Seyon has summer-like weather all year round, with frequent showers and humid air. However, thanks to a perfect blend of Seyon’s magical elements and advanced scientific technology, Goldrain Mansion remains pleasantly cool at all times.

The problem arises in the garden. After a shower, the air becomes stifling, with a high level of humidity remaining in the atmosphere. Occasionally the temperature drops, but that’s rare.

Still, I didn’t go inside the mansion. Instead, I sat quietly in the shade along the garden path, watching the house and the rain-soaked trees. This is my favorite place.

The main reason for this is that I’m hardly visible from the mansion when I’m sitting in the garden. Slightly hidden by the fountain, even if Theo tried to find me, he wouldn’t be able to see me.

He was busy again. I could tell because he stopped calling me into his office and spent most of his time buried in work. What was strange, though, was that no one seemed to question why he had stayed in Seyon for so long without going to Arkel. I wondered if people assumed he was traveling the world instead of staying here in Seyon.

But my thoughts didn’t linger. Complicated matters were no longer my concern.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. The sun, which occasionally peeked through the clouds to cast fleeting shadows, was about to set behind the mountains when someone approached me.

He had moved quietly from the back of the garden, and I hadn’t noticed the man’s presence until he was close.

“Excuse me…”

I jumped in surprise and turned quickly. A tall man with a scruffy beard was standing awkwardly behind me. I had never seen him before.

My nerves were on edge. I was wearing only a light dress, as usual, and this was the first time I had encountered a stranger dressed like this.

“Who are you…?”

“Oh! I’m Flan, the gardener.”

His tentative introduction made him seem innocent. Suddenly, I remembered Mio mentioning a ‘gardener’ earlier.

I wondered what made this man want to talk to me. If Theo found out, this man wouldn’t escape unscathed. Instinctively, I glanced towards the mansion. Partially hidden by the fountain, the grand and majestic estate looked as serene as ever.

“What is it, Flan?”

My voice was cold, a reflection of my tension. Flan, wiping the sweat from his brow, fumbled in his pockets and clumsily held something out to me. It was a white letter.

“…” 

I didn’t take it, just stared at it in silence. Flan hesitated, then stammered out an explanation.

“M-Mio asked me to give this to you, miss.”

He looked nervous too, clearly aware of Theo’s obsession with me. It seemed that all of Theo’s employees were equally brave, despite knowing the risks.

Feeling sorry for Flan, who was now drenched in sweat and visibly uncomfortable, I finally took the letter from him. As soon as I did, he turned and hurried away, disappearing down a narrow path that wound through the garden.

I stared blankly at the letter in my hands as if it were an explosive. I wished Mio would stop doing things for me. I didn’t want her to be in danger because of me. Once enough time had passed and things had calmed down, Mio would be able to leave this mansion as well.

Mio and her family would finally be safe. This was the day I had been waiting for. I debated whether to tear up the letter and burn it without reading it. One thing was for sure – Theo must never see it. If he did, Mio and Flan would be in serious trouble.

Just as I was about to put the letter in my pocket, it was snatched from my hand.

Startled, I spun around, my heart sinking. Could Theo have got this close without me noticing? Or was it Cane – he could move so silently. Cold sweat ran down my back.

“Could such a beautiful lady belong to Goldrain?”

An unfamiliar face looked at me, head tilted slightly. For a moment I felt a wave of relief – it wasn’t Cane or Theo.

The stranger stood there in black formal wear, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He was as tall as Theo, with dark grey hair and piercing black eyes. The letter dangled slightly from his long, elegant fingers.

“Give it back.”

“What is it? A love letter?”

He laughed, a playful smile spreading across his face. I was speechless – how could someone I had never met before be so rude?

“Who are you?”

The man shrugged nonchalantly, unimpressed.

“I’m just a guest here… but I can’t remember ever seeing you before. I never heard of Theo bringing a personal slave.”

My blood ran cold at his words, the insult hanging in the air between us.

The sheer audacity of his words made me freeze for a moment.

His eyes lingered on the plunging neckline of my dress and the thin leather collar around my neck. Without any underwear, the outline of my chest was probably visible. A wave of shame washed over me, but it didn’t last long – shame had become a luxury I could no longer afford.

It was the first time since I entered Goldrain that I had been so exposed in front of strangers. First the gardener, Flan, and now this man…

Still, I had to get the letter back.

