After Lanci finished explaining all the details of the deal.
"From tomorrow, I'll teach you card making."
Talia didn't hesitate unnecessarily, she accepted Lanci's proposal.
"Alright, I will also prepare an identity for you in the mansion before tomorrow. Do you want to be a maid or a steward..."
"Steward."
Before Lanci could finish, Talia cut him off with a cold tone.
Lanci nodded forcefully, not daring to anger her.
Although he thought his reaction might be a bit cowardly and was sure that Talia would not easily harm him now, as a living being, there was an absolute difference between him and Talia. Up close, Lanci was still somewhat afraid.
The demonology books in this world say: "Demons kill humans without reason, and without feeling guilt".
Just a random thought can prompt them to act accordingly.
Although Talia seems to act like a human at this moment, in essence, she just hides her violent and cruel nature to try to blend into human society.
Even if his current actions could be considered as cuddling with a tiger, it was pointless to provoke this tiger, setting traps for himself.
Yes, if he was a good little cat, then Talia was indeed like a tigress. Even if the tiger promised not to hurt the cat, the cat would still shiver when beside the tiger.
Thinking this, the corners of Lanci's mouth unconsciously raised slightly.
However, this made Talia frown slightly.
She felt that this human boy was thinking something that annoyed her.
Yet, she didn't have any evidence.
Just an inexplicable intuition.
"So from now on, please take care of me, Teacher Tata."
Lanci's voice sounded clear and crisp, his face still adorned by a harmless smile.
This form of address seemed to make Talia feel a bit uncomfortable, she ignored Lanci as usual.
But this time, without rejecting him, she indirectly acknowledged their master-disciple relationship.
...
One and a half months later.
As summer was coming to an end, it was a clear morning welcoming the autumn, as the sun, accompanied by the falling dew, awoke the earth.
The rays of the early morning sun like faint golden feathers, lightly brushed over the deep gray platform and cold metallic tracks, endowing them with a hint of gentleness.
The Magic Power Rail Train station of the Border City-State of Nanwantina was bustling with people.
Hurried travelers went their separate ways or met here, embarking on a new journey.
The idle chats of fellow travelers waiting for the train, the farewell words of friends and relatives, and the messages of trains arriving and leaving announced on the broadcast, all mixed together to form the unique melody of this space.
On one side of the platform, Butler Hans lifted the suitcase in his hand and handed it to Lanci, who securely received it.
"Thank you, Hans."
Lanci said with a smile.
"Take care of yourself, Young Master Lanci."
The voice of the butler was as deep as ever, but there was a tinge of softness in his demeanour this time.
Noe had gone to other provinces, so only Hans could bid farewell to the young master on behalf of his father.
There were still two weeks left before the school started. Lanci and Talia were now at the station. They were going to travel from the Nanwantina Border to the hinterland of the Hutton Kingdom, to the capital city, Ichrite.
Taking the Magic Power Rail Train to the capital would take more than a day.
After reaching the capital, they would have an entrance exam three days after some rest.
"Safe travels, Young Master Lanci!"
The maid couldn't hide the concern on her face, but her words were full of sorrow,
"You'd better not come back here soon. If Mr. Noe discovers that you've stolen the ancient artifact from home, he will definitely not spare you..."
Normally speaking.
Previous indiscretions Lanci committed in the town merely brought Noe sorrow.
However, if Noe were to discover that Lanci had lost their family heirloom—the Poem of Pity—he would definitely become irrepressibly furious.
Over the past couple of months, Lanci's cheerful and amiable nature had altered the household's perception of him, and they gradually felt fond of him. Even Maid Francine, who used to be shy around him, started to speak without hesitation.
"It's all good."
Lanci's smile remained calm and unchanged, as if it could reassure anyone who cared about him.
Had his father Noe seen the kind of magic card he and Talia produced using the Poem of Pity, he would surely have slumped with shock into his chair.
He would not scold him.
The housekeeper, Hans, chuckled and shook his head absentmindedly. Listening to the conversation between Lanci and Maid Francine, he had a pretty good idea why Lanci seemed to take things so lightly.
Following that, his gaze fell upon Talia, who stood behind Lanci in a completely different attire.
Her jacket was tailored, a silk necktie was neatly fastened below the collar of her dress, imparting an elegant and precise appearance.
With her former grubby, refugee-like appearance gone, Talia now shone like a newly polished gem.
"Miss Tata, I beseech you to take care of our young master."
Hans said, sincerely.
When he first tracked down Talia based on Lanci's sketch, Hans had been extremely surprised. He couldn't believe that his dim-witted young master would fancy such a strong and perilous woman.
But seeing how well the young master got along with her, Hans gradually eased his concerns.
"..."
Talia didn't respond, but simply gave a slight nod.
Even though she seemed to be the same age as Lanci, her composed and frosty demeanor made her seemed much more mature than him.
Since she had taken the payment, she would strictly adhere to the terms of the transaction. Even if the housekeeper hadn't asked, she would do exactly this.
Whether it was protecting Lanci from being killed or being his teacher.
During this brief moment of silence, a vague silhouette appeared at the end of the track, accompanied by the sound of a whistle.
Soon, vibrations grew stronger on the track, and the low rumbling sound drew nearer, the shape of the train becoming increasingly clear, the sunlight reflected off the train's body, its metallic surface glittering.
The light at the front of the train gradually brightened, piercing through layers of the early morning mist, guiding the steel beast to its destination.
Lanci pulled out his train ticket and glanced at it, memorizing where he and Talia should be heading.
Just as they were about to bid farewell.
Housekeeper Hans suddenly seemed to remember something, his lips curling into a slight smile as he began to speak:
"That said, it's really a pity we couldn't show Miss Tata the portrait in the young master's room before departure..."
"Ahem, ahem!"
Before the housekeeper could finish saying "truly a regret," Lanci hastily interrupted him with a couple of coughs.
Lanci was certain that even though the housekeeper didn't mean to harm him, he definitely wasn't up to any good!
"What painting?"
Talia, whose name was suddenly mentioned, looked at Lanci and asked.
Lanci was flustered inside, but his expression remained calm. He replied unhurriedly:
"A portrait of a poor old woman, one of my early works. However, it seems Hans and Francine appreciate this painting very much..."
Just as he finished, the alternating deep grey and brown train roared into the platform. The clangour of braking and the friction of the wheels on the track drowned out Lanci's words.
The train gradually slowed down, until it came to a complete stop.
As this matter was irrelevant to her, Talia lost interest and shifted her gaze away from Lanci.
The warm light filtering through the train windows illumined the faces of the passengers, and as the carriage doors slowly slid open, a cold breeze wafted out, meeting them head on.
The passengers waiting on the platform walked towards the open doors.
Amid the comings and goings, Lanci let out a sigh of relief. His quick thinking had saved him for now. Next time he'd return, he would definitely hide that portrait, ensuring Talia would never find out that the pitiful and poor old woman in the painting was herself.
"Well, I'm off now."
Lanci, waving goodbye to Hans and Francine, made his final farewell and turned to board the train.