The imposing man scrutinized him for a moment and then stepped aside, allowing Morvain to enter.
The room was a world apart from his own. It oozed luxury, even surpassing the houses he had pilfered back in Silverlake Town. The wood gleamed with polish, and the room was twice the size of his quarters.
Every piece of furniture exuded opulence—the bed, the wardrobe, the couch, even the table—all crafted from rare wood, with legs intricately sculpted into the shape of animals.
'This is ridiculous,' Morvain thought as he observed the young master comfortably seated on the couch with a girl on his lap—a common girl, at that.
The young master donned a simple white shirt and black pants, his raven hair neatly tied into a ponytail. The girl seemed timid, avoiding eye contact and keeping her gaze fixed on the floor.
'Power can compel people. It's ridiculous.'
"Ah, come on in. I thought you wouldn't come at all. But I guess you are indeed smart enough to know what will benefit you and what won't," the young master remarked, casually popping a grape into his mouth.
"Go on, dear. I'll call you when I need you."
He gently pushed the girl off him and rubbed his hands, the girl bowing before quickly making her exit from the room.
Morvain, however, didn't focus on her but rather on the young master himself. There was something oddly familiar about this man. He bore an uncanny resemblance to someone.
"What was your name again?" the young master asked, settling comfortably on the bed.
"Eldric, sir."
"Sir? Oh, I like that. You seem to know your place, kid."
Morvain simply bowed his head.
"But tell me, boy. Are you awakened?"
"No, sir. I'm not."
"Of course, of course. A street urchin like you awakening is like saying that this ship is owned by a peasant. Not possible."
Morvain felt an intense urge to punch this little shit. To stride over and pummel his face until it was unrecognizable, until no one could bear to look at his pretty little visage.
But he took a deep breath and calmed himself down.
"That's so true, sir. I think only the highborns should be allowed to awaken, as anything else is just straight ridiculous," he said, shaking his head.
The young master burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "I like you, Eldric. I really do. You're smart. Tell me, what can you do? You don't seem like someone who can protect me. If anything, I should be the one protecting you. I don't need you as my servant; I already have plenty of maids and butlers. So, what exactly can you do?"
A small smile appeared on Morvain's lips.
"You have all the brawls and beauties taking care of you, but what about brains? Do you have someone to advise you? Like advising your Lord father?"
The young master wore a contemplative expression on his face, as if this idea hadn't crossed his mind before.
"It's true, I guess. The maids aren't that smart, and the butler is only good at following orders. And the soldiers," he pointed at the man by the doors, "they're pretty useless when it comes to thinking anything smart. I'm the only one here who can think properly, but how would I know that you're smart, Eldric?"
The boy seemed at least a little intelligent. That wasn't good at all. He wanted to make this boy unable to think for himself, to make him dependent on him.
Morvain smiled again, then leaned a little forward.
"I stand here, in your very quarters. How many others have you invited besides the woman? How many are here without your father's assignment? None, I presume."
'I'll be above them, corrupting you at close.'
"Your friends, well, they're friends, not servants. Just like you, they also have a little power."
'I'll make you turn against them.'
"But you invited me. Friend or not, I'm here, and that must mean you believe in me, in my potential."
'I'll make you do my bidding, my little puppet.'
"I don't need to prove myself to you, Young Master Ravencor."
'Cause you're going to remember me well.'
"Cause you already know, I'm smart. You don't have to test me, my lord."
'You'll remember me, my little puppet.'
The young master was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to say, nor did he know what to think.
"You are right," the young master finally said, contemplating deeply.
'Don't think. Just accept it.'
"I invited you, and I don't invite anyone like this. And you are smart enough to know your place in society."
'Let me corrupt you.'
"Yes, my lord. I believe you have made the correct decision." He bowed his head.
"Yes... yes, I did."
'Make them think they were the ones who decided it.'
"Very well then. Be my advisor, but I warn you, politics is a dangerous game. You either win it or die trying."
'And the game has just begun.'
"Of course, my lord. I will keep that in mind. I just need a little bit of knowledge on the matter, and I'll ensure you win all the games. Of course, it can only happen with you at the helm."
Morvain smiled. To those from outside, it seemed like the smile of an everyday person who secured a job from someone highborn.
For the young master, it was the smile of a loyal subordinate, someone not easily swayed.
But in Morvain's heart, it was a wicked smile—a smile set on corrupting and eventually dismantling the entire upper class.
The young master rose from the bed, following the tradition reserved for those personally chosen by the lord. Morvain had witnessed this once in public when soldiers were knighted, and his father mentioned it was the same for servants.
Morvain knelt on the ground, one knee planted firmly, the other foot grounded. His head bowed down in respect.
The young master approached with a proud expression, the look of someone who had found something valuable and wished to claim it.
"I, Lord Nolan Ravencor, Second son of the Ravencor Province, appoint you as my personal advisor and subordinate."Morvain took his new lord's hand in both of his, bringing it to his head.
"I, Eldric, son of Gideon, swear loyalty to you and your house. To be your right hand and your shadow. Your enemies will be my enemies. Your friends will be my friends. And your success will be my success."
'Until your death. Until I kill you. Until you see the death of your family.'