Plan ; agreement - 01

"Ah forget it, I happened to read that when I was in the library yesterday. Aha... Ha.. Ha... An old book full of dust," Lucian added, a little nervous as he scratched his head. He tried to sound relaxed, but his tone was a little shaky.

Pavel looked at Lucian with an expression that was difficult to decipher. His eyebrows were raised high, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if judging Lucian's honesty. A brief silence enveloped the room, only accompanied by the sound of the regular ticking of the wall clock.

"Ekhm," Lucian cleared his throat, adjusting his collar, trying to look more confident. "Thanks for answering me, Pavel. I... I need some time alone for a bit," he said, then turned and walked quickly out of the corridor, not waiting for Pavel's response. He tried to look calm, but his steps were a bit hurried.

"Young Master, where are you going?" Pavel asked, his voice a bit anxious. He quickly got up and followed him from behind, keeping a polite distance.

Lucian paused for a moment, turning slightly to face Pavel. "I just want to take a quick walk, get some fresh air. It feels stuffy inside," he said, his voice a bit firmer this time, but still sounding a little nervous. He avoided eye contact. "You don't need to come, Pavel. I'm just around the mansion," he added, trying to reassure Pavel. "I'll call you if I need anything."

"I'm sorry, Young Master," Pavel replied in a lower tone, showing his regret.

Lucian stepped out of the big mansion door, leaving Pavel who was still watching from a distance. The fresh air hit his face, bringing the scent of flowers from the vast garden in front of him. He walked down the long corridor leading to the garden, with tall walls of old bricks rising on both sides. His long shadow stretched across the shiny marble floor. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"Considering Pavel's reaction, it seems like the Guardian's arrival hasn't been announced yet, which means we're not in the main storyline of the game. If there are no players, I can't continue with my plan," he said, a plan starting to form in his mind. He continued on his way to the garden that looked so peaceful.

He stepped into the vast garden, a stretch of green grass spread out under the bright blue sky. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of fragrant flowers. Lucian took a deep breath, feeling a peace he had never experienced before. He faced the garden, letting the soft wind brush against his face. The view before him was so different from what he saw in the game.

"Huh, this place looks so different from how I saw it in the game," he said, his gaze sweeping over the beauty of the garden laid out before him. The flowers bloomed in charming colors, and the shady trees provided coolness. Everything seemed so alive and real, far from the graphics in the game.

"In the game, the Hale Mansion looked a bit gloomy, a little creepy, with dull and dark colors. But now... now it looks like a typical noble Mansion, luxurious and beautiful," he continued, a faint smile etched on his lips. The difference between the game world and the real world gave him a new perspective, sparking new ideas in his plans. "In the game, huh..." He paused for a moment, as if a new memory was surfacing in his mind. His face looked deep in thought.

"Wait, that's it. I remember something," he said, a light of understanding shining on his face. "Why didn't I think to look for information there?" He gently tapped his forehead, regretting his oversight.

"Servent. They have access to a vast range of information, even hidden ones. Even in the game, players often use their services to get secret information about quests and rare items. How stupid am I, why don't I think of looking for information there first!" a sly smile began to develop on his lips. He already has a plan.

"Huh, but as far as I remember the guild covered it under the guise of a casino, and also if you wanted to visit it at least you needed a Partner," Lucian muttered, remembering the details that were almost forgotten. "Of course, I won't invite Pavel to do this. This is a secret affair," he continued, a new plan began to take shape in his mind.

Suddenly, a sound came from the direction of the garden. "Ouch...!" A woman's voice sounded in pain. Lucian turned to the source of the sound. Among the thick rose bushes, he saw Natty, tending to the garden, looking like she was watering the plants. She was holding her hand, her face scrunched up in pain.

"I should've known this flower had thorns, even though the senior told me," Natty muttered softly, trying to clean the rose thorns from her hand.

"That... isn't it, Natty?" asked Lucian, his voice a little surprised, but his steps remained calm and measured.

"Hikk!!" Natty gasped, covering her mouth with an uninjured hand. "Young Master Lucian, why... why are you here?" The last sentence came out like a whisper, as if he was trying not to say it out loud. He looked scared and very nervous.

"Is it strange that I'm in my neighborhood?" asked Lucian, his tone a little defiant, but he watched Natty's reaction closely. He felt that something was strange and wrong.

"Hikk!! Forgive me... I didn't mean to..." Natty lowered her head, looking very nervous. He tried to hide something, but his anxiety was palpable.

Lucian observed Natty with a thoughtful expression. As far as I remember, Natty in the game is not like this, right? Inside, considering Natty's character in the game is more cheerful and less shy. Huh, this difference between the game world and reality is really interesting. He noticed the little details, the way Natty spoke, the way he held his injured hand, even the way he looked down. Everything seemed so different from what he remembered in the game. An idea began to pop into his mind. "Wait, isn't this suitable? Nothing strange about bringing a waiter to the casino?" he muttered quietly, a sly smile starting to develop on his lips.

"Hey, I'm talking to you," Lucian said, his voice a bit louder, pulling Natty's attention from her daydream.

"Ahh!! I'm sorry, don't look at me like that!!" Natty jolted, looking down deeper, her hands covering her face. She felt so scared and helpless. Hearing that, Lucian's memory of his father's words came back to him: "Your face is a mistake, don't show it to anyone." His head throbbed intensely, as if it would explode.

"I'm sorry...!!" Natty almost cried, her voice trembling.

"Why does my head suddenly hurt like this?" she mumbled, taking a moment to breathe before looking at Natty, "Calm down, I won't judge you," Lucian said, his voice softer this time. He tried to show a more friendly and soothing attitude. "So, answer my previous question, do you... do you have any plans after this?" He looked at Natty with a warmer gaze, trying to build trust.

"The senior said, after watering the flowers in the garden I could take a break," Natty said, her voice still a bit shaky, but a little calmer.

"That's good," Lucian said, trying to make the atmosphere more relaxed. "How about you have some fun with me?" He offered a solution that might make Natty feel more comfortable. "We'll visit a fun place," he added, trying to reassure Natty.

" I knew Young Master would punish me," Natty hesitated a bit at Lucian's invitation. She was still scared, but a small glimmer of hope appeared in her heart. She noticed Lucian's gaze was a bit different this time, looking softer and less threatening.

"Silence means agreement," Lucian said, quickly grabbing Natty's hand and pulling her. "Alright, let's go!" He pulled Natty along quickly, leaving the garden and heading towards the main gate of the mansion. Natty could only follow, fear and confusion swirling inside her.