Errinette leaned back slightly, her piercing gaze sweeping over the room. Then, in a tone that allowed no room for argunt, she declared—
"And these two"—she gestured toward Iria and Iziya, who imdiately tensed up again—"will be attending the Maid Training Program once we return to the Armand region."
Iria and Iziya visibly paled.
Javier nodded absentmindedly. "Mmm, makes sense."
But then—
Errinette's eyes locked onto him.
"And because of you, young master… these two"—her gaze flicked toward Liana and Gloria—"will also participate in the Maid Training Program. AGAIN!"
Silence.
Javier froze.
Liana and Gloria, who had been standing calmly, suddenly stiffened.
Errinette's words slowly sank in.
Liana and Gloria's heads snapped toward Javier, their sharp glares piercing into him like twin daggers.
"Errr… umm…" Liana let out a rare stamr.
"A-Ara… again…?" Gloria's usual amused tone wavered.
Javier felt the temperature in the room drop.
The intensity of their combined glares sent shivers down his spine.
Errinette's expression remained completely neutral. "Any questions?"
Liana and Gloria, still staring directly at Javier, answered in perfect unison—
"No, Mrs. Errinette."
Their voices were calm. Too calm.
Javier imdiately felt danger.
His eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape.
Then—
"Ah! Uhh… AHAHA! This book! YES! This very interesting book!"
In a desperate attempt to change the subject, Javier snatched the nearest book from the table, flipping it open as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Everyone stared at him.
Liana and Gloria's gazes did not waver.
Iria and Iziya watched in awkward silence, still too scared to breathe.
Errinette's sharp gaze turned toward the kitchen, her presence still commanding the entire room.
"Now, I'm hungry. Liana? Gloria?"
Liana and Gloria, snapping to attention, responded in unison—
"In a minute, Mrs. Errinette!"
Their voices were crisp and efficient, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere that still lingered in the room.
Javier, still pretending to be deeply engrossed in his book, gulped quietly.
Errinette turned her attention back to him, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Do you think I would be here if not for Lord Garius's order? Hmm?"
Javier froze, his fingers gripping the book tightly.
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"U-Uhh…"
Errinette's eyes bored into him, unyielding.
"I have a husband to attend to," she continued, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance. "And I'm sure he feels lonely by now. Even if Alf looks serious all the ti, he always wants near him."
Javier blinked, montarily distracted by the revelation. Alf… feels lonely?
Errinette exhaled sharply, her gaze flicking toward Liana and Gloria, who were frantically preparing the al.
"And yet, here I am. Because of two irresponsible 'girls.'"
Liana and Gloria flinched, their hands moving even quicker as they prepared the dinner.
Javier slouched further into the sofa, trying to lt into the fabric and beco invisible.
Errinette's eyes returned to him, the weight of her expectations pressing down on his shoulders.
anwhile, in the Armand Region…
Inside Lord Garius's study, the atmosphere was relaxed, but serious matters lood over the room.
Seated near the refreshnt table were Hesbeirn and Rasdingen, the giant dwarf, both enjoying the warmth of the finely crafted wooden chairs. The table was set with premium wine and light snacks, but only Rasdingen seed to eat with enthusiasm.
Lord Garius, ever composed, sat at his main desk, casually observing the man in front of him—Alf.
A smirk appeared on Garius's lips.
"Hahaha… it looks like Alf is worried about sothing… or should I say 'soone'?"
Alf, his expression serious, shook his head. "Ah, not really, my lord."
Rasdingen, wiping crumbs from his thick beard, chuckled deeply.
"Hey, Alf! Ye don't need to worry about yer wife, Errinette. Ye know she's strong an' can handle almost anything!"
Alf stayed silent for a mont, his normally unreadable face showing the slightest hesitation.
"It's not that… it's just… nothing."
But his tone betrayed him.
Lord Garius's smirk widened, and he chuckled softly.
"Alf, you and Errinette already have two sons and a daughter—almost all of them are adults now." He leaned back slightly, his eyes glinting with amusent. "And yet, you still can't calm down when she's not around you, huh?"
Alf, usually composed, stayed quiet.
For once, he had no response.
Hesbeirn, watching from the refreshnt table, laughed heartily.
"Well, that's just how my brother-in-law is, my lord."
Alf's eye twitched slightly.
Lord Garius leaned back in his chair, his amused smirk fading, replaced by a serious expression.
"I'm sorry, Alf." He exhaled, tapping his fingers on the table. "I planned to send Rasdingen or Hesbeirn to the capital instead… but we have more serious matters here. I hope you understand."
Alf nodded without hesitation. "I know, my lord."
From the refreshnt table, Rasdingen let out a gruff huff, while Hesbeirn crossed his arms, slightly nodding at Garius's words.
After a mont, Garius looked at Alf again.
"By the way, Alf…" He tilted his head slightly. "Errinette went to the capital with who?"
Alf's expression remained calm, and he answered directly. "Alone, with her Pekko, my lord."
A brief pause.
Garius raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? I thought you didn't want her to bring her own Pekko?"
Alf's stoic gaze didn't waver. "My lord, Pekkos are faster and more agile than horses. Their speed makes them harder to track, and they are not as easy to mark."
Lord Garius grinned slightly, leaning forward with a knowing look.
"Yeah, I know. Like my Giddie… ehehehe."
Hesbeirn chuckled, while Rasdingen muttered sothing about "bird-ridin' nobles" under his breath.
Lord Garius leaned back, lightly tapping his fingers against the polished wood of his desk. His gaze drifted toward the window, where the banners of House Armand fluttered in the evening breeze.
Then, with a smirk, he muttered—
"I can't wait to see Errinette's report."
His voice held quiet amusent, but there was unmistakable weight behind it.
Across the room, Alf's lips curled into a rare smile.
He understood exactly what his lord was thinking.
Garius tilted his head, his smirk widening. "If his 'class' is what I predict it is…"
A brief pause.
Alf, arms crossed, stayed silent, but his eyes glinted with understanding.
Lord Garius's fingers stilled, his smirk never fading. "That boy may think he's clever… like he can hide things from … but we'll see."
The room grew eerily quiet.
Then—
His right eye shifted.
For the briefest mont, its color changed, becoming lighter and different from his left eye.
Alf noticed.
Hesbeirn, still seated, pretended not to.
Rasdingen, ever blunt, grunted.
But no one said a word.
The room remained silent, but the air was thick with unspoken understanding.
They all knew.
They understood the true power of their lord.
Not just as their current master or the head of House Armand—
But as the man they had once served as children.
The sole survivor of a noble house that had been wiped out.
Their old friend.
Their young master.
And now—
"The Clandestine Ruler"
Lord Garius's right eye returned to normal, his smirk still in place as if nothing had happened.
But Alf, Hesbeirn, and Rasdingen sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.
Because they all knew—
Garius never made predictions lightly.
And if his suspicions about Javier's true 'class' were correct…
Then the future of House Armand was about to change forever.
( End of Chapter )
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