Odette's blade was stabbed into the ground before she raised her hand to wipe off the glistening sweat from her forehead. Following that, she directed her gaze on the boy standing in front of her.
"State your business," Odette ordered.
Holding the hilt of the sword, Odette supported herself as her body felt exhausted after that strenuous and vigorous practice for hours straight.
"Lady Odette, I have heard that you're giving special lessons to Adrian. Why?" he questioned, unable to control his emotions.
No matter how careful Dennis was in Odette's presence with his words and actions, he was essentially a child who had yet to completely mature. The jealousy made him forget about his position and bitterly act on his grievances.
Odette wasn't surprised. Actually, this happened exactly like her plan. She wanted to brew in hatred for Adrian in Dennis's heart; she didn't want to leave any space for pity.
A chuckle escaped from Odette's lips. The amusement that crossed through Odette's eyes was enough to bring back Dennis's to his senses. Chill travelled down his spine.
Although she hadn't said anything, that imposing aura of her showed how greatly displeased she felt despite her smiling appearance. This made him freeze up.
He made a large mistake.
Odette ran her hand through her hair and commented, "Aren't you a brave one for questioning me? Should I reward you for this? I love brave souls."
Dennis broke out into cold sweats. Regardless of her gentle tone and those favorable words, he knew that nothing positive would come from this. He understood how low Odette's tolerance was.
This instantly made him go down on his knees. Those eyes of his mirror the terror that he felt well. His face was ashen.
"No, no, I am sorry, Lady Odette. I have made a grave mistake. Please overlook this. My tongue slipped. I really do not think that way. Someone like me is too lowly to question you."
The boy was almost in his tears.
Dennis had high awareness of danger. He understood how to react in a situation perfectly. This was why she had chosen him after all.
Odette pursed her lips into a thin line as though contemplating on the matter and then, after a while of silence— that was utterly nerve-wracking for Dennis— expressed, "Fine. I will spare you for this. This is only because of how you impressed me so far. Others would have their heads rolled off."
Odette smiled as if she hadn't mentioned anything horrifying.
This only made Dennis more cautious and frightened of her. Her notorious reputation that he was well informed of didn't make him doubt those words. Odette disposed of humans at the blink of an eye and didn't even a speck of care for that.
Dennis thanked her for her generosity.
"But you know, if I let you go like this, you will run wild," Odette stated, "Your money for this month will be taken away."
Although Adrian and Dennis were her personal servants— someone she had total ownership over— they were given certain amount of money each month to spend it on themselves. The amount was considered a drop in the ocean for Albinius's treasury.
Odette implemented this for her personal servants, and few of her siblings applied this as well as far as she was aware.
Even though she didn't know the intent of her siblings to go through this, Odette did it for the sake of her future plans.
Although Dennis found it regretful to lose the payment for this month, he repeated in his mind that it could have been worse. He didn't wish to rudely act in front of Odette again.
However, the hostility he held towards Adrian only rose. That money was supposed to be his after all.
In the end, he could only hold in all the turbulent emotions he held and vocalize, "I understand, Lady Odette. Thank you for being kind to me."
After that, she indicated for him to stand up, and that was what he did.
Odette then walked over to him, causing the apprehension in him to thicken. He wondered what she was up to for now.
"As I have said before, only the one who pleases me will valued here, and the disobedient ones are like weeds in my eyes. They should be removed and harshly at that to set an example."
Odette's voice was soft yet menacing with that threatening intent.
"No next time. I don't give chances," Odette honestly added.
He nodded.
"Now, leave. Unless you want to be my opponent, don't approach me when I am training."
Odette was still keeping her lips curved up.
Without Odette having to explain it, he understood why Adrian was being favored. It was just that his envy made him turn a blind eye to it. In the training, although he was better, with the rate Adrian was making progress, his position wouldn't be maintained for long.
That made him clench his hand his hand into a tight fist.