Chapter 374
“Sakura. Lord Leonis told me this is a gift from Marquis Darwin Griffinheart. Lord Leonis said it had basic beginner information about how to engrave materials with mana.” Maid Xu remembered Sakura might not know how to read. “Do you know how to read? Ask me if you require my assistance?”
Sakura received the parchment. As she opened the scroll, the negative feelings of sadness and emptiness were replaced with enthusiasm and inspiration. Even if Vincent was going to stay living with her, she might not see him that much.
Sakura was somewhat of a perfectionist woman. If she was going to do something, she wanted to do it in a near-perfect state.
Such personality meant that she would spend more time in the workshop to try and perfect her new craft than staying in the mansion to eat, interact with the others, and sleep.
Sakura was secretly a workaholic, but Vincent and Kazumi would discover this on their next visit on Sunday.
“I can read most of the easy words written on this, but I will need help with some difficult words. ” Sakura said. Her eyes were burning with the desire to rush to the workshop and stay until she felt satisfied.
Maid Xu now had another job added to her property and people management list. She was glad Yula and Sofy were around.
Maid Xu couldn’t live without them anymore. It only took a week for her to become dependent on their assistance, between cleaning, taking care of the children, and other necessities.
.....
Maid Xu raised her head and looked at the second floor. ‘Zefine mentioned owing cattle. I hope she can join us because the construction of the small barn should start soon. We need her help even if she has one hand.’ She thought after feeling the pressure of so much work.
*Lusterfall Noble Academy*
The two carriages with the Lionheart emblem arrived more than two hours later. Preparing early was a good idea, or they would’ve arrived late and possibly been unable to register their attendance.
After passing by the first large gate, a long wide path with a mesmerizing view of flowers, well-maintained bushes, and small trees greeted them. There were statues crafted by master craftsmen and lamposts much more extravagant than the ones in the high-class districts.
Such a luxurious path gave the impression of being a road leading to a royal’s home.
Later, the carriage arrived in a circular open area. There was a small roundabout at the center, and in the middle of it were ten statues of men sitting on a throne.
The men wore a crown on their heads. Some had a sword, a shield, a scroll, or a ball with an element symbol carved in their hands. It most likely depicted what the previous kings of Lusterfall Kingdom were good at.
At the sides of this large area were a lot of carriages parked. Many young and old nobles accompanied by their servants were waking towards a large gate.
The gate was open for the students to enter. The gate was large, and the doors appeared to be made out of metal from a distance.
Vincent and Kazumi were amazed after estimating the vast area to be around the size of a soccer field.
Sofy followed Lilith’s parent’s carriage. She soon parked behind theirs.
“I will come for everyone every Sunday. Please stay safe. I don’t want my savior and master to forget about me.” Sofy said. She looked at Vincent with a worried frown.
[Sofy is worried, but I guess the others were too. I hope Sakura will not miss us that much. I worry she will become heartbroken after eight days of not being with us.]
-I think so, too... but I can’t risk her life.-
[Yeah, I know.]
However, Vincent and Kazumi didn’t know that at this current moment, Sakura was in her workshop with Maid Xu.
Heartbroken? Sakura was already lost in her inspiration and forgot all about spending eight days without Vincent, Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Plow.
“Thank you for worrying about me, but I also hope you and everyone in the mansion will be fine.” Vincent climbed down the carriage and looked a Sofy. “I will see you on Sunday. Oh, and Sofy, your driving skills are excellent. I enjoyed the ride.”
Sofy blushed when Vincent praised her. This was the first non-lustful compliment she had received from a man in all her life.
Sofy was ninety years old, but after living her life as a slave, Vincent was the first man to treat her like an ordinary woman. The heart that always raced with fear began to flutter excitedly when Vincent entered her life.
[Sofy is a great find. We have a reliable driver in our people we can trust list.
[But, I never thought that spending a lifetime whipping people would help in leading horses with the faintest touch of the reins as if her every movement is enchanted to control or dominate.]
