Early the next morning, Eileen entered Melitoya's room to help her get up and dressed.
"Melitoya, did you only bring one set of clothes?"
She hadn't been present yesterday morning, so she didn't know the details. After searching every corner of the room and still not finding any spare clothing, she finally asked in confusion.
Melitoya bit her lip, a faint look of grievance flashing across her little face before she whispered shyly, "I… lost them on the way. I'm sorry, Sister Eileen. Am I very dirty? But… this is the prettiest dress my mother made for me."
It was a lie. Ever since her mother passed away, Melitoya had no one to rely on and lacked the ability to protect her belongings. Her mother had foreseen this and instructed her to seek out her brother as soon as possible.
Eileen froze, then immediately softened.
"Ah—no, that's not what I meant! It's fine if you lost them, really. We'll ask Egbert for some fabric and I'll make you new clothes. How about a beautiful dress, Melitoya?"
Melitoya's eyes widened. "Sister Eileen can make clothes too? Just like my mother?"
Eileen tilted her nose up proudly, smiling.
"Of course! I may not be as capable as Joyce or Diana in serving the Young Master, but I know a bit of everything. Making clothes is easy for me."
"Sister Eileen is amazing!"
This was the first time anyone had praised Eileen like this. She wanted to stay calm and composed, but her expression twisted awkwardly from pure happiness.
"Right, Melitoya—no matter how close we are, you can't call me 'Mom,' okay?" she added suddenly, remembering what Melitoya said earlier.
"Of course not! Why would I call you that, Sister Eileen?" Melitoya asked, confused. Eileen was kind, but she sometimes said strange things…
"Come on, let's make new clothes." Eileen took her tiny hand and led her out.
Study
Egbert placed four fire-sealed letters before Ron.
Then he stepped back half a pace and said, "My Lord, these are the background reports of the four guests staying in the Baron's Manor, as you requested."
Ron opened the first three letters. The contents were identical:
—"No such person found."
His expression remained cold as he tossed the letters onto the table.
Egbert's face stiffened. Upon reading them, he immediately bowed.
"My Lord, it is my negligence—"
"It's not your fault. These results already tell us everything." Ron's voice was low. "The power behind them is beyond what Arnold Territory can investigate."
Even so, he frowned. He had given the order yesterday, and the report only arrived this morning. The Baron's Manor's ability to gather intelligence was clearly lacking.
Just another reason he needed to merge the three villages and towns into a single city.
Egbert said solemnly, "There are two possibilities:
First, they are residents using false names.
Second, they are outsiders sent here deliberately.
If it is the second… My Lord, we cannot allow them to remain in the Manor any longer."
"You're worried they're concealing their strength and intend to harm me?"
Egbert did not answer, but his expression made the truth obvious.
"I'll consider it," Ron said.
Minor risks weren't enough; he wanted to take this thread and trace it back to the mastermind.
He picked up the final letter—Melitoya's—and carefully read all three pages.
When he finished, he let out a quiet sigh and set it aside.
Egbert took the letter, skimmed down the contents… and tears instantly welled up.
"Waaah—! How could there be such a pitiful child, My Lord?! I'll order the guards to arrest those scoundrels immediately!"
Ron silently stared at the usually stern butler weeping like a child.
"There are many pitiful children," Ron said calmly. "Their behavior is a result of the environment. In the end, the root lies with me, the Lord. They robbed because they were trying to survive—but they chose someone as weak as Melitoya."
Weakness itself was a sin.
Egbert wiped his tears. "But… her mother… My Lord, the letter says she wasn't killed by illness—she was poisoned!"
Ron shook his head.
"That poison was prepared by her for herself. The doctor confirmed it. It isn't what you imagine."
Egbert froze.
"If someone had poisoned her, Melitoya would have died as well. Poison doesn't choose its target.
She made preparations for Melitoya, left her instructions, and even planned the timing. Everything points to a deliberate decision."
Egbert whispered, "Then… why would she…?"
"To force me to take her in." Ron's voice was quiet. "She gambled on my reputation. A helpless five-year-old child is easier for a noble to accept than a mistress seeking shelter."
Egbert understood instantly. If Melitoya knew her mother died because of her…
It would break her.
"My Lord, rest assured. I will not reveal a word," he vowed.
Ron nodded.
As Egbert reached the door, Ron spoke again, "We lack workers for the reclamation team. From now on, any resident who violates public order—stealing food, money, clothes—arrest them and assign them to the reclamation team.
Half a year of labor should be enough."
Egbert paused.
"My Lord, I believe three years would be more appropriate."
Ron: "…"
Even more ruthless than I am.
"…I'll allow it."
A Few Days Later
Life returned to peace.
Joyce handled all territorial documents, and Egbert—thinking Ron was finally taking responsibility—praised his "diligence."
Ron drank tea daily, refreshed item entries, and enjoyed the peace.
Meanwhile, Eileen had been mysteriously dragging Melitoya everywhere every day.
Ron didn't pry.
Everyone in the Manor already knew: Melitoya was only close to Eileen.
Balcony
Ron leisurely sipped tea on a small balcony, turning a pendant in his hand.
It was quiet, peaceful—
Pfft—!
He suddenly spat out tea.
Not far away, two figures—one big, one small—were crouching in the flower bushes doing… something.
Ron stared for a while. His eyes hurt.
It could only be Eileen and Melitoya.
He sighed.
"Forget it. Time to refresh entries."
He sat and focused.
Entries flashed rapidly. Thanks to his increased physical strength from practicing battle qi, he could read every one clearly.
Flash.
A blue glow.
A blue-quality entry—nothing special—until he read it.
Then Ron froze.
[Three-Color Burning Flame (Blue): Resists poison, mental, and curse damage, and provides warnings.]
The pendant had three crystal facets—green, blue, red—matching the three damages.
Exactly what he needed.
He compared it to his first life-saving item—the leaf-shaped brooch.
[One Leaf Heaven (Blue): Grants immunity to physical and magical attacks. Each activation consumes one "vein." Total 24 veins, restoring one per hour.]
That brooch had taken more than a month to obtain.
This pendant only took a few days.
With these two items, assassination was basically impossible.
Ron happily put on both pieces of jewelry and head to the treasure vault to fetch a red gem ring—something to refresh offensive entries later.
He was humming as he passed by a room when Diana's scolding voice came from inside.
Curious, he pushed the door open.
Inside:
Diana scolding EileenEgbert beside herAnd Melitoya, standing nervously beside them
Everyone turned.
"My Lord."
Ron looked at Eileen.
"What happened this time? Did you cause trouble again?"
Diana answered, "Eileen roasted Egbert's bird."
Silence.
Ron stared.
So that was the bird he saw them roasting earlier.
Egbert sighed painfully, stepping forward.
"It's fine, My Lord. The bird… wasn't rare. I had only just received it as a gift from my granddaughter."
Eileen's guilt worsened. "M-Mister Egbert, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was yours. It landed on a branch, so I thought it flew in from outside…"
Egbert waved a hand. "Not your fault. I hadn't informed anyone yet."
After a few more apologies, Egbert and Diana left.
Ron eyed Eileen.
"What did you learn from this?"
"I'm sorry…" she murmured.
Ron sighed and left.
When the room was quiet again, Melitoya's composure finally broke. Tears streamed down her face.
"Does Brother… hate me that much?"
Eileen panicked.
"How could that be? If the Young Master hadn't come, Sister Diana would've scolded us forever! He was helping us!"
"Really…?" Melitoya sniffled.
"Really!"
The incredible Eileen always had a way.
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