At the same moment, inside the Lord's Mansion—

Though it was high noon, the room lay shrouded in gloom. Heavy curtains blocked out the sunlight.

Every inch of space was occupied: odd-shaped bottles and jars, colorful reagents, stacks of ancient books, lumps of ore in various sizes, bizarre specimens, precision tools, strange contraptions, and scratch papers scribbled with dizzying formulas. Despite the clutter, everything was arranged with meticulous order.

The room’s owner—Aisia—sat hunched over a small desk. In her left hand, she held a test tube filled with shifting, multicolored liquid. Her right hand scribbled notes in a journal, her expression utterly absorbed.

Her hands were always sheathed in sapphire-blue gloves—silk-thin, skin-tight, stretching past her elbows. Beneath the fabric, her luminous skin glowed faintly, radiating an eerie allure. Wearing gloves was her habit… or perhaps her quirk. She rarely removed them, even outside the lab. Only during washing or bathing did she take them off—and sometimes not even then.

"Um… Aisha?"

A timid voice came from behind her. Aisia, focused on the test tube, merely hummed in acknowledgment. The voice grew even softer.

"I’ve organized the new materials for you… Would you like to see them?"

"Not now. Just leave them there. Thank you."

Aisia shook her head, still not looking at her stepmother, Luna.

When alone with her stepmother, her tone always carried a chill.

"Is… is there anything else I can help with?"

"No. Please leave. Thank you, Mother."

*Go attend to your own affairs.* Aisia waved her pen hand dismissively.

Luna’s face flickered with an unreadable mix of reluctance and relief. She slipped out of the room, silent as a shadow—

"Luna? You’re here too?"

A deep male voice startled her. The door swung open to reveal Sanelis standing face-to-face with her.

"M-Master! I was just helping Aisha tidy up…"

"Why so tense? Why address your own husband so formally?"

"I… I’m sorry. You just startled me…"

"…Never mind. Go."

"Yes, sir."

Luna bowed quickly and hurried away. Sanelis watched her retreating back with icy disdain, muttering, "Such a dull woman."

Only when his gaze settled on Aisia, seated deep within the dim room, did a trace of warmth flicker in his eyes.

"Lunchtime, Aisha."

"…Understood, Father. No need to trouble yourself. A servant or Pierskori would suffice."

"But I wanted to see you."

Without a sound, without footsteps, Sanelis materialized behind Aisia. His eyes softened with paternal affection as his hand gently stroked her ink-blue hair—too tenderly.

Aisia’s body trembled slightly. She set down the test tube but kept writing.

"Still experimenting today, my dear Aisha?"

"Yes… refining a high-grade adhesive for forging magic tools."

"You truly love alchemy…"

Sanelis’s hand slid from her hair down to rest atop her left hand.

Aisia felt the rough texture through her glove but showed no reaction. Her silence was permission. His fingers crept upward along her arm like a large spider crawling over sapphire silk.

Just as his touch neared her bare shoulder, Aisia finally spoke.

"Father, please—"

"Ah… ah… of course."

Sanelis withdrew his hand, wearing a smile that blurred between warmth and something unsettling.

"You’re seventeen. Only one year until adulthood… Why rush things, hmm?"

"But—"

Aisia frowned, about to protest, when—

"Good day, Lord Cortis."

A girl’s voice cut through the tension.

"…Who?"

Sanelis turned sharply, irritation flashing across his face. Only his fixation on Aisia had masked the intruder’s presence. In the doorway stood a maid—new, by her uniform—with dreamlike, translucent features, silver-gray hair, and a flawless figure. A rare beauty.

But Sanelis held little interest in women beyond his daughter. He glared coldly.

"A new maid? What business do you have here?!"

"Eep…"

The girl flinched, shrinking back. Yet she forced herself upright, voice trembling with humility: "The inspection team awaits you for lunch. They sent me to—"

"*They* sent *you*?"

"I… happened to be passing the dining hall…"

"And how did you find me here?!"

"I… I asked the senior maids along the way… Someone saw you…"

"…Hmph!"

Sanelis’s aura surged. The poor maid’s legs buckled. She collapsed, quaking in fear before her furious master.

"Never mind… I can’t be bothered with you!"

He shot her one last glare and strode out, leaving the trembling maid and a stunned Aisia behind.

"Um… Nelis, was it? Are you alright?"

After a long pause, Aisia rushed over to help the maid up.

"Thank you, Young Miss. I’m fine… just…"

"It’s alright. Father’s always like that. Others would’ve fainted on the spot."

Nelis steadied herself, hastily smoothing her rumpled uniform. Her face was calm, but her eyes betrayed forced composure.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave, Young Miss."

"Wait."

"…Yes?"

"How much… did you see just now?"

"…"

"…It doesn’t matter. Father is… like that. He hasn’t crossed the line yet, but… Forget I said anything. Just remember—don’t tell anyone. He’s capable of anything."

"Yes…"

"Also, stay in your room or near me these next few days. Avoid being alone. I’ll inform your supervisor."

"Thank you for your concern, Young Miss…"

"Don’t work today. Rest. The battle will pressure from a Great Battle Spirit isn’t trivial."

"Understood."

Nelis bowed deeply, relief flashing across her face before she hurried away.

Alone again in the dim room, Aisia’s gaze drifted over the bottles, reagents, books, ores, specimens, tools, contraptions, and formula-scribbled papers.

Finally, she yanked open the curtains. Sunlight flooded in. She sighed, staring at the bright sky.

"Hm?"

Commotion erupted below.

Several men in Knighthood inspection uniforms rushed into the mansion courtyard, shouting anxiously. Their faces were etched with dread—as if facing imminent doom.

"…What’s happening out there now?"