Chapter 14: Not a Single Worthy Opponent
At six in the evening, Anna stood hesitantly at the gate of Kailun’s Manor.
She had managed to excuse herself from Paul and come alone to see Kailun, as he requested, but now she found herself frozen in place.
She couldn’t disobey Kailun’s orders. Facing that devil, she had no power to resist.
Yet, gazing at the tree-lined path and vibrant flowers within, she felt a stark disconnect between herself and the world inside.
Tugging at her school uniform, Anna waged a fierce internal battle.
“Well, if it isn’t Anna. What are you doing standing out here?”
A pleasant voice startled her from behind.
She turned to find a dazzling figure smiling brightly at her.
Phils. A girl even more renowned than herself.
Although both were considered great beauties, Phils possessed not only exceptional talent but also a noble lineage. Her admirers outnumbered Anna’s by far.
Even Anna couldn’t help but acknowledge Phils’ beauty.
However, she downplayed her reason for being there. “Kailun hired me as a tutor. I’m here to help him with his magic studies.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Phils circled Anna, leaning in to sniff her. “That smells like a lie. Don’t tell me, you’re his lover?”
Anna jumped back as if scalded. “No! Absolutely not! I, Anna, would rather die than be that kind of person’s lover! And what about you? What are you doing here alone?”
Phils gestured to herself matter-of-factly. “Me? I’m here for a rendezvous with Kailun, of course. What else would I be doing? Tutoring?”
Anna: “…”
Faced with this shameless woman, she was at a loss for words.
Thankfully, the arrival of the old butler, Roden, saved her from further embarrassment.
Dressed in his butler attire, he addressed them from behind the gate. “Might I ask if you two ladies are here to see Young Master Kailun?”
“Yes, yes! Please take me to him immediately. I have something important to tell him.”
Phils nodded enthusiastically, her beautiful purple hair shimmering in the setting sun.
In contrast, Anna simply mumbled a quiet “yes.”
“Please follow me. The young master is waiting for you in the backyard.”
Roden bowed slightly. With a flash of blue light from his hand, the manor gates swung open automatically.
Phils skipped through excitedly, while Anna hesitated for a moment before following with a determined look.
As they walked along the tree-lined path, the fragrance of flowers and trees filling the air, Anna’s nervousness gradually subsided.
The manor exuded an air of luxury and elegance, tranquility, and serenity.
Anna loved the atmosphere, but she was also acutely aware of its one glaring flaw: it was expensive.
Walking cautiously at the back, she unconsciously clutched the hem of her uniform.
They finally stopped in front of the most extravagant building. “We’re here. Once you pass through this building, you’ll reach the back garden where the young master awaits.”
“Aren’t you coming with us?” Phils asked.
Roden smiled kindly. “That is the young master’s private domain. Apart from beautiful ladies such as yourselves, no one is allowed to disturb him.”
Roden treated Kailun with grandfatherly affection. He diligently performed his duties as a butler while silently eliminating any threats to Kailun.
If not for Kailun being apprehended at the academy in their past life, Princess Hilna’s plan would have been much harder to execute.
Speaking of which, Kailun’s capture at the academy couldn’t be entirely blamed on that incompetent and eternally youthful headmistress.
He decided not to dwell on that stingy old woman. She was on his list, anyway.
Bidding farewell to Roden, Phils dashed towards the building like a cat let loose, her excitement mirroring that of a cat in heat.
Anna had to quicken her pace to keep up.
As they entered the building and stepped onto the marble floor, Anna became even more cautious.
In her eyes, every vase and painting screamed exorbitant prices. She couldn’t afford to break anything.
As a commoner, she relied solely on her talent and hard work to study at the Royal Magic Academy. Without the scholarship, she wouldn’t even be able to afford the tuition.
It was common knowledge that mages were both rich and poor.
Rich because they earned money quickly, and poor because they spent it even faster.
Learning magic required money. Buying magic books required money. Crafting magic tools required money. Even the magic crystals used to accelerate meditation required money.
One might ask, who was profiting from all this?
The answer was, of course, the royalty and nobility who monopolized knowledge and resources. Even Princess Hilna, upon becoming Queen in their past life, hadn’t changed the status quo.
Or rather, her ambition was so great that it led to even greater exploitation of the common folk.
…
Emerging from the building into the back garden, Anna immediately spotted Kailun, his head resting on Carol’s lap.
He glanced at them as they approached. “You’re finally here.”
“Hey! We agreed to meet after school! Why didn’t you come find me?”
Phils marched up to Kailun, hands on her hips, a playful pout on her face.
Despite her alluring demeanor, Kailun’s response was flat. “You believed those lies I told Princess Hilna? Don’t tell me, are you a child too?”
“That’s mean! I even put in a good word for you in front of her!”
“Oh? And what good words did you say about me?”
Phils puffed out her chest. “I said you were a lecher blinded by beauty, and that you only recruited those three beauties from the Knight Academy because you were thinking with your lower half.”
She looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for praise.
Kailun: “Oh, how kind of you~”
Phils twirled her dress with a sweet smile. “You’re welcome.”
Anna: “…”
Observing their banter, she picked up on something crucial. In their exchange, it seemed Princess Hilna had fallen into their trap.
Anna’s eyes widened in realization.
“Hey, you, the slave girl! Stop spacing out! See that maid outfit on the bench? Go change into it. Now.” Kailun’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She looked at the black and white maid outfit on the bench, then at the identical one Carol was wearing.
Low-cut, revealing top, ultra-short skirt, black thigh-highs… This wasn’t a maid outfit; it was lingerie.
Phils’ slightly disgusted voice reached her ears. “What? So, she’s not a lover, but a slave? How disappointing. Not a single worthy opponent.”
“…”
Anna wished the ground would swallow her whole.
