Valencia nodded with affirmation.

  “I see…”

  William bowed and closed his eyes.

  “If Lord Kael does anything wrong to you, let me know. I’ll let the Duchess know, and she’ll lecture him!” he said with a cheer.

  Valencia’s eyes widened.

  “Why would he do anything wrong?”

  William bit his lower lip, looking left and right. He leaned closer and covered the side of his lip.

  “Because he could be a bit… crazy,” William whispered.

  She paused, baffled. She looked at him as he took a step back. Then she let out a soft chuckle. He stopped and stared at her, blushing.

  “I guess I’m not the only one who thinks he’s crazy,” Valencia said.

  William chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

  “Heh… yeah. Although working for him can make you go crazy, he’s not a bad person,” he added.

  “How so? Why do you care about him so much, Sir William?”

  William’s eyes darkened as he swallowed his shame.

  “Well… I had no aura and was bullied at the Academy. Lord Karl befriended me anyway and showed me the value of my skills…” William smiled faintly.

  Valencia stared at him, pondering.

  “But what’s wrong with being bullied?” she asked. William looked at her, confused as she continued. “Everyone bullied me for being an F-rank Guide all the time. I thought it was laughable.”

  William observed her facial expression. Not a single sign of bitterness indicated that she disliked being bullied. She’s so calm about being bullied… is she… crazy too?! He was flabbergasted.

  Valencia tilted her head as she read his face, and she smiled.

  “People do think I’m crazy… so maybe that’s why I must avoid crazy people.”

  William choked on his laugh as he nodded.

  “I… I see—wait! But you must consider Lord Kael’s proposal—”

  “You agreed that Young Duke is also crazy. If both of us become your master, I think you’ll suffer more, Sir William. Please speak to him as I won’t consider it,” Valencia bowed.

  He opened his mouth and raised his hand—

  BAM.

  Valencia slammed the door closed.

  “Wait…” William groaned, running a hand through his hair and tugging it back in frustration. He took a deep breath, muttering. “Why?! He’s crazy, but he needs stability to survive!”

  Soon, William returned to Kael’s side and reported the conversation. Kael punished William for talking nonsense by banishing him from entering the main house for a while.

  The sky gloomed as a strike of lightning chimed through.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Valencia sat by the door, glancing at the window as soon as the rain fell. She sighed and pulled her knees to her chest. She rested her head and stretched her left hand to the side.

  “Mother, should I trust him? Will he really protect me from the Royal Family? Or… will they find out about me and force me to die as a sacrifice like Father?” Valencia mumbled solemnly. A spark of purple void flickered like a firework at the tip of her fingernails. What if I just kill them all with this power? The distorted voice inside her wondered, as anger rose.

  “Not a bad solution…” the shadow’s voice chuckled.

  Valencia clenched her hand and looked up with her hollow eyes.

  “How so? Did you just want me to eliminate everyone?” Valencia dared to ask, steadying herself.

  The shadow walked closer to her and tilted its blank face.

  “Why not? They are bothersome anyway…”

  Valencia’s jaw tightened.

  “What is it that you want from me?”

  The shadow cackled as it reached its hand over her eyes.

  “Freedom… however, that child earlier had something in him that felt different…”

  “Different?”

  “Who was he? His aura tasted delicious.”

  Valencia stiffened as she rolled her eyes.

  “Do you mean Young Duke, Kael Izekiah?”

  The shadow glared at Valencia, although the eyes were hidden in the darkness.

  “Izekiah…? Why does that name sound familiar?” it wondered.

  CLANG.

  Valencia held her breath and widened her eyes. The shadow faded.

  “How are we able to search through the slums for one lady?” a voice outside asked with irritation in his tone.

  “Let’s just search for her before she disappears…” another stated, sighing heavily.

  “What’s so important about her?”

  “Don’t you know? She is an unregistered Esper…”

  Valencia gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. She panted. Are they searching for me? Who is?

  “What? And she’s important because?”

  “Remember the Demon King eighteen years ago?” one chuckled, shaking his head. “The one and only S-Void Esper went to battle it alone… but the gate for the Demon King cracked open a few years after his death.”

  Both of them laughed in disbelief.

  “So much for an Esper… they may have superhuman powers, but how could he be so weak?”

  Tears fell down her face, her jaws tightening. I will kill you to show you how weak my father’s power is! She stood.

  CRASH.

  The two knights darted their heads, searching around.

  “Did you hear that?”

  Valencia’s eyes gleamed purple, yet they turned entirely black as she raised her hands.

  “Search inside!” another demanded.

  Valencia’s heartbeat thudded, yet she remained steady as she waited for the door to open. I will obliterate you!

  The knights crept closer to the door, reaching for the doorknob. As soon as one held the doorknob, they looked at each other and nodded.

  BAM.

  The knight slammed the door open—

  Nothing.

  No one.

  The knights groaned as they stepped inside and searched everywhere for any signs.

  “There’s nothing here…”

  “Not one person…” the other one sighed.

  They walked out of there and continued their search.

  While—

  A hand covered Valencia’s mouth as her eyes widened.

  Lupis.

  “Are you fucking insane?” Lupis whispered, panting. “Your mother warned you to hide this power, and you’re about to wield it on the Imperial Knights, whom the Crown Prince sent?”

  Valencia gulped as she turned pale. Dame Lupis?!

  Lupis released her mouth.

  “How… did you know?” Valencia asked.

  Lupis locked eyes with Valencia.

  “How could I not know?” her voice distorted into a man’s voice. The clothes’ colors faded to a navy blue. Her face… wait, his face!

  Valencia shoved him away as he smirked.

  “I haven’t fully introduced myself to you, Miss Elyane…” he said. He grabbed Valencia’s hand and kissed her knuckles as he bowed. “My real name is Eldrich Lupis Harrison.”

  Valencia stumbled back as she fell to the ground.

  “The… Tower Master?”

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