The clan estate was huge, surrounded by a brick fence and divided into five distinct areas, with several mansions and facilities spread across it.
'Ouch! He didn't need to hit that hard, did he?' Red, now limping from the kick he had received, walked along the stone pathway that connected the estate.
Servants and guards relaxed around their quarters, enjoying the day, but Red had work. He had to leave the northern area to reach his assigned tasks.
"Move your hand faster, we don't have a whole day!"
"Yes, madam!"
As he moved, he noticed an outdoor kitchen with only a roof and no walls. Servants were cooking there. Beside it were tables where servants and guards ate their meals.
'Would there be any food for me?' Red wondered. Since it was already late, the chances weren't good that he would get anything.
'Leave it. I'm already late. And I doubt they'd give me food even if there's something left.'
Servants stared at him as he passed by, whispering among themselves, though what they were saying was unknown to him.
"It's that foreigner, do you know..."
"I didn't see him at..."
He continued onward, crossing the laundry and storage rooms, then the armory, and other facilities, until the stables for mounts came into view.
The area after the stables could be considered the western side of the estate, leading toward the training grounds.
The stench of sweat invaded his nose, making him frown, 'This place is unbearable.'
He hastened his steps, genuinely wanting to leave the training ground immediately. But he slowed down as something interesting caught his attention.
One of the sparring fields was surrounded by clan members and guards, their voices loud in excitement.
"Young Master Simon! You can do it!"
"Punch him harder!"
"Captain! You have to win!"
"Show them guards' might!"
The eldest son of the Clan Lord stood at the centre of the field, facing the captain of the guards.
Simon swung a punch. The captain blocked it just in time, but Simon followed with a swift kick.
Instead of falling, the captain stood firmly on the ground and headbutted the young master.
Both were bruised, yet neither surrendered, exchanging blow after blow under the cheering crowd.
'It's more than likely rigged… but who cares.'
Uninterested in the outcome, Red turned away and continued toward where he was supposed to work.
Soon, he reached the southern area. The domain of the clan members.
Unlike the whispering north or the cheerful training grounds, this area was quiet and calm.
Guards patrolled with strict discipline, as this was the area where the branch members of the clan lived, those who did not belong to the main family.
The concubines and daughters of the Clan Lord also lived here. According to religious custom, once a ruler's daughter came of age, she was no longer allowed to live under the same roof as him.
Red was heading toward none other than the mansion of Peril Ciel Salamis, the only daughter of the Clan Lord and the one who favored him.
The mansion was a two-story building made of red bricks, with an elegant black door at its front.
It was guarded by two men in green robes, marked with intricate designs and the name of the clan on them. Both were Awakened, Rank-2 Spirit Masters, ready to kill any intruder.
"You're late." One of the guards spoke, his voice uncaring, as if he was speaking only out of duty and didn't care about him being late.
Red didn't answer and just nodded at the man.
The guard yawned and opened the gates, letting the late servant enter the mansion, both of them minding their own business.
The mansion was as beautiful on the inside as it was outside, but Red, long accustomed, didn't wander around. He headed straight toward the old storage room.
'Today is going to be a long day.'
He took a broom from inside and began his routine; cleaning the hall first, then the kitchen, the study room, and everything else that followed.
The ground floor had no bedrooms; those were all on the first floor, which he wasn't allowed to enter for obvious reasons.
He kept working without pause. Once the dusting was done, he moved on to the rest of his chores.
'My past life was definitely better,' Red thought as he scrubbed one of the windows.
Back then, he was used to eating warm meals without thinking much about it, made by her.
Now, there was no her. Only him, with an empty stomach, sore hands, and endless work.
Suddenly, his eyesight went dark as he felt someone hug him from behind.
"Guess which color of dress I'm wearing?" Peril asked cheerfully.
Red felt her soft hands and didn't remove them. He didn't think much about it and answered straightforwardly,
"Pink."
"Oh! Correct, once again." She moved her hands away and petted his shoulder as if praising him.
'Seriously...does she ever wear anything other than pink?' Red wondered silently, fully aware of his master's obsession.
Red then turned around, and her frame came into his vision.