“Give it back.”

He ignored my request, his mocking grin widening.

“The man before – he’s the gardener, right? It’s not good for a slave to have an affair with the help.”

His words dripped with mockery, but I refused to be swayed. I stood my ground, my expression unchanged. He clicked his tongue in disapproval, then studied my face, perhaps surprised at the lack of reaction.

He casually unfolded the letter. I reached out to grab it back, but he raised his arm high, forcing me to lean closer.

The man’s eyes looked down at me. I clenched my teeth and jumped higher, snatching the letter from his hand. Then, I hid it deep in my pocket. Despite losing the letter, the man didn’t seem particularly upset.

“Where are you from? Delaon? Or Piera?”

It took me a moment to fully comprehend his question. Then I remembered something from the history books I had read during my early days in the Mansion – Delaon and Piera were notorious for their slave markets.

But I didn’t feel any anger. I wasn’t emotional enough anymore to be upset by such things. His words barely registered.

Without answering, I picked up the mat I had been sitting on and turned to leave. He didn’t try to stop me, just watched me go. But his dark eyes, so much like Theo’s, left a lingering sense of unease that stayed with me long after I’d gone.

***

As soon as I entered the mansion, I noticed that the man had followed me. I still didn’t know who this stranger was or how he was able to move around the mansion so freely.

I quickened my pace, eager to reach my room before Theo saw me.

“Rophel!”

My plan had failed. Theo was sitting on the big sofa in the living room. I held my breath, not knowing how long he had been there, watching the garden. Fortunately, the spot where I’d been sitting was hidden by the fountain, so he probably hadn’t seen me.

Theo got up and walked towards us with long, deliberate strides. No, not at me – at the man he had called Rophel.

“What are you doing here?”

Theo asked in a deep, menacing voice.

Instinctively I knew he was angry, and I knew why – because of me. Although Rophel had started the situation, I was caught in the middle, fanning the flames.

Theo grabbed my wrist and quickly pulled me behind him, shielding me from Rophel’s gaze. Rophel raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Theo’s protective reaction.

“I had something urgent to do, that’s why I came. You think I’d just show up without a reason?”

“I told you to let me know before you come.”

“Sorry, I forgot.”

Rophel shrugged like it was no big deal.

Theo’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m sure I put a spell on the gate. How did you get in?”

Rophel’s grin widened and he looked at me briefly before answering,

“A spell, huh? Perhaps you need stronger ones.”

His nonchalant tone only seemed to infuriate Theo more.

“You and I are on the same level. You threw it so carelessly, I thought it was an open invitation.”

Rophel said with a grin. Then, as if deliberately trying to provoke me, he leaned forward slightly and winked.

“And who’s this lady?”

He asked with a mischievous grin. Theo remained silent, his expression cold as ice. Sensing the tension, Rophel cleared his throat and stepped back. I was surprised by what happened.

Frankly, I had expected Theo to half-kill the man or throw him out of the mansion the moment he caught him in that situation. But instead, Theo just scolded him without taking any further action.

“I thought she was a slave, judging by her clothes… but maybe not?”

Rophel asked cautiously, obviously trying to gauge Theo’s mood. Neither Theo nor I answered.

“If I misunderstood, I apologize. But your figure… wow…”

He added with a carefree grin, obviously testing his luck. Theo’s silence was like a storm about to break, and every second that passed made the air between us heavier. I wasn’t sure what Theo would do next, but I could feel his grip on my wrist tightening.

Rophel was a frivolous man, and Theo’s frown deepened. As for me, I felt nothing. His lewd comments didn’t bother me – compared to the other men I’d met in my life, this sleazy man was almost a gentleman.

“Theo…” Rophel began, raising his hands slightly as if in defense. “Just a joke, just a joke.”

Theo turned abruptly, his voice calm but commanding.

“To the office.”

Once again I was surprised. Who exactly was this Rophel that Theo would not immediately punish?

Rophel didn’t follow immediately, his eyes still on me, and I didn’t look away. There was no need to. Theo had never told me not to look at other men, nor did I feel the need to avert my gaze at the moment.

Rophel’s grin remained as if he enjoyed pushing boundaries, but eventually, he shrugged and began to follow Theo. Still, the remaining tension hung heavy in the air, and I couldn’t shake the strange feeling that this man – this Rophel – was no ordinary guest.