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When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
( Proverbs 16 : 7 )
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The head maid of the Floret Mansion, Letitia Schmitt, was appointed to the mansion three years ago. She admired Ryker Flameheart, the Swordmaster, and was one of the people saved by the heroes of the rebellion who protected the continent from destruction. As she grew up, her respect for the Swordmaster also grew.
In her desire to serve him, she left her family and became a trainee knight in the House of Flameheart. With hard work and determination, she earned the title of Knight of Flameheart at a young age. She dreamed of fighting evil alongside her hero across the continent, but she was chosen to be a maid instead of a knight. Her dream was utterly crushed.
However, she didn't lose heart and worked harder to prove her worth. Over the years, she understood her duty as a maid: to protect the future of Flameheart, his wife, and children, ensuring their safety. At a young age, she comprehended her duty when she met the kind lady of the house, who, like Letitia, came from a commoner family and became the wife of the Swordmaster.
The first lady of the house treated everyone with kindness instead of arrogance, emphasizing equality over reign. Letitia wanted to serve her, but after giving birth, the lady left the House of Flameheart for the Floret Mansion.
However, one day, Letitia received orders from her lord to serve the lady again. When she was assigned to serve her, she felt a sense of happiness, as if it was finally her time to fulfill her duty. But when she heard the whole story behind the cause of her lady leaving the house, she was shocked.
How could she believe that her lady had an affair? The lady, who was kinder and purer than anyone Letitia had ever met. She didn't want to believe it. With her hardened resolve, she came to the mansion.
She could still remember that day, as clear as yesterday, when she came to meet the young lord. He was sitting beside his mother, holding her hands and reading her a book. His body was thin and fragile, but his determination was evident. His blue eyes, resembling his mother's, were filled with pain and anger. The fragile and small boy carried a burden that outweighed him.
When she looked into his eyes, she understood that the blood of Flameheart ran through him. Despite resembling his mother, his eyes reflected his lord father. Letitia fulfilled her duty as a maid, taking care of him, but he always kept his distance. He didn't trust anyone.
She still remembered the day the child left to become the successor of Flameheart. It was the first time he showed trust in her, asking her to keep his mother safe. But after seven days of his departure, unfortunate news arrived: the young lord's carriage and escorts had disappeared.
It had been three years since then. Letitia had taken care of the mansion meticulously, preparing for her lady's wake.
"Huuu," she breathed out. She had lost track of time, lost in thoughts of the past. It was time to prepare her lady for the evening meal. She slowly opened the door to her room.
"My lady, I have come to get you ready for the meal," she said, lightly bowing.
As she looked up, her eyes widened at the scene in front of her. A boy was sitting in the chair next to the bed, holding a book in one hand and his other hand holding his mother's. His void-black hair looked dark as night even in sunlight, and his deep blue eyes moved as he read the book. His face looked slightly older than when she had last seen him.
The young master who had disappeared for three years was sitting before her, but she couldn't believe it. She was a knight rather than a maid. Her duty was to protect her master.
"Who are you?" she asked, gripping her hidden sword.
At the sound of her voice, the boy's eyes, scanning the book, turned to her. When his deep blue eyes met hers, she felt dread seep into her. It was as if death itself was watching her. She tried to draw her sword, but her body wouldn't move. Her blood ran cold, and her body froze like a statue.
He then slowly closed his eyes and opened them again, releasing the pressure that had held her. He slowly got up. Sensing an opportunity, she pulled her sword. Even if it meant death, she would protect her lady.
*Sigh*
He sighed at her resolve.
"A dog should know its place," he said.
With his words, an unknown force gripped her, making her kneel. He walked up to her, crouching to meet her eye level. Her eyes still held fierceness and resolve.
He just smiled and put his hand inside his chest pocket, taking something that looked like a badge. He waved it in front of her eyes, letting her get a good look at it. He then grabbed her hand and placed the family crest in her hand. He bit his finger and dropped a drop of blood on the crest. The flame around the heart glowed red as it absorbed his blood. Letitia understood the meaning of the action and bowed her head. The family crest only reacts like that when a person of the same blood puts their blood on it. It can also detect mind control and similar things, but only a selected few knew about it.
"I welcome the young master," she said with her head bowed.
"Seems like you understand," he replied to her greeting.
The force that was holding her body down disappeared, allowing her to get up. She straightened her head and bowed in a more formal manner.
"I, Letitia Schmitt, greet the young lord of the Flameheart," she greeted.
He smiled in satisfaction.
"How can I help you, young master?" she asked with her head bowed.
He turned to look at his mother.
"I want you to relay a message," he said.
"Please give me your orders."
"Tell Ryker that I have taken Callista. He shouldn't search for us, and I will go to meet him. Do you understand?" he said without turning.
"But, young master, I can't let you take the lady without informing the lord," she replied.
He turned his head and looked at her.
"Do... you... understand?" he said, each word pressing on her, making her bones feel like they would crush.
