While asking herself that question, a smile blossomed on Raven's lips towards the man who seemed a little too respectful to herself.

His politeness was a bit weird considering the blatant disrespect that she recently experienced and the original owner had experienced in the past.

''You may rise.''

''Thank you for your benevolence, fourth young lady.'' The man stood, and Raven got the opportunity to observe his features.

'He's really tall.' Raven noted an obvious fact. There was a huge difference between this man and herself. Almost like she was a dwarf.

Once again, she cursed this body of hers for being so small. If she wasn't at a distance away from the man, she would have to crane her neck just to stare at him. Still....She was even doing that at the moment!

Raven also noticed how the man used the pronouns to address herself apart from her title. That also meant that he wasn't just a servant of this manor...well that was plainly evident from his clothing.

'Lily seems okay with it.' Raven glanced at the maid at her side

''Commander.'' Lily greeted with a nod before giving an introduction to the curious Raven. ''Young lady, this is Commander Igor of the Langston army.''

In other words, a person of her dearest father.

Once again, Raven blamed the original owner for having such little information of her surrounding and people that were so vital for her survival.

''It is an honor to meet you, fourth young lady, and congratulations on reaching the age of succession.''

''You as well, commander and thank you.'' Raven returned with a smile.

Before moving to the main reason of his presence in the sixth madam's manor, Commander Igor observed the person of recent rumors in a glance. It wouldn't be pleasant if he made his scrutinizing gaze obvious, especially to his master's daughter.

'She does look more like his excellency.....unlike before.' Commander Igor noticed a difference between her of then and now, her eyes in particular. The first moment he came in contact with the fourth young lady, her eyes were filled with terror and vigilance towards himself and the grand duke. It was the day of her pre-test, when the second young master had saved her from danger. At the beginning of her pre-test, she held only fear and confusion, but.... after that incident, her eyes changed as if they were the cause of her almost death.

Well....they were, but no one could be blamed as the pre-test was a tradition among the descendants of the Langston family. The fourth young lady could never escape her fate unless she welcomed death willingly without a fuss.

''His excellency understands fourth young lady's situation. These elite slaves that are presented before you fourth young lady, are the top ten finest and unsurpassed in terms of battle skills.'' As commander Igor spoke, he turned away from Raven and lily, walking ahead through the double doors that were opened by his own men.

'I guess the rumors were true....' Commander Igor noticed the lack of knights in the sixth madam's manor. Even the entire manor itself and the interior was not worthy of a wife and daughter of the famed Langston family.

''Your chosen one can serve as your tutor, fourth young lady. I can also stop by time to time to see if you are taught correctly by the elite slave that you will chose now.'' Stopping in front of the lined up elite slaves, Commander Igor stopped speaking and waited for Raven who was looking around the battle ground before focusing her interest on the people at her front. Lily stood behind her, watching and waiting to hear of her decision.

A deafening silence reigned over the battle ground for a brief moment. Everyone in the battle ground waited patiently for the words of the little girl in their midst.

Commander Igor was slightly behind Raven and so her actions were observed from time to time. The smile on her lips never dropped as her gaze was on each elite slave, closely studying them from up to down.

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This actions of hers was not a surprise to him. If the fourth young lady could give such eyes similar to the Grand duke and elicit those rumors of the dead killer in her room, then she might be different from her former self. Besides, Commander Igor was aware of the Grand duke's helping hand in preventing the fourth young lady numerous deaths before her age of succession.

The Grand duke was also someone who would never assist his children in the succession battle. He was a man with no love towards them.

'That power might be the reason....' Commander Igor concluded his entire thoughts into these words. At the same time, a childish voice brought forth his attention to reality.

''Commander Igor, are the elite slaves gender limited?''

''I'm afraid not, Young lady.'' He replied.

''Then....'' The stare from Raven was enough for commander Igor to understand that she needed an explanation why there were only males and not females among the elite slaves.

''As I said earlier, they are the top best elite slaves....''

