As the morning rose once again, I didn't sleep a wink... again.

Sigh

"It seems I really can't sleep anymore..." I said, staring outside the window while Chloe was cooking breakfast in the kitchen.

'I don't think I feel hungry either...'

I closed my eyes, stopped breathing, and started concentrating on everything around me. The mana from my surroundings started creeping inside my skin.

'That must be why my mana capacity has increased.' My brows furrowed as the thought crossed my mind.

Hmm.

"It seems similar to a magical beast... I'll do some research on it later." As I opened my eyes, Chloe entered the tiny dining room.

Uhnm

"There weren't many ingredients, so I couldn't do much... Later, I'll cook something better," she said as she set up the table for breakfast.

"There's really no need to-"

"You told me yourself you hadn't eaten since the day before yesterday. That isn't healthy, you know," she said.

Sigh

"Fine..." I decided not to argue.

...

'Lord Raphael didn't sleep last night to make sure I was safe...' Chloe looked at him through her peripheral vision as she felt bad for doubting his intentions.

Sigh

"Is there something wrong...?" he asked.

"N-no..." His eyes narrowed at her, but he decided not to probe.

*We're almost there, Mr. Redbird,* said the coachman.

As they got near the manor, Raphael's ears picked up a conversation between his cousin and Lilith. A thin smile came to his face, but he soon froze as he remembered something.

'Damn... Wait...' Raphael's mind raced as he thought about Lilith.

Sniff, sniff.

"W-what are you doing?" she asked, as Raphael suddenly smelled her.

"Quick question, do elves have a different smell from humans?" he said seriously.

Uhnm.

"... N-not that I'm aware of." She answered after regaining her composure, thinking there was a reason behind his... actions.

*We're here,* the coachman said as the carriage halted.

"Well, fuck... We're about to find out." Raphael murmured while her eyes widened, as she didn't know what to think.

This time, as Raphael stepped into the mansion's entrance, the Lady of the House was there, together with some knights and servants.

"Oh, my, here I was thinking you wouldn't come back, cousin..." Lady Lily spoke casually.

"How could I, cousin, leave you without even exchanging pleasentries? I merely had a more important business to take care of," he said with a kind smile on his face.

"... What could be so important as to leave without saying anything, cousin dearest?" Lily said with a venomous smile as she stared at Chloe. Before she said anything, however, a woman with silver hair and abyssal eyes appeared in front of Raphael.

"Welcome back, young master. I hope you've had a great time." She said respectfully.

"...? What do you mea-?" Raphael was interrupted, however, as Lilith took a step closer to Chloe, her eyes narrowed slightly.

Sniff, Sniff.

'Will my identity really be discovered by my... m-my s-smell?!' Chloe's face paled as her mind panicked.

Gulp.

"That isn't very polite, Lilith. You shouldn't go around smelling people." Raphael had a smile on his face as he pulled them apart.

"... You've gotten stronger, young master... Congratulations." Seeing his new strength, Lilith's eyes narrowed at him.

"Yes, yes... Lilith, this is Chloe, she'll be acting as my... personal maid from now on, please be acquainted." He said while trying his best to keep his facial expressions in check.

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"I-It's a pleasure to work with you, Miss. My name is Chloe. Chloe Crowe." She stuttered as she bowed her head.

"You call me Netherfield, Miss Crowe. It'll be a pleasure to work with you too." Lilith's eyes narrowed at her.

"You can call her Lilith," said Raphael.

As Lilith glared, neither at Raphael or Chloe, but at Lily, the pleasantries came to an end. With a wave of her hand, the knights went to patrol, and the maids went back into the mansion to gossip.

"I'll talk to you later," Lily said in his ear.

"... Of course, cousin," he said while smiling.

As Lady Lily went away with her escort, Lilith quickly disappeared into thin air.

*H-how did she do that?* Chloe's eyes widened as she didn't even understand the principle behind Lilith's magic.

"Get acquainted with the mansion and ask the headmaid for a room." Raphael said as he turned towards the carriage.

"A-are you not going to stay here?" Chloe asked hurriedly as she held him by the sleeve.

"I'm going to the Imperial Library. You'll be fine." As he patted her shoulder, he stealthily gave her a paper.

// Come to my room at night. //

Her cheeks flushed slightly until she remembered he had told her he needed to re-do the transfiguration spell every now and then.

...

As stars filled the sky, I returned to the mansion at night. As I went through the gates unnoticed and invaded my own room, a sense of slight familiarity stormed through me as I remembered all the times I had 'sneaked in' as a child.

"So, you're finally back?" A female voice came from my room as I entered through the balcony.

"Lily...?" I said as my eyes widened in shock.

"Raphael...?" She mimicked me, widening her eyes in mockery.

"How's life treating you, my dear cousin?" I quickly composed myself as I walked towards a drawer and took out a wine bottle and two glasses.

Sloshh, Sloshh.

Only after I sat in front of her with a wine glass in my hand did she finally open her mouth again.

"You know, cousin. I never really liked you..." She said with cold eyes, leaving behind her mask of an educated noble lady.

"Oh, cousin... I've always liked you, so much..." The smile on my face only widened as her face contorted slightly.

"Listen carefully, Raphael," she said. "You see, I don't really care how much you drink or what kind of drugs you do in your free time," her eyes narrowed at him, "but you better not fuck up my image in here. Do you understand?"

"Cousin, cousin... There's no need for such unkind words, you see, I am a changed man." As the moonlight shone upon us, I took a sip of the wine.

"My only goal behind coming to the capital is to further my studies, I have no interest in what kind of ploys or schemes you're involved in, nor do I have any interest in getting myself involved in them. Just don't mess with anything that is mine, and we won't have any trouble," I said with a serious expression.

Tsk.

"You better be a man of your word now, Raphael," she said as she got up to leave the room.

As she left the room, I sighed and drank the rest of the glass in one swing as I walked towards the wardrobe.

Creak.

"S-sorry...?" Inside of it, an elf with ocean blue eyes and dark hair stared at me with wide eyes.

"... It's fine," I said. "Did she see you?" I asked while helping her get out of the wardrobe.

"I-I don't think so," she said, unsure.

Sigh.