Three years had passed, and things had... changed, mostly in the predictable ways. Spring bloomed into summer, which melted into autumn’s crispness, and before you knew it, winter came along with its usual chill. The seasons had their own little routine, just like Raven did.

Raven, however, had changed a lot. Gone was the five-year-old girl who stumbled with her sword. In her place stood an eight-year-old girl with a more controlled grip, though still with that fiery determination in her eyes. The soft, smooth skin of her hands had hardened from hours of practice, the callouses a small but proud reminder of her dedication.

She swung the sword in the cold morning air, her movements swift and precise. It was fluid now, not the wild flailing of a beginner but the practiced technique of someone who had put in the work. Her raven-black hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and as she spun, it bounced and whipped through the air, catching the sunlight in streaks of glossy dark strands.

Her face had lost some of the roundness of childhood. High cheekbones now framed her face, giving it an almost ethereal, delicate look. Yet, the sharpness of her features—her straight nose, the firm line of her lips—gave her an air of unapproachable elegance. Her expression was calm, but there was an intensity in her dark eyes, now large and almond-shaped, that made it clear she was focused—her concentration unwavering, her mind sharp. Despite the calmness in her demeanor, there was fire beneath it, a quiet resolve burning in the depths of her obsidian gaze.

Every movement she made was calculated, her eyes narrowing with quiet fury as the sword sliced through the air. She was no longer just a girl playing at being a warrior. She was one, and it showed.

“Okay, that’s enough for today,” Shion said, stretching lazily from his seat. “You’re doing well. Now tell me, what’s got you so angry?”

“...How do you know?” Raven raised an eyebrow, suspicious.

“An expert-level specter can sense emotions. Plus, the way you’re swinging that sword? It’s not exactly hard to figure out.”

Raven paused, processing that. “Isn’t that a bad thing? Especially in a fight?”

“You don’t need to worry about that yet. This kind of thing only comes with experience. Not many people get to this level of swordsmanship.” Shion shrugged. “If you ever end up fighting a real master, though, your best bet is to either bow… or run.”

Raven nodded sagely, then gave a dramatic bow. “Then, thank you for teaching me today, Master.”

“Do you think you can fool me? I’m not letting you go that easily.”

“...You misunderstood, teacher.”

“Go on, run ten laps around the field for making me ‘misunderstand.’”

Raven groaned inwardly but kept her complaints to herself. She knew all too well that if she showed any sign of resistance, Shion would just double the punishment.

As she jogged, her mind wandered back to the morning.

Her father had summoned her to his study early that day. Raven had expected some earth-shattering, life-changing announcement. After all, her father rarely bothered with breakfast, let alone called her to his study. If he did, it was definitely something important.

And, well, it was important. Just... not the way she expected.

“I have some good news to share with you.” he said, still reading a document.

“Good morning to you too, dad.” Raven said with a sarcastic smile, “may I seat myself?”

“...Yes, you may.” He replied without any embarrassment.

“How’s your day going, Dad?”

“Cut it. The day’s just begun.” He put away his documents and looked at her seriously. “I have some good news to share.”

“I heard. So, when are you leaving?”

“…What?”

“I’m just breaking the ice. Never mind, it’s too thick with you.”

“I’ve decided that you’ll be in charge of arranging my birthday banquet.”

“…That was not funny.”

“Haha, I’m serious.” A smug smile stretched across his face. “Now, who’s laughing last?”

“…You’re really poisonous with your words.”

“Many important dignitaries will be arriving. Everyone will be curious about you. But no pressure. Just do everything perfectly.” Raven’s soul sank to the bottom of the abyss.

“You are so petty. Do you know that?”

His smile widened. “How can you talk to your father like that? Did I teach you to be so rude?”

“I’m only eight! What if something goes wrong? And it’s not just your birthday—it’s mine too!” Raven and her father shared the same birthday. Even though he was often negligent, he couldn’t possibly forget it. “Could it be that you forgot?”

“Of course not. I’ve even prepared an early gift for you.”

“…No need. I don’t want it.”

