Stephan and the others were led to separate rooms, each on their own. The witch offered them to stay shortly and depart at night. As the night was the ideal time she travelled in. they had no choice but to follow Stephan's lead and Soprana's schedule.
"Young master," at the moment, Stephan was preparing himself to take a bath. It has been a long time since he cleaned himself thoroughly. His body started to smell funny. He was about to undress when a beautiful maiden's voice floated to his ears. It was soothing and seductive. "My Lady ordered me to help the mage apprentice. Shall I relieve you from the act of undressing yourself?"
Looking back at the silhouette, Stephan remarked how she had a siren's features. However, you could never find a mermaid outside of the sea or a water area. Her looks were totally seductive. Her maid outfit highlighted her curves and big chest; it was as if the garment was lower in size to make the features appear more clearly. Certainly, it was intended for him to have a nosebleed.
She looked happily at Stephan who had all his face turned red. He didn't have experience with girls and was never interested in dating girls since he assumed he wasn't attractive and he didn't have a chance at all. Better give up when you know there was no end to the matter at hand. His mind asked him all questions; what kind of reason did the woman have to be there seducing him? What was her goal?
He wasn't powerful. He didn't have anything of value to him except himself. Stephan wondered if the girl was some kind of monster that wanted to deceive him to have his flesh. However, he brushed out the idea finding it ridiculous. The maiden helped him take out his cape and shirt. However, he stopped her immediately when she wanted to help him with the rest.
"I understand you are beautiful and each time you move you appear more beautiful. But I don't want you to stay anymore here. I am used to doing everything alone," he twisted his mouth into a half-hearted smile.
The maiden wanted to give it another shot. She stepped closer to him, her soft breasts rubbing gently against his chest while her hand attempted to weaken the belt for the pant to drop. But Stephan stepped back nervously widening the distance between them. He didn't intend to let a girl seduce him like that even if she was beautiful.
"Don't you find me attractive master? Maybe I can wear something you like or less clothes," she attempted to remove her clothes, taking advantage of the boy's frustration.
"Are you a pedophile?"
"Huh?" her hands immediately stopped.
"I said: are you a pedophile? I am still considered a minor even with an adult mind. Do you want to molest a minor?"
"I don't understand, master."
"Do you call anyone coming to this hut master? You are a vile woman. Go back to your real master and tell her whatever she intends to take from me wouldn't be successfully taken even if she sent a beautiful maiden like you."
Realizing that the maiden was there for more information, he stood firmly. It disgusted him when someone tried to get the best of him through underhanded means. Yes, he was sixteen years old but his mind was already twenty years old. Even if he stayed hollowed in his room, it wasn't like he didn't have a taste of the outer world.
When his parents died, he was still a minor. He had four years to go by until reaching his adulthood. Therefore, someone had to take care of him. His mother was an only child and his father as well. However, they had cousins and the one that was known as the closest to his father took care of him until he reached his adulthood.
Something valuable always brought out the ugliest part of the human mind. The man had a wife and Stephan called them aunt and uncle like he was supposed to. Originally, they were supposed to keep his wealth and help him out. He had a servant that worked under him. She tried to seduce him even when he was still young. Back then, he didn't understand her behaviors and only found it awkward.
His parents were a loving couple so he didn't get a glimpse into the ugly world until he reached his sixteen years old, when he heard his aunt speaking to his uncle about taking more money and Stephan wouldn't take it badly. She gave so many excuses that it made him throw up; because she was there to raise him and waste her time, she needed a reward for it, for all the love she gave him and the kindness.
Was it considered now his previous life?
It was the case. There was a possibility he would never return to the Earth anymore.
"You can leave," Stephan didn't even look at the maiden, he turned around hearing her footsteps and the door close behind him. He wasn't a child anymore. He had a mind that held memories that foreshadowed many things in his life. It was a choice to be secluded in his room, not something forced. He chose to shut himself in and play because he didn't fit in with anyone and the episodes with his parents' cousins made him doubt everyone.
The maiden returned to her real master, the witch Soprana who had a big spoon in her hand mixing a liquid in a cauldron. Seeing her like this early made Soprana realize what happened. She grinned. "He didn't fall for it. Such a good boy! No wonder that woman chose him as her disciple; he will become someone to fear in the future."
She kept stirring the cauldron in front of her, glaring at it as if it was the reason why she couldn't get the info about the spear she was looking for. The maiden wanted to add more to the story but was scared by the cold and confusing demeanour of the witch. Her mouth opened and closed several times before retreating.