The letter Moria left behind answered many of Lian's questions and allowed him to deal with the affairs of the Green Shade Territory without reservation.
Lian turned back and saw that there wasn't a hint of shock on Sophie, Anna, or Annie's faces.
"Aren't you… afraid?"
Sophie said nothing, simply shaking her head to show her stance.
"Afraid of what?"
Annie asked, confused.
"Afraid of me? I'm not the real Lian. Aren't you curious where the real Lian went? Aren't you afraid of me, an impostor?"
The moment Lian asked the question, he realized how naive he was being.
One was the Ice Witch who had brushed against Bordering on Loss of Control, another was a Spy who constantly tread the line between life and death, and the last was an Assassin whose primary duty was to kill.
How could they be afraid?
Their blank expressions were all the proof he needed.
'I'm such a clown.'
After a moment of silence, Anna was the first to speak.
"Lord Lian, no matter who you are, you are the one we will follow. Our Loyalty is yours alone."
"We will never betray you, even if you are despicable, twisted, and morally bankrupt."
Annie added.
The taciturn Sophie gave a slight nod, showing she agreed with the twins.
The corner of Lian's mouth twitched. "Annie, that last part was completely unnecessary."
Anna fetched a candlestick from the cabinet, gently took the letter from Lian's hand, and held it to the Flame. The paper ignited, curling in the fire like a butterfly born of flames.
Annie, meanwhile, took the thick blanket from Lian.
Lian lay down on the bed and said to them,
"It's getting late. You two should go get some rest as well."
Anna and Annie bowed in unison and exited.
Tonight was the first night of their newfound freedom, and they wanted to experience the world with all their hearts.
The sisters closed the door to Lian's bedroom, and hand in hand, they walked down the dark corridor to the moonlit garden.
Lian wasn't sleepy either. He turned his head and looked at Sophie, who stood by the window.
Ever since he told Sophie he needed her protection, she hadn't moved more than ten meters away from him.
Lian figured his bedroom was more than big enough for two people to rest. He would take the bed, leaving the soft sofa for Miss Witch.
"Sophie, aren't you going to rest?"
Sophie shook her head.
"What do you usually do at this time?"
Lian asked.
"Patrol."
Sophie's cool voice reached Lian's ears.
Lian suddenly remembered that he had inherited his title in such a hurry that he still hadn't gone to see the High Wall yet.
Monsters existed in this world, so every territory had built its own unique High Wall.
Within the High Wall lay the city, a place of relative safety. Beyond it were the perilous forests and the Wilderness.
The place where Lian first arrived, the Bone Forest, was a large forest famous for its Tree Monsters, Skeleton Monsters, Corpse Monsters, and Goblins.
Because the forest's area was too large and the Green Shade Territory's population was growing too fast, some small, dependent villages were also built outside the High Wall.
The part of the Bone Forest near the villages was actually a "Pure Land" cleared out by the Knight Order.
The monsters rarely ventured close.
That was why the Guards chose to bury the sick alive there.
The fact that Lian and the others encountered a Tree Monster there was likely the Misfortune from his Misfortune Physique at work.
"Let's go see the High Wall together tomorrow,"
Lian said.
Sophie nodded.
She had grown accustomed to being the Guardian of the Green Shade Territory and rarely slept.
She was used to standing on the High Wall, lost in thought under the moonlight.
She stood by the windowsill, looking down through the glass window at the twin sisters playing in the flowerbed.
They held hands, spun in circles, and danced like children, enjoying the joy of their new lives.
Sophie suddenly felt a little envious.
She picked up a multicolored glass vase from the windowsill and muttered to herself,
"Should I raise a flower or a fish?"
Sophie wished she had a companion, whether it was a flower or a fish.
That way, she could hold it in her palm or carry it in her arms at all times, and she would never be lonely wherever she went.
That way, she would feel complete, no longer thinking only of patrolling and fighting.
That way, she would have her own hobbies. Maybe she could wear a gentle smile like Anna's, or say rebellious things like Annie.
Sophie felt a little happy, because she was starting to think about the future.
Lian heard her words, and a smile crept onto his lips.
He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
He slept dreamlessly through the night.
When he woke up, Anna and Annie were already in the bedroom.
Anna had drawn water for him to wash his face, and Annie had prepared his clothes.
Lian noticed this was the second formal suit he had received since arriving at the Lord's Mansion.
"A new tailor?"
"Anna sewed these clothes for you herself last night,"
Annie said.
Anna didn't expose her lie, maintaining an elegant smile.
The Assassin's handiwork was excellent, but she had misjudged Lian's figure. The suit was a bit small.
It was a bit tight on Lian.
Annie was a little annoyed, her lovely brow furrowing slightly. 'It seems I'm really not cut out to be a tailor.'
Lian could tell from the twins' subtle expressions that Annie had definitely made the clothes, not Anna.
With Anna's attentiveness, she would never make clothes that didn't fit.
"I think it's great, it fits me perfectly. It makes me look sharper."
Lian had barely finished speaking when he raised his arm, and the jacket let out a loud RIIIIP.
The seam under the arm had burst.
For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone fell silent.
Lian awkwardly took off the jacket and said, "I'll just wear yesterday's outfit."
Anna immediately brought Lian his formal suit.
Annie's face flushed slightly. She felt she'd really painted herself into a corner, even though Lian wasn't angry about it.
Lian finished changing and refused the washbasin Anna offered.
"From now on, please don't treat me like a helpless invalid. I can go to the washroom myself, and I can also change my own clothes."
After a day of being waited on hand and foot, Lian still preferred to do things himself.
Hearing Lian's words, Anna and Annie showed obvious looks of disappointment.
"Did we do something wrong?"
Anna asked.
"It's that Lord Lian has grown tired of us. He's starting to want new Maids, to see new faces,"
Annie added.
"That's not what I meant. I just decided it's more convenient to do things myself. Besides, you're not my servants anymore. You're free. You're my companions,"
Lian said,
"You don't need to follow me around every day. Just appear when I need you."
"To come when called and leave when dismissed. An expendable presence,"
Annie asked.
Lian broke into a sweat. Her summary was surprisingly accurate.
"Alright, just pretend I never said that."
"Lord Lian, on the surface, we are still your Maids. Otherwise, it will arouse others' suspicions,"
Anna said gently. She knew what Lian meant—that he wanted to give them enough respect.
Lian nodded.
Sophie looked at the clothes Annie had made and fell into deep thought.
She wondered if she, too, could do something for Lian.
"Sophie, let's go. We're going to patrol."