It was already lunchtime by the time Aiden, after finishing his tasteless meal, went to look for Serena.

He found her in his room, alongside the maid tasked with training her.

They were changing the sheets on his bed, and Serena wore a broad smile on her face.

When he entered the room, Serena squealed in surprise and joy, rushing toward him with open arms.

But Aiden, prepared, sidestepped her, letting her miss him entirely.

She looked up at him with a playful, almost smug grin, as if it were all a game.

Aiden’s gaze hardened.

The nerve—she’d known him for such a short time and already thought she could act so familiar.

He realized he needed to set boundaries now, or else her behavior would spiral out of control.

His reservations lay mostly with the crow, not with her, yet even so, Aiden despised being touched.

Since his arrival, he hadn’t let anyone lay a single hand on him.

In a firm voice and with a stern expression, he addressed her.

"Serena, enough."

The smile faded from her face, her expression uncertain as she sensed something was wrong.

"From now on, if you’re going to stay with me, you need to behave," he continued, his tone unwavering.

Serena’s head drooped, her lips trembling as she listened. He lifted one finger, ignoring her reaction as he continued.

"Rule number one: no touching. I am your master, and you are my maid. You must conduct yourself accordingly."

Serena flinched at his stern tone, her eyes filling with tears as she looked up at him.

Raising a second finger, he went on.

"Rule number two: you will do everything I tell you. I have no use for someone who doesn’t obey me. Do you understand?"

At these words, tears began streaming down her face, her body trembling as she wept.

Her breaths came in short, uneven gasps, her hands clutching the fabric of her dress tightly, her shoulders shaking with each sob.

"Rule number three," he said, lifting another finger, "speak only when spoken to."

His gaze bore into her, his tone unyielding.

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Serena’s sobs grew softer as she struggled to hold back more tears, nodding slightly to show her understanding.

But before he could continue, the maid beside her spoke up hesitantly, “But, sir, she’s been trying her be—”

Slap.

Aiden’s hand cracked sharply across the maid’s cheek, his voice rising as he addressed her.

"And who are you to interrupt me?"

His glare intensified, his eyes seeming to glow as he cradled his reddened hand from the blow.

The maid dropped to her knees immediately, trembling as she pleaded.

“Forgive me, Master, for my arrogance.”

Aiden’s voice was cold and unyielding.

"This is the last time I will tolerate such disrespect. Do your job, or you risk the lives of everyone close to you."

Still on the floor, the maid choked back sobs, bowing her head and repeatedly thanking him, her voice trembling with fear.

Aiden turned back to Serena, his expression softening, though his tone remained firm.

"I hope you understand now," he said, his voice almost neutral. “Prepare yourself; tonight, I have a task for you. Follow the rules, and there may be rewards.”

Serena wiped her tears, nodding eagerly at the promise, her sadness momentarily forgotten as a spark of hope appeared in her eyes.

Satisfied, Aiden left and went to his study, where he resumed discussions with the slaves on territory issues, allocating funds from Roy’s recent donation.

Evening

Aiden entered Serena’s bedroom and found her standing beside the bed, dressed in a maid’s uniform that fit snugly against her figure.

He hadn’t paid much attention to her appearance earlier, given the day’s events.

The uniform accentuated her curves elegantly, from her narrow waist to the subtle flair of her hips, managing to look both refined and enticing.

The neckline, though modest, hinted at her full chest, lending her a softness that contrasted with the crisp, professional lines of the outfit.

Her arms, covered by long black gloves he had insisted upon, appeared delicate against the fabric, their paleness accentuated by the dark silk.

Aiden felt a flicker of satisfaction; the attire was perfect for what lay ahead.

When she saw him enter, Serena’s face lit up in a genuine smile, and she greeted him with a graceful bow.

"Good evening, Master Aiden."

Aiden raised an eyebrow at her unexpectedly bright expression, surprised she didn’t seem sad or affected by the events earlier.

Her resilience pleased him; it was a good sign she’d be useful to his plans.

Pleased, he gave her a slight nod.

"It’s as we discussed today. Follow me and do exactly as I say."

Serena tilted her head curiously but quickly nodded, trailing behind him down the hall.

As they turned a corner, Aiden spotted a group of familiar faces—the corrupt officials who had once served under his father.

They stood in a tense cluster, muttering to one another with anxious glances down the corridor.

When they noticed Aiden’s approach, they froze, eyes widening as if they’d seen a ghost.

In an instant, they forced smiles onto their faces, bowing and offering exaggerated greetings.

"Good evening, Master Aiden!" "It’s an honor to see you, sir!" "Is there anything we can do for you, my lord?"

Aiden gave them a curt nod, barely acknowledging their nervousness.

"No need for all that."

Stepping aside, he revealed Serena standing behind him.

The officials hadn’t noticed her until then, so engrossed were they in appeasing Aiden.

But now, as their eyes landed on her, their expressions shifted from fear to awe, mouths falling open.

One of them murmured under his breath.

"How can such beauty even exist?"

They attempted to conceal their lustful stares, but their eyes lingered, drawn to Serena’s figure, especially to the neckline of her maid’s dress.

Yet Serena seemed entirely unaffected, her face serene as if she hadn’t noticed their gazes at all.

Only when she looked up at Aiden did her expression change, her eyes lighting up with innocent curiosity, seemingly unaware of the men’s reactions.

Aiden cleared his throat, breaking the silence and refocusing their attention.

With a polite smile, he gestured toward Serena.

"Allow me to introduce you to my new personal maid, Serena," he announced. "I’ve brought her here today so you can all become acquainted."