The exquisite crystal chandelier, sumptuous crimson velvet curtains, soft sheep wool rugs, and the faint lingering fragrance in the air, made this spacious inn room seem like a paradise compared to the filthy little town outside.

This was Rosen's new dwelling.

He was no stranger to it, having caught glimpses of this ethereal sanctuary through the narrow crevice in the wall adjoining his previous cramped quarters.

Yet he felt no great joy.

If yesterday he was treated as a slave by Sellis, then now, due to competition among fellow travelers, his status had been elevated to that of a caged songbird.

Whether slave or songbird, true freedom remained elusive. To survive intact he must continue playing his role.

The door behind him clicked shut, and Lilyss smiled radiantly at the stunned youth. "Well, are you satisfied?" she asked a trace smugly.

Rosen feigned excitement, nodding vigorously. "I can hardly believe I get to live in such a heavenly place! It's just unbelievable!"

Truthfully the furnishings were quite nice, lacking only modern conveniences, yet in comfort little inferior to modern man.

The boy's reaction gave Lilyss a vague sense of superiority. Inwardly she thought, 'Ha! A real country bumpkin from the backwoods.'

Naturally she kept her contempt carefully concealed, for the mistress had taught that to control a man, it was crucial to indulge his ridiculous vanity.

Verbal flattery and sweetly gentle demeanor cost nothing substantive, yet could make a man infatuated and pliable.

So Lilyss smiled sweetly and minced over to take Rosen's hand, leading him toward the large round bed in the middle of the room.

"From now on, this is where you'll sleep," she said, curling her legs as she sat on the bed and tugging the boy down beside her. Their bodies were less than eight inches apart.

Gazing at him fondly, she added, "If you don't mind, I'll keep you company every night."

Rosen's heart pounded and his cheeks flushed scarlet, rendered speechless.

His reaction was only natural for a normal man.

To maintain appearances, Rosen allowed matters to follow their natural course, even covertly egging things on a bit.

Yet inwardly he was acutely aware this was likely meant to monitor him, and couldn't help chuckling to himself.

Lilyss saw only a bashful youth and found it highly amusing. She was tempted to tease him further.

Lying down on the bed, she tugged the boy to lie beside her, barely twenty centimeters between them.

Lilyss made herself blush as she stared into his eyes, forcing the boy to avoid her gaze and shyly avert his own, feigning nervous excitement and reluctance to part.

"Rosen, your face is so red," she said with a gentle laugh, her voice mellow and sweet.

"You know, at first I thought you an ordinary boy, but the moment I saw your work I realized how wrong I was."

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"You're an absolute genius, a natural-born master of painting. Countless people will be enraptured, even obsessed with your art."

As she spoke, Lilyss scrutinized the boy's face intently. Though she couldn't see his eyes, his softening facial lines revealed his gratification.

'Heh! So easy to fool.' She thought derisively. 'If Sellis could make him dance like a puppet, so can I.'

Once she had him snared in her honeypot, she would give that detestable mage a swift kick.

Pondering this, Lilyss shifted even closer until her body was partially draped over the boy's chest.

"Rosen, do you know, I've idolized the master painters since I was small. I feel they possess a godlike power to turn decay into sublimity, like demiurges shaping reality itself."

"Being with you now, I feel as though my heart might melt away."

Rosen squirmed in acute embarrassment, yet made no attempt to pull away, even covertly shifting nearer. "Miss Lilyss, you flatter me too much. I'm just a common shepherd, far beneath you, unfit for such fine quarters!"

"No, no! How could you be ordinary? The gods must have heard my prayers to send you to me. The moment I saw you I was overjoyed, my heart pounding like this, feel!"

Lilyss grabbed the boy's hand and pressed it to her chest.

He recoiled as if shocked, violently wrenching back his hand and scrambling from the bed to huddle in a corner, ready to bolt.

Trembling words drifted from the shadows. "Miss Lilyss, you're too kind to me. I'll only disappoint you. Please, let me return to my master. I...I won't paint anymore, I just want to study magic."

By the end, his voice quavered on the edge of tears.

Lilyss was taken aback, chagrined that she might have gone too far.

She hurried over and grabbed his arm placatingly. "I'm sorry, Rosen. I couldn't restrain my feelings and made you uncomfortable. I promise it won't happen again without your consent."

The boy panted raggedly, face flushed, eyes darting about unable to meet her gaze.

"Miss Lilyss, this place is too fine for me. Please, let me go back to my master. I...I don't deserve to be here!"

As he spoke, Rosen inched slowly toward the door as if ready to flee.

Lilyss suppressed an urge to roll her eyes. 'Wanting to learn magic now, after refusing to paint? As if anyone can become a sanctioned mage so easily!'

Truthfully, even gifted apprentices required at least five years of basic studies, with only 10% graduating certified. The rest persevered, some into their 30s or even 50s without gaining journeyman status, and this was considered normal.

And that was not even considering the astronomical fees at an academy of magic. Well beyond even a noble lord like Baron Morey to sponsor more than one or two apprentices simultaneously.

She knew the Baron had three children. The elder two became knights, while the youngest went to the Raphael Academy in Frostkeep, studying now for 10 years without certification.

A provincial boy like Rosen had no chance of proper mage schooling. Sellis only taught enough basics and cantrips to entice the boy's artistic talent.

Seeing Rosen's stubborn resistance, Lilyss suppressed her scornful thoughts and softened her tone. "Rosen, didn't we agree your master will continue teaching you magic? He's just away selling paintings now. When he returns I'll have him instruct you, alright?"

"Truly?" the boy answered, a plaintive note in his voice.

"Truly." Lilyss smiled and nodded, gently drawing him back toward the bed but refraining from further teasing.

"You must be tired after working all morning. Get some rest, and your master will likely be back when you wake."

"Then...alright." The boy glanced around uncertainly. "I'm too filthy for the fine bed. I'll sleep on the rug by the hearth, if that's okay?"

Before Lilyss could object, he stubbornly curled up on the floor in the corner shadows.

She watched bemused, momentarily at a loss for how to dissuade him, and finally acquiesced. "Rest well then. I'll leave you in peace."

A faint murmur of thanks drifted from the darkened corner.

Lilyss shrugged to herself. 'Easily satisfied, this one. All the easier to control.'

She left the room and returned to her accustomed place in the inn's common area.

As one of the Nightingale's prized proteges, she did not directly service guests, merely lending an air of glamor.

Only for imposing figures like Sellis would she personally gather intelligence.

Today was slightly different. She had just settled in when a sister sashayed over, discreetly handing her a small wax-sealed scroll. "A new assignment from the mistress."

Lilyss nodded acknowledgment, clenching the scroll in her palm until the wax softened, then unrolled the tiny letter within.

In minute lettering it read:

'The Ashbird wounded by divine retribution, three fallen plumes, two recovered by the master, one lost. Monitor inn guests closely for any lead on the missing plume.'

The hand was gracefully feminine, unmistakably Lady Peicy herself.

Lilyss crumpled the parchment instantly to dust in her fist.

Leaning on one hand, she mused: 'To think someone in this backwater dares hoard an Ashbird plume. How very interesting.'