Who would be the lucky one?

"What did Anna say to persuade you?" Rothgar asked coldly.

The three couldn't see the demon beneath Parish's skin, but they could sense a chilling aura from the lord they admired. Trembling, they quickly knelt down.

They vaguely felt that Parish seemed different, more terrifying.

"Abigail, you speak," Rothgar said.

Abigail, trembling, said, "Master Parish, I was wrong!"

Rothgar's face darkened with impatience. "I asked, how did Anna persuade you to stop bullying her?"

Abigail hurriedly defended herself, "Since that day, we’ve become good friends with Anna! We haven't bullied her since!"

Rothgar wasn't surprised. To him, someone as cunning as Anna could easily deceive a few gullible girls.

He recalled the ridiculous performances the three had put on in front of him, coinciding with the day they supposedly became friends.

He didn't bother asking if their foolish actions were orchestrated by Anna. He knew she wouldn't let them realize it even if she had.

What was that woman's motive?

Rothgar stood silently, and the three girls didn't dare move or speak.

As the night wind gently blew, Rothgar noticed the woman he had been thinking about approaching slowly. On the other side, Ulysses Russell was also strolling over.

"Abigail, the three of you go and stop Anna now. Teach her a lesson," Rothgar ordered.

The three were startled, but then he added, "If you fail, you’ll leave the manor tonight."

A buzzing noise filled their heads. Thoughts of pleasing the master, friendship, and anything else vanished as they scrambled to their feet and hurried toward Anna.

Rothgar stepped aside into the shadows.

He didn't want this body anymore. It was a perfect opportunity to create an encounter for that woman and the mage.

He hoped she wouldn't disappoint him. If she had bigger ambitions, she should act more boldly, not drag things out like she did with Parish.

He awaited the moment to seize the mage’s body and then plunge her into a nightmare.

Anna was slightly surprised to see Abigail and the others approaching.

She knew they were near the demon’s residence. Normally, she chatted with them near the kitchen, away from his sight. Seeing them approach, she didn't act too familiar.

As they neared, the mixture of fear, confusion, and guilt on their faces made her realize something was wrong.

Did the demon get annoyed and do something to them?

Before she could figure it out, they were right next to her.

"You all..."

Before Anna could finish her words, Fiona placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a slight push.

"I’ve disliked you for a long time!" Fiona glared at Anna, her eyes widen as if trying to convey a message.

Anna, carrying the food box, couldn't dodge and was pushed back a step.

Why did these three seem like they were possessed?

…Was it the demon?

If so, he should be watching this scene, waiting for the right moment to play the hero.

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Anna quickly pondered, looking at Fiona and pretending to be puzzled. “Fiona, what’s going on with you all?”

Fiona wanted to tell Anna the truth so she could cooperate with them.

She understood Parish’s intentions!

Parrish loved Anna deeply but couldn't get her to agree to his proposal, so he came up with this plan! He wanted to appear like a knight and save his princess!

They couldn't disobey Parish’s orders, or they'd be expelled. But they couldn't really harm Anna, or Parish would be furious!

“You seduced Master Parish!” Fiona shouted. “That’s not something you should do!”

She tried to hint at Anna without being too obvious, knowing Parish was watching. Anna had told them she had a lover, so how could she accuse her of seducing Parish? Anna had to realize something was off with her statement!

“I-I didn’t…” Anna looked at Fiona, stepping back a couple more steps.

Abigail and Kelly were both lost and just followed Fiona’s lead, slowly approaching Anna. Noticing the soft, thornless flower bed behind Anna, Fiona suddenly stepped forward and pushed her.

Anna had already noticed the situation behind her. The moment Fiona pushed, the food box in her hand dropped with a thud, and the food spilling all over.

“You're too noisy.”

In the silence after the food box fell, a cold voice tinged.

The four of them, including Anna, froze.

Only Rothgar, hiding in the shadows, curled his lips into a cold smile.

They turned to look in the direction of the voice. The handsome young man, wearing an exquisite mage's robe, looked at them indifferently.