“As the only lady in this house, you’re now responsible for managing it. All events and banquets will be presided over by you. All the best.”

Raven almost screamed. She nearly lost control of her element—the wind in the room, though not hers, responded to her irritation, scattering the papers on the table.

“I’ll let this one go.” Raven’s father almost laughed out loud.

***

It was a huge headache that her father had handed her.

Everyone in Ether City knew that their lord had a daughter—one he had kept hidden after the tragic incident with the unannounced beast wave in the capital. There were countless rumors circulating in elite circles. Some said she had been disfigured by the attack and was still recuperating, others hinted that the injury was mental rather than physical. A few had speculated that she might have awakened, but these rumors were swiftly suppressed by lies and misinformation.

Everyone was curious about her: Why had she been kept in hiding? Did she possess any abilities? Was she cherished like a princess, or coldly neglected?

But Raven wasn’t bothered by any of it. In her previous life she had been a trash. But this life was obviously different. People wouldn’t dare to judge her casually. Even if they did, she didn’t care. After all, words were just that, words.

What Raven was worried about was the banquet. Her father had just handed her the responsibility of organizing it, and with only fifteen days to do so, nothing had been prepared. Absolutely nothing.

Raven had been to many banquets when she was younger. So even though she had never arranged one, she knew some of the basics. Like the fact that preparation for such banquets started months prior.

Raven suddenly had an epiphany.

If it had been anyone else in her place, they might have thought her father was setting up some kind of challenge for her, testing her skills or her competence. But Raven knew better. Her father wasn’t being clever or strategic. No, he was simply passing the “hot potato” to her. He’d probably forgotten his own birthday was coming up until the family elders started asking him about it. Butler Hans had most likely reminded him, but he had been too busy with a business trip to deal with it, and only after the elders made a fuss did he realize he couldn’t avoid it.

In the Serth family, birthdays of the patriarch were celebrated with much fanfare, especially when they were multiples of five. Her father’s thirtieth birthday had been a grand affair. It was an old tradition—something the Serths had always adhered to. But now? He hadn’t even thought to make any plans.

Raven sighed, her expression darkening for a moment. But she quickly shook it off. There was no use sulking about it. This was an opportunity to gain some experience. She had to take it in stride.

She thought through the logistics. To organize the banquet, everything had to be done with care. Luckily, the Serths were wealthy and had plenty of resources. Money wouldn’t be an issue. Materials wouldn’t be an issue either.

After her classes for the day were over, she sat down with Butler Hans to begin making preparations. “We need to get this banquet organized as soon as possible,” she said. “I’ll be giving the teachers two weeks off to help me prepare. They don’t need to worry about anything during this time.”

“Don’t worry, Young Miss. We can hire an event planner company, ‘Your Majesty,’ they’re well-known for their precision and have a zero-error rate,” Butler Hans suggested, clearly trying to alleviate her stress.

Raven narrowed her eyes as a sense of caution instilled in her naturally the moment he mentioned the company. “No outsiders on the estate. Absolutely not.”

“Young miss, is something—”

Raven cut him off, her voice firm. “They’ve only recently become popular, haven’t they?”

It wasn’t a question; it was a statement, and Butler Hans immediately caught on. His face grew serious as his voice deepened. “Yes, Young Miss. They are a newer company.”

“Investigate them thoroughly,” Raven ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Raven was certain that the company was up to something. Tier-1 families were tier-1 for a reason—they had unique abilities that set them apart. For example, the Fornos family had a combination of abilities, and the Serths were no different. They had two abilities, one supportive, auxiliary ability and the other elemental, mostly wind.

Raven’s auxiliary ability was intuition. It was like a sixth sense, giving her the ability to feel danger before it arrived and even predict things with surprising accuracy. It worked like logic, but skipped all the complex steps it would normally take to reach the right conclusion. For example, if she was given a math problem, she could almost immediately grasp the answer without running through all the calculations. If she didn’t know the question, though, her intuition wouldn’t work. There was a limit to this ability and it had to be slowly developed over time with experience.

