Master

Master

'Once you've been placed in the dungeon, give the letter to the first person who visits you'

My body flinched at the last part of my dream, although it was more likely a recollection of the past events leading up to now.

'Marshmallow…' I continued cuddling a separate pillow, my eyes apparently suggesting to continue to sleep.

'That's right, sometimes the eyes are right. Let's sleep for a couple more minutes.'

'Once you've been placed in the dungeon, give the letter to the first person who visits you'

My eyes fluttered open irately. 'That Cromwell lady's words keep repeating in my dream', and I bitterly let go of the marshmallow-like pillow I clung to.

"You've really done it now, Cromwell Lady. You've messed with me during my sleep hours." I huffed as I drag my body out of bed.

I scanned my surroundings and was finally reminded of my current predicament. That's right. I'm not in my own timeline so it could be bad for me to laze around.

While rubbing my eyes awake, I flicked my finger towards the curtains to reveal a sun setting.

'Oh fuck.'

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Did I really…?" I externally vocalized my feelings. A gentle knock was soon heard, revealing one of my personal maids who opened the door.

"Have you just woke up, Lady Tabitha? Should I deliver a soft meal in your room right now or do you want to wash first?" Her black tied hair swayed as she bowed.

I decompressed the outburst of shock and disgust to myself as I nodded at her, "Please prepare a hot bath and a soup of your choice. What was your name again?"

"I am Clarice and the other one was Lin. We are your temporary personal maids for now however you can reinstate someone else once you settled in, Lady Tabitha."

"Okay. Thank you Clarice. Please prepare the bath now." I ordered her naturally and she left without any other issue.

"I've outdone my trashiest moments even in my own timeline." The slender healthy hands, gifted by mana to me, instinctively slapped my face softly as if disappointed as well.

It didn't take long for Lin to inform me that the bath was ready. After that, I was presented with the most daring decision as I got here.

Clothes.

There were many designs; from dresses to tops and pants, belts, shoes, neckties, vests and jacket or cardigans. There were all sorts of pieces.

Luckily, Khiel swung by and chose for me while I hid inside the bathroom despite my bathrobe.

"You should eat with me in the dining hall after you dress. I have to talk to you about something." He left me a coral blue inside dress that looked extravagant but simple, paired with a golden necklace with the same color jewel.

After dressing up, I was guided to the dining hall which was the same size of my house. It was distinguishingly a bit bigger and extravagant than the hallway and my temporary room combined. But the only misplaced thing was not an object, instead a person.

Khiel was looking down at the food placed in front of him, seating at the family head's chair and a well-balanced meal with a soup main dish was set next to his.

"Good… evening." My gaze hovered to the closed balcony behind Khiel. My disappointed towards my self rised by another level. I think I took an hour long bath.

Khiel gestured to the seat on his right like a sick person. "Are you alright? You seemed fine earlier." I commented, not touching my food before him.

"Well… do you remember what I told you last night about me covering for you?" I didn't respond but my gaze seemed to say yes as he slumped back down on his chair. "I couldn't cover for you after all."

Sigh.

My eyes instinctively rolled at him and he flinched. "Wha-What was I supposed to do when Lili was intentionally sending back my letter to delay your registration?" and now he's making excuses for himself.

"I am not making an excuse for myself!" He defended again, shockingly he was on point with what he thought I was thinking.

"Cousin it's fine. I didn't really expect you to cover for me." He frowned. "Well you did say that you would but now you couldn't, so I guess it can't be helped." I let the words slide and his frown deepened.

"Well, I… Cough. Since I couldn't showcase my great caring ability, I'll just have to accompany you to meet Lilith." Khiel announced proudly.

I didn't know how we got this comfortable at talking to each other but I have no qualms about it.

Rakhiel was instantly added to my family list.

When the meal was over and Khiel finished whispering all sorts of town gossips into my ear, he ordered Lin and Clarice to prepare for departure.

Those happened in a flash and we're currently seated outside Lady Lilith's office waiting for her to short interview to end.

"You look nervous, cousin." The rose gold teen teased.

"It just seems like an actual job interview but I'm the interviewee."

Khiel snickered for a bit and stood up, his long hair was ponytailed and he wore a formal top and long skirt with a royal blue cardigan hanging on his shoulders.

