The person he spotted when Zayden entered the study hall was Helain, her long dark brown hair tied into a ponytail, dressed in a black knight uniform.
"General!" A deep familiar voice exclaimed. He turned his gaze, finding Liam and Aarson standing straight.
The red-haired man combed his hair neatly, while the dark-violet-haired man was strangely dishevelled.
The three kept their heads lowered until Zayden took a seat on the couch.
Once they received the order, they sat across from the general, facing him.
"What happened to you, Liam? I never saw you with hair . Is it a new fashion?"
Liam quickly arranged his hair.
"I apologize for showing myself in this unsightly appearance. I was trying to investigate more about the horse of Hianshu discovered at the training camp when Helain said we were to visit you at your mansion."
"It’s been months!" Helain groaned, leaning her head backwards.
"Yes... But maybe we are missing something. It is a really strange thing..." Liam replied with a serious expression.
"Let’s talk about Duke Danman for now," Zayden poured a glass of wine, mixing it with water.
He couldn’t be bothered with Hianshu when he had someone who wouldn’t let go of any chance to attack him in his own empire.
"Sir, drinking first thing in the morning?" Helain scoffed.
"And who is at fault for interrupting my morning tea?" Zayden forced a sharp grin.
"I apologize. But Duke Danman is playing too seriously. Sending a knight who tried to harm you!" She groaned, slamming her fist on the table.
"Careful," Zayden forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "You will have to pay for it if you break it."
"General, are you that stingy?" Aarson chuckled, arms folded.
"I sure can be," Zayden interlocked his fingers, grinning.
"Both of you! Focus!" Liam frowned, glancing at his colleagues.
"What should I do with that knight?"
"Kill him," Liam suggested.
"Cut him into pieces and send those to Duke Danman," her eyes glimmered, an evil grin on her angelic, innocent-looking face.
"You guys are creepy—I thought I was the only one," he paused. "Torture him."
Zayden burst into laughter, the sound almost echoing through the hallway, jolting every servant who stood in the area.
"No wonder you are my closest subordinates."
The three glanced at each other, perplexed. The general would never do any of their suggestions—they knew it too well. So why did he say that?
"I still need to think of something that can shake Duke Danman," Zayden spoke after having calmed down.
Lately, the servants’ behavior had been strange. They didn’t bother Ren, call him to deserted places, ridicule, bully him, or hit him.
Whenever they crossed him, they smiled. Although it appeared to be a good change from the outside, Ren couldn’t help but tense every single time.
What could have changed their attitude towards me?
He pondered. James revealed that Jian had spread rumors about him—filthy, disgusting lies that clung to his name like rot.
Because of them, the servants had treated him as if he were beneath dirt. That much, he understood.
When James suggested they file a complaint to the headmaid, Ren refused. He was fine with such treatment as long as it didn’t attract attention from anyone outside of the mansion.
But now? Their sudden kindness was almost worse—far too much. It meant people were aware of him, in one way or another. Those who had ignored him, now tried to help him with his tasks or place an extra piece of bread in his place as if to make up for their past mistakes. Yet, none dared to sit near him.
They greeted him with polite voices, but their eyes slid away too quickly, as if afraid to make eye contact or too guilty of their past actions. Sometimes they whispered among themselves, then smiled when he turned, pretending nothing had happened.
This can’t be kindness...
A faint chill prickled down his spine. It was too sudden.
He suspected a trick. A new way to humiliate him.
What Ren didn’t know was that three maids—after seeing his affection for their young master and his soft attitude—had started whispering that Jian’s stories were lies.
That the attendant wasn’t cruel, nor cunning, nor cursed, nor dangerous. Slowly, their words spread through the servants’ wing, cutting at the poison Jian had planted.
But for Ren, the change only deepened the unease. He had experienced before—unexplained kindness that took away his everything. And this time, he wouldn’t fall for this trap for anything in the world.
"Are you headed to the young master’s study room?" A voice asked, a little too familiar.
Ren turned, finding Maria standing below the small balcony.
"Yes. What are you doing down there?" Leaning a little closer, he asked.
"Oh! Me?" Maria scratched her face, her cheeks flushing slightly. "The doctor said I was pregnant... So I was sitting here, thinking whether I should keep the child or not until I saw you coming this way."
The polite smile on Ren’s face dropped immediately.
"Y-You are pregnant?.. That’s great news."
"You don’t look too happy to hear that," Maria chuckled.
"It’s not that..." the man averted his gaze.
"I’ve been wondering... Do you have a child back home?" Eyes curious, Maria asked, stepping closer.
Ren bit the inside of his mouth, chills running down his spine.
How does she know—no it can’t be. No one knows.
"Oh my! You look so pale just hearing about it," she laughed. "I guess you don’t. But you are so good when dealing with the young master. If I didn’t know, I would totally think he was your son."
"He is not," Ren firmly stated, leaving no room for argument.
"Y-Yes, of course not." Maria stammered upon seeing Ren’s stern expression. He rarely made a face like that. And when he did, it meant he was upset about something.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t comprehend what might have upset him.
"I will return to the study room. The young master must have finished his work. I should not be absent for too long, or the general will find a new excuse to question my competency"
Maria nodded, smiling softly.
"Alright. See you later."
She watched the young man turn and leave.
Why would Ren say that? But it doesn’t seem like the general is displeased with him...
She pondered, staring at Ren’s figure slowly disappearing in the distance.