Tomorrow had come and like usual, Eve was woken up by her trusty maid Eva. As Eva opened the curtains to let the light enter the room, Eve stretched out to get ready for the next day.
As Eva helped Eve with the morning routine, Eve asked Eva "Was Jack behind that door before you came?" To which Eva answered "He told me that he has been there from 6:00 and the time when I came here was the usual 7:45." Eve smiled and said "So he is diligent about his work. Was he wearing the clothes I requested?" Eva just said "Oh yes he was." After she giggled a bit, Eve asked Eva "Did he look uncomfortable?" And Eva answered "A bit, yes."
After the morning preparation was done, Eva pulled Eve in her wheelchair towards the door. When they were close, the door was opened by Jack so as to not make the women bother with such a small task. When the door was opened, Jack saluted and told Eve "Good morning mam." Eva told Eve that he saluted, to which Eve said "I don't think that salutes are necessary for me, as I can't see them. Just a simple good morning is fine. And please leave the mam out and just call me Eve as we discussed."
Jack told Eve that "I have to at least keep some sort of professionalism when talking to you. So I will address you as Eve when the timing is appropriate." Eve just gave a sigh and told Jack "If you are so strict when addressing me, we are going to have a problem mister." Jack noticed that his client wasn't happy about what he just said, so as to make up for it, he started calling her just Eve to humor her. Jack said "I take note of that Eve." Eve smiled and said "Good."
After this exchange was over, they all headed towards the dining hall to eat breakfast. They noticed that Ilianor was there first, as she often was before Eve, and Jack and Eve seated themselves at the table. Ilianor was a bit surprised as Jack sat down, so she asked him "Are you going to eat with us Jack?" Jack immediately rose up from the chair and said "Apologies, lady Ilianor. Eve told me yesterday to eat with her, so I thoughtlessly sat at the table as well. I apologize for not asking you first." Ilianor just said "No, feel free to sit. I wasn't saying that you shouldn't. It's true that you should have asked me first, but I don't mind. So just sit down and enjoy the food." With a bit of hesitation, Jack sat down slowly as he wasn't sure if Ilianor was testing him or something.
While they were eating, Ilianor thought she would give some news to Eve and Jack. She said "Tomorrow I will be heading to a gathering where some nobles meet. While I'm there, I will also meet with my father. When I find an appropriate time, I will ask him about the pathway between the shed and the mansion." Eve asks "How long will you be out this time?" To which Ilianor said "It will take three days at best if I hurry. But because I have to retain some appearances, I have to take my time and stay there for five days."
Jack asks "What is the purpose of this gathering?" To which Ilianor answered "Mostly about how local officials are handling their regions and so on. Since parts of the Republic still work on aristocrats, we have to keep up appearances as well. *Sigh* I will have to wear a fancy dress again to please the people there. God I wish I was a man sometimes."
Jack says to Ilianor's last comment "It's not all sunshine to be a man either." Ilianor focuses her attention for a moment on Jack and says "Oh, do go on." Jack swallows the food he had taken during Ilianor's last comment and says "Most men are expected to be strong and reliable. Military is something that people expect men to join, though it might slow down a bit now, since the war is mostly over. Then there are the allegations that women can make towards a man they choose and get away with it more often than the opposite." Ilianor relaxes herself a bit as she said "Well you would know about that last part more than anyone, don't you?"
The table gets silent for a moment. No one is making a single sound before Eve decides to break the silence as she asks "What are you talking about?" Ilianor just says that "Oh, it's nothing you should worry about. I went out of line and said something I shouldn't have. Sorry about that Jack." Jack says "Don't worry about it. I'm used to it." Eve just wonders what these two are talking about. She thinks of asking again, but she figures out that perhaps breakfast isn't the time to talk about it. After all, there will be plenty of chances to ask again.
The breakfast continues without an issue and Eve is soon found to be sitting outside and listening to the sounds of the forest. She is slightly annoyed when she hears the sound of cars in the town that is some ways off, but she still enjoys the sounds she hears nonetheless. While she does so, Eva is watering the garden and Jack is standing nearby enough to act if necessary. When Eva was done with the garden, Eve told her that she'd like to listen to some books to be read. And so Jack and Eva helped Eve to get to the library.
