The carriage ride back to Duke Wudewen's mansion was smooth. Only the empty square pastry box bore witness to the Holy Lady's earlier "atrocities."

Derek was utterly surprised. He hadn't expected the frail Teresia to devour an entire box of pastries.

As for Teresia's appetite, Derek felt only one thing—fear.

If Teresia ever turned evil, she might just become the final boss of the "Fate: Gluttony" storyline.

Teresia had no self-awareness about her appetite. After finishing, she gently rubbed her slightly swollen belly right in front of Derek, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction. She looked blissfully content, as if ready to rest after a full meal.

Perhaps content, Teresia fell silent. Derek was happy for the quiet.

Soon, they arrived back at the Duke's mansion.

Teresia's way of getting out of the carriage was still so clumsy. It made one want to grab her and give her proper training.

But now wasn't the time for "training play." He had more important matters to attend to.

After getting out, Teresia looked at Derek with confusion, seemingly waiting for his instructions.

Derek pointed to the magic potions and alchemy notebooks bought from Jade Golden Phoenix Street this time, signaling her to help carry them back to his room.

Perhaps full of energy from eating, Teresia obediently sprang into action.

After sending Teresia away, Derek walked alone to Xinzel's side.

Xinzel was about to drive off to park the carriage. Seeing Derek appear before him, he bowed politely. "What are your orders, Young Master Derek?"

"Xinzel, do you remember that little slave named Sophia at the Straga Auction House?"

Xinzel glanced at Derek, paused briefly, lost in thought. Then he said, "I remember."

"After dark, go back to the Straga Auction House and buy her for me. Here's the money needed for the auction. I think... it should be enough."

Derek unfastened the money pouch from his waist and tossed it to Xinzel.

Xinzel caught it, felt its weight, and frowned slightly.

He didn't agree immediately. "Young Master Derek, adding servants to the mansion requires Duke Wudewen's knowledge."

True to his role as the mansion's head steward, Xinzel could express even the most unpleasant words gently.

In truth, he meant: Duke Wudewen didn't allow adding people arbitrarily without permission.

Get permission?

That was just Xinzel's polite phrasing. His real meaning was no.

He knew Duke Wudewen's cruel nature. The Duke didn't care about commoners' lives, let alone slaves'.

If Sophia appeared before him, the Duke might burn her on a whim if displeased.

Xinzel refused to protect Sophia—the mansion was a dangerous place. Not everyone could survive here.

Derek had naturally considered this. "It's unnecessary. Since I'm sending you at night, I don't intend for Father to know. After dinner, take Teresia—that silly girl—to Jade Golden Phoenix Street under the pretext of fetching her luggage. After secretly buying Sophia, go to Light Village where Kana is. Hand Sophia over to Kana's care. Give all the remaining money to Kana as payment for looking after her."

Xinzel thought for a moment. This was feasible if his actions stayed secret from Duke Wudewen. But...

Was this really the right thing to do?

Staring at Derek, Xinzel said solemnly, "Young Master Derek, I serve Duke Wudewen. Acting behind his back fills me with guilt. If the Duke knew of your actions, he would be deeply disappointed. Young Master Derek, are you sure about this?"

Seeing Xinzel's serious expression, Derek sighed inwardly: This old man is such a good actor! He clearly wants to stab Duke Wudewen in the heart, yet claims "great guilt" to my face? When he climbed the tree to spy on me last time, why wasn't he guilty then? And now, with a chance to do good, shouldn't Xinzel be overjoyed inside?

Sigh, why can't you learn from the great Holy Lady? She hops out of carriages, munches noisily, and shows her bratty side openly—lively and cheerful.

"Xinzel, I don't care about Father's opinion of me. But... Xinzel..."

Derek raised his hand, pointing straight at Xinzel's chest. "Look deep into your heart. What is it that you truly feel guilty about?"

Xinzel, who had remained calm, shuddered violently!

Derek hadn't used force, yet it caused a massive upheaval within him.

After being humiliated into serving Duke Wudewen, Xinzel had lived behind a mask—a mask of hypocrisy, a mask of pain.

Every time he saw the Duke commit evil deeds and couldn't stop them, his heart was tormented.

But he had no way out—the powerful Duke made him feel utterly powerless.

Gradually, he grew numb. He unconsciously compromised on some things, watching coldly as events unfolded.

His heart was weary, teetering on the edge of a cliff. One misstep would send him plummeting into an abyss, beyond redemption.

He never expected this child before him to be the one to awaken him...

Derek Wudewen!

"I understand. I will handle everything properly. I won't fail your expectations, Young Master Derek."

Xinzel no longer feigned reluctance. He bowed respectfully to Derek, his calm eyes regaining their luster.

Seeing Xinzel willing to take on the task, Derek was overjoyed.

This way, he'd buy "wasteful girl" Sophia. If all went well, he'd have an excellent alchemist under his command.

Besides, after buying Sophia, plenty of money would remain. Giving Kana so much "upkeep money" had another purpose...

Bribery.

Derek planned a money offensive against Kana!

As long as Kana's impression of him improved, even if Teresia hated him, things wouldn't get too tense.

Targeting Teresia directly?

No. After some interaction, Derek felt it was too difficult.

First, he really wasn't good with words.

Second, he never understood the Holy Lady's way of thinking.

It wasn't that Teresia had intricate thoughts or a complex mind. Teresia gave him the opposite extreme...

Derek didn't know how to describe it specifically. In short, he just couldn't figure her out.

It felt like... Teresia often had an empty head, as if no thoughts at all.

A woman whose thoughts couldn't be guessed, whose joys and sorrows couldn't be fathomed, was the hardest to deal with.

So, he decided not to bother with her at all.

Speaking of Teresia, he almost forgot something...

"Xinzel, there's one more thing I must ask... Spend more time teaching that new silly girl."

Hearing this, Xinzel nodded repeatedly.

He deeply agreed with the decision to educate Teresia.