After finishing his conversation with Hahn at noon, Lucius returned to his room to start catching up on sleep.
By the time he woke up, it was already dinner time, and Lucius was called to eat again.
While eating, he thought about how he wasn't as free as he used to be. Back then, he could eat whenever he wanted or skip meals entirely; now, having someone manage him was truly uncomfortable.
As he ate, he listened to Hahn reporting on today's events and the tasks for tomorrow.
"Around three o'clock this afternoon, a bill arrived from the East Borough. It's for ice cream ordered by your friend Will at the 'Mousse Hut' dessert shop. He claimed you had agreed to it. Along with it came a folded paper crane."
"Who!?"
Hearing Lucius's question, Hahn flipped through the bill again to confirm the name was indeed Will.
He replied calmly, "Will, Will Auceptin."
Once he confirmed it was him, Lucius could only say helplessly, "Oh, that's right. Just leave the paper crane in my room."
Internally, he thought, "Why did the Little Snake send the bill to me? We aren't even that close. Is he fleecing me now? But since he knows where I am, why didn't he come in person instead of sending a bill as a vanguard? He probably took advantage of his parents' absence to sneak some ice cream from the dessert shop. He should still be a child of about eight and hasn't undergone a Reboot yet. His name shouldn't be this either..."
And the biggest problem should be: how could someone who has never left the house have friends outside? Since even Hahn finds it reasonable, does the Monster Pathway have such an ability?
As for refusing the bill, it was pointless; a serving of ice cream wasn't worth much... Hahn continued his report, "Tomorrow is the day of the old master's Memorial Service, and the invitations have been sent out. Tomorrow, I Will accompany you, Young Master, at the door to welcome the guests. Afterward, you Will follow Earl Leif Strauss to entertain the guests until the banquet ends."
"The day after tomorrow, we Will set out for the Fief to bury the old master and inspect the lands. These matters Will take about a month."
"We Will return to Backlund in a month..."
"...This is basically the arrangement for the next two months. Young Master, please see if there is anything to add." As he finished reporting the upcoming schedule, Hahn handed the itinerary to Lucius.
Lucius flipped through it casually and said, "A guest should be visiting in a while. When he arrives, just lead him directly to see me. I'll give you further instructions later; if I don't say anything, just proceed according to your arrangements."
Hearing that a guest was visiting, Hahn didn't recall the Young Master having any friends. Could it be someone he met this morning?
Hahn Clayton instantly felt he had failed in his duties.
Unsure of what kind of guest it was or what hospitality was required, Hahn inquired directly, "Understood. Should we prepare additional desserts and drinks?"
"No need, just normal hospitality Will do. It's just an ordinary guest." Lucius felt helpless about what was about to happen. Choosing for oneself versus being forced to choose were two very different feelings... Clack, clack, clack.
"Young Master Lucius, the guest has arrived."
After Hahn explained the situation, he opened the door and led this strange 'guest' in. He was a middle-aged man, unremarkable in both dress and appearance, carrying a huge box on his back.
Lucius stood up to greet him. "Hahn, you may step out. And you? Please, have a seat."
Seeing that the middle-aged man didn't sit down, Lucius asked curiously, "And you? May I ask how to address you?"
Unexpectedly, the man had no intention of giving his name and said directly, "Baron Sheffield, you are too kind. I have come because those above required me to deliver this mirror to you. I have other matters to attend to and cannot stay."
The 'person' opposite him set down the box and opened it to reveal a square full-length mirror. The frame was primarily made of some kind of metal, carved and inlaid with various colored ores to form a pattern of flourishing flowers.
As expected of the royal family—even if this frame were carved by Robot before I transmigrated, it would cost nearly ten thousand yuan. With current craftsmanship and the addition of these pure-colored crystals and gemstones, the cost probably wouldn't be less than one thousand gold pounds.
"Baron Sheffield, this is the mirror and a bottle of 'potion' for you. When you use it, just apply the 'potion' onto the mirror."
"As for this small Hand Mirror, it comes with it as well."
Looking at these two mirrors, Lucius felt a chill. Mirror divination existed in the Orthodox Deity Churches as well, but contacting others through a mirror should be a unique ability of a 'Demoness'!
"Someone Will contact you through the mirror at seven o'clock. You just need to apply the 'potion' to the mirror before seven."
"Since the instructions have been delivered, I shall take my leave."
Before Lucius could speak, the strange fellow turned and left immediately.
The entire interaction didn't feel like a normal conversation; his way of speaking was mechanical and stiff, like a pre-programmed system that wouldn't do a single unnecessary thing.
Watching the man leave, Lucius wasn't in the mood to see him out. After all, what was the point if the other party didn't even want to acknowledge you... "Young Master."
Lucius looked toward the voice and saw Hahn standing at the door with some people, carrying various desserts and a pot of something unknown.
"Hahn, the guest has already left. These desserts aren't needed; you can eat them yourselves."
"Just put this mirror in my study before seven o'clock."
After saying this, Lucius left the drawing room.
As Hahn watched Lucius leave, he felt that everything today was very strange.
"Butler Hahn, what about these things?" a maid nearby asked after everyone had left.
Hahn looked at their expressions and said, "You eat them, but finish your work first. Move the mirror to the study."
Hahn also felt the mirror was eerie. It clearly wasn't an ordinary mirror; from its design, it looked more like something that belonged in a mistress's room.
Moreover, this mirror possessed spirituality and should be a Beyonder item. But shouldn't such a thing be kept in a treasury and sealed with a Spiritual Wall?
Everything that had happened from today until now reeked of strangeness. He wondered if he should inform Earl Leif Strauss, but since he served the Sheffields and not the Strauss family, privately revealing the master's information was a major taboo... But he was also afraid something would happen to Lucius Sheffield. Perhaps he should consult Earl Leif Strauss tomorrow?
This matter instantly stumped the veteran butler... After the mirror was moved to the study, Lucius ordered everyone out so as not to be disturbed. He began applying the 'potion' to the mirror; this red potion seemed to contain blood components.
As the seven o'clock bell chimed, the surface of this special mirror began to change, eventually reflecting an image of "George III."
Then, "George III" teased, "It seems you have made your decision."
Lucius prepared to continue playing dumb, saying, "I have already spoken with Uncle-Master Leif, he..."
George III said expressionlessly, "There is no need to explain this to me. However, only you and Lev need to know about this; do not reveal it to anyone else."
"Since you have agreed, someone Will announce your inheritance of the title of Earl at your father's Memorial Service tomorrow morning. As for the forged identity, you need to write it down as soon as possible and leave it at the door; someone Will pick it up."
"Later, your Occultism Teacher Will bring a Potion to meet you. As for now, what you should consider is how to avoid having your true identity discovered by others tomorrow."