Lil Island.
"How long is she going to kneel outside?"
The woman in a black dress, who had an emotionless face while holding a glass of wine, asked. Her long, straight black hair, which hung down to her waist, was smooth and silky. Her phoenix eyes and arched brows exude an aggressive demeanour. A beauty that was hard to tame. That was how people had described her for the past 25 years.
She sat near the window, her gaze fixed on the woman kneeling for two days and two nights without eating or drinking. Not to mention that the weather on Lil Island was always cold.
It was always raining or breezy if it wasn't snowing. It was a miracle that the woman below hadn't passed out. It only demonstrates the woman's persistence and determination.
However…
Regardless of her determination, a traitor would always be a traitor. And the Von Sieges never treated a traitor with grace. The woman down below should thank them for saving her life. Nonetheless, she dared to ask them for a favour.
"You don't need to be concerned about her, Miss Vien. Rather, you should focus on your health. The Young Lady told you not to drink any more alcoholic beverages, but you're still drinking one," said an elderly man in his fifties, his face disdainful.
He was Butler Jun. For centuries, his ancestors had been with the Von Siege family. It had to be said that their family was devoted and trustworthy.
"This thing can't even be called alcohol," Vien responded, raising her glass. "Is Wyn still sleeping?"
Butler Jun nodded.
"She keeps sleeping nowadays. Make sure that her health is good."
"One of the doctors in Sage had already examined her," Butler Jun explained. "The result was that the young lady was strong and healthy."
Vien frowned. "Bring their commander up here to examine her."
"He is not on the island. The Sage is currently on a mission. But they had already contacted him. He will arrive on the island within the day."
"That's good, then."
Vien's gaze returned to the woman below.
"Once Xerxes returns, let that woman into the mansion," she decided.
Butler Jun didn't seem surprised, but he did raise an eyebrow. "I wasn't expecting you to be so soft."
"Soft? " Vien tauntingly repeated. "Why should I be sympathetic to this kind of woman?"
She only wanted to know what kind of favour this woman was desperately pleading for from them. She was so desperate she was acting shamelessly.
---
Half a day later, Xerxes arrived on Lil Island. He was still dressed in his lab coat and round glasses. He appeared highly sluggish as he reached the island's highest mountain peak.
When he arrived at the mansion, he noticed a familiar woman kneeling ten metres from the gate. But he ignored her and stormed into the mansion.
"Welcome back, Doctor Xerxes," Butler Jun said when he saw him enter.
In response, Xerxes grunted. Then he inquired, "Where is Wyn?"
"Fast asleep."
Xerxes nodded. He was about to go upstairs when he noticed a shadow in his peripheral vision. He abruptly came to a halt, gripped the railing, and turned his head to face the woman sitting on a couch in the living room.
"I didn't expect to see you here," said Xerxes. His brow was raised.
Vien shifted her gaze away from the window. Then she casually looked at the doctor and said, "Wyn hasn't been feeling well lately. Someone needs to look after her."
And she was free most of the time, anyway.
Xerxes took a box of cigarettes out of habit, then abruptly paused. Oh, right, he was in the Von Siege family's old castle. Smoking was not permitted in this establishment.
With a sigh of disappointment, he returned the cigarette to his inside pocket.
Then he proceeded to walk towards Vien.
"I noticed a familiar human being kneeling outside," Xerxes said. When he arrived at Vien's spot, he looked down.
"She's here to beg us for help."
"Help? I don't mind helping, but I don't think the family would."
And once the family refused to assist, no matter how eager Xerxes was, he would not help either.
"Where were you, by the way? It's surprising you went outside and did not imprison yourself in your laboratory here on the island," Vien inquired, changing the subject.
"I am currently working on a mission," Xerxes replied, waving his hand lazily. "Wyn told me to pay my sin by doing good deeds."
He wanted to save his time from doing ostensibly good things. But Wyn was a formidable foe he couldn't defeat. What else could he possibly do?
"What mission is that, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I'm working on a case involving the same project that occurred ten years ago."
Vien's expression changed. Her frown became even more pronounced, and disgust and annoyance flashed through her eyes.
She couldn't help but return her gaze to the woman outside.
"What a coincidence," sneered Vien. "This woman arrived the moment that fucking project resumed."
"She's not part of it, though," Xerxes shrugged.
"I doubt it won't have anything to do with her."
Ten years ago, Vien, the family's first commander, and the first commander's sister were kidnapped to become test subjects for the mad scientists of a notorious organisation that wanted nothing more than eternal life.
Vien had no connection to the Von Siege family. She was only the daughter of a farmer couple. Then, at age ten, she was kidnapped and sold to those mad scientists. And for five years, she suffered indefinitely. She became a test subject for various poisons.
Fortunately, she lived.
Among those test subjects for poisons, only she lived.
Her body, however, was weakened. Even though there was nothing wrong with her body, she would become exhausted after just two minutes of walking.
On the other hand, the first commander and his sister were not kidnapped. Because their family was related to the Von Siege family, it would take a lot of guts for those mad scientists to seize them.
However, the two siblings' mother and the woman outside did something irreparable to them, leading to their suffering from that organisation.
The first commander and his sister were selected as research subjects for various drugs that could strengthen them to make them achieve immortality.
Then, through the help of the Von Siege family, she, the first commander and his sister were rescued from that hell.
Xerxes was one of those mad scientists. Despite this, he managed to flee during the persecution. When he was discovered later, Wyn took notice of his intelligence and capability and appointed him as the family's second commander. He was, however, tasked with doing good deeds to atone for his sins.
When Xerxes became tired of looking out the window, he decided to go upstairs. But before he could take a step, a ten-year-old girl's voice echoed in the area.
"Tell Miss Catherine to enter the house."