Xinzel was talking with Kana, and Teresia had been listening the whole time.
At first, she didn’t understand.
Later, she gradually figured it out.
Derek had saved her mother.
That meant her feeling was right—Derek was a good person!
But…
Something still felt off.
Especially when she first entered the mansion. Derek had been extra cold then.
He was still cold now, but back then, he’d felt harsher. Colder.
Realizing Xinzel could clear her doubts, Teresia couldn’t help but ask, “Uncle Xinzel, if that’s true, why did Young Master Derek treat me so harshly when I first arrived?”
“Young Master Derek had his reasons.”
Recalling what he’d seen from the tree that night, Xinzel sighed deeply. “Duke Wudewen is brutal and strict with Young Master Derek. If you’d walked out of his room happily, the Duke would’ve scolded him fiercely. Worse… not just you, but your mother Kana would’ve suffered too. In my view, thanks to Young Master Derek’s careful planning, you made it through that night safely.”
“Oh, I see. But he could’ve told me beforehand! I’d have cooperated—I’d have pretended to be miserable. Why did he have to make me cry?”
Teresia pouted and placed her hands on her hips, clearly upset.
*Cooperate?*
Watching Teresia’s childish face, Xinzel silently sighed. This kid was so naive.
Her amateurish acting could fool no one.
Compared to Derek, who’d thought everything through and guided her carefully—he was truly mature!
“Perhaps Young Master Derek didn’t want you to bear that burden,” Xinzel explained.
Teresia fell into deep thought.
“It’s the same with Sophia. Young Master Derek met her at the auction house. Seeing her pitiful state, he decided to buy her. But since bringing her to the Duke’s mansion was risky, he asked me to act at night and secretly bring her here. Kana, this is the money Young Master Derek gave you.”
Xinzel handed Kana the leftover coins from Sophia’s purchase.
Feeling their heavy weight, Kana panicked. “Th-this… how can I accept Young Master Derek’s money?”
“Consider it compensation. Your mistake was unintentional. It’s also payment for taking care of Sophia. Take it—without this, none of you—Teresia, Sophia, or you—would survive easily.”
“Steward Xinzel, I… I…”
Overwhelmed, Kana didn’t know what to say. She knelt down and kowtowed. “Please, thank Young Master Derek for me!”
“Kana, no need for this.”
Xinzel rushed to help her up.
…
In this unfamiliar place, Sophia watched everything unfold. Her heart felt an unprecedented shock.
At first, she’d been confused. But as they talked, she slowly understood—they were describing Young Master Derek’s actions.
She was stunned!
Her past life had only known family indifference.
But tonight, she witnessed something noble.
It shone like the rising sun driving away darkness, brilliant across the vast sky.
Frankly, Sophia had mostly noticed Derek’s handsome looks before. He’d seemed like a dazzling prince from a fairy tale, someone to admire.
But now, everything changed…
Derek had become a solitary hero standing tall between heaven and earth!
Remembering his cold, world-dominating gaze, Sophia felt it fit perfectly.
The more she thought of him, the warmer her heart grew. She looked forward to him more than ever…
…
*Has Xinzel finished the task?*
*It should go smoothly. A Gold Rank Assassin must excel at stealth.*
Back at the Duke’s mansion, Derek worried.
He didn’t know Xinzel had not only succeeded but also played storyteller.
Derek’s unease had a reason.
Just moments ago, someone had messed with his mind…
Xinzel had left. As night deepened, Derek prepared to examine his new purchases.
Then, a visitor arrived.
“Enter.”
Derek replied indifferently to the gentle knock.
The door opened. A golden-haired man stepped in.
He wore a tall hat and spotless white attire—like a chef.
Derek studied him. Memories surfaced. His heart skipped a beat. Panic surged!
This was Yeger, the mansion’s head chef, famed for his cooking.
*On the surface, yes…*
*In truth, this guy wasn’t simple!*
From game lore, Derek knew Yeger was a deranged murderer.
He’d encountered Yeger in his past life—a boss-like elite enemy.
Yeger was also a Sinful Follower of the Witch Cult. His rank was lower than Duke Wudewen’s, holding only the title “Gourmet.”
“Gourmet” didn’t mean skilled cooking. It described what Yeger did after killing people…
Derek knew the Duke’s mansion was a villain’s den. But he never expected a freak like Yeger to cook for him!
And why visit so late? Did Yeger want to “share recipes” with him?
“Head Chef Yeger, paying respects to Young Master Derek.”
Yeger bowed politely, smiling calmly. Unlike ordinary servants, he showed no fear.
“What do you want?”
Yeger stayed composed. Derek was anything but.
Cursed to hide his emotions, he appeared perfectly calm.
“I heard Young Master Derek was dissatisfied with breakfast today. I came to gather feedback for improvements.”
*Did I?*
Derek puzzled. Then he recalled…
That morning, he’d tested if writing could convey his words. A servant had rolled the food cart away frantically.
He’d treated it like a circus act. He never thought it’d draw Yeger here.
“Unnecessary. My complaint was about the servant’s service, not the food.”
“I see. Not the food—what a relief.”
Yeger smiled again.
That smile felt deeply creepy to Derek.
“Yeger, leave if that’s all. Don’t bother me with trivial matters again.”
Though inwardly terrified, Derek’s surface arrogance dripped with disdain.
“I’ll take my leave then.”
Unfazed, Yeger exited and closed the door politely.
But once the door shut, his expression shifted—from gentle to twisted.
“I really want to taste Young Master Derek’s flavor… but the Duke forbids it…”
Yeger’s eyes narrowed, a trace of sinister glint flashing.
He licked his lips, bloodthirsty.
…
Inside the room, Derek remained “calm.”
*Ugh, this mansion is no place for humans. Too scary!*
*Why does Duke Wudewen collect such freaks?*
Sure, he was the Duke’s son. Powerful. But Yeger was a psycho killer.
Do you know what “psycho” means?
Crazy. Uncontrollable sometimes!
What if Yeger took a liking to him on a whim? He might attack directly.
With his current strength, Derek couldn’t handle an elite enemy like Yeger. One hit, and he’d be cooked.
And besides Yeger, the mansion probably hid other monsters.
No. This place was too dangerous. He had to plan carefully—and escape.
