes, do you have any suspects? And what would their goal be?"
Abel spoke first, his voice steady.
"My primary suspect is Viscount Gordon, to the north of our territory."
He glanced at Ron's expression—calm as still water—and continued,
"Viscount Gordon's land is rich in many resources, but severely lacks minerals. Our Barris Village, however, has a naturally rich mine. The Viscount used to purchase ore from us, but ever since the former Baron passed away, all trade stopped."
Ron understood immediately.
"So you think he wants to seize the Barris Mine?"
Egbert suddenly added,
"My Lord, the three who came today… they are from Barris Village."
Ron fell silent.
Their speculation was just that—speculation.
But Ron felt it.
Somewhere in the dark, a poisonous snake was watching, waiting.
Those three who came with Mellitoria might be pawns of someone hidden, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Or they might just be a distraction.
Either way, he couldn't afford carelessness.
He had an infinite lifespan now.
He wasn't going to let anyone cut it short.
"Understood." Ron's voice hardened. "Abel, increase security. Have the knights stay alert and tighten patrols around the manor. Then instruct the guards in each village and town to add an extra daily round. Report anything unusual immediately."
"Yes, My Lord." Abel bowed, face solemn.
Ron turned to Egbert.
"As for those three—do nothing to them for now. Treat them as guests. I want to know their true intentions."
"Understood, My Lord."
"You may both leave."
The two bowed and exited.
A moment later, Joyce entered the study.
Ron smiled faintly.
"Perfect timing. All of these documents—" he gestured at the desk, "—are yours."
Joyce froze. By the time she recovered, Ron had already vanished from the study.
—
Ron lay in his room, holding the pendant as he began refreshing its attributes.
Now that he knew unseen enemies were lurking, his priority was securing a reliable protective item.
"Last time the silver ring disappeared… Let's not be unlucky again. I don't need a gold or a purple—just give me a blue at least," he muttered.
His luck, however, seemed stubbornly terrible.
Fails, more fails, then more.
Ron's frustration grew.
Suddenly—
Swish!
A soft purple glow flashed before his eyes.
Purple.
A real purple attribute!
He focused sharply as the description surfaced:
[Thrice Enslaved (Purple): If a sentient being looks back at you three times, you gain complete control over them. Effective once.]
Ron inhaled sharply.
This was no small trick—this was mind domination.
And the condition was absurdly simple.
Call someone's name three times from behind.
Done.
They were yours.
Ron didn't even dare imagine using this on the Emperor of a great empire.
He hesitated for a long time… then chose to refresh it.
It was too strong.
Too dangerous.
Too easy to misuse.
And if someone else got hold of it, countless innocent people might suffer.
He sighed as it disappeared.
The next attribute was white.
And then a string of disappointing results followed.
By noon his eyes were bloodshot, and he collapsed onto the sofa.
Refreshing the pendant felt like torture.
Nothing showed the right compatibility.
Finally, defeated, he paused.
Soon Diana arrived to invite him to lunch.
Jonah, the three from Barris Village, and Mellitoria were all already waiting.
"Understood," he said, straightening his clothes before heading out.
—
The moment he entered the dining hall, everyone looked up.
"My Lord."
Ron nodded lightly, his gaze settling briefly on Mellitoria.
The little girl was half-hiding behind Irene's voluminous maid skirt, clutching it tightly with one hand, peeking at him with only half her face visible.
Unbelievable.
It had only been half a day, yet Irene had already won over his timid little sister.
Miss Irene truly lived up to her reputation.
Ron sat at the head of the table.
"Be seated."
At his word, everyone took their seats.
But the dining table was high, the chairs massive.
Even with Irene holding Mellitoria on her lap, the child couldn't reach the dishes. Jonah, being the same age, was also struggling.
Ron turned to Egbert.
"Where is Master Hadley? I haven't seen him recently."
Egbert answered,
"The workshop is almost finished. Master Hadley has been supervising personally—eating and sleeping there."
"Understood. Have him make two small wooden chairs for children later."
The butler blinked.
The blacksmith making chairs?
Still… if that man could craft equipment Abel praised so highly, two chairs were nothing.
Egbert nodded dutifully.
Ron surveyed the table.
He sat at the head.
To his left were Benden, Tabitha, and Jonah, in that order.
Mellitoria should have sat at Ron's right, but instead she was across the table, several meters away—snuggled against Irene.
Whenever Ron looked up, he saw a small head ducking shyly out of sight.
Her hair seemed brighter than before. Irene must have washed her thoroughly.
And because the manor lacked clothes for little girls, Mellitoria still wore her original outfit—but now it was clean.
"Take good care of her," Ron said to Irene.
Irene had been waiting for such permission. She smiled brightly, lifting Mellitoria onto her lap and feeding her with practiced ease.
