And that day, Bianca was able to read all the fairy tale books in the study before dinner.
There were no gains.
However, six volumes of folk tales and anthologies remained.
Bianca took one thick volume of folklore.
Suddenly, the sun tilted steeply, and the entire view outside turned bright red.
“Welcome. You must be tired from the long journey.”
From late afternoon, Barlock’s estate was noisy.
The chieftains of each stronghold had arrived.
Unusually, they came in a group of three, and the castle was extremely busy welcoming the leaders.
Thud.
As he put down his heavy axe, the stone floor reverberated like a bell.
“I’d like to wash up first.”
“Of course. Chief of the 5th fortress, Killian, I will guide you.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Alec, the steward of Barlock Estate.”
“Ah? Hetroyson?”
“My grandfather served the Duke as a steward.”
Although it was noisy and chaotic, Alec skillfully guided the fortress leaders.
From the rough, informal Killian to the gruff Chief Raymond of the 3rd fortress, to Blat of the 7th fortress who took Barlock Estate lightly.
Alec greeted the different chieftains without a hitch.
The one impressed by this was Hailey, who had been waiting nearby in case help was needed.
“You are impressive.”
Cheered by Hailey’s innocent admiration, Alec checked his pocket watch, worried about the two chieftains who had not yet arrived.
“The remaining two should hurry. Although there are two hours left for the banquet, I am worried.”
“They have arrived.”
“What?”
After becoming a steward, it was Alec’s first banquet.
He had been guarding the door all day long.
Surprised, his eyes widened.
Hailey smiled at him.
“I suppose you wouldn’t know military intelligence.”
“…Did you infiltrate…?”
“No.”
“What?”
Alec’s surprised expression was priceless.
Admitting he had been a bit mischievous, Hailey kindly explained.
“Hello again, I am Hailey Armor, the Chief of the 4th fortress. I am currently doubling as the head of the housemaids, on the Duke’s orders.”
“Wave, you…”
“He left. By the way, the Chief of the 2nd fortress is Creta Varhan.”
“Adjutant.”
Alec couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.
To which, Hailey added cheerfully.
“The Chief of the 1st fortress is the Duke himself. Did you know that Barlock Estate is also called the 1st fortress?”
“No, I didn’t… I thought I was welltrained, but it seems I still have a lot to learn.”
But the surprise was brief; he quickly regained his composure and smiled at Hailey.
If it hadn’t been for his slightly reddened cheeks, his agitation might have gone unnoticed.
“Is there anything else I should know?”
“No.”
“That’s a relief. It’s not that I distrust you, Duke, but given recent events in this fief, I was worried about the Duchess’s safety. It’s reassuring to know you have two generals at the mansion.”
“Do you think the Duke would leave the mansion unguarded?”
Hailey rewarded Alec with a grin.
A full one that revealed white teeth.
Not forgetting to subtly emit her aura as well.
“It’s good to hear.”
Alec smiled just as widely as Hailey, his eyes nearly invisible.
He seemed genuinely pleased.
Even as he sensed her aura.
That’s when Hailey’s smile disappeared.
‘Suspicious.’
Hailey’s demeanor today seemed entirely intentional.
Perhaps to test the new servant Alec by leaking her aura.
Hailey remembered Creta’s warning about the ‘suspicious servant’ without a hint of a smile.
Creta Varhani was competent but seemingly weak, unlike her fragile face. She ruled over Ballock County as its leading informant.
No one in Ballock was unknown to Creta.
To blindly trust a stranger with the name ‘Hitrosen’ was foolish.
After days of observation, neither Creta nor Hailey could identify any flaws in the new servant.
That was the most irritating part.
Apart from Ballock, no one in the world was perfect.
And yet someone from a family that merely served as servants was this flawless?
Rather than risk a backstab from someone so secretive, they decided it was better to reveal their cards as a warning.
That’s why Hailey and Creta had exposed their identities.
“It would be nice if those with ill intentions against the mansion could also realize this.”
Even as she emitted a chilling aura, Hailey maintained a cheerful face.
“Unless you’re a fool, you wouldn’t attempt an invasion.”
“Whether blatant or not, Ballock mansion has never been breached.”
“That’s remarkable.”
“It’s basic.”
The dialogue carried an undertone of tension.
“I expect you to continue the effort.”
“Of course.”
With those strange words of encouragement, the young servant turned his back on Hailey.
He walked away soundlessly.
His stride was familiar to her eyes.
It was the walk of a knight—long and straight.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
