In the end, Liliana’s group encountered not a single monster on their way to Fortier. Grateful for their good fortune, they continued toward one of Duke Clarke’s local estates.
The duke had various residences to choose from when visiting the duchy—manors he stayed at when carrying out inspections, and villas where he could escape the heat—but the upcoming banquet was to be set in the main estate: the one nearest Hudore, with easy access to the highways. By the time Liliana’s coach reached its gates, evening had already fallen.
Marianne draped a cloak around her lady’s shoulders—the temperature had begun to drop—and watched as Liliana accepted an escort’s hand to step down from the carriage. A butler named Philip and several maids came out to meet them; the housekeeper was nowhere in sight. Liliana couldn’t help but laugh at the less-than-cordial reception.
I can already guess how I’m going to be treated.
Philip wore a stiff expression. Since Liliana still couldn’t speak, Marianne took charge of the conversation, brisk and businesslike.
“My lady is tired from the journey and will take dinner in her chambers. These are her escorts. Please see them settled near her quarters, as per our agreement.”
“I understand,” the butler replied, his politeness superficial. “Follow me, if you will. The maids will attend to the others.”
Marianne raised an eyebrow at that—and she wasn’t the only one.
Since when do I need someone to guide me?
Liliana may not have been a frequent visitor to the estate, but she still had her own chambers in Fortier. They were meant to be kept ready so she could stay whenever she wished. Naturally, she and Marianne both knew the way; Philip’s escort was completely unnecessary.
“The lady’s chambers have been moved elsewhere,” the butler said calmly, as if oblivious to their confusion. Liliana didn’t know who had given such an order, but the fact it had been made without her consent made one thing clear: They had no intention of treating her fairly.
Perhaps to break the eerie silence, Philip elaborated: “My sincerest apologies, but since the lady so rarely visits, the decision was made to prepare more appropriate accommodation for her. You needn’t worry—it has been kept in pristine condition for the approaching banquet.”
The excuse was almost laughable, but arguing with the butler would have been a waste of time. Marianne seemed to realize that too; instead of demanding her lady’s old chambers back, she said nothing and glared daggers at him.
Indeed refusing to budge, Philip led the pair toward Liliana’s new chambers, unconcerned with appearances. As they walked down one of the estate’s long hallways, something struck her as odd. Though she couldn’t place it at first, it quickly became clear.
There isn’t a single magical device here.
Her manor near Hudore didn’t boast many, but at least the entrance hall, parlor, and library contained a few. If this estate’s devices were concentrated elsewhere, she couldn’t sense them.
The chambers Liliana and Marianne were shown to were scarcely better than the rooms outside the main building—the kind a butler or housekeeper might occupy. Liliana’s old chambers had offered a gorgeous view and abundant sunlight, whereas these looked out on the forest and cookhouse and were far less luminous.
Marianne glanced around beside Liliana, bristling like a cat ready to strike. Philip seemed eager to avoid any trouble.
“We’re preoccupied with preparations for the banquet, so I must ask that you fetch the lady’s dinner from the cookhouse yourself,” the butler told Marianne.
“Very well,” the handmaiden replied at length.
Philip left in haste, and Marianne nearly slammed the door behind him. Liliana sank onto the couch.
“It’s better than a servant’s room, but that isn’t saying much,” Marianne groused. “This is unacceptable.”
Liliana shrugged, lips curved in a humorless smile. Complaining would do nothing. She was lucky enough that the chambers were clean.
“You must be tired,” the handmaiden said. “Allow me to fetch your dinner.”
The moment Marianne finished unpacking her lady’s things, she left for the cookhouse. Liliana assumed the capable attendant would be gone for some time, but she returned far sooner than expected, placing Liliana’s food before her and explaining what she had learned from the maids.
“Only the mistress and the young master are at the estate right now. The master should arrive tomorrow, and the guests two days from now, on the night before the banquet. As for the senior master and mistress, we can expect them tomorrow. That no one thought to announce that you, one of the hosts, have arrived is preposterous.”
Marianne was still seething, but Liliana remained calm. She had never expected better treatment, so she simply ate in silence.
Once her lady finished, Marianne gathered the tableware and left to return it. Liliana took the opportunity to cast rekke, curious about Petra’s and the two escorts’ rooms. They were directly below her. Liliana suspected the arrangement was less about proximity for convenience and more about keeping the perceived nuisances in one place.
My brother sure has become honest with himself. I can tell he doesn’t want to spend time with me, whether mother had a say in it or not. He doesn’t even bother hiding it anymore.
Liliana wasn’t angry, but she was tense; they were deep in hostile territory, and its owners had picked a fight with her the moment she arrived. In the game, Clyde had eventually condemned her, and even in her own memories, he had kept his sister at a distance.
Pushing such thoughts aside, Liliana rose from the couch and peered outside. The sun had set, yet the servants were still hard at work.
There’s a surprisingly large number of them. Were some hired just for the banquet?
From what she could see, there were more servants than necessary to manage the estate, considering its size and the number of residents. Even if some guests stayed over, it wouldn’t justify such a drastic increase; every invitee was a noble with their own attendants to see to their needs.
Some might say I’m overthinking...
Liliana had originally planned to keep a low profile. She would play it safe, then leave as if everything were fine. It had seemed the best option before, but now she was increasingly unsure.
This is a good opportunity to investigate. Instead of turning a blind eye, I should work to get some aces up my sleeve.
She could ignore the provocation, but the risks were high enough that it was wiser to confront her opponents directly. She smiled absentmindedly; it wouldn’t hurt to learn her enemies’ weaknesses.
Now that Liliana had made up her mind, it was time for action. She asked Marianne to help her bathe, then insisted on going to bed early. She planned to teleport away and explore the manor in secret, using illusion magic to avoid being seen—but first, she had to erect a barrier so no one would notice her chambers were empty. She had incorporated a spell that would return her instantly if anyone approached.
For as long as she had been learning magic, Liliana had used herself as a test subject. Illusions were usually considered part of dark magic, but she had utilized wind magic, which she had an aptitude for, to minimize the mana cost.
In the innermost section of her chambers, Liliana focused on the mana within her. She was about to start casting each spell when her concentration was broken by a quiet knock at the door.
“My lady, are you still awake?”
Liliana was caught off guard. Marianne was supposed to have retired for the night; rarely did she return after Liliana announced she was going to bed.
For a moment, Liliana considered pretending to be asleep—but would the handmaiden truly believe she had passed out so quickly? Judging it far too suspicious, she sighed and rang the bell sitting by her pillow.
Marianne opened the door, her expression apologetic. “Forgive me for disturbing your rest. The young master is here to see you.”
At first, Liliana didn’t understand whom the handmaiden meant. Then realization struck.
Clyde Benito Clarke, her brother, was one of the game’s romanceable characters. He had been eighteen then, if her memories of her past life were accurate. So much time had passed since she last saw him that she barely remembered his features.
Liliana signaled her approval, seeing no reason to refuse. Marianne had entered ahead of Clyde, and she promptly set about placing a blouse over her lady’s pajamas. That her guest was her brother was irrelevant; she was a noble, and nobles did not receive guests in such intimate attire.