The doorbell rang, and she went into the kitchen, finding her master arranging food on a tray. His expression seemed softer than usual. Now and then, Theo would be in a better mood like this, and it always caught Mio off guard, leaving her struggling to adjust to those moments.

“Please cut the fruit for me.”

Her master’s voice was soft and gentle as he gave the order, and Mio hurriedly took some fresh fruit from the fridge, sliced it, and arranged it neatly on a plate.

“Well done.”

A rare compliment followed. It was clear that the food was for the guest. But who could that guest be? It was obvious that they were her master’s lovers, but they were hidden away, never to be seen. Mio’s curiosity reached unbearable levels.

“Master…”

Remembering that her master sometimes responded gently when he was in a good mood, Mio plucked up the courage to speak.

Theo looked at her and signaled for her to continue.

“Where is the young lady staying, if not in the guest room? I just thought I could be more careful if I knew.”

“Mio.”

Her master’s soft voice called her name. For a moment, Mio thought she had made the right decision to ask. After serving him for several months, she had developed an uncanny ability to read his moods. He was often unpredictable, though not harsh or cruel – more like the atmosphere around him would change dramatically.

“You are not to concern yourself with the young lady. Do not be curious, do not ask about her, do not even let her cross your mind. If you do, you’ll be punished next time.”

His voice was so calm and gentle that Mio didn’t even realize she was being reprimanded. Only after a few moments did she fumble out a quiet apology, whispering.

“I’m sorry.

But her master had already turned away, carrying the tray, leaving Mio standing there with her heart pounding.

After that, Mio became extremely cautious, even when thinking about the guest. She knew that this was her master’s most sensitive subject, the one thing he guarded with the utmost care. She did everything she could to avoid treading on that forbidden ground. Mio didn’t even want to imagine what might happen if she ever crossed that line.

But that day came suddenly, without warning.

It would be a day Mio would never forget.

Early one morning, as usual, she walked down the small hallway from the kitchen to check on the food in the living room. But as she entered, Mio froze, unable to believe her eyes.

A cascade of long brown hair sprawled across the large sofa.

In the soft blue light of the morning, the brown hair glowed almost orange, vibrant, and sleek. It was a woman’s lustrous hair.

Intertwined with hers was a n*ked body. The woman’s pale, porcelain skin gleamed in the dim light. From a distance, Mio thought for a moment that the brightness of her white skin was almost blinding.

The figure draped over the woman was her master. For the first time in her life, Mio saw an expression of heated desire on his face. Only then did she fully realize what she was witnessing. But her body wouldn’t move. She was completely frozen, unable to take a single step.

Her master had buried his face in the woman’s br*asts. A crimson flower that had bloomed on her full br*asts disappeared into his mouth. Mio had never imagined her master, whose cold words were his defining characteristic, using his lips in such a way. It was an intensely erotic, obscene, and shocking scene, something she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams.

The woman’s pale br*asts, held in the man’s large hand, looked both pitiful and seductive. It was then that the woman tilted her head.

Her brown hair cascaded down, spilling over the edge of the sofa. Mio watched the movement in a daze. And then… their eyes met.

In that instant, Mio realized that this woman was the young lady – the guest she had been so curious about, the one Theo had been so careful to hide. The woman’s eyes widened in surprise and Mio’s heart sank. It was too late to run. Punishment was inevitable and her reputation would plummet. She would surely be thrown out of the mansion.

But even in that moment of crisis, Mio found herself thinking that she had never seen a woman so breathtakingly beautiful.

The woman’s delicate features, while not overtly extravagant, possessed a strange allure that became more captivating the longer Mio looked. It was the kind of face that immediately drew admiration, the word beautiful coming to mind unbidden. Her skin was flawless, her crimson lips a stark contrast to her pale complexion. Her deep green eyes had a mysterious appeal that made Mio want to study them up close.

Despite her n*kedness, there was something inexplicably dignified about the woman’s haughty gaze. Mio swallowed hard without realizing it. The sight of Theo ravaging the woman’s body suddenly seemed even more explicit and obscene now that she had actually seen the young woman’s face.

