When Anna saw Abigail and her friends approaching, she was a bit surprised. They were close to the demon's quarters, which was unusual since they usually chatted near the kitchen. Noticing the fear, confusion, and guilt on their faces, she realized something was off.
Had the demon found them too noisy and done something to them?
Before she could figure it out, the three of them were upon her. "You…" Anna began, but Fiona placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a light shove.
"I've had enough of you!" Fiona's wide eyes seemed to convey a message.
Anna, holding the food box, had no room to dodge and was pushed back a step. This unusual development made her hesitate to speak. Were they possessed? By the demon, perhaps?
So, the demon realized they weren't isolating her and decided to intervene himself? He must be watching, waiting to play the hero.
Anna quickly thought it through and looked at Fiona, feigning confusion. "Fiona, what's wrong with you?"
Fiona wanted to tell Anna the truth, to have her cooperate. She understood Parich's intentions! Parich loved Anna, and since she refused his proposal, he concocted this plan to appear as her knight in shining armor! They couldn't disobey him, or they'd be thrown out, but they also couldn't truly harm Anna, or he'd be furious.
"You're seducing Parich!" Fiona shouted. "That's not your place!" She tried to give Anna a hint without being too obvious, knowing Parich was watching. Anna had said she had a lover, so she couldn't possibly mean what she said.
"I, I didn't…" Anna retreated a couple of steps, looking puzzled at Fiona.
Abigail and Kelly, now lost, followed Fiona's lead and slowly cornered Anna. Seeing a soft flower bed behind Anna, Fiona pushed her.
Anna had already noticed the soft ground behind her. As Fiona pushed, she fell back, dropping the food box. The delicious food spilled everywhere, filling the air with fragrance.
"You are very noisy."
In the ensuing silence, a cold voice tinged with annoyance broke through the night.
The four of them froze, including Anna. In the shadows, Rotgar smirked coldly.
They turned towards the voice and saw the handsome young mage in a refined robe, his face indifferent as he looked at them. The young genius mage staying at the Earl's estate!
Being both an esteemed guest and a four-star mage, their respect for him overpowered their fear of Parich's orders. Trembling, they bowed in terror and apologized, "We are terribly sorry to disturb you, esteemed sir!"
Ulysses didn't really hear what they were saying and simply said, "I need silence."
The three immediately bowed and retreated. Fiona tried to signal Anna to leave with them, but Anna didn't see it. Left with no choice, they left alone.
Anna rubbed her sore spots and slowly sat up, deliberately taking her time to clean the mess. She moved slowly, as if waiting for something. But the person she waited for never appeared.
Anna believed Abigail and her friends were forced to bully her, and the demon planned to rescue her as a hero. But why hadn't he shown up? Even if the bullying was interrupted by the mage, he could still come to offer comfort.
Unless he didn't dare to.
Anna knew Priest Louis couldn't handle the demon, but mages and priests seemed to have different power systems. Perhaps Ulysses could detect the demon? According to many, a four-star mage was quite powerful. If elemental mages could detect and destroy demons, Ulysses should be capable. Could it be the demon was too scared to appear?
Reviving her hope, Anna quickly cleaned up and approached Ulysses. "Esteemed mage, I apologize for disturbing your peace. I greatly admire a young, talented mage like you. Meeting you is an honor greater than meeting the lord."
Anna originally wanted to say meeting him was more honorable than meeting the goddess, but feared offending a devout mage, so she played it safe.
From the shadows, Rotgar watched Anna approach Ulysses, feeling satisfied that she didn't disappoint him.
Ulysses frowned slightly and said, "Leaving me in peace is the best apology."
His dismissal was clear. Anna, thinking the demon might be watching, didn't dare to directly ask the mage to "slay the demon." But she wasn't willing to leave just yet. The mage was only staying temporarily; he might leave soon. Who knew if she'd get another chance to talk to him?
Anna decided to go for it. "I've dreamed of becoming a mage since I was a child… Would you take me as a student?"
After her friends told her how to become a mage and then crushed her dreams with harsh reality, Anna hadn't given up. Asking a mage to take her as a student was one of her ideas. The chances were slim, but she had to try. Even with the demon watching, she couldn't hesitate. If she did nothing, she'd truly lose her chance at survival.
From the shadows, Rotgar raised an eyebrow in surprise. Then he smiled, pleased with her boldness.
Ulysses responded simply, "No."
Anna had expected this answer, but stood her ground. "Sir, you wouldn't regret taking me as a student. I learn quickly. Even if you don't need a student, having an assistant can only benefit you. I'm skilled at chores, cooking, and bargaining. You can treat me like a servant."
Anna's words were just noise to Ulysses. He closed his eyes, waved his hand, and a gentle breeze lifted Anna, carrying her fifteen feet away.
Anna was astonished. This was magic! As the wind picked her up, she gasped but quickly stifled her cry. The breeze supported her hands and feet, keeping her steady, and set her down gently. It was a stark contrast to Ulysses's cold demeanor.
