Chapter 161: Overnight change.

A middle-aged man with thick glasses and a crooked back squeezed out from behind a pile of hay, shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. Druski wasn’t actually a proper doctor__ he was just a disgraced former pharmacist who had been run out of the capital for selling expired drugs. He had escaped to the wild lands to avoid a death sentence.

"Y-yes, Boss!" Druski squeaked, bowing so low his nose almost touched the dirt.

Duncan stomped over, grabbing Druski by his collar and lifting the thin man right off his feet. He pointed a thick, scary finger straight into Druski’s nose.

"You heal this reptile right now," Duncan growled, his breath smelling like cheap wine and rage. "If this beast dies before it can show us where Kenan went__ I will personally peel your skin off and feed it to the crows. Do you understand me?"

Druski felt a sudden, terrifying warmth in his lower belly. Under Duncan’s deadly glare, he felt the intense, overwhelming urge to pass out urine right then and there! The beast looked dead, how was he supposed to save it? It wasn’t like he was a Soul maiden! Even if he did save it, if there were no high-grade herbs, it would take months for it to heal properly and fly back to where Kenan was hurt. But he couldn’t voice all this, for fear of an immediate death.

"I-I understand! I swear on my ancestors’ graves! It will live! It will fly!" Druski stuttered wildly, nodding his head so fast it looked like it was about to fly off his shoulders.

"Good," Duncan snapped, tossing Druski onto the dirt like a bag of trash. "Carry this lizard to the clinic!"

Four big men nervously shuffled out of hiding, picked up the giant unconscious beast, and hauled it away as fast as their legs could carry them. They were all glad that they were not in the doctor’s shoes. The beast looked like it was beyond saving.

Duncan turned to face the terrified crowd, his eyes flashing with raw, murderous intent.

"Listen up, all of you!" Duncan bellowed, his voice echoing across the entire hill. "Sharpen your blades! Load your bows! pack your guns! The very second this beast wakes up and can fly, we are heading into the wildlands! If anyone touched my son, I will tear their entire clan down to the roots! I will feed them to the beasts, burn their bones and spit on their ashes."

********

On the Kaelion estate, this same day, some changes had occurred in Lita, leaving everyone completely mesmerized. It was like she was a whole new person.

She had woken up earlier than even the rooster, singing soft little tunes as she swept a part of the courtyard and then wiped down some of the tall wooden pillars. Even Loveline, who usually oversaw the early duties, stood in the doorway with her jaw practically dragging on the floor, watching Lita do every single dirty chore with a wide, sweet smile plastered on her face.

What blew everyone’s minds even more was what was happening now. Lita had gathered the household staff, bowed deeply, and apologized to every single person for her past rude behavior. She was weeping soft, pitiful tears, blaming her terrible attitude on her poor, uneducated upbringing.

"I swear that I will do better from now on." She promised.

"I’m so gullible, I almost believe her," one young maid whispered, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Right? She looks like a soft little rabbit now!" another servant agreed.

Some of the household servants were already completely buying her pitiful innocent act__except for Loveline and Apofia.

Apofia leaned against a pillar, crossing her arms tightly as her sharp eyes tracked Lita’s every move. She leaned towards Loveline and hissed, "Young miss, Lita has to be faking it. Look at that smile! It’s way too sweet. I can see the fox tail hiding inside her skirt!"

Loveline snorted softly, her eyes narrowing. "I feel the exact same way. People don’t just transform from a viper into a holy lotus overnight. I’m not falling for it for a single second. Keep an eye on her and keep me appraised on everything she does. Everyone she talks to. What they discuss or do." She would not allow Lita to buy off the loyalty of the servants, undoing years of her work.

After breakfast was served, Lita didn’t even wait to be ordered around. She bounced forward with a tray, volunteering to clear the greasy dishes with that very same cheerful smile on her face as she had on since morning. She had been maintaining it so steadily that it almost seemed glued on.

Suddenly, the seventh aunt’s bratty little son let out a huge snort, spurting a mouth full of warm white milk straight onto Lita’s cheek and neck!

"Ooopsy," The kid said.

Lovely smirked and secretly gave the kid a thumbs up. The dining hall went dead silent. Everyone held their breath, expecting Lita to explode into a fiery rage, throw a bowl, or slap the boy into next week.

Instead, Lita just blinked. She pulled out a clean cloth, calmly wiped the milk off her face, and smiled warmly at the squeaking kid. "Oh dear, swallow slowly next time, little cousin! Milk is precious, and so many low-borns cannot afford it. We high-borns, are lucky to have it."

Everyone gasped. Is she possessed by a saint?! they asked themselves.

Whispers quickly spread through the halls like wildfire. Everyone was saying that this miraculous change had to be Sabrina’s doing! After all, right after their private talk, the girl had changed instantly__ like flipping a coin from tail to head!

Even the Old Patriarch fueled the rumors during his morning tea. He chuckled loudly, patting his beard, and said, "Ahem! I must thank Sabrina. She clearly taught Lita the do’s and don’ts of our grand Kaelion family. The girl is fitting in quite nicely now!"

Sabrina sat nearby, wearing a small, triumphant smile as she took a slow sip of her tea. Hmph, so she was just a paper tiger after all, Sabrina thought smugly to herself. If this peasant princess is this easy to intimidate, she won’t cause us any real trouble.

However, Andrea, sitting at the end of the table, held her reservations. She swirled her tea, her gaze dark and icy. People don’t change overnight, she thought, her eyes flashing with suspicion. Especially not a spoiled, pampered low-born princess from the countryside. She’s up to something. Either she is very scared of mother, or she is putting up a very convincing act. Even grandfather has fallen for it. So, what does she hope to gain from all this?