Beginning....

Inside the Carriage

Noir sat in his carriage, lost in thought.

Today, he had come directly to the Academy. He didn't go to his home city, where his father ruled. Instead, he came straight to the capital of the kingdom.

He didn't even go to his family estate in the capital. Last night, he stayed at an inn.

Why?

Why did he come to the capital after two years of missing?

He was looking outside from the window. Though only his eyes were looking outside through the window, what he was actually seeing was a scene.

A scene of a group of women being enslaved in a place. Among them, today, a woman was being dragged by a man through her hair. She had a pained expression, a tear-stained face. Her face was blackened, as she hadn't cleaned herself for some time now.

She was being dragged by a man with brown hair, slightly tanned skin, like he worked mostly under the sunlight.

He had a grin, like a lustful beast preparing for a predatory event.

This bastard of a male was dragging her from a group of women like they were some flock of sheep, and he was taking one to slaughter and devour.

And in the group, the rest of the women—some were screaming, some had broken expressions, some had lost expressions.

But what all had in common was blackened skin, pained expressions, tattered clothes, and the feeling of horror.

The woman they were dragging—only she had defiance on her face. Though only slightly, she had been hungry for more than a month and had been chained with special chains that bound her magical power from channeling.

"Young Master, we've reached."

With a knock on his door, Noir heard this.

And he opened his eyes from his already open eyes.

His fist was clenched.

Though there were no expressions on his face, even after seeing such scenes in his mind.

He muttered—

"Today marks the beginning."

And he got off the carriage. He had already passed the massive gate of his estate, which was guarded by rows of capable knights.

And right now—

In front of him stood rows of maids.

His mind counted with just a glance—

Ten on each side.

Each was wearing a knee-length black-and-white maid outfit, like they wanted to show their beautiful legs.

But they all had white stockings too, reaching around their thighs, with a red ribbon adorning their collars. Their outfits hugged their bodies in the most perfect way.

And why was he focusing on them this much?

Because they all had something in common.

That red ribbon on their collars.

And each ribbon had a golden engraving on it, which read—

"Noir."

Lara had this ribbon too.

Ahh… these ribbons… meant…...

They all are....

All the maids bowed in unison, with Lara standing in front.

She bowed and said—

"Welcome, Young Master. We hope your journey to self-discovery went well and that you have received what you wanted to discover… and that you would stay with us from now on."

Noir, hearing this, twitched his eyebrows.

He had left them a letter in which he said that he was going on his path to self-discovery and that he couldn't take them all with him because it would have no meaning otherwise.

Looks like they remember it.

And looks like they really hold a grudge for this.

He sighed.

"Hahh… You all… you've learned a new way to talk to your master, haven't you?"

A girl replied from the group of maids—

"Master, we really have learned a lot of ways to take care of you so you wouldn't have to abandon us."

Noir looked at her.

Clara.

Unlike Lara, who had blonde hair, yellow eyes, and a mature body with a good front and back… Clara was on the petite side.

Blue hair, short height, small chest, and a slim waist.

But she was the cutest.

And the smallest.

Looks like she hasn't changed…

That was a relief.

Otherwise, he would have really missed her cheery and bright personality. Unlike Lara, who seems to have changed…

"I didn't abandon any of you, you know… I just… just… wanted to go… on… a… solo… journey… you… understand, right?" Noir said.

He knew he was not good at making excuses.

Forget about it.

He was not good at lying.

"At the age of 13?" Lara muttered softly.

Noir heard it clearly.

With his enhanced senses, this type of low sound wasn't a problem for him.

And for the other girls too.

But they didn't comment on it.

Noir looked at all their faces and thought—

I owe them all an apology.

Lara said, "Master, please come inside first. There is someone who wants to meet you."

Noir raised his eyebrows and thought, Who would want to meet me in the capital?

Though he had some friends here, he had already met them at the academy.

And… I don't have that many friends in the capital, right?

While thinking this, he stepped inside.

Reaching the hall, his eyes fell on the grand, luscious, and expensive red sofa.

And on it, sat a person.

The moment Noir saw them—

His eyes widened.

His mouth fell slightly open.