"Don't disturb me," Ulysses said coldly, his voice as indifferent as the wind.
Seeing magic for the first time, Anna's heart raced with excitement. She wanted to learn even more! But fearing further annoyance might get her fired, she bowed from afar and left. Her steps were light and quick. Tomorrow, she planned to learn more about the mage's preferences and win his favor to become his student.
Rotgar watched Anna's retreat without surprise but with satisfaction. Today, she faced setbacks, but tomorrow he'd give her a surprise she couldn't refuse.
Rotgar looked at Ulysses, oblivious to what was coming. Ulysses was recovering from a magical beast injury. His body was nearly healed, but his mental strength took longer to recover, making him an easier target for possession.
Anna limped back to the kitchen, feigning injury, and was scolded by Rebecca. She humbly accepted it, then helped prepare new food and asked Rebecca to deliver it to Parich. Rebecca, recalling Anna's diligence and seeing her injured, relented and sent Anna home.
It was past eight when Anna finally reached home. Although the main roads had gas lamps and there were night markets, she wasn't afraid of walking in the dark. Once out of the Earl's estate, she dropped her limp and walked normally, hurrying home.
Returning to Pomegranate Lane, Anna saw Bobby the butcher's child crying outside. Sighing, she mentioned it to her mother, Gai, who told her Bobby's bedridden wife had passed away. Bobby had taken her to the outskirts to bury her without ceremony or mourning, leaving nothing behind.
Anna was silent for a long time. Everyone had their own hardships. Her job at the Earl's estate seemed glamorous, but she was targeted by a soul-harvesting demon and couldn't tell anyone. She had to bear it alone.
Aside from the demon's threat, the kitchen job was great. She ate well there, improving her diet significantly, though she couldn't bring food home. Still, her first salary would help alleviate her family's burdens and improve their meals.
Shortly after arriving home, there was a knock at the door. Opening it, she found no one, only a bouquet of lavender on the ground.
Anna picked it up and said to the empty alley, "Thanks, but it's not necessary."
Gai saw Anna bring in the flowers and laughed, "Still Mark?"
Anna nodded. "Probably him." She'd been receiving flowers daily, likely from Mark, who had given her flowers on her first day at the kitchen. He always dropped them and ran before she could refuse.
Gai chuckled, "Mark's a good boy. Not as wealthy as Tim's family, but strong and protective."
Anna smiled, thinking, another wolf cub. "Only gold can truly protect me."
Adele, rubbing her eyes, ran out and hugged Anna, saying, "Anna, I missed you today!"
"I missed you too, Adele," Anna said, picking her up despite the effort. Adele's weight was a comforting burden. "Let's go to bed!"
"Sing to me, Anna. I haven't heard you sing in so long!"
"Alright, but only one song. What do you want to hear?"
"One song? But I want three!" Adele whined.
Gai watched them with a smile, placing the lavender in an old vase and replacing yesterday's flowers.
Anna sang Adele to sleep, with little Evan sleeping soundly nearby. She lay down, hoping tomorrow's plan would work. Solving the demon problem was her first step to safely earning money and caring for her family.
The next morning, Anna encountered Lily on her way out. Since being shamed by the townsfolk, Lily and her mother had stopped bothering Anna but still shot her dirty looks. Ignoring Lily, Anna walked past. Losing the kitchen job, Lily now did odd
jobs, earning little and looking worse than Anna. But Anna didn't pity her. Lily had tried to kill her by pushing her in front of Parich's carriage. Anna thought she was merciful enough. Lily should be grateful Anna wasn't vindictive, or she'd be in worse trouble.
Anna had avoided delivering food to the demon yesterday by feigning injury, but today she couldn't avoid it. Resigned, she brought the food box to the demon's quarters.
Today, Parich wasn't at the table but lying in bed.
Waldo said, "Parich wants to eat in bed today."
The change in location made Anna cautious. She slowly brought the food box in. As Waldo set up the table on the bed, she glanced at Parich.
Wait, where was the demon?
Blinking, Anna realized the demon wasn't there!
She remembered yesterday's events. Had the mage scared the demon away? No, the demon knew about the mage before. Did the mage discover and defeat the demon after she left?
Suppressing her excitement, Anna set out the food.
Parich, looking exhausted, barely ate and dismissed her quickly. Without asking questions, Anna quietly packed up and left.
Walking a short distance, she saw Ulysses in the garden. Her eyes brightened, and she hurried over. He had solved her biggest problem; she had to thank him. Without the demon, she wasn't desperate to become a mage anymore. If he didn't take her as a student, she wouldn't push.
Ulysses turned as he heard her approach, stepping from behind the vines.
Anna's joyful steps halted, staring in horror. The demon was inside Ulysses!
Not one for cursing, Anna couldn't help but inwardly scream.
**"F***!"**