After agreeing on what to do with her, his uncle came for her and Albus spent his next few weeks waiting in anticipation. Unfortunately, it seemed she didn't have the skills to hang out as she soon quit within the following weeks. This left Albus feeling somewhat mixed, but Avis decided it was a necessary experience for him and they both agreed to send any troublemakers to his uncle for the time being. This was the state of things for the next year or so.

"Uncle Choeros, how is Nile doing?" Albus asked.

The two men were fishing in a pond that had been installed on the property. The sun was out and it was now the middle of summer. Albus wasn't a fan of this as his pale skin got skin burnt easily and Avis, and some of her cronies, would show no mercy making fun of him. But he did respect his uncle for helping him out and allowing him to watch over this estate his way. He didn't have any friends of his sex but his uncle was the closest thing to one.

"Hoho, that one eh?"

He responded while carefully observing the water. That response didn't give Albus much confidence.

"Boy, not everyone is cut out to be a maid. The ones you have here are true fighters, but the ones that come over to me aren't the most resilient."

"Oh." He had no smile on his face and his voice had no energy to it.

"Don't be like that boy, I'm sure one of these days you'll have one of them return to ya."

"I hope. You know Uncle Choeros, I'm really glad you're, uh, entertaining this. Most of the family just call me a pervert."

"Hoho, of course, boy. I'll admit I was a bit concerned when you started doing it but the place just seems so cheery recently, I couldn't help but wonder about trying it myself. Besides, they don't think you're a pervert, just a misguided boy with too much money."

The big man could feel something drag on his line and started pulling back on it.

"(Isn't that just a nicer way of calling me a pervert?) I'm glad you can see what I'm trying to do here Uncle Choeros."

The fish he had gotten on his line managed to escape and the two men continued fishing until evening. His uncle left after dinner and the place quieted down.

The entire manor had gone to sleep but screaming was soon heard coming from the entrance.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The two female guards outside weren't sure what the noise was about and one walked up to the gate.

"ALBUSSSSS!!!" The figure shouted.

"(Ugh, is it a beggar? No, I'm sure most don't know our lord's name.) Who goes there?" She calmly asked.

Whoever they were, they weren't important enough for the lord to give them prior notice of their arrival.

She walked closer to the figure reaching their hands through the gate and shined the light of her lantern at her.

They could tell at first glance it was a woman. Where they are looking for a job? Unfortunately, the lord would go to local bars and taverns for his recruitments. Better luck next time.

But on closer examination, she wasn't wearing any proper clothes. They seemed more like rags than clothing. How could she walk around in such a thing and not feel ashamed? Her clothing was also dirty as could be, it was like she had been crawling in mud before she came here. Her skin wasn't that clean as well and she had an odour to her.

The guard pulled out a spear and pointed it at her.

"Scram you tramp, do you think we would hire someone like you!?" She shouted at her.

Her face was somewhat obscured by her hair. She quickly looked into her face as she heard her voice. There was no anger in her response to the insult lobbed at her just. Just a subtle look to the guard's face.

"Casey?" She asked weakly.

The guard showed visible confusion at having her name said. Just who was this grey-haired person who appeared before her?

Her face looked malnourished and the guard didn't have the best memory. Until she remembered the only person she knew with grey hair. Her heart sank even considering if it was this person but she asked anyway.

"M-misha?" She meekly asked.

The person outside fell to the ground and started crying. The guard quickly opened the gate and went outside. She felt unease seeing her former colleague like this.

"Misha!? What happened to you?" She asked.

The grey-haired girl just lay on the ground crying.

After quickly calling the other guard over they brought her inside and decided to treat her. Albus himself rushed down to see and thankfully saw her in a more sightly state with some actual clothing on.

"Misha? So it is true she returned. What happened to her?" He worriedly asked the women there.

"..."

She looked like she knew something but didn't want to say it. Well, that wasn't right, all he could clearly tell was that there was a large amount of discomfort on her face. She even tried to walk away but Albus quickly grabbed her.

"What is it? She looks fine to me but is there something wrong with her?"

The maid started to look like a cornered animal and grabbed his hand to drag him somewhere more silent.

("What's this about?") He wondered as she brought him over to an empty storage area.

"Master…" she said.

"Just call me Albus, just tell me the issue."

"Well, I was talking to her earlier while she was awake and…" she seemed hesitant to speak.

"Just spit it out already, what is it?" He impatiently asked.

"Sir, how much do you know about your uncle?" She asked. Her voice cracked as she asked this which made this question seem very suspicious.

"Well, he provides for me and if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be hiring people like you so what is it?"

"I-i see. Is that all?"

"Janett, just tell me what it is and stop beating around the Bush. Did he overwork her or something?"