Alden is eating his fill and pretending as if the people in front of him did not exist. He is listening to Lucas welcoming new maids and servent to the manor castle. Preaching about how it is an honor to serve him and the Van farrow family would garner many years of fulfillment.
Hearing this, Alden could only shake his head and keep silent.
[Atleast he knows how to adopt] Alden thought
Three days ago, after the incident inside the tavern, Lucas took action and replaced all the maids and servants that used to make the deceased Alden's life a living hell. Knowing that retribution would soon follow, he took the initiative and removed those deemed disgraced to the young lord.
Alden himself secretly witnessed Lucas cut the head of the kitchen maid who was spreading rumors openly. Lucas's action scared the others to wonder what exactly transpired to the man who once used to join them in the banter of their young lord.
That example was not the end of the gloomy reality; the once disordered tower castle is currently filled with oppression and intolerance of mistakes. Lucas began to oversee all operations that the head maid once handled. He became a tyrant and a messager of the young lord. He would sometimes, in a rageful state, assemble and kill without explanation. This action has struck fear into the maid and servant alike. None dared even to lift their head without his permission. At the end of each example made, Lucas would then make a long, unneeded speech to describe Alden as a fair, benevolent who would even tolerate low-life misbehavior.
While this was happening, Alden just kept to himself and said nothing about Lucas's action.
The head maid that was once Gwen's teacher at this castle could only keep her head down when all this was happening. She, as the head maid, is not born an idiot. After picking a few pieces of hints here and there. She finally understood that Lucas had witnessed something. Something so dreadful that forced him to do such a thing. Coupled with Gwen's disappearance, Byron, and Albert's death, she no longer dared to question anything about Lucas's actions. She could only pray that the young lord would overlook her actions previously. Lost in her thoughts, the head maid had forgotten the meeting in the garden entirely.
Then, her hair stood up, and her body shivered with cold. Like a bucket of cold water had awoken her from her trance. Diana felt death linger around. She felt as if a beast was staring at her with resentment. She jolted her head and looked to where this awful feeling was coming. Then, to her surprise, her eyes wide and the truth revealed.
Diana saw the young lord of the manor was staring straight at her; he had stopped eating and now kept his gaze at her. His left hand rested on his cheeks, smiling and staring at her as if he had fallen for her. She is considered middle-aged but very beautiful to a woman like Diana, yet she only felt the annoyance covering killing intent. The eyes that used to display the fear of Diana no longer exist. The young lord who could only keep his head down and escape to the noble library due to the harsh reality she and the others had created was now staring with unfiltered eyes.
It all took but a moment; Diana quickly understood that everything that had transpired had something to do with the young lord staring at her. She hurriedly bowed and kept her head down, fearing that she had done something wrong. Toppled with how she would soon face retribution. The woman named Diana kept her head even low to show her submission.
Looking at this, Alden could only blink at this woman. He ignored her Gesture of goodwill and continued the system analyzing the people around him. Alden only needed to make sure that what had happened days before with the princess and king would not follow him home. He's convinced that some other noble would secretly send their servant to spy on him. Therefore before making any moves, Alden summoned Lucas to his room and revealed what had happened at the tavern. At first, Lucas was surprised to know a ten-year-old Alden knew about the incident, and then before he could enquire about how Alden knew, Shadow Mox rose behind Lucas and scared the man to soil himself again.
At first, Alden wanted to taunt the man to no end but decided only to stop when he saw the man's eyes roll behind his sockets, foaming on his mouth, disgusted by the scene, and with a splash of water, Lucas woke up and began to beg for his life to be spared. Alden Lied said that the Dark affinity user only spared his life because Lucas has not done anything wrong so far. With a few lies and threats, Lucas swallowed without chewing. Bowed down, he vowed he would sacrifice his entire life and skill to serve Alden. Pleased by him, Alden gave him a few lists of people that needed to be handled. The people that Lucas killed for the last three days are mostly spies from other lower noble households. Therefore Alden didn't want any of them to roam around his castle while he aimed to change things around.
With this mission, Alden just watched as the show of slaughter had taken place. Pleased by Lucas's display of loyalty, Alden told Lucas to find new servants and bring them to him. Puzzled at first, Lucas just did as told. Now analyzing those people, Alden only found five out of forty people to be spies. Alden Gestured to Lucas to stop his report, and he then Pointed towards the five spies. Lucas nodded and understood what his young lord wanted; he spoke loudly.
"GUARDS"
"GUARDS"
The guards stationed outside the garden hurriedly entered and bowed first at the young lord and Lucas. Thus waiting for further action. The head maid and the rest are surprised at first, but after hearing what had been happening recently, they only kept their head low and prayed not to become the next victim to die. Lucas continued
"Take those five below the castle."
He pointed at two women and three men who had been hired recently as new maids and servants. Hearing they are to be captured, the maids and servants begin to panic and cry. One of them even tried to run but was arrowed down at the shoulder and had his legs removed. Setting an example of a futile effort. The rest could only submit and give up after witnessing the outcomes.
Alden, watching this, finally got bored and got up from his position and decided to leave; he told Lucas to bring him the information extracted from the five spies. As usual, Lucas bowed and understood, walking back slowly; Alden could be seen murmuring something to himself after passing by Diana, the woman body who heard the young lord murmur suddenly shivered. After the young lord had finally left the garden of tower castle. Diana, still in a bowing position, finally broke down, tears streaming from her cheeks. She had both of her hands on her head, and her eye could only reflect fear of her being discovered.
After a while of being lost in her mind, Diana finally heard someone call out to her.
"DIANA" Lucas shouted.
"huh?" she responded weakly and looked up at Lucas, who is staring at her. Lucas looked around and ensured that others had finally left after witnessing Diana's dismay but kept to themselves. He picks her up by her shoulders, helping her stand up,
"Lucas i-"
"SHUT UP" He cut her off and continued,
"You had only yourself to blame Diana."
"Who told you to join them" He spoke and guided her to her room to rest.