Chapter 16: So much trust in me?
The sunset’s afterglow slanted through the half-opened curtains of the Noval Mansion’s library, casting a sharp outline of Lena’s silhouette.
Lena stood at the window with her back to Reid, her fingertips drumming on the window frame, the crisp lines of her military uniform appearing especially cold and rigid in the dusk.
“So,” her voice was as cold as ever, “Veronica only sent tea this noon?”
Lena had just returned to the mansion and immediately called Reid to the library.
Today, Lena had personally ridden out, so she naturally couldn’t wear the light, flowing dresses typical of noble ladies.
But normally, unless it was for morning exercise, Lena would usually change into a long skirt while at the mansion.
Moreover, with Veronica currently in the mansion, it was even more important to mind her manners, to avoid giving Veronica anything to gossip about.
Reid squinted, his sharp gaze scanning Lena’s attire.
She still wore that fitted military uniform and hadn’t even changed out of her riding boots.
This was quite unusual.
Though it seemed trivial, being perceptive was Reid’s forte as a shepherd and professional con artist; he certainly wouldn’t overlook this detail.
Unless—
Unless something significant had happened that could make that meticulous Employer Miss set aside such formalities.
“Did you drink the tea she brought?”
Lena suddenly turned, her gray-blue eyes sharp like two drawn daggers.
This wasn’t Lena being overly cautious; after all, Veronica was the daughter of her competitor, and necessary precautions were essential.
“Of course not.”
Reid sat in an armchair, his fingers unconsciously stroking the silver buttons at his cuffs.
“After I politely declined, she left quite quickly.”
“The teacup should still be there, right? I need to check the contents of the cup.”
Even with the need to guard against Veronica, going so far as to inspect the leftover tea in the cup seemed a bit excessive.
Lena didn’t want to give Reid the impression that she was making a fuss over nothing.
She certainly didn’t want to trouble Reid, but there were reasons she felt compelled to behave this way.
A week ago, a cult disguised as Eastern merchants had appeared in Gran City. Although they had been captured, the forbidden items they carried had vanished without a trace.
Lena had hurriedly left that noon to deal with this matter.
Dealing with domestic cults was not normally Lena’s responsibility, but rather the purview of the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the direct authority of the current King Victoria.
However, even after returning to Gran City, Lena retained her military rank.
As a local in Gran City, assisting the Internal Affairs in the investigation was also within her duties.
Among the list of forbidden items possessed by the cult, there was a certain type of powder that could be mixed into drinks.
Colorless and tasteless, it dissolved in water.
Though it seemed harmless, once ingested, it would forcibly unleash one’s inner desires, turning the person into a beast.
Even though Veronica’s mother, Aunt Lavelle, was her competitor, they were still members of the Noval Family.
When one member of a family flourishes, all do; when one suffers, all suffer.
Moreover, the tradition among nobles has always been to compete without severing ties. Lena didn’t want to see the accusation of collusion with a cult placed upon the Noval Family.
Lena’s hand gently rested on the sword at her waist, her thoughts drifting away.
Veronica had come at noon to deliver tea to Reid, and now it was already dusk.
The servant should have collected the teacup along with the tea, but the utensils in the mansion would be cleaned after dinner.
The tea should have been discarded long ago, but perhaps there might still be some residue inside the cup.
Checking it now should reveal some clues.
Hopefully, this was just unnecessary worry.
Reid’s voice pulled Lena back to the present.
“I checked it,” Reid took out a folded piece of parchment from his pocket, “the usual calming ingredients, nothing unusual.”
Lena took the report from Reid’s hand, her brow twitching almost imperceptibly.
“Hmm? I don’t remember asking you to do this.”
Lena was somewhat surprised, not because of the absence of abnormal findings but due to Reid’s performance.
Before she left, she had only instructed Reid to study The Book of Etiquette; there was nothing in the contract about this.
Yet how could he always anticipate her thoughts and accomplish tasks so well?
Lena suddenly felt somewhat fortunate.
Thank goodness Reid is on my side; having such a collaborator is truly comforting.
If he were to align himself with Aunt Lavelle, he would definitely become a significant headache for me.
It would be a waste to have such talent languishing in a tavern in the Port District; sooner or later, others would discover Reid’s capabilities, but at least she had seized the initiative.
It seemed she needed to start planning how to win Reid over.
At least until the contract ended, she needed to ensure that Reid stayed on her side.
“After all, I’ve been paid, so I must do my best,” Reid smiled slightly, “my dear Employer Miss, rather than worrying about these things, why not give me a raise?”
“Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Reid. Having you, such an exceptional person, by my side brings me great peace of mind.”
Lena was straightforward; she turned towards her desk, took out a check, and after writing down 50 gold coins in the amount column, she promptly signed her name.
“This is what you deserve,” Lena handed the check to Reid, “you can go to Lionheart Bank any time to collect your reward.”
“It is my honor to serve a generous employer, especially one as beautiful and talented as you.”
“Too greasy,” Lena frowned in disdain, but she felt her ears warming slightly.
She quickly walked towards the bookshelf, pretending to organize books to hide her awkwardness.
“Seems reciting only the eighth chapter of The Book of Etiquette doesn’t quite suffice to silence Mr. Reid’s mouth?”
“We’ll finish the ninth chapter tonight.”
“Since I’ve given you more money, it means more work.” Noticing the slight twitch at the corner of Reid’s mouth, Lena turned her back, unable to suppress her own smile.
“Do you have any objections, Mr. Reid?”
Sigh, a pie falling from the sky really brings no good fortune.
Being around someone of high status is like being around a tiger!
Reid examined Lena’s back as her shoulder-length hair was tied into a ponytail, swaying gently with her movements.
The snowy white nape of her neck peeked out from between the military uniform’s collar, resembling a crescent moon hidden behind clouds.
The tips of her hair occasionally brushed against the vertebrae of her neck, casting delicate shadows on her honey-colored skin.
This guy only looks like a beauty; cut him open and he’s definitely dark inside!
“By the way, Veronica’s mother, my Aunt Lavelle, left Gran City this afternoon, so it seems our ‘guest’ will continue to pester us for a while longer.”
“Do we need to strengthen surveillance?”
“No need,” Lena approached Reid and suddenly reached out to fix his crooked bowtie, “I trust you can handle it well.”
Reid was taken aback for a moment before breaking into a playful smile. “So much trust in me?”
“I’ll go change, then we’ll continue our etiquette lesson.”
Lena had already turned towards the door, her military boots leaving clear marks on the carpet.
“And besides, weren’t all her little tricks thwarted by you without a hitch?”
