Chapter 5: Journey towards the city of Estradel

I had been a slave of Veronica Bloodfallen for two months, and in that time, it felt as if I were living in a never-ending nightmare of constant exams. But I knew that the only way to survive was to excel in every task given to me. Despite the grueling nature of my servitude, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in my ability to rise to the challenge and pass each test with a smile on my face.

Living with the Villainess also presented me with a unique opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of the Ministry of Mages and the ongoing war with the Demons that had recently wreaked havoc on the West continent.

Rumors have circulated that the demons are attempting to resurrect their lord, their dark ruler. But what they need to accomplish this task, the name of the object eludes me. All that I can recall is that it is currently in the possession of the Empress, guarded fiercely under her watchful eye.

The conflict with the demons is a strange development in the story, as it was meant to be a later plot point. But then again, my sudden arrival in this world of a visual novel is an oddity in itself, so perhaps it's not so surprising that the narrative has shifted.

I have been promoted to the position of assistant butler, working under the esteemed Luvric. Though it may not be a grand and glamorous position, it is a far cry from where I was just two months ago. My hard work and dedication have finally paid off.

In this recent two months, i tried to use my powers and Skills but it seems I'm unable to. When i asked the system about this, he replied that , my mana circuit's Have been jammed by veronica. Ugh, what a pain. Now i understand, what's the notification meant by that.

Veronica is more astute than I had previously realized. She's the designated villainess for a reason, it seems.

However, I cannot accept this state of affairs as permanent. I am actively seeking a way to remove the blocking magic and escape from Veronica's grasp. The likelihood of getting caught up in her schemes is high, especially since I am close to her. But as I have previously mentioned, I am uncertain whether the current Veronica is truly the villain or not. The game and reality are vastly different from what I remember, and anything is possible. Even if I want to help her, I must first gain strength and interact with other characters in order to level up and gain experience points. Ultimately, even though this world may be real, it is still within a game system, and I must approach it with a gamer's mindset.

"I'm no hero," I thought to myself, "I'm just a player who wants to excel at every task given to me."

Just as I was deep in thought, a sudden pain in my head brought me back to reality.

"Asher," a voice interrupted my musings, "You still haven't informed the chauffeur."

The familiar voice of Mary, with its hint of annoyance, filled my ears as I turned to see her standing there, her fists clenched in anger. But even in her mad state, she looked as cute as ever.

I greeted her with a nonchalant, "Oh hey, Mary. Today's weather is looking quite nice, ain't it?"

She shot back with a scowl, "Don't try to change the subject. Miss Veronica is already downstairs, sipping her tea, and you still haven't called the chauffeur to bring the carriage around to the front? What's up with you Today?"

"Isn't this a good thing?" I said, my voice filled with conviction. "I mean, I'm giving her some extra time to enjoy her tea." I couldn't help but smile at the thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me.

But her reaction was not what I had expected, She gave a sigh and said "You left me no choice. I'll have to complain to luvric then" She said with a bewitching smile which I knew very well. My heart sank as I watched her turn to leave, and as she was walking away I stopped her in a desperate attempt to save the situation.

"I-is that necessary? I was just kidding with you. You just give me 2 more minutes and I'll have the job done," I stammered, my mind racing as I dashed off to complete the task at hand.

My fear wasn't unjustified, because if she reported me to Luvric, that Bastard would give me a quite tough time. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about him beating me, it's far worse than that. He would give me a book to read from Aragon's literature, which I would have to analyze and point out what it expresses. To be completely honest, it's fucking hard. The Aragon's literature is far more complex than anything I've ever encountered and I knew I would suffer through it.

Reaching the Chauffeur station, I informed them of Their task and then started walking towards the Bloodfallen house guards station.

Upon Reaching , my gaze fell upon a band of soldiers readying themselves for a journey, their horses stamping impatiently as their riders polished their swords with fierce determination. In the distant corner of the barracks, a tall figure with flowing locks cascading down his back and encased in gleaming armour stood before a group of eager recruits, imparting upon them some crucial bit of knowledge.

His name was Mason, a commander among the soldiers under Veronica's command. A man well-versed in the art of combat and tactics, he had been a loyal servant to the Bloodfallens for thirteen years.

When I first arrived at the mansion, I chanced upon him while completing a task assigned to me by the Twins. Upon seeing me, he remarked that my hands and physique were ideal for a warrior, and suggested that I train under him. And so, my training began under his tutelage. He had specifically requested to Veronica to allow me to train under him.

And her response to that was like this: 'You really want to train swordsmanship under him?' She asked, fixing her reading glasses on her nose as she looked at me.

'Yes, My Lady,' I replied with a polite bow. 'I believe that if I can excel in fighting, I can be of more use to you than I am now. And it has always been my dream to learn swordsmanship. Now that the opportunity has presented itself, I wish to take it.'

'Fine,' she said. 'I'll allow you to train, but don't let it interfere with your other duties, especially not me.'

'Umm, sorry Miss, I didn't hear the last part,' I said, unsure of what she meant.

'Nothing,' she said dismissively. 'Now go and train.'

And so, that was the backstory of how I started my swordsmanship training.

I waved at Mason as he, noticing me, waved back and said something to the recruits before making his way towards me.

"Asher, what brings you here? Isn't today your day off?"

"No, I'm not here for training," I replied. "I've come here to deliver instructions from Sir Luvric."

"Oh, well let's hear it then," Mason said, with a curious look on his face.

