Is This a Threat?

Emily walked briskly, trying to focus on remembering the path she had followed with Nolan the previous day. 

The streets in this part of the kingdom were wide and clean, lined with imposing houses surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens. 

Every step she took distanced her further from the world she knew and brought her closer to the aristocratic environment where Nolan lived. 

After taking several turns, Emily finally arrived at the mansion she remembered. 

The gardens surrounding it were filled with exotic flowers and meticulously trimmed bushes. The workers, all servants in charge of maintenance, looked up as they saw her approaching. 

She felt their sharp gazes, as if she didn't belong there, as if they were wondering what a young woman like her was doing in such a place. 

Emily clutched the paper with the address in her hand, using the slight trembling in her fingers as a reminder to stay calm. 

As she advanced, a young maid, impeccably dressed in a white apron over her dark gray uniform, approached her. 

"May I help you with something?" the maid asked in a neutral tone, but her eyes watched Emily with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. 

Emily swallowed before responding. 

"I'm here to see Nolan Rook." 

The maid frowned, repeating the name in disbelief. 

"Nolan Rook… Are you sure about that?" 

Emily felt a wave of doubt, even though she was certain this was the right place. 

However, the cold reception made her doubt herself. 

Was she really welcome here? 

Everything about the atmosphere seemed to indicate otherwise. 

Before she could say anything else, another maid approached quickly and whispered something in the first maid's ear. 

The latter's expression changed slightly, softening a bit, although the change was barely noticeable. 

"Master Nolan is resting right now," the maid said in a less severe tone, "but you may come in and wait until he wakes up." 

Emily thanked her with a slight nod. 

As she was guided to the entrance, she marveled once again at the opulence of the place. 

The high ceilings, the furniture adorned with golden details, and the large windows that let in natural light—all were more luxurious than she had ever imagined. 

They took her to a sitting room, where one of the maids asked what she would like to drink. 

"Anything is fine, thank you," Emily replied with a shy smile. 

One of the maids left to prepare the drink, while the one who had accompanied her sat down beside her. 

Apart from the two of them, there were two other servants in the room, attentive but discreet in their presence. 

"Who exactly are you?" the maid asked suddenly, breaking the silence with a bluntness that took Emily by surprise. 

Emily hesitated for a second before responding. 

"My name is Emily… Emily Hawthorne." 

The maid looked at her intently. 

"What family are you from?" she asked, her tone hinting at some distrust. "Because, if I may say so, you don't seem to be a noble." 

Emily felt a bit uncomfortable, but she knew she couldn't lie. 

"I'm a commoner," she said, keeping her gaze fixed on the maid's. 

The maid's expression changed subtly, showing surprise. 

Emily noticed how her eyes evaluated her appearance again, lingering on the dress she was wearing, one that she knew wasn't typical for someone of her class. 

The maid cleared her throat to mask her surprise. 

"That dress…" she began, almost unable to hide the curiosity in her voice. 

'That dress is not something a commoner could afford, unless she were a very successful merchant…' 

"Does your family have money?" 

Emily shook her head, feeling increasingly exposed. 

"No… We live quite humbly." 

The maid nearly shouted in her mind upon hearing that. 

'Humbly!?' 

That dress was anything but humble! 

As head maid, and due to the luxuries she could afford thanks to her special position in the household, she was well aware of the prices of the clothes sold in noble shops. 

The dress Emily was wearing wasn't something an ordinary commoner could afford. 

"Then, how did you get that dress?" she asked, narrowing her eyes, determined to unravel the mystery. 

Emily lowered her gaze for a moment before admitting it with some embarrassment. 

"Nolan bought it for me." 

The response startled the maid. 

If Nolan had bought her such an expensive dress, it meant he had a special interest in her, beyond mere courtesy. 

The maid narrowed her eyes, slightly changing her approach. 

"And… what do you think of the kingdom?" 

Emily took a moment to think before responding. 

"Well… it's hard to survive… clothing is expensive, water sometimes runs short where I live because the system that brings it hasn't been repaired in years…" she said, her voice showing a hint of frustration. 

The maid listened attentively, but something in those words alarmed her. 

Emily didn't seem satisfied with life in the kingdom. 

Could it be that this young woman, who had caught Nolan's attention, harbored negative feelings towards the government? 

"Well…" the maid replied with a slight smile, "at least we have security. That's something many other kingdoms can't guarantee." 

Emily nodded but continued, 

"That's true, but there isn't enough staff in the churches in the poorer districts… many people have died because of that…" 

One thing Emily noticed when she went to the church with Nolan was the large number of staff there compared to the church in the poor districts. 

Were they really that expendable? 

The maid's heart skipped a beat. 

Emily's criticisms of the system were direct and dangerous. 

Could this girl, who had captured Nolan's attention, be a threat to the kingdom?