Chapter 95: Capital Rumblings III

"Elaine?"

"Were you expecting someone else?"

His older sister stood at the doorway, looking more pleased to see him than Rian had expected. Though that expression changed slightly as he climbed the final step.

Her eyes scanned his body the same way Alicia’s did, finding both the bandages under his body as well as the suitcase in his hand from the Academy.

"...What happened to you?" she frowned. "It’s always something with you, isn’t it?"

"It’s a long story."

Alicia glanced at Rian’s response, realizing that it was her Young Master’s "fight-or-flight" instinct. And clearly...it was flight.

’Please don’t ask about Graveyard...’

He had barely made it through the gates. The last thing he needed was another round of questioning, as if the Headmistress hadn’t already hassled him enough.

Elaine looked toward Alicia.

"Has he been treated?"

"Yes, my lady. I was told the Academy healers examined him before we left."

"And what did they say?"

"That he should rest."

"Good enough."

To his surprise, Elaine simply nudged her chin, gesturing for them to enter before the cold air outside could bite into their skin.

The inside of the mansion was just as ridiculous as the outside, the smell of "old money" reeking from every pore of the place. A broad staircase rose toward the upper floors, while there were enough servants in the place to make up the population of a rural town.

Though Rian barely had time to look around at the place more before his sister spoke again. "Whatever happened, I’d appreciate it if you could avoid repeating it for at least a few days."

"That depends on what you think happened."

"Rian."

"...Just joking."

Elaine sighed, rubbing briefly at her temple. "Honestly, I don’t think I want to know right now. Things are already hectic enough."

Now that she had stopped smiling, he could see the obvious fatigue building on her face. It was a familiar sight, one that he’d seen from on Rosalia’s face as well.

"What happened?"

Though instead of answering him outright, Elaine pushed the doors toward what looked like her office. Through the gaps, Rian noticed papers were stacked everywhere.

She took a look at the sight and simply groaned, slowly using her back to widen the door while looking at Rian. "Dinner’s already prepared. Go settle in and change out of those clothes first."

"What about—"

"I’ll explain over dinner."

Rian studied her face for a moment, trying to work out whether this was something he should be worried about. Though before he could, Trevor picked right up where she had dropped off.

"Please follow me, Young Master," the head butler gestured up the staircase. "Your accommodations are already prepared."

On the way up however, Rian noticed a strange dynamic.

Alicia had been sticking closer to him than usual. She hadn’t said a word since they entered, but given the fact that both her and Trevor would occasionally glance at each other, one could assume that they didn’t have the best of relationships.

After a minute, they arrived at the end of the hall where a room was neatly prepped. A clean set of clothes as well as a wide bedroom overlooking the city had already been prepared.

"Your room, Young Master."

"Thank you," Rian nodded stepping in.

However, as Alicia tried to follow him, Trevor suddenly stuck out his hand, blocking her way. The man glared at her, before stepping in front of the doorway.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Alicia stopped in front of him, staring at his hand before taking a step back. "Serving the Young Master, that is my role."

"This is the Capital Estate," Trevor stated. "Your role is being a servant. Nothing less, and certainly—"

"...Nothing more."

The young maid’s glare bore deep into the man’s skull, and for a second, Rian thought she might do something rash or argue. But after a moment, she simply backed away.

"Please rest well, Young Master," Alicia bowed, handing him his sling bag.

"Alicia..."

"I’ll see you later."

Just like that, she turned and left.

He had tried to read her expression, but it was even more closed off than usual, confusing even Rian who had been trained to interpret that same expression for eighteen years.

’What the hell was that?’

Rian looked back toward Trevor, but the head butler had already returned to the same courteous expression. "Your belongings will be brought inside shortly. Is there anything else you require?"

There were quite a few things Rian wated to ask.

Why Alicia had suddenly become so subdued, for one. And why Trevor seemed to think her following him into the room required intervention.

After all, servants pretty much do everything for nobles, even including helping them change and even brushing their teeth.

Well, Rian did manage to catch a look on the other servants nearby, who had stopped and started talking quietly to each other while looking upon the situation with great distaste.

’I’ll ask her when we’re alone later.’

’Now to the most important issue...’

"Where can I take a bath?"

"To the right of your room, Young Master," the head butler bowed a perfect ninety degrees. "Everything has been prepared."

"Good, thanks."

"You’re very welco—"

Rian accidentally closed the door on him before the head butler could finish. He was so tired that all he wanted to do now was rest.

Unloading pretty much everything on his body onto the nearby table, he dropped onto the nearby bed. It must’ve been a gift from heaven, because all of his problems slowly melted away.

The bed itself was large enough to accommodate his entire examination group, while various bookshelves were nearby, filled with books that he would probably never read in his lifetime.

Tall windows overlooked the city, though Rian was more interested in the clean clothes that had been laid out for him.

Everything had been so hectic:

From cheating his death, to fighting his brother who was possessed by a Disaster Spirit, to being trapped in some kind of betrayal plot...

’Can’t I just rest for a while?!’

"Ughh..." He sighed softly to himself. "Screw all that. Everything else can wait."

He found the strength to push himself up and grabbed the set of clothes along with the provided towel and began heading toward the direction Trevor had told him.

’It’s just the baths—’

’...What could go wrong?’