On their way to the library, Eve asked a question from Jack. She asked "How do you find the clothes I picked for you?" Jack answers with another question "Do you want my honest opinion or do you want me to sugarcoat it a little?" Eve said "A simple honest opinion please." Jack said "Honestly, I find the color a bit too bright for me. It makes me stand out more than I would like. But other than the color, I find the material it was made from quite comfortable. Like it was made from some excellent but expensive material. When I think of the cost, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable."
Eve smiles and says "Oh you better get used to those clothes since I want you to only wear the clothes I have picked you." Jack then wonders out loud "Why would you care what I wear if you can't see me?" Eve then continued smiling and said "It's the simple pleasure of a woman. As I understand, you were raised by the military, so I don't expect you to understand. But perhaps you one day might and I wait for that day to one day come." Jack looked a bit puzzled while carrying her up the stairs.
The day went without an issue and so ended the first day at work. While talking to some servants, Jack heard that one of the older servants was doing something fishy at night. Jack decided to follow the old man that night to the town and see what he was doing. After a while of tailing him, the old man received money from a hooded figure as he gave something to them. Jack couldn't see what it was, so he continued to follow the hooded person instead.
After a while, the hooded figure entered a building that seemed to have guards on it. Jack looked for a way to enter without being noticed, so he had to climb on the side of the building and enter after opening a window. There were no lights on, so he used what little magic he knew to see more clearly in the dark. He sneaked around the building and managed to hear something inside one room. What he managed to hear was something that he didn't expect.
First man said "This old fool finally found the key to the Runeberg mansion's treasury. All we need to do now is to sneak into the house and make profit." Another man said "Yeah, tomorrow when the Ilianor lady leaves for business, we can expect less security on that house." Third man said, "Let's just leave it to the Ronald guy to open the door for us and he will lead us to the treasury." The first man said "But why hadn't the old man Ronald done it himself in the first place?" The third man said "For all we know, he might have been doing so behind the lady's back for years." Fourth man said "But why give us the key?" Second man said "Good question. Any of you guys had him by the balls or something?" Fifth man said "I made some preparations and threatened him. I told him that we would kill his grandson if he didn't comply." First guy says "So that's what it was! Better for me then, I guess. For the next night!"
After that, the men spoke about random chit chat, so Jack decided to leave and go back to the mansion. Tomorrow he will go to a police station to get some people to help him capture these crooks.
Tomorrow came and while skeptical, after hearing Jack's plan, Ilianor gave permission to let Jack execute his plan as is. But since she would be away for a while, Ilianor told Jack to send her a message about the results of the plan.
And so Ilianor went and the day was spent preparing for the plan. While he was informing the local police about what was about to happen, Jack also went to check the town together with Eve and Eva. As the weather was good, they decided to dine outside this day. There were lot's of places to choose from in Jarvi.
There they dined and talked about mundane things. For example the weather, the atmosphere, the mundane life of people and how the food tasted. During this conversation, Eve decided to ask a question that she had meant to ask ever since yesterday. She asked Jack "What was that about allegations of women?" While Jack was a bit cheery before her question, he became more calm as he said "I won't talk about it unless it's an order." Eve was a bit annoyed, but even so she said calmly "I'm not going to force you to tell me if you are going to make me order it. While I want you to be open with me, I still have to respect your privacy."
They then finished eating and went to a jewelry store. There, while she couldn't see them, Eve enjoyed hearing about what they looked like. She was permitted to touch some of them so that she could feel them. In one of the rings, Eve sensed mana. She asked about it from the shop owner, but she just told her that it came from a formerly wealthy man who was forced to sell it to make ends meet. Eve asked about the price of the ring and the shop owner said "It would be 430 199,99." Eve didn't have that kind of money on hand with her, so she asked the shop owner "Can you save it for me?" To which the shop owner said "We don't do that kind of thing here. But if you come back later and it's still in here, we would be happy to sell it for you." Eve just smiled and told Eva "Send Ilia a message about this ring and tell her that it's important that the Runeberg household should have it. Also tell her that I will explain the importance of the ring once she gets back." Eva answered quickly "When we get back to the mansion, I will do that as soon as I can." And so they bid farewell to the shop owner and went looking around the town for a little bit more. But once the sun was starting to settle, they started to head back home.
