Auriel was holding a darkish-brown wood that is not perfect but still a well-carved cane.
He swung the cane left to right at an unimaginable speed, cutting the air and causing a sharp noise.
Then he tried to use this cane as a normal cane but unfortunately, he was too tall to use this little thing. However, he still nodded with satisfaction and went back to his room.
He opened the door of his room and entered inside. There he saw Elise, who turned towards him after hearing he opened the door. For some reason, she was wearing a long, flowing black robe that concealed her entire body, leaving only her neck exposed, and she was sitting on the couch while doing nothing.
"Were you a priestess in Afterlife Church before becoming a slave?" Auriel asked and sat down on her side.
Elise quickly shook her head as if she didn't like the thought of becoming a member of Afterlife Church even for a bit. "No…"
"Did someone come here and give this robe to you?" Auriel inquired while slowly touching the robe.
Elise flinched but didn't back down from Auriel's touch and nodded in response. She was getting used to Auriel after his not-quite-gentle but still gentle demeanor towards her.
"I see… Did this person ask something or speak badly about me?" Auriel wondered while playing with Elise's golden hair.
After getting a hesitant nod from Elise, Auriel extended the cane to her hand.
"Good girl." Auriel praised. "If you tell me what this person said, this cane will be my reward to you. This is not just a wood stick, know this and answer my question."
Elise stayed silent for a full minute but eventually, she parted her lips.
"She said you were a monster before losing your memories but personality doesn't change easily. She said that If something happens to me, tell her or someone called Lady Celeste…"
Elise's voice was weak and fearful but she managed to tell everything Auriel asked.
"So, you can speak more than a word huh?" Auriel said lightly and ruffled Elise's hair. Though this made Elise scared and escape from his touch immediately.
Auriel withdrew his hand from Elise's head and put it on her delicate shoulders.
"You don't have to be scared, as that person said, I lost my memories but I am sure that everyone in here is lying about me. As you can deduce too, I didn't even touch you while you were sleeping in my room with just a bathrobe, right?" Auriel gently explained how he couldn't be a monster who lusts after every female or kills for sadistic pleasure.
And when his explanation was over, Elise bobbed her head with a slight doubt but mostly understanding.
There was no reason for Elise to think badly about Auriel while all he did was just talk harshly but act gently.
However, this slight doubt of Elise didn't escape from Auriel's eyes, and this made him pleased. He didn't want someone that easily trust others' words as his close helper as they may be easily deceived by others. So seeing Elise had some doubts in her while she lacked experience in this kind of thing, was a good thing.
"Now you deserve this," Auriel said and dropped the wooden cane to her hands.
After touching and feeling every corner of the cane, Elise lifted her face to Auriel as if she didn't understand what was special about this cane and was curious about it.
"Well, it isn't that special. I made it for you to walk easier without falling or tripping. You are Awakened, so I know that falling to the ground isn't going to harm you but this is necessary." Auriel explained calmly and added. "Moreover It is pretty durable, it won't break even if you beat up some Awakened."
A slight smile appeared on Elise's face after hearing Auriel's words. Then she turned to the cane and concentrated for a while.
Suddenly golden light enveloped the dark staff for a moment and disappeared. Though the cane was nowhere to be seen.
Auriel chuckled lightly after seeing this.
"Did you like that much enough to store into your soul?"
Elise nodded excitedly but she quickly stopped and her cheeks burned because of the shame of acting like a child who got a new toy.
"There is no need for you to be embarrassed about it. Everyone likes gifts or rewards." Auriel said and clasped his hands.
"Anyway, now that you got your reward, I will ask you questions. Try to give the answers that I would love to hear, okay? But don't worry I won't take your staff."
After getting the nod of approval from Elise, Auriel began to speak again.
"The maid that speak badly about me was my personal maid. So, what do you think about that maid? What is her purpose?"
Elise thought for a minute or so and tilted her head. "Gosspiper? Spy?" She said uncertainly.
Auriel snapped his fingers. "That is the answer! That bitch is a spy that was planted by my sister Celeste."
Elise flinched after hearing Auriel's cold voice but couldn't bring herself to ask any questions.
"Now that we know she is a spy, how should we deal with her?" Auriel asked.
"Fire her? Threaten her? K– kill her?" Elise stuttered and bowed her head.
Auriel patted her head again like she was a child while she was obviously a teen about 14 to 15. "Good girl. Except firing her, all of them is plausible." before Elise escaped from his touch, Auriel withdrew his hand and continued to speak.
"But what we need to do is use this spy to our advantage. And to do that, we have to give her false information. Do you know how how to do that?"
Elise shook her head and waited for Auriel to speak like a student, who was waiting for her teacher/mentor.
"That is pretty easy, all we should do is…"