But in situations like multiple-choice tests, where the answer options were presented clearly, Raven could increase her chances of choosing the right answer—even if the question was in a language she didn’t understand.

“That aside,” Raven continued, her voice regaining focus, “please prepare the guest list. You know better than I do who to invite and who to exclude. Father’s a petty man. Anyone who’s wronged him in the last five years should be left off the list. If they’ve wronged him and he hasn’t yet settled accounts with them, just send them a dead rat.”

“But that—”

“I’m joking,” Raven said dryly. “Our estate doesn’t have rats. I had them removed.”

“...I mean; it’s not right to exclude people based on past grievances, Young Miss.”

“I know,” Raven said. “I know. But if you invite them and father finds a way to take rev… I mean return the favour like in the last party? He especially arranged for people he didn’t like to sit at the worst places with the person they hated the most and above that served them wine too hot or too cold with food especially prepared to their disliking.”

“...”

“He even complimented someone on their "incredible resilience" in dealing with "minor setbacks" with a completely innocent tone, but the entire room knew exactly what he meant. When he toasted at the end of the banquet he said, ‘Here’s to those who have seen the heights of success... and those who are still trying to reach it.’ I think Mr Shen lost a lot of blood after the party.”

“...”

“It’s for their own safety,” Raven added with a small smile, convincing butler Hans.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Young Miss is very wise,” Butler Hans said, his voice filled with admiration. “But how do you know all this? You weren’t allowed to attend the banquet.”

“...I heard it from Sister Liu,” Raven said guiltily.

“Which child were you disguised as?”

“The one with the blonde hair and orange eyes. Please don’t tell Father, Uncle Hans,” she added with a little pleading smile.

“...He probably already knows.”

“But he forgot.”

“...Young Miss certainly understands her father well.”

Raven cleared her throat. “Now, about the invitations. I’ll select a few designs, but we’ll handle the food ourselves. The kitchen will take care of it, but we’ll need two rounds of testing—before the banquet, and during it. We can’t afford any mistakes or tampering.”

“Yes, Young Miss,” Butler Hans agreed.

“About decorations,” Raven continued, “we can’t just follow any popular themes. We need to set a trend, one that fits Father’s tastes.”

“I understand. I will arrange it.”

“We also need a lot of help for the preparations. The estate should be fully decorated, and we’ll need to hire extra staff. As for media and photographers, we need to be on high alert. The last thing we want is for the press to write something like, ‘The Serths are Holding a Lavish Banquet—Let’s See How Much It Hurts the Environment,’ or ‘Why Was XYZ Not Invited?’ No one should be able to question our choices, especially since Father can easily settle any of his grievances without anyone saying a word about it.”

“Understood, Young Miss.”

“Safety is crucial too,” Raven said with a thoughtful frown. “I’ll need the safety management plan. Our underground shelters don’t have ladders, right? They have proper stairs? Even if there are ladders, they should be checked thoroughly.”

“Yes, Young Miss,” Butler Hans assured her.

“Also, entertainment. We need to invite top-tier performers. Get a ballad band for the dance, and make sure the sound system is perfect. I don’t want the kind of ear-splitting speakers like the ones at Lorenz’s annual celebration—half the guests had hearing loss by the end of that one.”

“Got it, Young Miss.”

“We can give guests a return gift from one of our businesses, like last time. It’ll make a nice gesture.”

“You’ve thought of everything, Young Miss. Very meticulous,” Butler Hans praised.

“Thank you,” Raven said with a small smile. “Please send me the estimated costs. If we’re on a budget, I’ll try to cut costs. If we’re not... well, I won’t try as hard.”

“We’re not on a tight budget. You can go ahead with whatever you need.”

“Ha, perks of being rich.”

***

After the initial planning was done, Raven delved into the details. To avoid missing anything, she wrote everything down in a small, neat notebook. Everyone was familiar with Raven by now, and they had no reservations when speaking to her. Despite the formal employer-employee dynamic, it never felt cold or distant. Over the years, they had built a deep bond. Raven knew everything about them, and they, in turn, knew everything about her. It made working together feel effortless.

