*snort*

''Fourth sister, your servant really need to know its place. It's evident the lowly thing learned how to be insolent from the master.'' Edwin pointed out his displeasure. At the same time, he did not forget to throw insults at Raven, displaying an arrogant smirk on his lips.

''......'' Still with the same smile on her lips, Raven did not show any discontentment despite being ignored by these siblings of hers after greeting them and showing her goodwill.

'That explains it....' She noticed one of Jane's cheeks that was red and visibly swollen. She didn't need a minute to guess that this was Edwin's handwork.

*Pang*

Raven felt her heart stung by the sight. She didn't know why it was so, she was just uncomfortable....and irritated?

Yes. She felt irritated that Jane, her own personal maid was being man-handled by her cute elder brother, an unruly brat.

''Fourth elder brother is always right. I will speak to my mother and her excellency about Jane.'' Raven said with a sweet smile. However, that smile had a certain chill to it, and Kieran was the first to notice that minority with a glance.

''W-When did I say that you should mention this to her excellency?!'' Edwin, who did not expect his weakling fourth sister to talk back, reacted a bit violently by the mention of the Grand duchess.

His mother had warned to be careful around the Grand duchess after the last family dinner. She explained that his action had caused Grand duchess to be angry at himself and his mother, which was not a good thing.

''But fourth elder brother, it was her excellency who chose the servants for this manor. Jane was also included, and I have always been grateful to her excellency for choosing such faithful servant to serve me.'' All these words were uttered by Raven in her angelic voice. Even if it was a little lie on her part, Raven still put forth her tearful story.

''If fourth elder brother is not pleased with Jane, then I will tell mother to have an audience with her excellency.......''

''When did I say that you should mention this with her excellency?!'' Edwin angrily repeated his question. His fourth sister truly wanted the worst for him.

Still dwelling in anger, Edwin noticed a person behind Raven in the corner of his eye. Seeing the new face, he quickly changed the topic.

''Th-This should be fourth sister's elite slave.'' In an instant, all eyes apart Raven fell on the scrawny boy with a small presence.

''Yes...the slave is, fourth elder brother.'' Raven took her time to give a reply after confirming something from Edwin's words. For him to know that Kieran was her elite slave meant he and his mother had their eyes in the manor.

Rumors might have spread about her choosing an elite slave, but no one would have known his face since she had never allowed Kieran to step out of the manor.

The mother and son were obviously not the only with eyes in the sixth madam's manor.

What is the possibility that all the few servants in the entire manor were spies for others? A hundred percent possibility.

Now Raven began rethink the little lie she narrated to Edwin. Perhaps the Grand duchess wasn't the only one with her spy. Other wives would have surely found a way to include their own.

Lily might be the only exception since she loyally belonged to the sixth madam.

But Jane.....

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'All the more reason to remove her from my sight.' Raven was more firm with her decision to replace Jane.

''Fourth sister really knows how to choose an elite slave.'' Edwin snickered. ''He's a weakling just like you.''

''The elite slave does seem familiar.'' An unfamiliar voice joined the conversation between Edwin and Raven. One of the two sisters with same face spoke with a soft voice.

''What do you think, elder sister?''

''You are right, Estella. The elite slave does look familiar.'' Dark emerald eyes narrowed at Kieran who kept his head lowered with all attention on him. ''The slave resembles one of the elite slaves that were given to us choose when it was time for our selection. The commander said he was the weakest and I had no use for the weak. Younger sister was the same, I assume.''

''Brother Edwin, I wonder if father included this elite slave among the elite slaves that were given to you to choose.''

Raven watched the interaction between the twin sisters. Her eyes briefly landed on the quiet one with less dark emerald eyes and a mole underneath her right eyelid.

''Now that you mention it, the elite slave seems familiar to me, Estelle. I didn't expect fourth sister to choose a weak elite slave. I heard this elite slave is your new tutor and not the sixth madam's personal maid. From a maid to a mere slave, fourth sister really has a way of getting amazing tutors.'' Edwin laughed, sarcastically, not knowing that he just affirmed Raven's guess of the spies in the sixth madam's manor.

''Since he's your tutor, why don't I test him out as your elder brother, fourth sister?'' Edwin offered with a malicious smirk. ''It's the least I can do, since I don't want you putting on such a disappointing battle on our day, fourth sister.'' It was obvious to everyone, including Raven that his words were fake. If anything, Edwin would surely want to make sure that Kieran wouldn't be able to tutor her.

''......'' Raven did not answer at first. She looked at the twin sisters, particularly Estella, who gazed on with an innocence and naïve countenance. She was also the one who started the conversation about Kieran. Their gazes briefly met until Raven took away hers.

'So this is what you wanted....' Raven's eyes flickered with a knowing glint. As expected, none of her siblings were truly innocent. Perhaps one was....but someone who did not stop her elder twin from rejoicing in her misery was definitely not innocent.

''Why does fourth elder brother need to ask? You are allowed to battle with my elite slave, brother Edwin.'' Even if Raven accepted with her angelic voice and smile, her vibrant eyes sharpened with a fleeting murderous intent.

If possible, she would love to end the life of her cute elder brother, but that would not be too good on her side.

If Kieran killed Edwin, that would automatically be her killing him. The Grand duke might not be happy about that, since he had promised them a life-and-death battle.

''Kieran, please take it easy on fourth elder brother.'' Raven turned around to Kieran who knelt down on the ground at her call.

In other words, allow him to win, and don't do anything.

''...Yes master. This lowly slave understands your words.'' Kieran took some seconds before heeding the order.

''Um...'' Raven hummed, pleased that Kieran wasn't too dumb to understand the true meaning behind her words.

''Then stop dawdling and let's battle!'' Before Raven could speak, Edwin turned around with arrogance snort, and walked ahead to stand in the middle of the battle grounds.

''What are you waiting for? Don't make this young master lose patience!''

Since his master had spoken, Kieran stood up from the ground, and walked to where Edwin stood, though his position was opposite Edwin as an opponent.

Facing the arrogant boy, Kieran lowered his gaze to the ground. Since his master did not want him to truly fight, then he did not need to look at the latter in the eye.

His master wanted him to give a weak impression.

Staring at the action of the elite slave, Edwin sneered in disdain. The elite slave was just like his fourth sister. Indeed, birds of the same feathers flocked together.

Anyway, he would use this opportunity to teach his fourth sister for saying such words back then, in father's manor.

On the other side, Estella watched the two males facing each other. Her eyes took in their every actions. She then turned to side, staring at her fourth sister who also watched them with folded arms. The smile on her fourth sister's face was no more. All that remained was an empty look as if it wasn't her elite slave about to die at the hands on their fourth brother.

''Elder sister, what if father complains about this?'' Looking at the side of her sister's face, Estella voiced out her worries in a whisper.

''....You are right, Estella.'' Estelle changed her face at the mention of their father. Truly, if their father heard about this, he wouldn't be happy as their actions would be seen as a sign of disrespect. He had given his word about the life-and-death battle, yet Edwin came to seek a fight on his own. And the one who pushed him to come to the sixth madam's manor and challenge the fourth sister's elite slave was her.

If she was not careful, her mother might lose favor from her father. That would be disadvantageous to herself and younger sister.

Immediately Estelle understood the consequences, she did not waste time in stopping her fourth brother and the elite slave about to fight. Her voice was a bit loud, but audible for Edwin to hear.

''Brother Edwin, withdraw from this battle.''