Chapter 104: Young Master

Chapter 104: Young Master

Lin and Zhuo both walked through the city as they both reached an estate. It was a large gothic palace.

​Outside, two guards stood near both sides of the gateway, wearing tall black bearskin hats and crisp dark blue uniforms.

​As both came toward them, the left guard’s eyes widened behind his stoic posture. He snapped a salute, his voice tight with sudden emotion. "Lady Lin! It’s unbelievable, you... have returned!?"

​Lin gave a warm, weary smile and nodded. "It’s good to be back, Captain. Two years is far too long."

​The guard immediately gestured to open the heavy iron gates as the other guard moved without a second thought. However, his eyes flicked suspiciously toward the teenager walking half a step behind her.

Zhuo, who wore his dark traveling cloak with his sword subtly hidden and tucked in his belt, his sharp eyes scanning the high walls out of instinct, examining the movements of everything.

​"And... That young man, my Lady?" the guard asked cautiously.

"Treat him as family." Lin stated and walked into the tall pathway.

​As they stepped across the polished cobblestone courtyard, the heavy oak doors of the palace swept open. News of her arrival had already spread inside like wildfire through the guard who had rushed to tell the good news.

​Within moments, a flurry of footsteps echoed through the grand marble foyer. A troop of head maids in immaculate white aprons and navy dresses burst into the hallway, led by a senior housekeeper whose spectacles hung from a silver chain. The butlers rushed in, lining up in a manner to welcome her.

​"Lady Lin! Oh, praise the heavens, you have returned."

​Before Lin could speak, three young maids rushed forward, joys sparkling up their eyes, but they quickly checked her hands and face for injuries. "Are you unhurt? Your hand..."

​"I’m fine, really. Just a few minor scratches, which will get healed soon."

​Then, the youngest maid who joined, a girl named Mia, paused. Her eyes shifted past Lin’s shoulder and landed on Zhuo, and elbowed at another girl, who blinked and focused her gaze on him.

​Zhuo froze under their sudden collective stare and cleared his throat while stepping back behind Lin. He put on his most formidable, battle-hardened Ascended look and folded his arms.

​To the maids, however, with his slightly oversized cloak, untamed dark hair, and youthful cheeks, he looked like a sleepy kitten.

​"Oh... who is this little darling?" Mia cued as the others turned toward Zhuo.

​Another maid squealed softly, clasping her hands together. "He’s precious! Lady Lin, where did you find such an adorable boy?"

Zhuo backed away slightly as two maids stepped closer. One of them immediately offered him a silver tray with warm lavender biscuits she had been carrying, while another reached out to fuss with the tangled hood of his cloak.

​"Eat up, young master! You must be starving after such a long journey." The senior housekeeper insisted, her strict demeanor melting completely into a motherly smile. "You look far too skinny for a boy his age!"

​Zhuo looked hopelessly toward Lin, clutching a warm biscuit in his hand while a maid gently patted his dusty shoulders clean. "Lin."

"Don’t treat him like a stray kitten now." Lin murmured, hiding a smile behind it.

She turned to the head maid. "This is Zhuo Ouyang. He has been by my side for the past two years. He is like a younger brother to me, so please take good care of him... and I give permission to spoil him."

​Hearing the words like a younger brother, the maids’ eyes softened even further. To them, anyone who stayed with Lady Lin deserved extraordinary treatment.

​"Right this way, Master Zhuo! We’ll prepare the softest room in the west wing and fetch fresh warm tea!" Mia gushed, gently nudging Zhuo forward.

​Zhuo took a defensive bite of the biscuit, mumbling under his breath. "...It’s pretty good."

An hour later, the grand guest chamber in the west wing was in absolute chaos from the overwhelming pampering for their young guest.

​Zhuo sat stiffly on a plush velvet armchair, looking entirely out of his element. He was an Ascended, trained to survive harsh battlefields and dark wildernesses, yet he found himself completely powerless against four overly enthusiastic palace maids.