Raven was patient when listening, and her clear, concise speech often made it difficult for anyone to remember she was only eight years old. She had a sharp mind, able to think on her feet and come up with solutions in an instant. Even when faced with a large problem, she could always ease the tension with a well-timed joke. What she lacked was experience, and that was where Butler Hans stepped in to guide her.

Once the guest list was finalized, she sent it to her father for approval. That was when he called her into his office for the second time that day. His face was as aloof as usual, but Raven could feel the tension in the air—like the wind carrying an unspoken irritation.

“Why are some of the guests missing from this list?” he asked, his tone light but his words cutting.

Raven’s lips twitched with the smallest hint of amusement. “So, you noticed. Well, I didn’t want to treat them poorly, but you wouldn't let them enjoy a second of it anyway.”

“Don’t offend me in favor of not offending them.”

“But, Father,” Raven said calmly, her voice even. “I think I’ve already offended you. Why else would you dump this responsibility on me at the last minute?”

“It’s a learning opportunity for you,” he replied, his tone almost dismissive.

“Do you think I lack a brain?” Raven raised an eyebrow, her tone playful but pointed.

“Don’t cut me off, and don’t cut off my fun either. It’s very rude. Why are you protecting them?”

“Protecting them?” Raven asked innocently, feeling satisfied inwardly. “I just removed them from the list so they don’t bring you any displeasure. Don’t you like this little early gift I’ve arranged for you?”

“No. I don’t like it at all.”

Raven smiled sweetly, undeterred and gloating. “Oh, really? You’re welcome, Father. I’ve got a lot of work to do, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait. There’s another matter.”

Raven paused, already halfway to the door. “What now?”

“Why is there an invitation for that boy?”

Raven knew exactly who he was referring to, but she feigned ignorance. “Who?”

Her father’s frown deepened, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t test my patience.”

Raven tilted her head with a smile. “It’s not just your birthday, is it? I get to invite my friends and acquaintances too.”

He didn’t respond immediately, his displeasure evident, but after a long pause, he allowed her to leave without another word.

***

The results of the investigation arrived just as Raven was finalizing the menu in the study.

“This Zephyrfin Manta was caught by the finest of sailors,” the head cook was explaining. “A mystical manta ray that rides the currents of the wind, with fins that seem to glide through the air itself. It is very difficult to catch, and the preparation can take months. It needs to be cooked and eaten in a special way.”

Raven nodded, taking it all in. “I trust the head cook. You’re more experienced than I am. Since Ms. Yari suggests that this should be added to the special menu, I will not deny it. The manta ray should be brought out in the middle of the meal. I’ll count on you to introduce it at the right moment.”

“Ha ha, thank you, young miss. With that, we’re done with the menu. I’ll begin preparing immediately.”

Raven excused the cook and saw Butler Hans standing outside the room, his expression solemn. She waved toward him casually. “Come in, Butler Hans.”

He placed a leather-bound folder on the sleek wooden table as he greeted her.

Raven nodded at him. “Report. I take it you’ve found something?”

Butler Hans gave a slight nod, his tone measured. “Indeed, Young Miss. I conducted a thorough investigation into the event company ‘Your Majesty,’ the one you were concerned about. The results were... unexpected.”

Raven opened the folder, her fingers quickly skimming through the documents. She paused at the first page, her brow furrowing slightly at the details.

In a calm but edged tone, she asked, “I know this company has a spotless reputation. Zero errors, zero complaints... Everything is perfect. Too perfect, actually. What did you find?”

Butler Hans clasped his hands behind his back and spoke matter-of-factly. “The company’s background checks out on paper, Miss. The owners—Iliana and Solene Drayce—have impeccable records. No criminal charges, no scandals, no financial irregularities. Their history is spotless. And the company itself, of course, boasts an unblemished track record for hosting high-profile events. No errors, no late deliveries, no accidents.”

Raven murmured as she continued scanning the documents, clearly not convinced. “I know. That’s what’s bothering me. Who’s that flawless?”

