With the feast winding down and the children beginning to bond, I pulled up the "Guide Book" once more. I had 60 Talent Points left, and I needed to distribute them with surgical precision. We didn't need to break Liam's curse tonight, doing so too fast might shatter his fragile body.
I made my moves on the interface:
[The Scholar]: I allocated 20 TP to Olivia. It wasn't enough to break the chains yet, but it gave her the "Eyes of Truth," allowing her to study the curse's flow without straining her mind.
[The Drill Sergeant]: I spent 10 TP on Ezekiel. His strength was already monstrous, so I invested in "Controlled Breathing" techniques. A warrior who can't control his power is just a loose cannon.
[The Shadow Master]: I funneled the remaining 30 TP into the Golden Mask. Our perimeter was a sieve; I needed them to be ghosts that even the Royal Spies couldn't detect.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Points Allocated. > Current TP: 0.
Golden Mask Status: Upgraded to [Tier 2: Veiled Sentinels].
The children were finishing their business at the table, their faces messy with the first real meal they'd had in years. Liam, however, still looked like he had just crawled out of the pits. Stained with the soot of the Underground and the shadow of his own fear.
"Butler," I said, leaning back in my chair. "Take Liam. See that he is bathed, clothed in the finest silks, and settled into his room."
"Yes, Young Master," he replied with his trademark rhythmic bow.
I watched him lead the small, blonde prince away. It struck me then, like a cold splash of water. We had spent several chapters together. He had stood by me when I was a homeless wreck, and he had served me without question since I returned to this life. Yet, I didn't know his name. In my first life, I was too self-absorbed to ask; in this one, I had been too busy surviving.
It was time to fix that. An Aurelion should at least know the name of the man holding his house together.
I stood up, my new 20 Strength making the movement smooth and effortless, and followed him into the quiet hallway.
"Butler," I called out.
He stopped, Liam pausing beside him. He turned, his face as unreadable as a stone wall. "Yes, Master? Did I forget a detail for the young prince's bath?"
"No," I said, walking closer until I was standing directly in front of him. "I realized something today. You've served my father, and now you serve me. You know every secret of this house... but I don't know yours. What is your name?"
The hallway grew silent. Even Liam looked up, curious. The butler's eyes flickered—a rare crack in his professional mask. He stood a little straighter, his voice dropping an octave into something that sounded less like a servant and more like a soldier.
"In this house, I am simply 'The Butler,' Master Erik," he said softly. "But before your father saved me from the northern gallows... I was known as Sebastian Thorne."
Thorne. The name hit me like a physical blow. My 100 Intelligence screamed at the realization. Sebastian Thorne wasn't just a butler. He was the "Viper of the North," a legendary commander who vanished decades ago.
"Sebastian," I whispered, testing the weight of the name. "It's a strong name. It suits you better than 'Butler.'"
"Thank you, Master," he said, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "Now, if you'll excuse us, the Prince requires his rest."
I watched them disappear around the corner. My luck was truly terrifying. I didn't just have a butler; I had a war criminal turned saint living under my roof.
I headed back to my room, but as I reached for the door handle, my phone vibrated with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
[URGENT ALERT: LUCK DEPLETED]
Event: The "Traveling Circus" has bypassed the Golden Mask.
Current Location: The Estate Gardens.
Target: Olivia.
They weren't after the Prince. They were after the Mage.
Mastermind's Crisis:
The spies realized Liam was too well-guarded, so they've switched targets to kidnap your only Mage. You have 0 TP, 20 Strength, and the kids are scattered.
What is your immediate response?
A) The Flare: Light a signal to alert Sebastian and your Father, but risk the spies killing Olivia to cover their escape.
B) The Shadow Step: Use your 20 Strength to rush to the gardens alone and try to use your "Mastermind" charisma to stall them until help arrives.
C) The Sacrifice: Command Ezekiel to leave Liam's side to save Olivia, leaving the Prince unprotected.