"I contacted her and she said she's just about to send the kid out." Or so he says as he offered a hand and led me in front of her office door.

I was wearing a light-pink long-sleeved sweater on top of a silk-fabric blouse inside. My white pants was loose yet it hugged at my waist. My overall look was complimented with a thin silver necklace and jean-patterned lace boots.

I reached for the door and knocked.

"Come in."

As soon as we walked in, Butler Zhan who waited for us to reach the Aurelia Duchy's household earlier, smiled and gave me a folder. "Please scan the document and orally answer, Lady Lilith's questions."

"Alright. Thank you." He guided Khiel and I to the small couch in the middle of the room and Lady Lilith has yet to acknowledge our presence.

I've also tried to remind myself about the letter mentioned by the Cromwell Lady however I couldn't find it anywhere my room. I might have to ask Lady Lilith about it later on.

I'll follow the Cromwell's Lady's words: give the letter to the first person who visited me in the dungeon. If it turns out wrong then I can retaliate when I come back.

Butler Zhan walked out and left us with Lady Lilith. It's annoying how Khiel despite teasing me earlier about being nervous was looking around awkwardly like a caged bird.

A few clicks on the hologram-looking screen was all it took for Lady Lilith to finally turn to me. "It's quite late than I expected Lord Rakhiel to guide you here for." Her stern voice removed the uneasiness in the air.

"I actually woke up late too. Forgive me for making you wait." I bowed while Khiel poured his own tea and entertained himself.

"Well, it's fine. I just have to sort out your documents. For a start, I need you to answer basic questions orally and later on when you're familiar with the system, you can fill everything up on your own." She explained and looked back at her desk.

"Name"

"Tabitha…"

"Obiel. Tabitha Obiel." Khiel interrupted and smiled at me before looking elsewhere once again.

"Age"

"16"

"Date of birth"

"Year 978, 18th day of November."

The year was a lie, it was taken from Lilith Aurelia's records from my Uncle. It's not like I could actually tell them that I was actually born on the year 1157.

"Mine's on the 2nd day of February and Lilith's on the 13th day of September." Khiel cheerfully announced and Lady Lilith only eyed him once and he shut up.

'Calm down, 'numerous-greats'-uncle-grandfather-now-cousin.'

"Rakhiel, please head out for now." Was what she said and he immediately obliged if it wasn't for the hostile smile she sent him.

"To be honest that was everything for the office part, next is the medical record but you can do that separately." She explained and walked towards me, "Now I believe you have something in your inventory for me."

"All you have to do is think of opening a bag and a mana screen will come out or something along those actions. Do it while you concentrate your mana in your hand. Then flick it upwards." I followed her instructions and focused, without further delay I managed to access my mana storage or inventory.

"As I've mentioned it seems you have something in your inventory that should be for me. Isn't that right?"

"Let me see…" I focused on the hologram-like box of mana in front of mana and all I could that was inside was the letter from the Cromwell Lady.

'What the hell. How'd Lady Lilith know about this? I guess it really was for Lady Lilith.'

I grabbed and summoned out the letter then handed it to Lady Lilith, "I believe this is what you're talking about. I remember being told to hand it over to person who first visits me in the dungeon." Her brows creased at my cryptic words but nonetheless opened the letter.

I wanted to read it too but she stood up and read it by the window leaving me alone on the couch, curious.

I turn my attention instead to the room, it was a simple workplace with bookcases stuck to the walls and the most extravagant thing was the chandelier located high as the ceiling itself was five meters tall. Her table looked quite ancient though, and a family portrait was hiding behind a silk semi-transparent curtain.

Hiss. Crackle.

My neck veered back to see the letter burning in the palm of Lady Lilith, she looked expressionless like before yet I could visibly feel a grim and annoyed look on her.

"What's it about?" For now let's try to act calm.

"An advent in the form of a letter from a dead person." She turned her body to me but I thought I saw a grim expression on her face before she did. "I understand your circumstances for now, Tabitha Obiel."

Damn it. What was inside that letter for Lady Lilith to frown and, look faded and ghoulish?

Although she tried to hide, her figure looked small and daunted, her fingertips trembled. She was scared, that's what she looked like.

