53 His Truths Are Many (1/2)

The sound of a single person's yawn echoed across the pristine, regal halls of the Evergreen Estate. It was quite a sight to behold; the sublime, beautiful portraits of past Kingscrown family members, the highly expensive-looking furniture, and the ornate construction of, well, everything.

In Reed's eyes, everything looked like it probably cost several million credits, possibly more. His former street-rat mindset still remained even after he'd come into a fortune. It was his greatest asset back in the slums: hard-earned lessons that he followed in order to increase his chance of surviving a normal day in the worst parts of his hometown.

If you don't own something, don't fucking touch it.

If you want to get your beaten up or even killed, ignore this rule. Keep to yourself and keep what you own close to you…

Showing off wealth is the same as pinning a target on your ass.

There will always be someone who will want to have what you possess. Always. It follows then, that the best course of action is to never reveal what you possess…

Above all else, practicality over aesthetics.

A sword made of pure gold, embellished with all the realm's finest gems may look gorgeous, but a solid steel or even iron sword will save your life in a fight. Let us not forget that you will also likely be killed for that golden sword if you had it, too. People have been killed for much less in the slums.

He would have preferred something less extravagant, but it was a gift so he couldn't really complain. After all, he had not spent a single credit on the goddamned manor; that was what he was happiest about.

When he entered the dining hall, a suave, deep voice said, ”Good morning, Master Reed. I take it that Lady Maya has not woken up yet, milord?”

Reed nodded and said, ”Yeah, same as always. Sleeping beauty probably won't wake up for a while. Leave her be, or I'll be the one to suffer.”

”As you wish, milord. I'll have her meal put aside in the kitchens until she rises.” The man gestured towards the long dining table and said, ”Please take a seat, milord, the chefs will be here shortly with your morning meal.

Arcano was a mysterious fellow that Reed had not been able to pin down since he'd arrived at the estate. He was the head butler and oversaw everyone who was employed at the estate. A man who did not express many emotions, if at all. Tall, dark and cold to the bone — a man who put his profession over everything else, even himself.

Reed also noticed something very interesting the first time he'd met Arcano. An aura of Anima — a strong one at that, too. Weaker than old man Axtorius's or Violett's aura, but it was still much stronger than any piddling contender's aura. He was undoubtedly a conqueror and yet, he was a butler…

I mean, I get it. The Kingscrown family's royalty and all, but I didn't know that they were that powerful, to the point that they could hire someone like Arcano to be a fucking butler!

To have the power to hire a living weapon of mass destruction… serve breakfast and manage a bunch of mortal workers… I-I can't even…

”…Say, Arcano…”

”Yes, milord?”

”How did someone like you en—”

A chill ran down his spine. Before he had even realized it, Mira had already entered the dining room as he pushed a gaudy-looking cart. He noticed that he never heard her enter the room until she was beside him. It often scared the living daylights out of him because he could never detect her presence.

Reed didn't understand why, but he sometimes felt a peculiar sensation when Mira looked at him. His back tingled and goosebumps formed on his arms like he'd been exposed to an instant chill.

He wasn't a fool and had thoroughly checked Mira out when he first experienced that unique sensation. She had a feeble Anima aura that was even weaker than a trainee's aura. It was amazing that she even possessed an aura in the first place as a mortal. Reed guessed that it was likely due to the inborn affinity that her race possessed, though.

”Master Reed, is something the matter?” said Mira as she blankly stared at Reed.

”I just like looking at you, Mira. You're always pleasing to the eye, haha…” Reed calmly smiled and said, ”So, what's for breakfast?”

Violett's servants were very unique individuals — it seemed that they all possessed secrets of their own. Reed did not know how to feel about that. He'd prefer to not have potential threats to his life work for him, but he trusted that the Kingscrown family would never hire an enemy assassin or spy into their ranks…

Only time would tell whether he could trust them… and the Kingscrown family.

Nothing is for free. Nothing. You just haven't been told the price yet.

His code of truths had never failed him. They spoke to him whenever he felt something was wrong. He trusted them far more than he did himself…