Javier and Liana were still frozen in shock, their eyes darting between the elegant woman and Gloria.
"Hmm? Young master? Liana?" Gloria tilted her head slightly, her warm smile never fading. "This is Mrs. Errinette. Head of all the Armand maids. Don't tell you both didn't recognize her."
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?"
Their voices echoed through the courtyard as both reacted in disbelief.
Liana, still struggling against the enchanted vines, stared at the woman who had effortlessly stopped her attacks. This… this is the sa Mrs. Errinette?
Javier, still rubbing the sore spot where she had slapped him, felt his brain shutting down. He had seen Errinette many tis at the estate. But that Errinette was—
Old.
Serious.
Strict.
This one was stunningly beautiful, her sharp, youthful features radiating confidence and power.
His mind refused to process it.
Javier's mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again. Then closed.
Finally, he blurted out the only thing his brain could understand.
"For real?!?"
anwhile, Errinette simply dusted off her sleeves and sighed. "Honestly, young master. Did you think I wouldn't catch you trying to run away?"
Liana was still trying to process everything when Gloria's calm voice reached her ears.
"You do rember, Liana? Even if we both tead up, we couldn't fight her at all."
Liana's breath caught in her throat. She knew Gloria was right.
Even though she had acted on instinct, attacking without hesitation, it hadn't even been a fight. Mrs. Errinette had shut her down effortlessly.
The vines wrapping around Liana's body withered and crumbled into dust, releasing her.
Liana dropped to her feet and imdiately bowed. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Errinette!" Her voice was filled with genuine respect.
Errinette folded her arms, her sharp eyes sweeping over both Liana and Gloria. "Hmm? But what if I had been an enemy? How could you be so careless?"
Her gaze narrowed, and for the first ti, there was pressure.
Not just any pressure.
Absolute authority.
Liana flinched at the weight of it.
"You should always be at the young master's side. And you too, Gloria."
Silence.
Then—
Javier and Liana both turned their heads at the sa ti.
And stared.
Gloria—who was always composed, always calm, always graceful and unshaken—was…
Stamring.
Her serene expression had cracked.
"A-Ah, I… I—" Gloria quickly bowed. "I apologize, Mrs. Errinette."
Javier's jaw dropped. Liana, eyes wide, was equally stunned.
Never. Not once. In all their ti, had they ever seen Gloria flustered like this.
Javier's brain refused to accept reality.
His voice was barely above a whisper. "No way… Gloria… actually stamred…?"
Liana, still in shock, nodded furiously beside him. "Unbelievable…"
anwhile, Errinette rely sighed. "Honestly… this generation is so soft."
Errinette's sharp gaze finally landed on Javier, her piercing eyes locking onto him like a hawk watching its prey.
"And you, young master."
Javier stiffened.
"You should rember—never leave your maids' side! Always stay with them. You are the son of the Count Garius, and your safety is their responsibility, just as it is yours to trust them!"
Javier gulped.
"I… uh…" He tried to think of an excuse, but—
"I'm sure your father will hear about this later."
"EEEPPPPP!!"
"No, please, Aunty—oops! Errr… Mrs. Errinette!!" Javier quickly corrected himself, forcing a stiff smile as cold sweat dripped down his back.
Damn it! My mouth betrayed !!
Liana and Gloria, still standing formally, glanced at each other, trying not to sigh.
Then, Errinette turned to them.
"And you two! Liana! Gloria!"
Both maids straightened up instantly.
"You should always accompany him! You both know this isn't Armand territory—it's the capital city! Far from ho!"
Her voice was stern, almost like a commander addressing soldiers.
"Rember your mission!"
Liana clenched her fists, her expression serious. "Understood, Mrs. Errinette."
Gloria, still sowhat shaken from being scolded, bowed quickly. "Yes, Mrs. Errinette. We will not let this happen again."
Javier, still recovering from the shock of almost being reported to his father, crossed his arms and sighed dramatically.
"Haaaa… I just wanted to avoid the noble girls, and now I'm getting a full scolding… Life is unfair."
Errinette flicked his forehead.
"Ow!!"
Before Javier could recover from the flick to his forehead, Errinette suddenly leaned in closer.
Her breath was calm and steady, but her presence alone sent a chill down his spine.
Then, in a whisper ant only for him—
"Even if you are stronger… Even if you've mastered every kind of magic… Even if you can instantly cast spells and command an entire army of puppet knights stored inside your magic storage skill…"
Javier froze.
"You should never be careless."
EEEPPPPP!!
Javier stiffened like a statue, his whole body locking up.
H-How does she know that!?
His eyes widened in horror as he slowly turned to look at Errinette, who rely smiled knowingly.
Only Liana and Gloria were supposed to know about that!!
Did she spy on ? Did she investigate ? Did she—
No.
The way she said it, so calmly, so naturally—
As if it was never a secret to her in the first place.
Javier felt cold sweat drip down his back.
"M-Mrs. Errinette… is really dangerous…" he muttered under his breath, gulping hard.
anwhile, Liana and Gloria watched Javier closely.
Liana narrowed her eyes slightly. The young master looks… shaken.
Gloria, still regaining her composure from earlier, let out a small, amused chuckle. Ara~ the young master just learned why Mrs. Errinette is truly terrifying.
Errinette pulled back, her usual composed expression returning.
"Now then. Any more complaints, young master?" she asked with a slight smile.
Javier quickly shook his head. "N-Nope! No complaints at all!"
Errinette remained composed, her piercing gaze fixed on Javier.
"I was sent here to check on your progress and ensure you behave during the Blessing Ceremony."
Javier gulped.
"It was under your father's order."
Cold sweat. Imdiate panic. Full system shutdown.
Javier's brain went blank.
H-He sent her to watch !? The dried plum actually went this far!?
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Errinette's expression didn't change. "Now, where do you think you're going, young master?"
Javier's instincts scread at him to co up with an excuse.
"Umm… I was… umm…"
His mouth struggled to form words.
But before he could say anything—
"Javier-sama!!"
A new voice interrupted.
"Javier! You still haven't answered us! Who are you going to choose—"
Athia and Princess Kliatana rushed out, their argunt pausing as they hurried toward him.
But the mont their eyes landed on the stunningly beautiful woman standing next to him…
They stopped dead in their tracks.
"Oh…" Athia blinked. "Beautiful… lady…?"
Princess Kliatana, always composed, narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"And… who is this?"
Javier, still trapped in panic mode, could only think one thing—
Haaaaa… I just can't catch a break today, can I?
( End of Chapter )
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