Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“You will be protected by the Stein Knightage, of course, but His Highness has decided that you should have a personal knight to be with you at all times.” He coughed into his fist before taking a drink. “Would you like to trial them in the same method as your attendants?”
“No need.” I sipped my tea and gently set the teacup back down on the saucer. “Ark, there was a young lady with the knights who came to greet me today at the magic circles, but I wasn’t able to get her name.”
He raised his eyebrows in what I imagined was his version of surprise before quickly cooling his expression again. “Do you know what she looks like, my lady?”
“I do. She has blue eyes and long silvery-blonde hair that was tied up in a ponytail.”
Ark paused, and something flashed through his eyes. “I will enquire with the knightage and have someone report back to you.”
Hmm.
What was with his reaction?
I was from House Vermillion, the Sword of the Empire, a noble house that produced a great many Imperial Knights—I knew a talented swordsperson when I saw one.
There was something about that young woman, and it wasn’t just how she looked at me. She held herself in a way that screamed powerful, and I needed powerful.
“No need. I would like to visit the training grounds tomorrow to observe their training. Would that be possible?”
“Yes, my lady. I will arrange it.”
“Perfect. Thank you so much, Ark.” I set my teacup on the table. “I’ll rest now. I’d like to have my dinner in my room tonight.”
He got to his feet, and Pippa and Helen followed. “Of course, Madam. Would you like to bathe before or after you eat?”
“After. Please send Bella and Annie for that.”
They all left after Ark confirmed he would, and it wasn’t until the door clicked shut that I dropped down on the sofa and sighed.
As I’d suspected, I wasn’t mentally prepared for how crazy this role would be. It wasn’t even one I wanted, yet I’d been learning my staff positions for what seemed like hours.
One thing was for sure—Stein Castle was just like any other noble household. Politics were heavily at play, and there were those here who weren’t happy with my presence.
Sir Hayes couldn’t be the only one.
If I was going to survive with my sanity intact, I needed to know more about the people who worked here.
I’d read more than enough novels in my past life to know that there was always one disgruntled employee looking to poison the main character.
I wasn’t the main character in this world, but I was in my life.
And for me, that was more than enough to suspect everyone in this castle.
Even those who were nice to me.
***
The next week passed smoothly.
Bella and Annie quickly adapted to life at Stein Castle, and I busied myself with learning about the operations of the castle. I spent a lot of time visiting with the staff so I could memorise their names, and my sincere compliments to the kitchen staff had resulted in the head chef apparently crying with happiness in the pantry.
Not only that, but I also made a point to visit the knights’ training ground every day to observe them.
I wasn’t sure what else I could do without Kalon being here. I didn’t know what authority, if any, had been granted to me in terms of the household, but I was also wary of exerting such a thing without him present.
Not that I cared if he were here or not. My escape plan was still my focus—I had every intention of delaying the wedding under the guise of me learning my role, and I was going to drag that education out as long as humanly possible.
That didn’t mean I wouldn’t collect allies along the way.
The maids had been informed of my intention to rotate them weekly to choose suitable attendants, and they’d been nothing but sweet to me during my explorations of the castle. It almost as felt as if some of them would personally put on a suit of armour to catch me a dragon if I requested it, and I didn’t even know if dragons existed in this world.
Even the Stein Knights had put on their best efforts when they’d seen me observing them. Presumably because they weren’t just showing up for the lady of the house, but for a lady of House Vermillion at the same time. Never mind that I couldn’t wield a sword to save my life—I was a fan of archery in my past life, but I hadn’t quite built up the confidence to use the archery range yet.
But somehow, I’d built up a rapport with the knights. They were always happy to see me and greeted me with gusto, although that might have been because I’d exploited the head chef’s happiness to bring them treats. Nevertheless, I’d truly enjoyed watching them push themselves to their limits, but nobody in the knightage had captured my attention like the silver-haired lady had.