Once they had eaten supper, Eve wanted to take a bath before heading to bed. When Eva was helping Eve to get ready, Eva asked "Why were you so insistent about buying that ring?" Eve answered with a smug look on her face "That ring contained an enchantment that gave its wearer a protective barrier that would activate, if you were about to get hurt. For example, if you were about to be cut, the barrier activates and protects you from the harm. Though it might not save your clothes from the damage. I think it's worth the investment." Eva then just asked "Who would be the one wearing it though?" Eve just answered "Ilia of course. She is the future head of the family, so she would need protection just in case." Eva then told Eve "We both know that you might be targeted as well." Eve just smiled and said "If Jack is not enough to protect me, then I guess it's meant to be so." With no further comments on the matter, Eva started talking about Eve's skin and how to take care of it. And meanwhile Jack was just standing on guard behind the door listening as the two women talked about skin, hair, eye sockets and breasts. Muttering to himself "This is my life now."
After Eve's bath, Eva brought her to her sleeping quarters. After getting her nightgown ready, Eve was ready to go to sleep. But before she told Eva and Jack to leave, she asked Jack "Is there truly nothing happening tonight?" To which Jack said "There is nothing you should be worried about." Eve had a bit of a disappointed look on her face as she said "I see. Well be sure to not break anything while there is nothing to worry about. You both may leave." Jack muttered to himself "So you know." as he was leaving Eve's room with Eva. After closing the door, Eva said to Jack "Do not take Miss Eveline for a fool. She can easily tell if there is a smallest detail of difference. And do not underestimate her hearing." Jack just nods and leaves to prepare for the coming "quests" as Ilianor told him.
In the dead of midnight, Jack could hear the main door opening. He was watching over Ronald from a safe distance all this time after Eve let him leave. The men that he could hear back then were equipped with guns and bags for the treasure that they sought. They came in with a truck that was parked near the mansion. Ronald brought them towards the treasury while Jack was calling the police station with a radio. While he was in the town, he told the police that "There is likely a robbery at Runeberg mansion tonight. Be ready for a radio call or be stationed near the mansion but out of sight." After making the call with the police, he followed the men towards the treasury.
After the men were at the door, the brown bearded guy took the key out and put it in the lock. He tried many times to open the lock, but it wouldn't budge, so the biggest guy shouted at Ronald "You told us that this key would work!" To which Ronald told them calmly "The lock is old so it doesn't work all the time." The bearded guy continued to fidget the key inside the lock, but it would not open. One of the men got pissed off and showed his gun near Ronald's head while shouting "You think this is a game old man!?" Ronald just stood there calmly and said "There is no game here. The lock is just that old." The biggest guy got mad and shouted "Fuck it! Let's smash this door open!" After which he proceeded to smash the treasury door with brute force.
Jack watched all of this unfold as he didn't want to make any mistake here. Before the robbery, Jack picked up two of his items he took with him when he was put on guard duty. The items were a can of sleeping gas and a gasmask. He was reluctant to use it, but the fact that the men came with multiple guns made it much less worrisome to use. While the biggest guy was smashing the door, Jack slid the can of sleeping gas towards the group of men and put his gasmask on. While it took a while for the men to notice the can of gas, when they did, they tried to run away from it. Jack was waiting for them to run near the exit, just in case. But his worries were unfounded, as none of the men could run away from the huge cloud of sleeping gas. He went to the cloud of gas to apprehend these men and took them out of the gas cloud, just so that they wouldn't inhale too much gas. Even though the gas would need much more to be considered deadly, he didn't want to take any chances.
After taking them outside of the cloud of gas, Jack went and checked the truck for any other participants.There was a man in the truck, so Jack quickly apprehended him before he could notice and drive off. Now was just time to wait for the police. While waiting, Jack thought that it would be for the best to keep the doors open for a while so that the gassed room would get some more air and dissipate. The gas was almost odorless, so he thought that he would be in the clear tomorrow.
The police finally came and took away the men. But before they took Ronald, Jack woke him up and asked "Was the lock truly just too old?" To which Ronald answered in his calm way "Of course not. It was the wrong key." Jack asked "Then why would you lead them here?" Ronald looked up to the sky for a moment, back at Jack and said "Because I knew you would notice and take care of it." Then police took Ronald for colluding with criminals. However he only would have to spend the five days Ilianor was absent to be freed. Ilianor didn't think that Ronald had done anything wrong considering his circumstances and neither did Jack.
The next morning after the incident, while eating breakfast, Eve commented "You really had to let them shout and wake me up. And this weird odor that lingers in here is making me a bit uneasy. However, since you did your job correctly, I won't hold it against you. At least there weren't any gunshots." Jack just eats his breakfast after giving Eve an apology.