​Mia was kneeling beside him, sliding a pair of soft, fur-lined slippers onto his feet, while another maid carefully untied his combat boots, while the third maid held a silver tray, which had glazed plum tarts, sweet cream buns, and hot spiced tea, hovering attentively by his elbow.

​"Please, young master, have another tart! You must regain your energy." She pleaded gently and nudged the plate closer.

​Zhuo protested weakly, embarrassed by the constant care. He tried to maintain his usual expression, but it was ruined by the fact that his mouth was currently stuffed with a sweet cream bun. "I don’t need... fur slippers."

​"Nonsense!" the senior housekeeper declared, brushing his dark bangs back to check for fever. "Look at you—you’re just a growing boy! Mia, fetch the velvet cloak for hZhuo. The sea breeze in Ciradyl gets chilly at night."

​"Right away, Madam!"

​Zhuo gave a defeated groan and turned toward the line and whined. "Lin..."

​Lin entered through the door. She had worn a new outfit. A refreshed royal gown of deep navy and silver. She raised a teacup to her lips, thoroughly enjoying his predicament.

​"You wanted to see this place, Zhuo." Lin teased gently, walking into the room. "Though, people liking you a little bit too much wasn’t in my list."

​The maids immediately bowed with deep reverence as Lin approached. "Your Grace."

​"You may leave us for a moment." Lin said with a warm wave of her hand.

​"At once, my Queen!" The maids chimed together, giving Zhuo one last collective, affectionate glance before filing out of the room, leaving the heavy oak doors closed behind them.

​Zhuo slumped back into the velvet armchair and heaved a sigh of relief, then drank a glass of water. "They don’t know what personal space is." He complained to her.

​"They’re just happy." Lin shrugged and sat down on the window sill overlooking the misty city of Ciradyl below. Her eyes locked onto the river behind the estate. "When I left two years ago... I built this city better after a demonic cult was murdering people for their rituals. It was ruled by them, but they were too open and executed people in the name of the divine."

"What did you do next?" Zhuo put the glass down and looked at her.

"It wasn’t a big deal, as I was an Ordinal eight at that time. I killed a few people who ruled Ciradyl, since then the royals ran away from the fear, and I ended up being a ruler here." Her finger tapped the surface a few times as he looked back at Zhuo. "But I gave the role to someone else who rules this city currently, though I’m surprised that she managed to make Ciradyl a really great city with such an industrial revolution."

Zhuo nodded, removing his hand from the glass. "You think we can find a Nikoi here?"

"Not sure, but last time I did hear of this creature."

***

Mo Fei stopped near a shop and slid a few coins, then grabbed a few buns as his stomach churned in hunger. The shopkeeper took the coins and nodded gently before returning to his work.

While Mo Fei walked through the city and pulled out a bun. He ate it slowly, trying to find a clue as to where to find the mirror of truth. His gaze lay on the board, which had eight names written underneath. The eight districts of the Ciradyl, but his eyes caught a poster with a documentary and a notice that said a few words.

"The entry to the Emerald Town is open; tourists can visit there to watch the beauty of endless stairs. We give a grand welcome to the visitors, valid until 17 November 1894."

Mo Fei stared at the words. "Endless stairs? That sounds very suspicious and illogical. Are they bluffing to call out tourists?"

He turned toward a shopkeeper who sold sweets. He walked forward and slightly lifted his fedora and asked. "Sir, may I know what’s happening in the Emerald Town?"

Hearing that, the shopkeeper gave him a judging look and spoke in a weary tone. "Sir, we recommend you do not visit this town... the stairs are used as bait... even though that is true."

Mo Fei’s ear perked up, and he asked again. "I’m an investigator, Murphy Law. Tell me more about it. What happens there?"

"Every month, someone gets chosen there to walk on those stairs... Though no one really returns, the people think they are enjoying heaven and would die to walk there. Outside that town people are uneasy about it since they don’t let anyone walk without being chosen." The shopkeeper heaved a sigh, then turned. "Detective Law, I pray for you, and wish that you rather avoid that town."