I handed him the letter that Sir Luvric had given me to deliver, and as he read through its contents, he nodded in understanding. And with that, I bid him farewell and headed back towards the mansion humming a song.

A sense of elation swelled within me as I realized that, after an interminable stretch of time, I would finally be granted a day of respite. For Veronica, the mistress of the mansion, was to embark on a journey to distant lands, leaving me with three days of unbridled freedom.

As I approached the entrance of the grand mansion, I saw that the carriage was already parked and a number of servants were waiting anxiously, their breath bated, for the arrival of their lady.

"Asher, come here," Cathy called out to me as she saw me approaching.

I joined the other servants in standing beside her.

"Where's Mary? I don't see her with you?" Cathy asked.

"She's with Lady Veronica, going over something," I replied.

I nodded and returned my attention to the front.

"I wonder what she'll wear today," one of the other servants said.

As I stood there, I couldn't help but think about Lady Veronica and her impeccable fashion sense. Living under her roof had taught me much about style, and I couldn't help but think that she possessed a certain Kardashian-like allure.

*PINCH

I winced as Cathy's fingers dug into my flesh, her anger palpable. "Ouch, Cathy, do you have to resort to physical violence just because you're mad?" I grumbled, rubbing the sore spot on my arm.

But my complaints were cut short as Cathy's gaze shifted past me. "Look, in front of you, Lady Veronica is approaching," she whispered, her voice tinged with a hint of reverence.

I turned to the front to see Lady Veronica. She was a vision of grace and poise as she made her way towards her carriage. Her A-line cocktail dress flowed around her like a gentle wave, the deep navy blue fabric catching the light and sparkling as she moved. The dress was paired with simple yet elegant jewelry and a pair of heels that added a touch of refinement to her look. The line of servants that stood at attention couldn't help but stare at her in awe as she passed by. She was an embodiment of beauty and elegance, and her presence was commanding.

Following behind her was a group of maids, their attire a stark contrast to the other servants. They were each outfitted in dark black silk maid dresses that clung to their tall and statuesque figures, paired with high heels that added to their height. Their most striking feature, however, were the blindfolds covering their eyes. They were the elite combat maids of the Bloodfallen family, handpicked and trained to serve only Lady Veronica and her father. Their blindfolds were not a sign of subservience, but rather a symbol of their unparalleled loyalty and devotion to the Bloodfallen family. They were a formidable force, both in their combat skills and their striking appearance.

Loyalty is of utmost importance in this world, as betrayal is all too common among the nobility. Many people will claim to be your friend, but in times of crisis, they will not hesitate to stab you in the back. This is why the nobility only choose those who are truly loyal to serve them. Trust is hard to come by, and those who have it are held in high regard. The presence of the blindfolded maids was a reminder of this, a symbol of the unbreakable loyalty that the Bloodfallen family commanded.

Beside Lady Veronica, stood Luvric, looking as stunning as ever in a crisp white butler's uniform. The uniform was tailored to fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall and lean figure. However, instead of looking like a butler, he looked more like a groom on his way to the church to get married.

Luvric caught my gaze, and with a smile, he waved at me. I forced a smile back, but inside my mind was consumed with disdain. 'Go away, you motherfucker,' I thought to myself.

Lady Veronica passed by me, and I let out a sigh of relief as I knew my freedom for a few days was guaranteed. But just as she was about to leave, she paused and turned back to look at me, as if she had forgotten something.

"Asher, why are you standing there? Come here," she called out in a sweet, adorable way that made the other servants gritted their teeth in jealousy.

"This bastard gets to be called in such a sweet way, while we're working our asses off and don't get the same chance," they murmured under their breath.

But I couldn't help but overhear their bitter whispers and I turned to them with a glare. "Hey, speak quieter you motherfuckers, I can hear you loud and clear," I warned them, not wanting to be the subject of their envy and resentment.

But, I couldn't blame them for their envy, after all, they didn't know the reason why Lady Veronica called me in such a sweet way. The truth was, she knew that I was hoping for some time to myself and she couldn't bare the thought of her servant having peace and freedom. It was her manipulative and controlling nature, that made her call me in such a sweet way, maybe she was in her bitch persona, that's why she couldn't let me have my peaceful days.

I stood there, my heart heavy with dread as she approached me. Mary and Cathy, my supposed allies, stood beside me, pretending not to notice the impending doom that was about to befall me.

"But, Miss," I began, trying to plead my case. "Since you're going to your parents' house to attend their birthday, I don't think you'll need me there. And with Sir Luvric going with you, couldn't you leave me at the mansion? I'm sure Cathy and Mary would have a lot on their hands."

But my words fell on deaf ears as she reached up, her fingers deftly adjusting my loosened tie. Her breath was hot against my ear as she whispered her threat.

"You're going to have fun while I'm not here. Dream on. Now come quietly, or I'll tell Luvric to give you ten more books to finish."

My body trembled with fear at the thought of the endless stacks of books I would be forced to read. But there was no use in fighting her. As she finished tightening my tie, she turned to Luvric and commanded him to make preparations for me as well.

"Yes, my lady," he replied obediently.

And so it was that the heartless villainess forced me to accompany her on a journey to the east continent of the empire, to the home of the Bloodfallen, the county of the Bloodfallen. I couldn't help but wonder how I had become the servant of such a cruel villainess.

A QUESTION WHICH I HAVE ASKED MY SELF COUNTLESS TIME.