It was the genius mage temporarily staying at the Earl’s manor!

This mage was a distinguished guest of the manor and a four-star mage. The respect they felt for him instantly overshadowed their fear of Parish’s orders. Fiona and the others quickly bowed, apologizing, “sorry to disturbed you, sir!”

Ulysses wasn’t really listening to what they were saying and simply said, “I need quiet.”

The three of them immediately bowed and slowly backed away. Fiona wanted to give Anna a signal to leave with them, but Anna, sitting on the ground, didn't look at her.

Anna slowly sat up, rubbing the places where she had fallen, and began to clean up the mess at a leisurely pace.

Her movements were slow, as if she was waiting for something.

But the person she was waiting for never appeared.

Anna assumed that Abigail and the others were coerced by the demon to bully her, and that he was waiting to swoop in as the hero.

So why hadn’t he appeared yet?

Even though the bullying was interrupted by the mage, she was still sitting on the ground cleaning up. He could still come over and offer his support.

Unless he was afraid to come over.

Anna knew that Father Louis was powerless against the demon, unable even to detect its presence, but mages and priests seemed to belong to different systems of power. Perhaps this Ulysses Russell could sense and eliminate the demon?

From what people had said, a four-star mage was already very powerful. If elemental mages could detect and destroy demons, a four-star mage should be more than capable.

Could it be that the demon was too scared to show up because of this?

Anna felt a glimmer of hope.

She quickly finished cleaning up and slowly walked over to Ulysses, speaking very softly, “Esteemed Mage, I apologize for disturbing your peace just now. I am deeply honored to meet such a talented young mage like you, more so than meeting the Lord himself.”

Not far away, Rothgar watched as Anna took the initiative to approach and speak. He felt a pleasant sense of control; she didn’t disappoint him.

Ulysses frowned slightly, glanced at Anna, and said, “Restoring my peace is the best apology.”

Anna believed the demon was likely watching, so she couldn’t directly ask this young mage to “eliminate the demon.”

This mage was here temporarily to recuperate and seemed to have recovered. He might leave tomorrow, and who knew if she’d get another chance to speak to him?

She decided to go for it and quickly said, “I've always dreamed of becoming a mage… Do you take students, sir?”

After Fiona and the others told her how to become a mage and then cruelly closed off all the paths, Anna did not want to give up easily.

Finding a mage to take her as a student was one of the ways she had thought of. Although the chances were slim, she had to try.

Even if the demon was watching her, she didn’t care. She just wanted to be a mage.

If she did nothing, she would truly be giving up her chance to live.

In the shadows, Rothgar raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Then he smiled.

Taking advantage of the mentor-student relationship to get closer—quite a thought.

But it's too aggressive.

Ulysses simply said, "No."

A straightforward rejection.

Anna had expected this answer but stood her ground, looking at Ulysses with earnest eyes. "Sir, you won't regret taking me in. Even if you don't need a student, having an assistant will only benefit you. I can wash clothes, cook—I'm skilled in everything. I'm not afraid of hardship or exhaustion, and you can treat me as a servant."

Her sincere words fell on deaf ears as Ulysses found them grating. He closed his eyes briefly and with a light wave of his hand, a gentle breeze appeared from nowhere, lifting Anna and carrying her fifteen feet away.

Anna was astonished. This was magic!

When the wind first lifted her, she was so surprised and almost screamed, but she held it back. Suspended a meter off the ground, she didn't need to stabilize herself—the wind supported her feet, elbows, and gently placed her down.

"Don't disturb me," Ulysses' voice, cool and impatient, contrasted sharply with the gentle wind.

Seeing magic for the first time, Anna's heart raced with excitement. She wanted to learn more!

Tomorrow, she planned to find out all about this mage's preferences and interests, to win his favor and convince him to take her as a student!

Rothgar, watching Anna's failed attempt, was not surprised.

But he was very satisfied with what he saw today.

Anna faced a significant setback today, but it didn't matter. Tomorrow, he would set a surprise for her.

A surprise that he was sure she wouldn't refuse.