Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 140
Thank you for saving my life and for bringing Roel into his world. Though I had refused the proposal, feeling I could never love her as much as she deserved, that was no longer the case, and don’t worry anymore.
I will love Roel with all my soul, so please forgive my earlier rudeness.
Roel stepped into the garden and turned back, extending her hand.
“Come on!”
Kyden approached and took her hand, and together they headed toward the carriage, leaving their past memories behind.
Just before getting into the carriage, Roel took one last look at her hometown. She felt a surge of nostalgia for the familiar faces and village scenery, wanting to linger a bit longer.
But she knew now that she would have a new home, one that would surely bring her happiness.
* * *
The grand mansion that greeted them was similar to the one they had seen while passing through the count’s territory. It was a large estate that could easily be called a castle.
Inside the walls, there were wide gardens, a training area, the main building, and two annexes.
“Why is the mansion so big? Are we going to use all of it?”
“There are many workers, and it’s probably because of the war.”
As Roel asked with a curious expression, Kyden explained in detail why the mansion was so large.
If enemies pushed this far, the nearby villagers would seek refuge inside the walls to prepare for a defensive battle, which is why the mansion had been built to accommodate them. It was spacious enough to hold dozens of soldiers and over a hundred people.
“It’s scary…”
“The chances of war breaking out right now are slim, but it’s a precaution.”
The carriage passed through the garden and stopped in front of the mansion. Waiting at the door were the temporary agent and several servants, ready to welcome the new master.
Perhaps it was because Kyden entered with dozens of soldiers; the temporary agent looked extremely tense and trembling.
After seeing Kyden’s imposing figure as he stepped down from the carriage, the agent’s face turned pale, as if he might faint.
Hmm, I wonder if he’s been eating well. Seeing the trembling agent made Kyden think calmly.
Fortunately, the agent looked timid enough. After testing the waters a bit, it might be easy to intimidate him into revealing any hidden secrets.
Those who are easily frightened are often easier to handle. As long as he hadn’t committed any grave errors, it might be beneficial to keep him around.
Kyden’s gaze shifted to the side. Next to the agent stood the head of security, who had a nervous expression. He didn’t seem particularly pleasant.
Perhaps it was because a younger knight had appeared. In any case, it was wise to avoid the shameless and cunning. If any weaknesses showed, they would try to take advantage.
Kyden planned to establish his authority early on to ensure smooth relations with the staff. Naturally, humans have an inherent tendency to be wary of outsiders and can be territorial, so he needed to take steps to ensure that Roel would feel comfortable in her new home.
“Madam, please be careful as you come down.”
“Yes? Oh, okay.”
Kyden reached out his hand toward Roel. She was surprised by his formal address, her eyes widening, but then she recalled his earlier request and awkwardly nodded her head.
‘I agreed to address him formally in front of others.’
His gentle and polite tone felt oddly embarrassing, causing a flutter in her chest.
“You’ve had a long journey, and I appreciate your effort.”
The temporary agent stepped forward and bowed. The butler and several servants followed suit, greeting them. Kyden didn’t even glance their way as he entered the mansion.
“Since Madam is tired, let’s head to our room first.”
The room reserved for the master was located on the second floor of the grand mansion. It was spacious and ornate enough that one could run around in it.
It seemed the previous master had quite a knack for draining the people’s resources, or perhaps they had been successful in their business endeavors.
Kyden patted Roel’s back as she hesitated, feeling unfamiliar in the large room.
“Rest here.”
“Where are you going? Aren’t you going to rest?”
“I’ll greet the people here. We’ll need to get along well moving forward.”
“And what about me?”
“It’s okay. You can do that later.”
He probably had his reasons. Roel nodded and sat on the plush red-cushioned sofa.
“I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Okay.”
Kyden left the room immediately after. There was a reason he had left Roel behind after getting guided to the room.
Roel had a delicate personality, unable to speak firmly to others. Watching him interact with the staff might make her feel intimidated and hurt.
So it would be better not to show any unpleasantness. He planned to keep the dirt on his hands.
* * *
As soon as Kyden left, the servants gathered to chatter about their new master.
“He’s huge. His personality probably isn’t ordinary either. We need to be cautious moving forward.”
The head of security scoffed.
“Did you not see him unable to move an inch around his wife? With all that ‘madam, madam’ talk, he’s just a softie. A softie!”
“He looked too intimidating to be just a softie, though…”
While the servants of the mansion were busy gossiping about various topics, the agent gathered the staff. The people gathered in the lobby on the first floor with expressions that they knew something was about to happen.