Butler Hans glanced at her carefully. “Indeed. So, I dug a little deeper. Tracked their origins. ‘Your Majesty’ was founded only two years ago, and they managed to rise from obscurity to the top of the industry with remarkable speed. Their financials don’t raise alarms, but it’s their growth trajectory that seems... too accelerated.”

He stepped forward slightly, lowering his voice as if to ensure no one overheard. “One thing I found odd—especially given their sudden rise—is that they’ve never held a public event under their own banner before. They only started hosting their own events recently. In the earlier days, they were sub-contractors for larger, more well-established event companies. They provided ‘specialized services’—decor, catering, staff management. But during that period, their records were suspiciously clean. Too clean, Miss Raven. No errors, no complaints, no history of any conflicts.”

Raven leaned back in her chair, absorbing the information. “Subcontractors...”

Butler Hans nodded. “Correct. But it’s more than just a clean history. There’s a strange gap in their early operations—no concrete details about the services they offered during that time. It’s almost as if they didn’t exist until a certain... event. And that’s where things get... curious.”

Raven’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Go on.”

“They were heavily involved in organizing a high-profile wedding for one of the most influential families in the region—the Vorelli family. The event was an extravagant affair, the kind where everything must go flawlessly.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “Now, this is where the records get strange. Everyone remembers the Vorelli wedding, but no one remembers ‘Your Majesty’ being mentioned in the press or even being credited for the event. Their involvement is buried—completely unacknowledged publicly until their first independent contract six months later.”

Raven smiled faintly. “That’s odd.”

“Yes, young miss. And I found something even more troubling. The staff at ‘Your Majesty’—their employees—are always reported as ‘highly skilled,’ yet none of them have any personal history or public background. None of their team members appear in any previous employment records or professional databases. It’s as if they only exist now, and their pasts are... clean. Too clean.”

Raven raised an eyebrow, her expression sharpening, though her eyes remained full of amusement. She leaned forward slightly. “And what else? There has to be more.”

Butler Hans hesitated for a moment before continuing. “Well, there’s also a troubling pattern. Several individuals connected to the company... have disappeared. Three former employees—each from a different department—just vanished in the last six months. No one has been able to track them down. No trace, no evidence of foul play, but they’ve simply... disappeared. No one seems to care, and no one at the company is willing to speak about them.”

Raven’s eyes glinted dangerously. “Disappearances... You think they’re involved?”

“I can’t say for sure, Miss,” Butler Hans replied cautiously. “But the patterns are troubling. The fact that these employees had no personal history, no families, and no one seems to care that they’ve gone missing is... unsettling. What’s more, it seems that none of their coworkers were close to them. It’s as if they were never allowed to form any connections.”

Raven’s eyes gleamed with interest, her expression cold but calculating. “I want to know more. Dig into their backgrounds. Find out who these people were before they ‘joined’ ‘Your Majesty.’ And I want to know if the Vorellis had anything to do with this. Someone’s clearly trying to mess with us. I want to know who’s daring enough to do so.”

Butler Hans bowed slightly. “As you wish, Miss Raven. I’ll have our contacts look deeper into their records. I’ll leave no stone unturned.”

Raven waved her hand dismissively but her tone was cold and dangerous. “Good. Keep me informed. Whatever this company is hiding, I’ll uncover it. They’ve met the wrong kind of opponent.”

Butler Hans nodded, his expression stoic, and took a step back. Raven stood still for a moment, her mind already working, her gaze far away and calculating.

Before leaving, Butler Hans paused, bowing again. “And... Young Miss, I deeply apologize for my negligence earlier. I shouldn’t have carelessly chosen a company just based on their reputation. The Serths are different from others, after all.”

Raven smiled faintly, her gaze unwavering. “It’s fine, Butler Hans. Isn’t that why I’m here? We can’t expect everything to be taken care of by you. Like you said, the Serth family is different. And I happen to be a Serth.”

***

When Butler Hans was far away from the room, he could no longer hold back the emotions that had been building inside him. He finally burst into tears.

