Under the charcoal heat of the peachwood stove, the room was filled with a warm, fragrant scent of peachwood.
Inside the luxurious hall, Young Master Nayre was enjoying one of his favorite breakfasts.
On the wide dining table, two breakfast sets were laid out. Though Nayre enjoyed fine cuisine, the second portion wasn't for him—it was for the maid.
Normally, the very rule-abiding dark elf maid Cassia would never eat together with her master. But Nayre didn't care about such things.
Still, she was stubborn about maintaining proper etiquette, so she brought her older "sister" to accompany Nayre for the meal.
"..."
Nayre chewed a richly flavored slice of bacon and glanced to the other side.
From a deep, pitch-black shadow—where there was neither doorway nor window—a dark elf older sister appeared silently.
She wore a pure black over-knee dress, a white lace apron, and black lace stockings outlining elegant curves.
Her eerie violet pupils slowly opened, then locked motionlessly onto Nayre. She looked almost exactly like her "younger sister," and yet was entirely different.
The younger sister had long silver-gray hair; this one had long straight jet-black hair.
She walked over to Nayre and, with flawless etiquette, gently pinched the hem of her skirt and curtsied.
"Good day, my master. I report as ordered."
"Mhm, come eat."
"Yes, as ordered."
The older Cassia's mannerisms were clear—she spoke with a distinct catchphrase, and her etiquette was beyond perfection. She completely regarded Nayre as her master, with no defiance.
In contrast, the younger Cassia liked breaking rules, but never the rules of master and servant.
The black-haired Cassia's aura gave off an intense sense of rejection. At first glance, one might think she was a cold, aloof elf.
But it quickly became apparent—her atmosphere wasn't just cold, it was *mechanically* unfeeling, colder than any high elf's aloofness.
After a short breakfast, Nayre finished the last bite of a flavorful mushroom and began enjoying his fruit salad.
He glanced at the black-haired Cassia beside him—her twitching ears moved slightly, her strange violet eyes stared directly into his.
Upon noticing Nayre's intense gaze, she quickly lowered her head—
—and began unbuttoning the smooth, curvy fastenings on her chest.
"No! Not now. Are there any plans for today?"
Though her expression didn't change, a slight hint of disappointment flashed across the black-haired Cassia's face. She then promptly replied:
"Since you are returning to Aurel Knight Academy tomorrow at the Queen's request, today has been cleared for rest. However, to be thorough, you should first arrange key affairs within the family, inspect your magical automata, and hold a meeting with Dr. Aymira."
"And finally—please leave your evening free. Don't stay up all night researching like last night. As ordered."
Sometimes, it felt like these twin sisters were the same person.
No—they *were* the same person. No one knew exactly why they split into two, one white-haired, one black-haired...
A dual personality?
Cassia had no known siblings. When Nayre found her, she was alone.
As for her past—Nayre could only guess she must've had some unusual experience. But he had no intention of digging deeper.
Cassia glanced at the fruit salad, then quickly finished it.
Then, with delicate fingers, she plucked a glistening red berry and gently placed it—along with her two soft fingertips—into Nayre's mouth.
Nayre bit the fruit and then withdrew her fingers from his lips.
She quietly slurped her fingers like a child.
"All right, time to get ready."
"Yes, as ordered."
After finishing the hearty breakfast, Cassia reported on the estate's affairs and port logistics.
These were ordinary matters. After getting a clear picture, Nayre delegated them to her.
Cassia was more than just a maid serving Nayre.
She wasn't just his personal maid—she was also the family's steward. Matters like business and estate management were all entrusted to her.
Her perfectionist and efficient style made subordinates somewhat fearful of her.
But no one could deny that her management kept the Farshore family in perfect order.
She was one of the Three Pillars of the Farshore household—Nayre Farshore's most trusted aides.
---
"Good morning, my lord."
As Young Master Nayre stepped out to greet the sun after breakfast, a serious yet calm voice sounded nearby.
A female knight stood waiting at the gate for Nayre's arrival.
She was the second of the Three Pillars— the commander of the Farshore Knights**, now tasked primarily with guarding Nayre personally, as most of her former duties had been passed to the Academy's knights.
This was Dark Knight Vylushica, clad in dark armor, her dark hair tied into two long braids. Her hair lightly covered one of her dark eyes, which appeared both resolute and void of emotion—absolutely pure.
A knight clad almost entirely in black.
But in contrast to her dark aesthetic, her fair, beautiful white skin against her black armor made her strikingly beautiful.
What drew the most attention, though, was the strange birthmark under her left eye.
It was a dark, ominous pattern—almost like a virus—creeping beneath her flawless left eye, chilling to behold.
Vylushica was Nayre's personal knight and the captain of his guard.
In this nation, private knights were rare. The knightly ideal was to rely on one's own strength—not bodyguards—for protection.
Yet Nayre Farshore, a young noble with exceptional influence and status, did have his own personal knight.
After all, the Farshore family ranked fifth among the noble houses—just below the Four Great Knight Families.
"Mhm. Let's go. We'll be moving around a lot today."
"Yes."
Vylushica responded with her usual seriousness, picking up her weapon and longsword.
The sword was a fine steel blade custom-made for the Farshore family, with a crimson gem embedded in the hilt—symbol of loyalty and elite status, only bestowed to top knights.
But her primary weapon was far more eye-catching:
A war halberd forged from a single chunk of obsidian-black Shadowstone—crafted with top-tier family technology and materials. It looked almost like something only a magical automaton could wield.
Yet Vylushica held it effortlessly in one hand. The halberd's edge, spike, and hook gleamed with a deadly sharp light.
The handle was wrapped in specially treated leather. At the center of the "井"-shaped pommel, Nayre had personally inlaid a crimson crystal.
A masterpiece—both exquisite and fearsome.
Still, Nayre's own frail body couldn't even lift it—let alone wield it.
Yet Vylushica had mastered it within just a few days, proving once again how valuable and trustworthy she was.
"Hmm… No matter how many times I see the *Shadow Halberd*, it's always stunning."
"Please rest assured! Vylushica will use the Shadow Halberd to protect you with her life!"
"I know. That's why I feel safe with you by my side. Always stay close and protect me, Vylushica."
"…Yes…"
This time, her response was softer, her tone less firm. Vylushica slightly lowered her head, hiding her shy expression behind her dark hair.
After admiring her and the Shadow Halberd for a while, Nayre continued walking with her by his side.
The halberd was created using top-tier technology and materials from the Farshore family—originally meant only for high-class magical automatons.
Still, Nayre was proud of the weapon. Even though his family focused on magical constructs, they must have had a history in weapon craftsmanship too.
Though they never specialized in it, the success of the Shadow Halberd hinted at forgotten knowledge in their lineage.
Sadly, he was too weak to wield it himself. But Vylushica's ability to master it proved her value and loyalty yet again.
---
"My lord, are you truly returning to Aurel Knight Academy tomorrow?"
"That's right. Why? It's a world-famous academy—the one that produced *three* Knight Kings. Want to go?"
"I… No. I'm your knight. My duty is to protect you."
Nayre paused and turned to smile at her.
Vylushica's face remained stern, but she tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"Good. Then tomorrow—you're enrolling too."
"…Huh?"
"I'm taking you with me. Your duties can be handled by the academy's knights—they're directly under Queen Aurel's command. You can trust them."
"..."
Vylushica was speechless. Was Nayre really saying she should attend the legendary Aurel Knight Academy?
But before she could answer, Nayre had already turned to look elsewhere.