Chapter 15 - #15 First time outside of the mansion (1/2)
After we were done eating our breakfast, I wanted to leave and noticed my father give some kind of signal towards Ichika. I went back to my room to change my clothes since I will be going out. Ichika didn't follow me this time.
She must be receiving a mission from my father. I am quite interested if I can also level up since I have all those stats, it should be possible.
Hm?
As I was changing my clothes, I noticed curtains on my windows move slightly as if someone let an uninvited draught in.
”Can't you even knock or are you enjoying looking at me while I am changing? I don't recall having anything that would catch the interest of a woman like yourself.” I disinterestedly said while I continued changing my clothes and Ichika revealed herself.
[+1 Intelligence for revealing an ”assassin” in your room]
”P-please don't misunderstand, young lord. It's my habit.” Ichika said with an awkward tone.
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'This is simply unbelievable...I tried to sneak here while doing my best to mask my presence. How is it possible? Although my magical artifact works the best at night, it's not like I can't sneak around in the broad daylight' Ichika thought with a helpless smile behind her mask.
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”Young lord, can I ask a question?” She asked with a respectful tone.
”Shoot” I said while putting white gloves on and adjusting my belt.
”...How did the young lord discover me?” She asked with her confused violet eyes.
Hearing her question, I turned at her with a teasing smile.
”You hid your presence very well but you can't influence shadows, wind, and many other elements. The curtains moved slightly more than usual out of nowhere so I knew that you just came in.” I said with a smile and then moved in front of Ichika.
”I see...” Ichika muttered while staring into empty space.
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'How much is he aware of his surroundings? And wasn't that only for a little moment before the curtains returned to their usual place? ...I think that I start to understand the young lord. Although he appears to be extremely lazy and disinterested, he actually checks his surroundings all the time...If he was just talented in this aspect then it would be fine but...his lazy image is making it even scarier.' Ichika thought and opened her eyes wide when she was looking at Akashi's 6 years old face.
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”Anyway, the Lord Phoenix ordered me to-” Ichika wanted to start reporting the content of her talk with my father but I stopped her.
”He ordered you to hire some thugs to scare me, right?” I said with a bored look in my eyes.
I took a look at my energy which was at 100 points after my little show.
[Energy: 145/145]
Nice, it seems like intelligence increased my energy by 10 points. However, I am slightly disappointed since I don't know if I was able to recover the energy thanks to my title or thanks to the breakfast...
When I looked away from the display to look at Ichika, I noticed that her eyes were wide open in surprise.
”Are you supposed to hire some innocent people taking the role of thugs or were you ordered to hire real thugs?” I asked her another question.
”...Just some innocent people...” She answered me after recovering from her shock.
”Alright, hire real thugs, also lend me one of your daggers. I don't have any weapon on me.” I said with a smile and extended arm, waiting for her to give me her dagger.
”Young lord? Why do you want me to hire real thugs?! I am confident in keeping you alive but it's still too dangerous!” Although she said this with pleading eyes, she still gave me one of her daggers.
I unsheathe it and looked at the condition of the dagger and couldn't help but lightly nod my head.
Curved blade, 1 sharp edge, 1 sharp point. More suitable for slashing than piercing attacks.
”Good, we are going out. As for your question...I want to try something, don't you dare go against my words and if you really want to go against it, say it aloud right now.” I said with a poker face.
Better than you hiring some innocent people and being a cause of their deaths.
”N-no, I will follow the young lord's orders.” She said with a defeated look in her eyes.
She then disappeared and went outside to look for the thugs for hire. From what I have heard about this city, it shouldn't be that hard to find them, hehe.
Anyway, if she will dare to hire just some actors, it will be her problem, not mine. I should also hide this dagger, I can't let my mother or father see it.
I hid the dagger under my black uniform with an insignia on my shoulder in the shape of a phoenix with spread wings. That's the symbol of my house and with that, everyone should be able to recognize who I am. At least in our territory, the Capital city is extremely big and it is divided into different parts. Each part is controlled by different noble families. Our territory belongs to one of the biggest parts of the cities. I have yet to know the reason why our family is so powerful while those 2 ministers tolerate it...Or more like why the emperor tolerated it but now that there are 2 ministers at the power, they are trying to limit our family somehow. The first step was that arranged marriage. My father could decline of course, but it would unnecessarily anger them. He accepted under the condition that the marriage would take place once I am 18 years old. In those years...anything can happen, hehe.
...
As I was leaving our mansion...
”Sweetie, wait!” My mother called out to me, stopping me right in front of the doors leading to the outside of the mansion.
”Yes, mother?” I asked with a warm smile.
”Jeez, what is your father thinking...making you go outside in those clothes. You look like you are going to war.” My mother muttered while massaging the bridge of her nose when she saw my clothes that looked slightly similar to a military uniform.
”Father said that I need to be a good example for our house once I am outside.” I replied to her with a forced smile.