Interlude: Permission from young master

"Anna… it is not my judgment to decide this request. It is the young master's decision ".

From the Seraphine word, I could feel a sense of tension in the air. I understood that she had her limitations as well, especially when it came to matters outside the mansion and far away from the small town I called home.

"I'm sorry... I did not think about that at all," I apologized, realizing that my request might have put her in an uncomfortable position. I regret asking her in such a way now.

"It's alright. Let's talk to the young master about it. Maybe he'll be in a good mood and consider your request," Seraphine replied, trying to sound positive. I hoped she was right, and that the rumors about the young master being ruthless weren't true.

As we approached the young master's room, Seraphine made a quick detour to the kitchen and brought along a tray of milk tea, a drink he apparently loved. I was surprised to learn that the young master had this side to him as well.

"He always loves this drink; I think it might lighten the mood even more," she said to me before knocking on the door and slowly pushing it open.

At first, I saw the esteemed young master engrossed in his paperwork. When he looked up and saw Seraphine with the tea tray, he greeted her with a slight smile. However, his expression changed as he caught sight of me standing behind her. It sent a shiver down my spine as his face turned cold, and I couldn't help but wonder why he looked at me with such disdain.

" Who are you? "

As the young master asked me who I was, his voice carried an icy indifference that sent shivers down my spine. I mustered my courage to reply, "My name is Anna Walsh…. young master."

His next question put me in a predicament. I didn't know how to answer without risking his displeasure or punishment. Would he hate me for making such a request? My mind raced with uncertainty.

As I struggled to find the right words, Seraphine stepped forward, walking towards the young master's table with a gentle smile. She placed the tea tray down, trying to divert his attention away from me. "Young master, don't be too harsh on the new servant. You're scaring her," she said, coming to my aid. It was evident that she understood how nervous I was at that moment.

Turning his focus to Seraphine, the young master now directed his questions at her. His tone shifted, and it was noticeably different from how he had spoken to me before. It was somewhat gentler and more friendly.

"What business do you two have with me then?" he asked, his voice still holding a touch of aloofness. Seraphine calmly explained the situation to him, narrating how I had asked for her help to visit my town.

I had mentioned that there was a mysterious sickness plaguing the people there, and even the local physician couldn't find the cause. The town was too small to summon a healer, leaving my family desperate for assistance.

The young master listened intently to the whole story, his expression softening slightly as he absorbed the information. I stood there, anxious and hopeful, waiting for his response. Would he grant my request, or would he dismiss it without a second thought?

"How long will it take for both of you to visit that town?" the young master asked.

I quickly calculated the distance in my mind. The journey from our village to the mansion was quite far, and it would take around 2 days on a carriage.

"I think it might take a week for me to investigate the whole situation, young master," Seraphine estimated and responded to him since I already informed Seraphine about the location of our village beforehand.

The young master seemed to consider her words for a moment before giving his verdict. "Since you always work so hard and never have a day off before, I will allow you to go as a day-off occasion," he said.

I felt relieved, seeing that he had granted us permission to go. Seraphine smiled back at me, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her support.

Then, the young master turned his piercing gaze towards me. I felt a chill run down my spine, wondering what he was going to say next.

"If you lied or if anything happens to Seraphine, you and your whole town will be held responsible for it, do you understand?" His words were strong, and I could sense the intensity behind them. It made it hard for me to breathe, but I knew I had to stand my ground.

"Yes, young master. I promise that nothing bad will happen to her," I replied, bowing politely in response to his stern warning. Seraphine and her well-being were evidently of utmost importance to him, and I couldn't afford to let him down in any way.

"Very well. Both of you may depart when you are ready. We already have enough money to hire some accountants to handle the workload. I will also appoint some knights and a physician to accompany you along the way," Damian said.

I expressed my gratitude to the young master, and Seraphine bowed in acknowledgment of his orders. As we left his room, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards Seraphine.

I never expected that everything would turn out like this, and I was grateful that my family and our town now had a chance to survive. We agreed to prepare and depart in a few days, and I couldn't wait to return to my home and see my mother's condition. I hoped with all my heart that she would still be alright when we got there.