[No wonder you rejected her advances when she asked to provide night services, hehe.]
-...-
Vincent didn’t want to respond. He took a few steps and opened the carriage’s door. He extended his hand and helped Ester and Iris descend the few steps.
Next was Lupa. She was shapeshifted in her white wolf form. She looked at Vincent, and it was apparent she wanted to be helped to leave the carriage as well.
*Sigh* Vincent gave Plow to Ester and went to lift the spoiled Lupa.
“Remember to be a good girl today and listen to Ester all the time.” He whispered while lifting her quickly with his strength and putting her on the ground.
[Best girl Lupa is better than that little fox. I will show my mate how better wolves are.]
Lupa glanced at Plow and looked at Plow with a prideful gaze. Plow puffed her cheeks cutely and rubbed her head against Ester. The two rivals in attention were at it again.
The four of them went to Lilith’s parent’s carriage. There they saw Lilith and her parents hugging as if they were not going to see each other again.
After waiting for their emotional goodbye to end, Leonis gave Ester a small bag of holding. Inside was the wooden stand for the messenger Prego Bird to track and find its way to the academy’s mailroom.
The parents couldn’t enter as soldiers denied the entrance of anyone without the academy’s uniform. Leonis and Teresa asked Vincent to protect their daughter.
Then both looked at Ester, Lupa, and Iris while asking each one of them to help their daughter and not abandon her if it gets complicated.
“They mess with my wife. They mess with me. ” Vincent responded reassuringly.
“I lived with Lilith, and I know how good, kind, and caring of a person she is. I am pleased to call her my sister.” Ester responded with a warm smile.
*Woof, Woof* [No one touches my sister with best girl Lupa nearby.] Lupa responded, yet only Vincent and KAzumi could hear her response.
“I-I will do my best.” Iris nervously responded. Her manner of speech felt a little unreliable. However, Iris is the first one to risk her life in any dangerous situation with her selfless nature.
Plow felt a little bit left out, so she cutely barked and responded, “Plow will help too.” *Pho*
Soon, Vincent, Ester with Plow between her arms, Lupa in her white wolf form, Iris with Zero lazily resting on her head, and Lilith passed through the gate.
They had to wait in a long queue of noble students and their servants. All the students waiting in front of them were between the age of eighteen and nineteen. It appeared that only first years had to attend a day before and register their first attendance.
Fifteen minutes later, their turn to register arrived.
Vincent stood in front of a desk with a pile of papers, an ink bottle, a quill, a bloodstone, and an inspection gemstone on it. An old man sat in on the other side. To his left were four attendants wearing a maid outfit. On their necks was the mark of the slave curse.
Vincent was curious as to whom the maids belonged to, so he used Inspection to check and remember the surname of their owner. He hoped it wasn’t a bad person, but to his surprise, their master was Darwin Griffinheart.
The academy’s headmaster protected the maids. The chances of mistreatment were negligible in a place where young, arrogant nobles were the norm.
The old man asked for his document and identification. Vincent gave him his and Lilith’s.
The old man frowned when he received the document and identification of two people. It was standard procedure to register one person at a time.
The old man looked at both Vincent and Lilith carefully. Both had the same insignia on their clothes. He also noticed Lilith averting her gaze when she noticed the old man looking at her.
The old man felt the insignia on their clothes was familiar, so he lowered his gaze and took a look at the surnames of the two nobles in front of him. Soon, a surprised expression appeared on his face as the Lionheart surname was currently in the mouths of many.
The old man understood immediately who the two nobles in front of him were. The rumors were true. The Lionheart widowed daughter married another man who married into nobility in a week’s time.
Furthermore, a miracle happened on their wedding day. The rumor was how the daughter of the truthful lion awakened after marrying for the second time.
Unintentionally, their marriage started a trend that remarrying could bring good luck.
Many widows and widowers are still waiting for their stroke of good luck.