"I-I understand," she stammered.
He then dusted off his coat and walked toward his mother. With a wave of his hand, a white glow surrounded both of them. With each passing second, it grew brighter.
*Bang*
In a flash, he vanished with his mother.
Letitia watched the spot where they had disappeared. There were no traces left, everything had vanished. She couldn't understand what had happened, but she knew for sure that the young master had returned, and he had asked her to relay a message. Understanding the importance, she left the room to immediately send this message to the main house.
*****
Ze, having vanished from the mansion, reappeared in the Elven palace, in the queen's or consort's chamber. He wasn't sure.
"Kyaaaa!" exclaimed the elven girl who was cleaning the room.
The sudden appearance of someone in the empty room frightened her. Ze didn't mind the girl and placed Callista, who was levitating in the air, on the bed. The Elves, who lived for a long time, made things that were comfortable for extended periods, so there was nothing to worry about.
Ze, having placed Callista on the bed, turned to the elf girl.
*Clack*
The door burst open, and a knight rushed in.
"What happened?" the knight shouted.
Coming to a halt, he observed the surroundings, noticing the panicked elf, a dark-skinned person looking at the girl, and a beauty who could put the Elves to shame, sleeping on the bed.
"Help, help! He just came out of nowhere," the elf girl ran behind the knight, seeking refuge.
The knight, realising the situation, raised his sword at the boy. Ze wondered how the knight appeared when there wasn't a single soul near the king's office. He really wanted to grab the king and ask him to explain. While he was thinking this, the king felt a chill run down his spine.
"Who are you? How did you teleport?" the knight asked.
He was probably not tense due to Ze's age.
"I have come here due to the king's instructions, and my name is Zeru. You can ask him about it," Ze replied politely, not wanting another headache.
The knight, upon hearing his words, looked slightly convinced but remained on guard. He commanded the elf girl, "Go, inform the king about it. I will keep him here."
"Yes," the elf girl bowed and hurriedly left.
Seeing that the situation would be resolved, Ze sat on the chair, feeling not a bit tense. The knight stood on guard, watching his every move. After waiting in the silence, the door suddenly burst open. The Elven king rushed into the room. The knight, noticing the king's arrival, bowed his head.
"I greet your majesty," the knight greeted his king.
"You may leave. They are here on my command," the king said, granting his approval. The knight then left the chamber.
King Fran waited until the guard left the room before moving closer to the bed. There, he saw Callista lying as if she were sleeping, taking small breaths, with a pale face resembling that of the dead.
"Who did this? How did Ryker not inform me of this?" Fran asked, a tone of pain evident in his voice.
"Well, I am thinking of asking him. Did you bring the elixir?" Ze inquired. He was here for the purpose of healing her.
With a wave of his hand, Fran materialised five small capsules in his palm, each holding a drop of bright golden liquid. They were the Elven elixirs, rare and hard to produce. With just one drop, they could heal a near-dead person back to full health, and their value was equivalent to that of a kingdom.
"Will these be enough?" Fran asked, his eyes filled with worry.
Ze pondered for a moment, contemplating whether to scam the concerned king. "I can heal her. I only need those to assist in her recovery," Ze replied as he moved forward. He took a capsule from Fran's hand and opened its lid. The golden liquid slowly floated up as if in zero gravity. Ze directed the liquid into Callista's mouth, and a single drop fell straight in.
Ze then moved his hands, his golden aura enveloping him. His solid clothes wavered, and his body transformed into brilliant burning flames. Fran, noticing the change, was amazed. With his acute senses, he could perceive the shift in the mana present in the atmosphere with a sniff. He had also made a contract with the king of spirits. However, the actions of the child before him, who had lived a fraction of his lifespan, left him astounded.
The child, or the one in control, was toying with death, burning his existence to fuel his magic. His body didn't mimic a flame; it was truly burning. The golden flame grew brighter, causing the mana in the atmosphere to tremble. Ze was preparing a healing spell that surpassed the healing abilities of an angel. He couldn't have done this before, as his soul was still adjusting, and his body couldn't bear the burden.
The spell covered the entire room in a golden light. Although each spell seemed simple, they were interconnected in a complex form that even Fran couldn't comprehend. Ze was simply performing his magic, and the spell formed naturally to support it.
The spell grew brighter and brighter, blinding both Ze and Fran in its brilliant golden light. Slowly, the light vanished as if it had never existed. Ze sat back on the chair, his body returning to normal. Fran had tightly shut his eyes, and in that moment, Ze took a bottle of elixir and drank it. He needed healing too.
"It's done. The curse has been removed," Ze announced.
"Are you sure?" Fran asked, seeking confirmation.
"If it hadn't been removed after going all out with a healing spell of transcendence, I would have to drag Gaia from her throne to heal her," Ze replied, as if it would have been a troublesome task.
Fran, aware that he was referring to the great goddess of love and life, could only gulp at the blasphemy uttered.
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