"What happened with Paisley's mother?" I incline my back to the chair, resting my elbow on the armrest.
"I noticed something strange." For Henry to draw something to my attention like this, it meant it was important.
"Go on."
"Ever since the Marquis left, the Madam changed all the maids serving her. It was foolish of me not to bring this to your attention earlier, as I know the lady looks into even the smallest details." He bowed in an apology and I forgave his mistake, more interested in what information he had.
Henry cleared his throat before continuing. "Last week, I discovered she had been sending her maids to town to deliver letters"
Just like always, he took a pause, letting me digest his words.
"And?"
"The letters are addressed to a relative, however I thought, if the Madam desires to send letters, why not use the postman?" Henry took a pause as he reached for something in his pocket and brought it out. It was a paper. "The matter had piqued my interest. So, I sent someone to tail the maid"
He slid the piece of paper on the table in front of me. Immediately, I reached for the paper and raised it to my face, reading the content in it.
'Guild of Magic. We'll solve all your problems with our powers'
It was a flier for a guild. A magic guild at that. Upon being reborn to this world, I had taken an interest to these magic guilds, just to be disappointed that they were all shams. Magic did not exist in this world. That is, if you set aside the powers surrounding the main characters and high ranking nobles. But these powers were not made known to the public. Only a few, which I am a part of, are aware about the rare mystical powers.
'Magic guilds' were just a means of swindling the foolish who believed in supernatural forces such as magic. They performed some staged trick and owe the mysterious action to some high power.
"The Madam frequently sends letters to this guild and not some relative. Also, I discovered she'd sold lots of her jewelery and given the profits to the guild"
"That's rather odd" I had no other way to put it. Most people knew that magic guilds were scams. They weren't even popular like they were in the past. Giving to one, seemed ridiculous.
Had she discovered something related to magic? It wasn't totally impossible that she hadn't. The South had so much traces of magic. Besides, I never ruled out a probability.
'If she has gained some knowledge concerning magic, then I must get my hands on it!'
Pulling me out of my thoughts, Henry spoke up. "Currently my aim is to get my hands on one of the Madam's letters. Normally, this would be easy, but the maids under her care seem to be efficient"
"I believe you're more efficient, Henry. If not, I wouldn't entrust you with so much"
Whenever I put emphasis on some words, and flashed a sweet a smile, while assigning a task, it would mean that I was counting on you. And if you were to mess up....well, let's say, Henry wasn't one to make mistakes, so he'd probably not find out the outcome.
Henry has always threaded cautiously when carrying out assignments. He was smart and careful in all his actions. Traits like these, I valued in my subordinates.
"Investigate this magic guild and bring a detailed report to me" I said, setting the flier aside.
"Yes my lady. I've already began looking into it"
"Great. Good job"
With a wave of my hand, I dismissed him and he exited the room.
I made a mental note to personally investigate Ashley Deor's behavior, her sudden interest in magic and absence by myself. She hadn't even come out to greet father yesterday, which was rather discourteous seeing that the rest of the family did.
At the moment, I was busy studying something about magic in a book. The sun had barely risen, but I decided to start today early. Everyday I learnt something new and was able to separate myths from reality, with a little help from Nathan.
Speaking of Nathan, I haven't heard from him for the past week. He was probably busy with the ending of the war, with our neighboring Empire. It had been a bit of a surprise to me that he had been able to sneak out almost everyday, and come laze around with me in the mansion despite the war which he was participating in.
Although, those around him would think otherwise, I knew Nathan was not the patriotic Crown Prince that he was deemed to be. Don't get me wrong, he was hardworking. He even overworked himself many times. However, loyalty and love for the Empire? Ha!
The first time I had met him, he had hate towards the Empire and everyone in it. To talk about unending loyalty, which the Emperor is supposed to have for his people, well....
'The world extremely him messed up. Who am I kidding? I further corrupted him'
Some days were like this. I would think about the past, that had led me up to this point, and with a self-loathing smirk, I'd wave off the feeling.
I had played and manipulated people my whole life as Adrianna. So many lives had been ruined for my own desires. I wasn't a total monster to not think back some days. Would I one day come to regret it all? If such were to happen, I doubt my pride could let me admit to it.
But me not being a total monster, doesn't make me any saint. Whenever I imagined the power I currently possessed, and thinking about me becoming more powerful in the nearest future; It took me barely a second to identify the rush of thrill inside me, the drumbeat of my heart. I'd stop at nothing to get to the top.
My past had made me a power hungry monster. However, blaming my past would be such an excuse. Well at least to me. Sure, the past had moulded my behavior, but all the decisions I make are by my current self.
I closed the book I had been reading. The words suddenly appeared all jumbled and sprawled down. Like the writings, or rather, scribbling of a one year old. These complicated thoughts made me loose focus. It was pointless to go on reading if I could no longer comprehend the content.
Drawing a deep breath in, I stood up from where I sat and decided to leave my room. To take a little walk around the mansion.
Servants bowed in greetings as I passed by. I acknowledged them, and told them there was no need to. I just wanted to quietly observe a few things.
My feet carried me to the kitchen. The smell of cooking food wafted in the air and filled my nostrils.
One thing workers of the Deor mansion did not joke around with, was the meals served. Whenever guests observed their meals in the mansion, they would always leave words of praise towards the chefs good skills.
They were especially professional in today's breakfast since the Marquis was back. If things weren't done to his satisfaction, a lot of servants would end up being punished.
And I have to say, father is very extreme in punishing his servants.
Despite these extremities, so many commoners in the South were eager to work at the mansion. Everyone knew about the high pay workers received here. Money really did buy the loyalty of people — to a certain extent, at least.
The people in the kitchen halted their activities, as they saw me coming in.
The head maid, came forward with a polite smile. "Greetings lady. What brings you here?"
Before replying her, I observed the area, and the faces of everyone. "I just felt like coming here. I'd also like some biscuits with coffee"
I noticed the way her eyebrows furrowed at my words. But her polite smile was still plastered on her face. Almost as if, it was stuck there. "The lady doesn't need to come to such a place if she wanted that. It seems like I'll have to punish your personal maid, Harper, for always slacking off"
Although no one said anything, I could see the looks of approval others in the kitchen gave to head maid, at the mention of punishing Harper.
"There will be no need for that. Harper is my personal maid and I assign her to some tasks." It irritates me when others try to fault people under me.
I decide when they're slacking off or not.
"But, she is lazy! It's my-
"Head maid, I do not have the time for such a banter. We've had a similar discussion like this in the past. Harper is lazy, only when I say she is lazy."
I stare down the woman with a coldness that makes her gulp. It's always been obvious all the other maids envied Harper. Probably because she got superb treatment working under me, and was barely assigned to labouring tasks.
Unknown to them, Harper had quite the workload. She acted as my sword; Cutting down any of my enemies in the shadows.
"This should be the last time I hear of this topic"
Dismissing the Head maid with my words, I stride deeper into the kitchen and towards the oven. I hear her mutter something. I give her one look and decided to ignore her.
For now, at least.
The servants by the oven bowed low to me in greetings.
"What's this?" I asked, pointing at the table top, which had already cooked food placed in a tray.
The servants looked up at what I inquired about. Seeing how they looked at each other, as if trying to pass across some message, they were obviously hesitating to answer my question, before one of them said.
"It's the meal for the Madam."
'The Madam' was Paisleys mother, father's mistress, Ashley, who resided in the mistress' quarters. Recalling Henry's words from a few minutes ago, I decide to pry further.
"Why is her meal being made separately? A special meal?"