Six Days Later.
Egon awoke with a start, his head jerking upward from the stiff bed.
"Today’s the day," he murmured.
He swung his legs over the side, stood up, and headed to freshen up. The room was cold, the air sharp, but his focus was unwavering.
Today, Vienna’s cousin was supposed to visit. He needed to be ready.
Over the past six days, he had spent most of his time training and working to understand and control his two Traits.
He’d made progress. He could now activate Omniscient Viewpoint, although it drained him quickly if used for more than a minute. Still, it was a major step forward.
But the second Trait, Envy, remained elusive. Where Omniscient Viewpoint could be triggered by the fear of death, Envy required something far more difficult to summon. A raw, genuine feeling of envy.
And that... wasn’t easy.
Fear of death, at least, was something he understood well. All he had to do was remember that day on Earth, the moment when everything changed. When the truck came barreling toward him. When he felt his bones snap, his body crushed like meat under steel wheels. The merciless screech. And the last painful howl of helplessness.
Even now, the memory sent a cold shiver crawling up his spine.
Yes, fear was simple.
But envy?
That would take something else entirely.
Afterward, Egon made his way to the usual spot to start mopping the floors.
He worked slowly, lazily dragging the mop across the stone tiles, until his gaze landed on a familiar figure.
"Archon? Where’s he going at this hour? Oh... must be sneaking off for his secret sword practice in the hallway again," he thought, mildly amused.
But then, Archon unexpectedly changed direction, heading straight toward Madam Castro’s chamber.
Egon’s expression darkened. Jealousy burned quietly in his chest.
"Tsk. Buzz around her like a bee to honey all you can. But in the end, only I’ll get to taste it. And you? You’ll end up back in the Old Village where you started." He smirked inwardly.
---
A while later:
"Hey, Egon! Let’s go. It’s time for breakfast," the cat-eared maid called out.
"Coming!" Egon replied, forcing a tired look as he set the mop aside.
He walked beside the Catwoman to the servants’ quarters, where breakfast was served. It was only thanks to his recent rise in favorability that the other maids even allowed him to eat with them. Otherwise, he would’ve been left to eat outside like a stray dog.
Sierra, Neko, Tiara, and a few other maids had already gathered, sitting on the marble floor in a circle.
Breakfast was the usual: bread and butter.
It wasn’t bad, but it could’ve been much better if Vienna spent more on their meals.
But no. That greedy businesswoman wouldn’t part with a single coin unless it served her profit.
As they began eating, conversations started to flow around the circle:
"I heard a guest is supposed to arrive today," Sierra, the fox-eared maid, said in a gossiping tone, her ears twitching with interest.
Egon, who had been quietly chewing his bread, suddenly raised his head.
Tiara nodded in agreement. "Yes, I heard from Miss Hilga that Madam Castro’s cousin will be visiting from the Capital."
"Then we must present ourselves well in front of the noble guest. We can’t let Madam Castros down," Neko added firmly, her tail flicking with determination.
Egon cheered inwardly. "That’s it. That’s the news I was waiting for. Finally, everything is going exactly as the story was written."
He had worried about possible butterfly effects, but maybe he was just overthinking it.
"Egon, why are you so quiet?" Tiara suddenly asked, noticing his absentmindedness.
"Ah?" Egon blinked and looked at her, feigning confusion. "What should I even say? I doubt I’ll be allowed to appear before the guest. After all, as a slave, I’m barely worth noticing."
"Why not?" Tiara frowned. "You’ve been getting close to Madam Castros lately."
"Mm hmm, true," Sierra chimed in, her golden ears twitching with curiosity. "I heard your massage technique is really good. Is it true?"
Egon scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. Outwardly, he played shy, but inside he was itching to run his fingers through the soft golden fur above the fox girl’s ears and tail.
"Nyah, nee, I want a massage too," Neko added, pretending to be in pain. "I feel sore from all the cooking and laundry."
"Haha... of course, anytime. You said you’re my friend, didn’t you? So there’s no problem," Egon replied to the catgirl with a gentle smile.
All the maids glanced at him. Lately, they found Egon oddly pleasant to look at. More so than that aloof, handsome slave Archon.
They still didn’t understand why their mistress was so interested in him. Did looks mean everything?
Still, they were aware Vienna Castros was likely just toying with Archon. It was common knowledge among the staff. But even if it was a game, it was laying the foundation for something long-lasting.
Egon couldn’t let that continue.
After breakfast, he worked diligently in the garden, realizing it wasn’t as unpleasant as he once thought.
By afternoon, the moment finally arrived.
Everyone gathered near the estate’s gate to welcome the esteemed noble guest from the Capital.
Vienna stood at the front, flanked by maids catgirls, foxgirls, and even the intimidating frogmen guards. Egon stood in one of the lines, keeping his head low but eyes alert.
Soon, a luxurious black carriage rolled to a stop at the gate, its wheels screeching sharply against the stone-paved road.
The door swung open, revealing a pair of pale, elegant legs.
Then, she stepped out with bang, like a red fairy from a dream.
She looked to be around Egon’s age, with smooth porcelain skin and silky black hair that cascaded down her back.
Her crimson flower-patterned dress fluttered gently, and she held a fancy parasol over her shoulder, exuding the aura of nobility.
Noella Castros.
A character defined by her arrogance and pride, born of her prestigious bloodline.
She was no ordinary noble. With an S-Rank Reborn Soul Core, she would one day become a terrifying force on the battlefield.