As Kallion was walking down the hallway, he suddenly stiffened when he saw Yuliana walking from the other direction.
Their eyes met for a very brief moment, but Kallion quickly looked away and kept walking like he didn't see her.
It had already been a week since they last properly spoke.
The most frustrating part? Ever since he had that strange dream about her that night, she appeared in his dreams every night.
Even weirder, it wasn't the same dream over and over—it was always different. Different positions, different ways he held her.
The only constant was that the setting was always their bedroom… and Yuliana always whispered that she loved him.
Her soft voice in his ear, the feel of her skin against his, and even her moans and trembling body during their passionate moments felt so real—it was as if it all happened just yesterday.
"I'm going crazy…" he muttered.
"Huh? What did you say?" asked Layla, walking beside him.
Kallion shook his head, pretending it was nothing.
Was he… sexually frustrated?
He had never experienced that before. His unique ability allowed him to suppress all human desires—hunger, sleep, even lust.
So why was he suddenly having these vivid dreams after that night?
Did Yuliana do something to him?
Kallion looked at her back as she walked away. Unlike him, who suffered every night, she looked perfectly calm and unaffected.
That annoyed him even more.
***
A message arrived from the Bas Trading Company.
It was a letter from Jared.
He wrote that the Schultz family was involved in the recent leak of Valdormer's secrets and that he met with Kallion to report it.
She didn't expect Jared to get involved in something like this—especially meeting Kallion in person.
The letter said he'd contact her again if he met Kallion again. After reading it, Yuliana burned it to ash with her ability. She couldn't risk leaving evidence like last time.
On her way out of the study, she noticed something strange. Her personal maid, Kate, was standing nervously in front of the head maid. The other maids were watching and giggling at her.
Yuliana approached them.
"What's going on?"
The head maid casually answered, "I just scolded her for being careless with her duties."
"What duties?"
Kate quietly replied, "I was supposed to clean the window frames…"
Yuliana frowned. "Head maid, Kate is my personal maid. You should know what that means."
"Even so," the head maid said, "everyone must do their part."
Yuliana stared at her. Until recently, this woman used to at least pretend to be respectful. But ever since the rumors of Yuliana leaking information to Silverstel began, many servants started looking down on her.
Yuliana didn't care what they thought of her—but Kate being mistreated was a different matter.
Enough was enough.
Gripping her book tightly, she spoke calmly, "This will take a while. Let's talk somewhere more private."
The head maid, assuming Yuliana was embarrassed, smugly led her to an empty room.
Once inside, Yuliana smiled elegantly and looked around.
"I agree with what you said earlier," she began. "Everyone should take responsibility for their duties."
The head maid looked confused.
Still smiling, Yuliana knocked a vase off the table. It shattered loudly on the floor.
The head maid was stunned.
"Well?" Yuliana asked. "What are you waiting for?"
"…Sorry?"
"You're the only maid in here. Aren't you going to clean it up?"
The head maid frowned and tried to leave to call someone, but Yuliana grabbed her wrist.
"You said it yourself. The head maid's job is also to serve the lady of the house. Take responsibility."
The head maid clenched her jaw in frustration. Her face showed she wanted to slap Yuliana.
Yuliana leaned in slightly. "Did you forget I'm from a noble family too? Just because Kallion ignores me doesn't mean you can."
As a daughter of the Heister family, she could make a maid disappear without anyone knowing. It wasn't likely, but the head maid didn't know that.
Eventually, trembling with rage, the head maid got down and began picking up the broken pieces.
Yuliana looked at her coldly and walked out of the room.
Maybe Kallion would hear about this later—but she didn't care.
He wouldn't be able to kick her out.
So she had to survive in this house her own way.
***
Meanwhile, in his office, Kallion sat tiredly and rubbed his forehead.
He glanced at the people standing before him—the head maid and the butler. They came to give their regular report.
"I'm busy. Just tell me what I need to know," he said.
The head maid, looking nervous, suddenly spoke up.
"I'm not sure if I should say this, but…"
Kallion looked curious. It wasn't like her to speak her mind.
"What is it?"
Swallowing hard, she replied, "It's about the lady of the house managing the estate. With the recent rumors… I'm concerned."
The butler gave her a warning look. He clearly didn't like her bringing up uncertain matters.
But the head maid ignored him and continued boldly.
"I just think it's risky to let someone who might've leaked secrets manage the household."
The butler finally spoke up. "That rumor was proven false."
"Still," the head maid insisted, "there's no smoke without fire."
Layla, who had been silent at Kallion's side, spoke.
"She's got a point. Even if the rumor was false, the servants are uneasy. With everything going on outside, it's not wise to let things fall apart inside too. Maybe it's best for the head maid to take over for now—just until things settle down."
The head maid looked pleased.
Normally, Kallion would have agreed without question.
But instead of nodding, he just stared at Layla for a while.
Then, in a quiet voice, he said, "I think the bigger issue is figuring out where those false rumors started."