For years, he had been the one to look after the family, watching over Raven since she was an infant. But now, standing silently in the shadows of the corridor, he felt the weight of time settling upon him.

His gaze rested on the study door, beyond which Raven was engaged in yet another conversation, discussing important matters with one of her father’s associates. Even from here, he could hear her voice—steady, calm, and surprisingly firm for someone her age. It was a voice that commanded attention, just like her father’s.

She’s growing up, he thought, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I should have known it would happen this way.

But the smile faded slightly as he placed his hand against the cool glass. Butler Hans had always known this moment would come—the day when Raven would stop being the innocent, sweet child and start becoming the capable woman who would one day stand by her father’s side. The strength she was showing now was undeniable. The same precision and decisiveness that her father carried, Raven had begun to inherit in her own way.

He wasn’t worried that Raven would turn cold or unfeeling. No, that wasn’t what troubled him. People only turned cold when life threw them into hell and they were emotionally weak, incapable of processing their emotions, so they chose to bury them instead, acting as if they had never existed.

And he had never met anyone as young and steadfast as Raven. She was someone who would deal with everything life threw at her in the best way possible, for herself.

But this… ability to command, to stand tall and speak with such assuredness—that was new. And it made him feel an overwhelming mix of pride and tenderness.

As he stood there, lost in thought, Raven’s nanny happened to pass by. She was taken aback at the sight of the usually stoic Butler Hans so emotional, but she quickly understood. It must be because he was moved by the young miss, who was growing up beautifully.

He was interrupted from his thoughts by the soft, familiar sound of footsteps behind him. He didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

"Master Hans," came Margaret's warm voice. "You're standing by the window again."

Hans didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he gave a small, almost imperceptible sigh. His eyes were still fixed on the study door, his thoughts racing.

Margaret, sensing his mood, stepped closer and joined him. She looked out over the manor’s expansive garden before her gaze shifted toward the study as well. A moment of quiet passed between them.

"She’s becoming like the lord," Hans murmured, his voice soft but filled with emotion.

Margaret’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him, then smiled gently, her voice knowing. "You mean, she’s becoming strong, capable, and able to handle whatever comes her way?"

"Exactly," Hans replied, finally turning to face her. "I see it now. The same confidence. The same decisiveness. I remember when she could hardly hold a sword, and now she stands like that." He shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips, but his eyes betrayed the deep respect he felt. "She’s growing into someone who could run this estate by herself one day. Maybe even run the entire family business. It’s... it’s impressive, Margaret. But there’s this part of me that misses when she used to run to me for protection, when she would look to me for comfort. I feel at a loss."

Margaret placed a hand gently on his arm, her touch warm and understanding. "That’s the way of the world, isn’t it, Master Hans? Children grow up, and they become who they’re meant to be. It’s not easy, but it’s what we always hoped for."

Hans gave a soft laugh, his chest swelling with pride. "I know. I know... I just never expected to feel it so strongly." He stared at the study door again, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "She’s got his precision, his sharpness. But it’s not the same."

Margaret looked at him knowingly. "You see it too, don’t you? She’s not like her father in everything. She has her own way."

She paused for a moment before adding with a wry smile, "But don’t worry, Master Hans. She’s strong. And she’s ready."

Hans nodded, his eyes shining with tears. "I don’t doubt it. I don’t doubt it at all. She’s capable, Margaret. She’s our Raven, after all."

"Exactly," Margaret said softly, her voice full of reassurance. "And you—we—should be proud of her."

Hans took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his emotions lift just a little. He’d always known Raven had the potential to be great, but seeing it now—watching her transform into someone strong, someone who could one day carry the mantle of responsibility with grace—it made his heart swell.

"Yes," he said quietly, a soft but firm smile playing on his lips. "I am proud."

Margaret chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling. "Ha ha… I suddenly remembered when she flailed around in the sky trying to fly for the first time."

“Pftt… don’t mention that in front of Young Miss. She’s marked that as one of her ‘dark histories.’”

Margaret burst out laughing.

***