Ron couldn't help it.
Just how much time did those two spend together this morning?
He refocused, looking to Benden.
"If you encounter any inconvenience living here, tell Egbert. He can make decisions on my behalf in many matters."
"Thank you, My Lord!" Benden was thrilled.
"But… regarding me… Since I'm only their brother and uncle, I just brought them here today—"
Ron waved a hand casually.
"Stay. It's fine."
Benden's face lit up.
"Thank you, My Lord!"
After a few bites, Ron stood.
"I still have matters to handle. Please enjoy your meal."
Benden and Tabitha hastily assured him it was no trouble.
"Good. Egbert—see to our guests properly."
"Yes, My Lord." Egbert smiled knowingly.
Ron left.
Mellitoria watched him go, counting silently the number of times her brother had spoken to her.
Even eating together… he didn't ask her a single question.
Her nose stung.
But she held back tears.
Mama had said her brother was noble.
He disliked impolite children.
She just had to endure.
Irene noticed her mood and later approached Diana.
"Head Maid, may I take Mellitoria to the garden?"
Diana glanced at her and nodded.
—
The Baron's Manor had its own private garden.
Ron never visited it—he didn't care for flowers—but the gardeners tended it diligently.
What if the future mistress loved flowers?
They kept everything perfect.
At the center was a broad pavilion surrounded by fresh blooms.
Irene led Mellitoria there, holding her small hand.
Compared to her own noisy siblings, Mellitoria felt like a treasure.
"Mellitoria, are you still hungry?" Irene squatted to eye level.
The first instinct was a shake of the head.
But after a moment of hesitation, Mellitoria bit her lip and nodded.
"Then look—guess what this is?" Irene produced a plate of pudding.
"It's pudding!" Mellitoria exclaimed.
She'd never even seen such a food before coming here. One taste earlier, given by Irene, had etched the flavor into her memory.
"Eat. It was my extra portion for break time. But Mellitoria is cuter, so I'm giving it to you."
Mellitoria had just taken a spoonful when she froze.
She scooped a big bite and held it up to Irene instead.
"Sister Irene, you eat too."
The sweet aroma hit Irene's nose.
No maid with discipline would dare eat the child's food.
But Irene was Irene.
She opened her mouth and took a bite.
"Mmh! So good! I didn't expect the pudding from the Young Master's recipe to be this delicious. If we opened a shop, we'd get rich for sure!"
"Brother…?" Mellitoria blinked.
Did Brother like this too?
Then she must save some for him.
But Irene crushed the moment instantly.
"The Young Master doesn't like pudding. What you ate this morning was his leftover—he told me to give the rest to you."
Mellitoria froze.
"Don't just stand there—eat!" Irene urged, subtly drooling.
Mellitoria placed the pudding between them.
"Sister Irene, let's eat together."
"Okay!"
Irene hesitated for less than half a second.
The two then devoured the pudding together, lips glossy, eyes sparkling, wishing for more.
"The Young Master hid such good food from us," Irene huffed playfully. "Next time, I must ask for more recipes. Mellitoria will get the first taste."
"Guuurgle~"
Mellitoria's stomach rumbled.
Irene blinked.
"Still hungry? Of course—you can't get full on pudding alone. Come on, let's find the Head Chef. He's a great guy. If we flatter him a bit—and Mellitoria is this cute—he'll surely make something good."
This was Irene's long-standing tactic.
Mellitoria hesitated.
"But Mama said… there are rules in a noble house. Brother will dislike me…"
"Don't worry," Irene said, holding her small hand. "The Young Master is kind. Spend more time with him and you'll understand."
They headed for the kitchen.
—
Evening came.
Ron checked documents in the study as Egbert reported the movements of Jonah's group.
"…No suspicious activity so far."
Ron nodded.
"It's only their first day. No need to rush."
Egbert bowed and left.
Ron reviewed documents a little longer, then stepped out to return to his room—only to find Diana conducting her nightly inspection.
"My Lord."
Ron paused, then asked,
"Which room is Mellitoria staying in?"
"In the east guest room, My Lord. I will lead you."
He nodded.
"The others?"
"In the west rooms—far from her."
Ron glanced at her.
Diana lowered her head.
"Well arranged," he said.
They reached the room.
The door was slightly ajar. Inside, two small figures were visible.
Ron pushed the door open softly.
Irene had fallen asleep by the bedside.
Mellitoria was tucked in, sleeping soundly.
"Ei—" Diana began.
Ron raised a hand.
"Let her sleep. Let's go."
They stepped out.
"Were they together all day?" Ron asked quietly.
Diana hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes."
Ron was silent for a moment.
This child… Irene… she's playing some kind of long game.
"Never mind. You should rest as well. Don't stay up too late."
Ron waved faintly and left down the corridor.
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