Chapter 11: The Barrier
In the library of Noval Mansion, heavy rain pounded against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Reid stood by the window, gazing vacantly at the torrential rain outside.
It was supposed to be noon, but thick dark clouds swallowed every ray of light.
Not a single beam of sunlight pierced through the clouds to reach the ground, dyeing the daylight a shade almost as dark as night.
It was time for Lena’s routine etiquette class, yet the library was empty except for Reid.
The reason was simple—Lena had gone to the bathroom.
In Lena’s copy of The Book of Etiquette, an entire chapter was dedicated to describing the etiquette a lady needs when going to the restroom.
Thus, Reid could roughly estimate the time it would take for Lena to return.
According to The Book of Etiquette, after Lena said, “Please allow me to excuse myself to tidy up my gown,” and left the library, she would have to go through at least five steps.
She would first need to change rooms at least twice to obscure her actual whereabouts.
Then, she would change into her restroom gown in a dedicated dressing room, light cedarwood incense outside the restroom to mask any odors, and even need a maid outside the door to continuously ring a bell to cover up any noises during her time in there.
The cleaning up afterward was even more troublesome, requiring her to wash her hands with rosewater, reapply perfume, and check for makeup touch-ups.
She might even demand a maid to use a long-handled mirror to inspect whether her petticoat had been soiled from multiple angles.
Finally, she would drink a small cup of mint syrup to freshen her breath, and once her complexion was back to normal, her maid would reattach her jewelry to avoid any signs of haste.
Going through the entire process, dear Employer Miss would at least take half an hour to return to the library.
From Lena’s perspective, even the etiquette related to using the restroom seemed a bit overly complicated.
But Reid felt entirely justified in his idleness.
She wouldn’t return early.
Reid wasn’t worried at all about the possibility of Lena skipping steps and coming back prematurely.
After all, since the last time Reid caught her breaking the rules, Lena had been particularly strict about adhering to the norms.
At least in etiquette class, she was flawless, like a genuine noble lady.
Suddenly, Reid’s thoughts drifted back to the night the gathering ended—
In the jostle of the carriage, Lena leaned against his shoulder, her silver hair cascading down, breathing lightly.
Her profile was incredible soft under the moonlight, completely defenseless, even carrying a hint of rare vulnerability.
Reid couldn’t help but smile slightly, but the next moment—
A sharp pain.
The smile at the corner of his mouth was quickly replaced by painful spasms.
A cold, sharp ache shot from his nasal cavity straight to his forehead, followed by warm liquid trickling down.
This was the side effect of accelerated thinking.
Fortunately, Reid was already familiar with such situations. He quickly pulled out a handkerchief, expressionless, before any nosebleed could cause irreversible consequences.
He caught the droplets that were about to fall onto his shirtfront.
Reid sighed and silently tucked the used handkerchief into the pocket of his chest.
Although the ability he drew from the system was useful, overusing it brought side effects.
In recent days, Reid had been using accelerated thinking to cram The Book of Etiquette into his brain, causing an obvious increase in nosebleeds.
To make matters worse, the wound under his left rib had begun to throb again.
Every time it rained, that scar would awaken like a living thing, faithfully reminding Reid not to forget his current situation.
Two years ago, on a similar rainy night, a sword had pierced merely a few centimeters away from his heart.
And the eyes of the one wielding the sword were the same gray-blue ones that had shyly averted their gaze when facing him that day.
Reid couldn’t help but shiver.
Stay focused, Reid.
Those gray-blue eyes could sparkle because of your jokes, could slightly turn away because of your closeness—
But what if she knew who you truly are?
If Lena discovered your true identity, would she still show such an expression in front of you?
Reid’s gaze fell on the sword on the table, which had been placed there by Lena herself, the patterns on the sheath identical to ones from years ago.
His expression gradually cooled.
She smiles at you because she thinks you are “Reid Asteria,” not the enemy she once pierced through the chest with her own hands.
Maintain your disguise, Reid.
Quickly finish this task and leave Gran City once you obtain legitimate status.
The farther, the better.
Outside, the torrential rain continued to rage, and Reid’s figure blurred to a dark shape against the glass.
Reid’s gaze fixed on the window—
Through the curtain of rain, a carriage bearing the Noval family crest abruptly stopped in front of the courtyard.
The door swung open violently, and Veronica stumbled out, her light purple gown soaked and clinging to her.
Though Veronica’s act might fool most people, it did not include Reid.
Reid narrowed his eyes.
The torrential rain, the drenched gown, the perfectly timed panic.
It was too deliberate.
Reid was a master of deception himself, so Veronica’s little trick was certainly not concealed from his sight.
The door to the library was suddenly pushed open, and Lena stood in the doorway, her chest slightly rising and falling, droplets of water still on her hands.
She didn’t even wait for her maid to help tidy her appearance and rushed right in.
“Reid?”
Lena’s voice came from behind.
As Reid turned, he had already donned a perfect smile, the arc of his brows precisely in place.
“What is it, Employer Miss?”
Lena frowned slightly.
She was always sharp but couldn’t see through Reid’s expression at that moment.
Though he was right in front of her, it felt like there was an invisible fog separating them.
But Lena didn’t have time to ponder, for there were more urgent matters at hand.
“Veronica has come,” Lena’s voice was low, her blue-gray eyes fixed on Reid, “Her carriage axle broke, and she requests to stay.”
This was the first time Lena sought Reid’s opinion:
“Reid, what do you think?”
“Let her stay?” Reid raised his gaze to Lena, “My dear Employer Miss, you can’t possibly believe that her carriage ‘accidentally’ broke down at our doorstep, can you?”
Lena’s fingertips absentmindedly brushed against the hilt of her sword, her gray-blue eyes appearing particularly stern in the candlelight.
“I certainly don’t,” Lena raised her chin slightly, “But a direct refusal would seem like we’re feeling guilty.”
“Don’t forget how she provoked you before,” Reid chuckled lightly, “If it were up to me, we should have the guards toss her and her carriage back into the rain right now.”
Regardless of Veronica’s intentions, one thing was for sure.
Allowing Veronica to stay would definitely bring a lot of trouble.
Reid didn’t want to increase his workload any further.
But Lena rejected Reid’s proposal:
“My Aunt Lavelle won’t let it rest; it’s better to deal with an open risk than a hidden one.”
A timely clap of thunder echoed outside, illuminating the fleeting sharpness in Reid’s eyes.
“You’re right,” Reid suddenly changed his tone, executing a standard gentleman’s bow, “Then we shall proceed as you wish.”
“I’ll prepare a guest room.”
In the end, Reid elegantly bowed, his posture so standard that not a single flaw could be found.
As he brushed past her, Lena noticed that the cedar scent on him was colder than usual.
Suddenly, Lena wanted to reach out and stop him, but then she remembered that she had no standing or reason to do so.
They were merely in an employment relationship.
Nothing more.
Outside, the torrential rain still raged, and the raindrops on the glass flowed like tear stains.
Reid’s figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor, his footsteps swallowed by the sound of the rain, as if he had never existed.
