12 Montampes

"Why me?"

"What do you mean?"

"You could probably just get any slave around my age. Why did you have to go out of your way to get me just to become your daughter's servant? I may not know much about money right now, but 1 million of anything is a lot."

"It's simple, it's because y–"

"I'm a Blessed One? That bullshit again. Forget it, pretend I never asked. I'll be your daughter's servant or whatever."

Duke Montampes frowned. He doesn't like to be interrupted, he thinks it's very disrespectful, especially towards someone like him who's from a great noble family.

"You better learn to treat me with respect, boy." Duke Montampes spoke with a deep and condescending voice.

"Fine, I'm sorry I interrupted you... tch." Luka replied while looking at the controller bracelet, still fearful of what he experienced back then.

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The carriage stopped in front of the mansion gate. The guards opened the gate and the carriage entered. It passed through the front yard and stopped at the porch. The carriage door opened and the Duke walked out.

I walked out too and I saw a butler greet the Duke. The way the butler looked at Duke Montampes, it was like he held great respect for the man. I wonder what's so great about that guy.

The Duke told me to follow the butler, and so I did, can't defy his orders anyway; unless I want to be suffocated by this darned collar, I have to be the good little slave I currently am. I'm not planning to stay like this forever, I will get out and escape... just not now.

The butler looked very dignified. Just one look at him and you'd feel some level of respect. He looked stoic but approachable. He reminds me a little of my grandpa... I miss him, I wonder if he got reincarnated as well?

The butler suddenly spoke to me, pulling me away from my thoughts.

"What's your name?"

"Luka, yours?"

"Weiss Faulker."

"Nice to meet you, Weiss."

"Nice to meet you too, young Luka."

"So... where are taking me?"

"To your room."

"My room?"

"Yes, your room. You're quite lucky Luka."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well... first of all, you're a Blessed One."

"Oh great that stupid thing again."

"You don't seem to believe you're a Blessed One?"

"I just have an unusual eye color, what's so special about that?" I couldn't help but frown.

The butler stopped walking and looked at me. He looked at me for quite a while that it soon felt awkward.

He then closed his eyes and shook his head while mumbling something. He continued walking after that and I once again followed behind him.

The butler started talking about how I was 'lucky' again.

"Second, instead of being treated like how slaves usually are, His Grace decided to make you into Lady Rosaline's personal butler."

"What? Butler? I thought I was just gonna be a simple servant. Also, who's Rosaline?"

What the hell? Me? A butler? Am I gonna have to learn to perfectly brew a tea or something?

"Hehe, that's Lady Rosaline for you. Alright, we're here."

"What?"

I never noticed we already walked to the servants' quarters area of the mansion. Weiss pushed me to inside the room.

"Get some rest. Training starts tomorrow."

Weiss closed the door leaving me inside the room.

I panicked a little, worried that he might've locked me in here. But when I tried to open the door, well, it opened. I sighed in relief and closed the door.

Weiss told me to get some rest, but I wasn't tired at all. I looked around. The room was quite simple and clean. There's a bed, a drawer cabinet, and even a mirror. There's also a candelabra and a handheld candle holder beside it. The candelabra already has candles on it but the candle holder is empty.

I opened the drawers to look at what's inside. There were multiple sets of tunics and trousers, they were clean too. I also found some spare candles.

Speaking of clothes, I'm still wearing the gold-embroidered clothes I wore back in the auction. I took it off and wore the normal clothes from the drawer. These fancy clothes might fetch a price when I sell them if I get the chance. I need to learn about the money of this world soon.

I exited the room and looked around. There were several more rooms in the hallway, probably for the different servants in this mansion.

I explored the mansion, but I could only go to where servants are allowed to, I didn't want to get caught for stepping out of line the first day I was brought here. As for how I knew where I can and can't go, I just asked the various maids and butlers.

I asked them about Weiss. Apparently, he's the head butler of the Montampes ducal family. Wherever the Duke goes, he follows. I didn't see him when Duke Montampes bought he bought me from the auction though, I wonder why.

Soon I found myself in the garden behind the mansion. The arrangement of different colorful beautiful flowers and the neatly trimmed hedges brought a sense of harmony to the entire thing. It brought me a feeling of peace. It made me relax; I never realized how tense I've been ever since I left the village... well... what's left of it.

I walked around the big garden, taking in the sights. I sat down in a randomly picked area and started practicing the aura breathing technique. Slowly but surely, I could feel my aura pool in my body getting bigger and the energy getting thicker. It was a slow process, but I have to make do with it—I have to get stronger if I ever want to find and kill that thing that destroyed the village, I need to get stronger.

I lost track of time. I just kept practicing the breathing technique while I closed my eyes; breathing in and breathing out in a strange pattern. That nagging feeling that the technique is poor and rough still lingers in my mind whenever I practice, I just try to ignore it and focus.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

I opened my eyes and saw a girl sitting in front of me and leaning towards my face with a curious expression. There was one thing that caught my attention as I first laid my eyes on her—her golden eyes.