The young woman’s brow furrowed slightly as she looked at Mio. Then she gave Mio a subtle look. Mio instantly understood what the woman wanted. Her many years of working among the nobility served her well at this critical moment.

Without saying a word, she knew she had to leave unnoticed, pretending she had never seen anything.

The young woman tried to protect Mio. As expected, she gently raised her slender, graceful arms, wrapped them around Theo’s head, and let out a loud moan. The sound sent shivers down Mio’s spine and made her skin tingle from head to toe. It was a deeply sensual, achingly feminine sound that stirred something unsettling in her.

A strange desire crept up inside Mio – a desire to keep watching the woman. But she knew she couldn’t. She couldn’t afford to waste the quiet opportunity the young lady had given her. Forcing herself to move, Mio quickly turned and left the room.

But those deep green eyes, glossy brown hair, and porcelain white body clung to her thoughts.

As Mio retreated, she caught a glimpse of the garden outside the large glass windows in the living room where her master and the woman lay entwined. The view of the garden, wide and open, was impressive. It was then that Mio realized how perfectly the young woman fitted into the mansion. The estate, which had always felt empty and lifeless, seemed to be transformed into something mysterious and alive by her presence.

***

The young lady’s name was Yuel Estin.

Mio didn’t know much about her: that she was the Master’s only lover, that she was stunningly beautiful, and that she was an Arkel. Just those three things.

It seemed like little information, but in truth, it wasn’t. Mio had been completely captivated by her. Up close, Yuel’s eyes sparkled with fine streaks of pale green that reflected the light, making the dark pupils stand out against the rich green of her irises. The contrast was so striking that Mio often found herself staring, lost in her beauty.

Yuel was full of curiosity. She would ask Mio questions about the smallest things, and when Mio answered honestly, Yuel would praise her or pat her head gently. Each time Yuel’s long, pale fingers brushed her hair, Mio’s heart would race as if she had just received praise from a beloved teacher. The feeling was exhilarating, making her eager for the next moment when Yuel would notice her.

A few days had passed since Yuel discovered Mio in the living room. One early morning, at a time when Mio would never have expected Yuel to be wandering around, their paths crossed again in the kitchen.

Startled, Mio hurried to flee, but Yuel gently caught her hand. Forced into a brief exchange of greetings, they became a little more familiar with each other’s faces. Although Mio was deeply worried about the consequences, the soft scent of roses emanating from Yuel, along with her kind gaze, made Mio think that even if she was fired, it might not be so bad after all.

If she made a connection with Yuel, she might be able to see her again, even outside the mansion.

That fateful day they met in the kitchen – when Mio realized Yuel smelled like roses, when Yuel sweetly asked Mio to teach her Seyonese, and Mio had silently nodded in agreement – was the same day Theo called Mio into his study. It had been a long time since he had called her.

Mio entered the study trembling with fear. Although Yuel had assured her that she would speak to Theo on her behalf, Mio was convinced that she was about to be fired. Theo was always so sharp and sensitive when it came to matters concerning Yuel.

“Is your name Mio?”

Theo asked as if he had just realized something new.

Mio found it strange that he would ask such a question, considering that he had called her by name several times before. Maybe he had just forgotten – such was his indifferent nature. She couldn’t help but think that Yuel, so warm and kind, was wasted on someone like him.

“Yes, Master.”

“…Yuel wishes to befriend you.”

Theo slowly rubbed his forehead as he spoke, and Mio felt her face flush. The beautiful young lady always filled her with a mixture of admiration, excitement, and shyness. Theo stared at Mio for a moment, as if studying her reaction.

“If Yuel is curious about anything, tell her everything. Teach her everything you know.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Her heart leaped with joy – her master had changed his mind! She wouldn’t be dismissed. Instead, she would be allowed to stay at Yuel’s side and teach her Seyonese. The thought made Mio’s heart swell with excitement.

“And,” Theo added, his voice sharp, “report back to me everything you discuss with her.”

“What?” Mio blinked, the joy in her heart fading slightly.