She was a stunning girl, her long pink hair tied neatly in a high ponytail, adorned with delicate flower-shaped hairpins that dotted her hair.
Her sparkling dark blue eyes filled with curiosity, met his dimmed eyes that had lost their light.
She wore a pink dress, soft and flowing, the colour reminiscent of blooming rose. Though short, her presence was radiant, and her cheerful smile revealed perfect white teeth.
'Too much pink,' Red thought but didn't comment.
"You were thinking something bad, weren't you? Like I'm wearing too much pink?" She asked, her expression dramatic.
Red shook his head immediately, still expressionless.
"So you did," Peril said, understanding him instantly. He had denied it too quickly, and that alone told her everything. A normal person might not notice, but she knew Red well enough to catch his habits immediately.
"Hmm… you wouldn't understand." She hummed proudly and shook her head, as if disappointed in him. "No amount of pink is ever enough."
Then she spoke again, her tone switching instantly. "Anyways, did you get beaten up again?"
Peril looked at his right leg. It didn't look injured, but she must have seen him walking and guessed that he had been beaten once again.
"I wish I could do something about it," she said, her voice saddening.
She knew the other servants were jealous of Red because of the favoritism she showed toward him.
She had tried complaining to her father, but he always said that if Red didn't make mistakes, the others would have to swallow their dissatisfaction.
Today, Red was late, and Peril had guessed he had been beaten and had a valid excuse. So she couldn't take action against the servant who hit Red.
"So, why are you late?" she asked curiously.
"..."
Red didn't answer and just stared at her, clearly not intending to respond.
"Servant, you were asked a question." A woman spoke sharply, her voice full of disgust.
She was Levina, the personal guard of Peril, a Rank 3 Spirit Master of the clan. She was a middle-aged woman with wrinkles already forming on her face. She wore a blue-colored robe with the clan's name on it.
Peril placed her hand on Levina's shoulder. "You need to calm down, Levi. We were talking, and if he doesn't want to answer, it's fine. It's better than lying, right?"
Red didn't want to say what had happened to him in the morning. Most would believe he was bewitched by some Demonic Spirit Master and throw him in hot lava as offering to the Almighty Sun God.
Even if Peril would believe him, he didn't feel that telling her something like that was a good idea.
So he could have lied, said he had a stomachache, his head hurt, he had a nightmare, or something believable and gotten out of it.
But Peril would easily be able to tell he was lying, which would only make her more worried than remaining silent.
So, in all of it, Red felt that lying was meaningless.
"Red. I have something really important to tell you," she said with a serious expression.
"My father is waiting for you in the main garden, so you should follow me and have words with him. It's very important."
Red nodded. 'I think I have an idea what it might be about.'
She began walking toward the eastern area, and Red followed behind her, like the diligent servant he was.
They walked in silence. Red began to feel the pressure of meeting the man, who could decide his fate single-handedly.
Soon, they were in the main garden. It was in front of the estate, with a small lake at its center.
They reached the middle of the garden, walking across the bridge above the lake that led to a small tea pavilion. It was made of white marble, with a small tree wrapped around it, its golden leaves draping elegantly over the structure.
A man and a woman were sitting inside the structure, while five guards stood outside.
Peril immediately ran toward them and hugged the man first.
Nomin Ciel Salamis, a middle-aged man with blue hair and a long beard, wearing a red robe decorated with intricate patterns, was sitting on one of the chairs. He was none other than the Lord of the Salamis clan, one of the five great clans of the city Megara.
Then she hugged the woman.
Tathys Mariel Salamis, a beautiful pink-haired woman with features much like Peril's, was the wife of Nomin Salamis.
After that, Peril took a seat in one of the chairs, while Levina walked toward the guards and took her place beside them.
'Should I go inside? Or stand outside?' Red, feeling lost, couldn't decide what he should do.
In the end, he chose to stand just outside the structure, knowing his status was that of a lowly servant. How could a servant like him enter, when even strong guards of respectable Rank 3 stood watch outside?
"So, Red Luciar Telamon, you have come. We should begin our talk, shouldn't we?"