The grand Vestron mansion loomed ahead as the carriage came to a halt, its tall silhouette bathed in the fading light of the setting sun. Noah stepped out first, his eyes briefly scanning the opulent exterior before his attention returned to the unconscious dark elf girl in Bella's arms. Her frail, battered body was in stark contrast to the elegance surrounding her.
Captain Ronald approached with his usual stern expression, offering Noah a quick nod.
"I'll go report today's events to Duke Lucious," he said, his voice clipped and formal. Without waiting for a reply, he strode off toward the mansion, leaving Noah with Bella and the girl.
"I'll take her to a room," Bella said softly, cradling the girl as if she weighed nothing. Her usual stern demeanor seemed to have softened as she carried the unconscious child toward the side entrance of the mansion.
"Thank you, Bella," Noah replied, his gaze lingering on the girl's pale face for a moment longer before he followed.
Inside the mansion, Bella laid the dark elf girl carefully on the soft bed in one of the guest rooms. The contrast was jarring—her dirty, tattered clothes stood out against the pristine white sheets and opulent furnishings. Everything in the room reeked of nobility: the polished marble floors, the heavy velvet drapes, and the gleaming gold accents that lined the walls.
Bella smoothed a stray lock of hair away from the girl's face, her eyes softening for a moment before she turned to leave. "rest well, little one" she murmured, casting one last glance at the small, fragile figure lying on the bed before quietly exiting the room.
Hours passed, and the dark elf girl slowly began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered as she woke, blinking against the soft light that filled the room. For a moment, she lay still, trying to make sense of where she was. The warmth around her was foreign—far removed from the cold, grimy streets where she had spent most of her life.
The bed beneath her was soft, far softer than anything she had ever known. The room itself was immaculate, with walls that shimmered in the light and furniture that gleamed with the wealth of the nobility. Everything felt so out of place.
Am I dead? she wondered, her mind foggy. Was I beaten to death by that vendor? Is this heaven?
The door creaked open, and a maid entered, her expression immediately hardening as her eyes landed on the girl. The maid's face twisted with disdain, the look of someone who had just seen something dirty and unwanted. Without saying a word, she turned and left the room, her back stiff with contempt.
She felt the familiar sting of rejection in her chest. That look of disgust was something she knew well, something she had endured her entire life. Of course, she thought bitterly. Nothing's changed.
She pulled the blankets up around her shoulders, curling into herself as she waited for whatever fate was coming next.
A few minutes later, the door opened again, and this time, two figures entered. One was a boy around her age, dressed in luxurious attire that stood in stark contrast to her ragged appearance. The other was a woman, a maid, though she carried herself with an air of authority. They both stared at her for a moment, and she stared back, unsure of what to expect.
The boy stepped forward, his voice soft but clear. "Hello. I am Noah Vestron, and this is my personal maid, Bella."
Noah… Vestron? The name rang a distant bell. Vestron, as in the duke's family?
She didn't respond. Her mind raced with questions and doubts. Why was a boy like this, someone from a noble family, standing in front of her? Is he the one who brought her here?
Seeing her silence, Noah coughed awkwardly and asked, "What's your name?"
The question hung in the air, but she didn't answer it. Instead, she asked her own. "Did… did you save me?"
Noah hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I found you in the marketplace. You were unconscious and hurt, so I brought you here."
His words should have comforted her, but they only made her more anxious. She had been saved, but why? "Why?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling. "Why would you save me? Don't you know what I am? I'm a dark elf. Aren't you afraid I'll taint your mansion?"
Noah blinked, taken aback by her words. He frowned slightly before speaking again. "Are you a criminal?" he asked.
She shook her head, her eyes wide and defensive. "No," she said quickly.
"Then why would I let an innocent person die in my territory?" Noah asked, his tone steady. "As the future Duke of Vestron, I intend to treat everyone in my lands equally."
Before she could respond, a deep, hearty voice echoed from the doorway. "Well said, my son."
Duke Lucious Vestron stepped into the room, his towering figure filling the doorway. He wore a broad smile, pride evident in his eyes as he looked at his son.
"A ruler must always treat his people fairly, regardless of who they are," Lucious continued, walking toward Noah. He placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You will make a fine duke one day."
"Thank you, Father," Noah replied, a small blush creeping onto his cheeks at the praise.
As father and son spoke, Lilith, the duchess, entered the room with a graceful stride. She walked over to the bed where the dark elf girl lay and knelt beside her, offering a warm smile.
"How are you feeling?" Lilith asked softly, her tone gentle but filled with concern. "Do you feel any discomfort?"
The girl flinched, her body stiffening under the weight of Lilith's gaze. "N-No," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lilith chuckled lightly, her smile widening. "You don't need to be afraid. No one here will harm you."
The girl hesitated, her mind still clouded with doubt. Why were they being so kind? Dark elves were despised by the world—treated as outcasts and filth. This didn't make sense.
"You're in the Vestron mansion now," Lilith explained, her tone gentle but firm. "My son asked us to help you. He didn't want to see you suffer, and he feared you would be in danger if left alone. That's why he brought you here."
The girl's gaze shifted to Noah. Why? Why would he do that?
"And," Lilith continued, "he also requested that we take you in as his personal maid fearing you would be in the same situation if left alone. But the choice is yours. You can stay here and serve my son, or you can return to your old life. The decision is entirely yours."
Silence filled the room as the girl absorbed Lilith's words. She didn't know what to say. On one hand, staying meant safety, food, and shelter, things she had long been deprived of. On the other hand, she feared this was all a cruel trick.
After a long pause, she spoke, her voice trembling. "Aren't you afraid?" she asked. "Of letting someone like me—a dark elf, a race who feeds on dark mana—serve your son?"
Lilith smiled softly, shaking her head. "Dark mana, light mana, it's all just energy. The world may cling to old superstitions, but people like me, who have reached the peak of magic know better. I don't fear you, child."
At Lilith's words, tears welled up in the girl's eyes. It was the first time someone said that they didn't despise her for her race. She turned her face away, trying to hold them back, but it was no use. She had never been treated with such kindness before. The tears came, and she wiped them away with her sleeve, her small body trembling with emotion.
"I… I'll serve him," she whispered through her sobs. "I'll be loyal to him, forever."
Lilith smiled, satisfied with her answer but still serious. "Think carefully. Serving in this house won't be easy. You'll not only tend to Noah, but you'll also need to protect him. The training will be harsh. Are you sure you're ready for that?"
The girl nodded, her tears still falling. "Life has already been cruel to me. I can handle it."
"Very well," Lilith said with a nod. "Since everything is settled, why don't you introduce yourself."
The girl hesitated, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke. "Julia Augustine."
The room fell silent. Both Lucious and Lilith exchanged surprised glances. A last name meant noble lineage, and the fact that this girl had one was unexpected.
"You have a last name?" Lilith asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Yes," Julia replied softly. "It's the only thing my mother left me."
While Lilith and Lucious were surprised at her having a last name, Noah was stunned hearing her name. Julia Augustine, that name rang alarm bells in his mind. Is she the same Julia Augustine that he is thinking of or a different person with a similar name?