[N]estled in her soft, plush bed, Ionia roused from her deep slumber, her features contorted in discomfort.
Frowning and grimacing slightly, she slowly opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains.
Her body felt heavy and ached in protest as if it had endured the trampling of horses.
Groaning softly, she pushed herself off the mattress with great effort. The crisp, white sheets clung to her skin, revealing a dried reddish stain from the wounds she had sustained in the morning's duel with her father.
"So that's what he was talking about," she mumbled pensively, her fingers lightly grazing the painful areas on her body. With a subtle hint of resignation, she sighed and decided to rise.
Ionia slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up, her movements careful and unhurried.
As her gaze adjusted to the dimly lit room, she realized it was already night. She couldn't help but wonder if she had spent the entire day asleep, lost in the depths of slumber and pain.
With deliberate steps, she made her way to the balcony door and drew open the curtains, welcoming the soothing, cool night air into the room.
Taking a moment to savor the sensation of the refreshing breeze against her skin, her body instinctively relaxed.
A sudden, unwelcome knock at her door echoed through the room, causing Ionia to jerk her head in its direction, her neck stiff and painful.
"Come in," she grumbled, her voice coarse and harsh from both sleep and her earlier ordeal.
The door creaked open, and Marianne entered, her head lowered in a show of respect. Ionia knew that she must have heard about the morning's fierce duel with her father, which explained her unusual meekness.
Marianne's eyes subtly darted to the now stained bed sheets, her jaw clenching slightly.
Ionia couldn't help but frown inwardly. Of course, Marianne would be angry about the mess she had made. But that was the least of her concerns right now.
"Speak," Ionia commanded in a no-nonsense tone. "What is it? Answer at once, or leave."
Marianne shifted uncomfortably, her embarrassment evident before she mustered some irritation. "Young miss, you hardly had anything for lunch today, and—"
Since when did Marianne start to worry about her well-being? Ionia's incredulous gaze, accompanied by the slight arched of one of her right brows pinned Marianne to the spot, making the maid avert her eyes.
"The master sent the healer to inspect your wounds and asked to have dinner with you," Marianne explained, still visibly annoyed.
"The marquis did?" Ionia's disbelief was evident. Her father, the marquis, had never shown concern for her before. The very idea that he would send someone to check on her was baffling.
Ionia's gaze shifted outside, and her eyes fell upon the garden where berry trees had once grown when she was just 12 years old. They had been uprooted by her father, a clear indication of how little he valued her.
"What for?" Her voice held a hint of a scowl. She regarded the prospect of her father's sudden interest with suspicion.
Marianne hesitated for a moment. "I do not know. He simply asked me to call you over for dinner. But should you wish to turn down the—"
Ionia cut her off curtly. "No need, I'll go." She turned away from the window, pretending to inspect the books on her shelves.
In reality, her thoughts were on the plush teddy bear with its sapphire-like eyes that sat among her collection. A idea was forming in her mind, deeply pondering about something.
Before Marianne could say anything else, Ionia's gaze locked onto her again, and she delivered her next request with a dark, unyielding stare. "Change the bed sheets, and have a bath prepared for me. I'd prefer it with warm water."
Marianne caught her gaze and nodded quickly, bowing to avoid further eye contact, as if Ionia's piercing eyes were delving into her very soul. "Yes, master."
Once again, Marianne respectfully bowed before she departed, though her teeth were gritted in concealed annoyance.
Ionia waited for a few more minutes, contemplating her next move. She eventually made her way to her desk, opened a drawer, and began rummaging through its contents.
As she considered closing the drawer to secretly follow the maid, her eyes caught sight of the NanoLink Carrier, sparking a mysterious glint within them. After a moment of contemplation, she shut the drawer, making a mental note to return to it later.
[New skills acquired - Stealth]
[Stealth - Activated]
Emerging from her chambers, a subtle notification danced at the corner of Ionia's vision, signaling the activation of her newfound skill.
She'd learned this skill in her previous life, thanks to a Corroder who'd held her in high regard. And despite not having the money to currently buy skill cards for her system, this morning's incident on the training ground had shown her that she could still use some skills she'd acquired in her past life, even if they didn't appear on her stats.
Expertly concealing her presence within the shadows, she discreetly begin to tail the maid.
The section of the castle where her quarters were situated bore the scars of neglect, a testament to her unfavored status. Here, resources were sparingly used, and the luxurious chandeliers and wall lights remained shrouded in darkness.
As she ventured deeper into the castle, her suspicions were confirmed upon reaching the vicinity of the kitchen, nestled in one of the remote corridors.
The kitchen was bustling with activities, where the staffs were tirelessly preparing dinner for their master and the favored young miss, two individuals engaged in a hushed conversation about Ionia. It was fortunate for them that their actions went unnoticed.
Hidden in the shadows, Ionia adeptly adjusted the device in her hand and tuned into the conversations unfolding in the dimly lit corridor.
"I swear, I cannot with that little..." Marianne's voice seethed, though it wasn't exactly a whisper, nor was it loud enough to draw attention.
"What's going on? Why did you ask me to meet you?" The other voice, a man with red hair who wasn't particularly appealing, held onto Marianne's shoulders and demanded an explanation.
"The little pest wants me to clean up after the bloody mess she made and fetch her warm water for her bath."
"Marianne." The man, whom Ionia recognized as Alex, flashed a sly smirk. He cautiously observed his surroundings before covertly inquiring, "Can you... get me some more recordings?"
"What?" Marianne appeared irate. "I'm telling you she's such a bother, increasing my workload, and yet, you're here, acting greedy for your lecherous desires?"
"Oh, but it'll actually benefit us both," Alex declared with a crooked grin.
"How so?"
"I've overheard the butler talking to one of the maids. The master is actively seeking a marriage partner for the young miss," Alex explained. "This could be an opportunity for me to get close to her for a night. I'll help you get rid of her."
"But how?"
"Imagine if we could tarnish her reputation, make her lose her innocence, and ruin her prospects for marriage. It would bring shame to the master, and no one would want to wed her," Alex suggested, his voice laced with malice. "She's already despised as it is. There's no telling what the master would do to her."
Eavesdropping on their conversation, Ionia's eyes narrowed, a hint of a threatening gleam in her gaze. She wished she could deal with both of them then and there. Reflecting on it, in her past life, there had never been an incident where Alex had dared to cross the boundaries he was proposing now.
She wondered if her interference and subtle warnings to Marianne were what had influenced the future to this extent.
Marianne appeared lost in thought, her hands pressed to her lips. "Okay. But you'll have to give me some time."
"Fine," Alex agreed. "Just don't forget about the recordings. I'll send someone to help you with her bath."
"Alright." Suddenly, a shudder ran down Marianne's back, goosebumps prickling her skin, and an eerie feeling gripped her insides.
As Alex walked away, Marianne cast several wary glances around, but the darkness offered no answers. Feeling that the darkness itself was ominous, she hastened her pace and followed Alex, hoping to avoid suspicion.