"The letter states your current circumstances as well as your legitimacy." Her voice sounded unaffected and when she looked back, there was a small smile formed on her lips. She looked sad and weak at that.

Lady Lilith then bombarded me again with her theory on my missing memories back at the dungeon, and says she was exactly right to which she chuckled to herself proudly.

'She's as eccentric as Khiel.'

"Also, there was something there." Lady Lilith continued, lowkey ignoring the continuous knocks of a worried Khiel. He's probably thinking I'm being butchered in an interview right now with his usual questions 'Is everything alright there?', 'Still not done?', 'She needs to sleep early', and 'Calm down Lili, she's new here' in which it made me smile.

"Apparently you're have to work for me." She chortled at me and sat comfortably on the small couch in front of me. "You don't have to serve like a servant but you're going to go on missions with me or I'll tell you to go on your own."

I gasp. When the Cromwell Lady said 'Master' she meant Lady Lilith?!

"You'll be my master?" I unintentionally ask.

Lady Lilith nodded slowly.

"Since you know how to use inventory but not the overall uses of the Mana System, I'll have Khiel tutor you first before contacting you again." And she led me outside. "That's all for now, you may go now."

"We'll be going now then." Khiel replied to her and we both nodded at Lady Lilith.

"I'll work hard to meet your expectations, Ma-master." Khiel's face crumpled at my words.

"Fufufu. You don't have to call me Master. At least for now… And you've already surpassed my expectations, Tabitha Obiel." She waved at us before going back to her office with that stern face.

"I've only been conscious here for a few hours so I'm not quite sure but, is the mansion busier than I thought?"

Interestingly enough, the workers were going in and out on a separate building in the middle of the garden as they greeted past us. Unlike their welcoming gazes and acknowledgements, I could see the Duchess scowling and visibly glaring at me on a balcony two floors above.

Of course, a normal person wouldn't be able to see her properly at our location but I am a child blessed by the Sacred Tree and the Golden Throne.

"Let's just say it's connected with you sleeping well for tonight." Khiel pushed me towards the mansion. "You probably don't feel sleepy yet since you've woke up at dusk but you have to try. Or I can fetch you a beauty sleep potion."

"What the hell's a beauty sleep potion?" I grumbled.

"Exactly as it sounds. It makes you sleep healthy and you glow in the morning."

"Aren't mana-blessed children look fairly healthy and glowy? As an example, even though Lady Lilith has ever-so-small bags under her eyes she still looked very healthy."

"Not for you. She's used to working, not you." He retorted with a stern face which was very unlike the young Rakhiel Obiel. "And it might have been rude but I also heard how you've been fairing all these years, so it's time for you to chill down." Khiel had a soft determine look.

'To be honest, I'm also a successor to the Obiel Duchy in my timeline and the Golden Throne. And my only comfort was reading history with Uncle Gabe and Regan.'

Aside from that thought, I can surmise that no matter the generation, anyone close to me tend to be soft-hearted about people. Except for the provocative duchess.

It makes me think that my ancestor kin Aliara Obiel stayed kind-hearted when she replaced the Duchess.

When we reach my bedroom with Khiel shoving me around, my maid Lin placed the Sleeping Beauty Potion on my table and Clarice informed me that a hot bath was already prepped.

I declined any offer for consumption as I've already ate snacks during the interview.

The bath water was covered in rose petals and a lingering smell of rosemary oil. Deep calmness entered throughout as the scent didn't irritate my noise unlike other aroma or colognes.

Even after I changed to my nightgown and prepared to sleep, the smell lingered and embraced the whole room. "Remember to drink the potion, it tastes like vanilla." Khiel prompted once again before leaving me alone.

I sighed and open the wardrobe, and picked a fuchsia coat to cover myself.

"Really now… how should I start to adjust to this timeline?" I whispered to myself and opened up the balcony door.

'Mana Manipulation'

'Gravity Manipulation: Self'

As I activated those spells simultaneously, my body's weight ceased to exist.

"Oh that's right, guess I should double-lock my doors just in case." with a light flick of my finger the spell activated and a condition of 'only deactivate once castor cancel it' was placed.

Time to scan this Empire properly.

Then my body floated, gravity-less, to the sky before thrusting my head forward towards the direction of the Sacred Temple.