''Does the commander mean that there are no females equal among them....'' Raven interrupted, eyeing the men with chains around their wrists and ankles. All were dressed in loose grey tops and bottoms, not dirty and smelly like normal slaves from auctions.

''There are, fourth young lady. But females are weaker than the males in terms of size and strength. That will also affect their skills. Your chosen elite slave will be your tutor, and in my opinion, there is no female that will be a good match for that position. His excellency had also chosen these elite slaves personally, fourth young lady. If there's a problem, then I will do everything in my power to bring the elite slave of your desire.''

'So that's why he spoke about the Grand duke first....' Raven understood. Though, she didn't expect the Grand duke to have a hand in picking out the elite slaves. Perhaps he had done the same for the other children of the Langston family. as well.

Raven did not put much thoughts into the Grand duke's actions and gave up on checking out the female elite slaves. She was indeed curious about them, but her dearest father personally chose these elite slaves for her. The same as the other children, she must make her choice from his own choice, even if she was not too pleased with limited options.

''I can't choose more than one elite slave?''

''I'm afraid not, fourth young lady.''

''That's disappointing.'' Raven was regretful that she wouldn't be able to choose her personal maid. If she was allowed, she would have ordered the commander to bring out the top finest female elite slaves. Well....she didn't expect to find such maid like lily so easily. Even getting her tutor from these elite slave would be a bit hard.

If only the sixth madam had a rich background, then her tutor would have been hired a long time ago. Lily wouldn't have needed to take on the position unless the sixth madam desired her to do so.

Raven's criteria for her tutor was someone to proficient in not only swords but in specific weapons. This world seemed to value swords as the finest weapon. Even the assassin that wanted to kill her had a sword as well.

In her former life, she loved using daggers and small knives. Poisonous needles were also her specialty. It would be amazing if she could find someone like that among these elite slaves.

'I shouldn't have much hope though.....' Raven was aware that her wish was merely a fantasy. Finding someone proficient in daggers, small knives and needles was going to difficult.

'I should just teach myself....' She sighed regretfully to herself. The main reason why she wanted someone like that was for cover. At least, the sixth madam and lily would not suspect her. She was also curious about the fighting skills of this world. Maybe it was different from her former life, but there wouldn't be a way of knowing as her wish was merely a fantasy....for now.

''Fourth young lady?''

''Forgive me for spacing out, commander.'' Raven smiled towards the questioning commander. Right. She needed to make her decision and not waste time in her thoughts.

'Hmm.....' Turning her gaze back to the elite slaves, Raven wondered for a moment how she should make her decision.

''Commander, which of these slaves has been around for the longest time?''

''The answer to your question is that slave, young lady.'' Commander Igor pointed to the slave, standing at the end of the line.

''I see...'' Raven took note of the young boy with the only different skin color. ''How long?''

''A long time, fourth young lady. Eleven years, I suppose.'' replied Commander Igor. He had an opinion of this slave as well.

''That long?'' Raven raised her brows in surprise and asked. ''Is there another slave that lasted longer than him?''

''I'm afraid not, fourth young lady.''

''Hm...which slave is the weakest, commander?'' As though as she already knew how to make her decision, the corner of Raven's lips tugged up into a smile. Her eyes focused on every lowered heads of the elite slaves. For a moment, her eyes lingered on the smallest in size among them at the end of the line.

''The same slave, fourth young lady.''

'Really.....' Raven's smile became wider. Her eyes twinkled, knowing that she might have an idea of her tutor among these elite slaves.

''Who is the strongest among them?''

''This slave, fourth young lady.'' Commander directed Raven's stare, pointing at the person at the beginning of the line. She eyed the person whose physique was greatly larger than the boy at the end of the line.

''Then Commander, why don't I have a battle between them right now?'' Returning her gaze back to the commander, Raven suggested with her never-dropping smile. However, her smile had a faint chill and her eyes flickered with a murderous glint.

'I can't believe I am using the same method as them.'