After parting ways with the armored knight, Arc, at the east gate, Rita directed the carriage down the road toward the estate at the center of town. The sun had already set, and there were few people milling about.
She could see the estate’s large gate in front of her. The estate was surrounded by a four-meter-tall stone wall, at the center of which was an iron-reinforced wooden gate. Three guards stood watch out front.
Upon seeing the family crest on the carriage, one of the guards waved the gate open. Rita guided the carriage through and brought it to a stop in the garden next to a large, stone-built manor.
She could tell the guards were shaken. And why wouldn’t they be? After all, the carriage returned without a driver or its accompanying guards. If that wasn’t enough, the six horses tied together and trailing behind it would make anyone wonder what happened.
But it seemed the news had made it back ahead of them. No sooner had Rita stopped the carriage in front of the manor than the Luviertes’ head butler came rushing outside.
“Rita Farren, just what happened here?!”
The head butler had thin white hair, complimented by a white mustache. Though usually a calm man, he was frantic as he pressed Rita for information.
Before she could answer, the carriage door opened and Lauren stumbled out. The daughter of the great Luvierte family looked as if she had seen better days. All the servants who had followed the head butler outside stood speechless, shocked at what they saw.
Not only was Lauren’s face pale, but all the makeup that had been finely applied when she’d left earlier that day was now a mess, her hair in disarray.
Rita dropped down from the driver’s seat and came to Lauren’s side, supporting the young girl as she walked.
“We were ambushed by bandits. Miss Lauren and I were barely able to escape with our lives. Sir Maudlin and his contingent of guards fought valiantly, but they were struck down. I’d like to report the events to the master at once. Please hurry and make the necessary arrangements.”
Upon hearing her report, the head butler went white and the other servants fell silent. But the head butler soon came to his senses and began issuing orders.
“Rita, go inform the master. He is in the study, as usual. The rest of you, look after the madam! I will notify Master Boscos of what has happened.”
Despite his age, the head butler took off at a run toward a house separate from the main manor, but still within the estate.
Once the head butler was out of earshot, Lauren turned her gaze to her chambermaid. “Rita, I… I would also like to go see Father.”
Rita hesitated for a moment before nodding her assent. She took Lauren’s hand and led the girl into the manor’s entrance hall.
Rita and Lauren climbed the stairwell up to the second floor, passed through the central reception room, and took a left down the corridor. From there, they proceeded along the west hallway before stopping in front of an elegantly-carved wooden door. Rita knocked lightly and waited for the person on the other side to give permission to enter.
The two slid silently into a room illuminated by several magical lanterns. Tall bookcases lined each wall, leading up to a large desk at the end where the master of the study sat, writing on a piece of paper.
The man had thinning brown hair styled with oil and a well-manicured mustache that complimented the soft, round features of his face. His eyes, however, carried within them that sharpness that often marks nobility. Those eyes drilled into the very souls of those he spoke with.
The man was Viscount Buckle du Luvierte, Lauren’s father and the owner of this domain. He set down his quill pen. After inspecting Rita’s face with apprehension, his eyes widened in utter bewilderment as they fell on his daughter, stepping out from behind the chambermaid.
His surprise was understandable. It was typically not Rita’s responsibility to notify the viscount of his daughter’s return. This would usually be done by a guard or Sir Maudlin, either reporting to the viscount himself or to the consul, Boscos, who would then relay the news. What was more, Lauren’s expression was devoid of its usual graceful smile.
“Rita, Lauren, did you just get back from Diento? What happened to the two of you?” Buckle attempted to contain his shock as his eyes moved between the two women, though a hint of it could still be heard in his voice.
Rita took a step forward and told him what she’d told the head butler.
“What?! Lauren, are you all right? Are you hurt?”
No sooner had Rita finished making her report than Buckle sprang up from his chair and rushed over to his daughter, pulling her in close. Hardly any man could remain calm upon learning that his daughter had just been attacked by bandits.
“I’m sorry for causing you to worry, Father. Someone came to our rescue right when the situation was most dire.” Lauren struggled to end her response with a smile, trying to not upset her father.
“Whatever do you…?”
Before he was able to inquire further into what his daughter had just said, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. After Buckle gave permission, a middle-aged man quickly entered the room.
The man stood around 180 centimeters tall with a slim build. His salt-and-pepper hair was cut close to his scalp, his face accented by long sideburns. Deep wrinkles lined his forehead, making him appear ten years older than his forty-or-so years of life. This was Boscos Futran, consul to the Luvierte family.
“I just heard the news from the head butler. Attacked by bandits… What sort of insolent fool would attack the viscount’s carriage…?! But I am pleased to hear that Miss Lauren has returned safely.”