Chapter 12: Winter child

[Name : Trainee Cassian ven dyke

Warrior level : trainee

Attributes:

Strength: 13

Agility: 9

Endurance: 15

Intelligence: 14

Dexterity: 10

Vitality: 9 ]

[Skills: Cleaning: Swordsmanship:

Overhead Slash: D (Progress: 09%)Horizontal Slash: E (Progress: 94%)Diagonal Slash: E (Progress: 87%)Thrust: E (Progress: 83%)

Foot Massage Mastery : Lv1(15/500) ]

It had been a month since Cassian started living as the cleaning boy for the eldest daughter of the Ven Dyke Duchy. Although his new life wasn't ideal, it was miles better than the rat's life he used to live. He could see his progress over the weeks, having steadily completed the training tasks assigned by the system. The routine was becoming easier as he grew accustomed to it.

He had also mastered cleaning Lady Katherine's room, though it was an overly complicated and exhausting process. 'Why would anyone want things to be so perfect?' Cassian muttered under his breath as he made his way to her room for the afternoon cleaning.

Lady Katherine had an odd obsession with perfection. Everything had to be aligned to her exact liking, from the books on the shelves to the fruit on the table. Even the number of grapes had to be just right, along with countless other exhausting details.

He had remembered all the details of his duties, but Cassian wasn't sure if Lady Katherine was entirely in her right mind, demanding such perfection. Today, though, he might finally get some answers. Surprisingly, the lady was in her room during the afternoon cleaning, and Sumina had mentioned she wanted to meet with him.

Nervousness gnawed at him. Meeting the woman he might be working for long-term was unsettling, especially after hearing so many rumours about her. Most of them weren't flattering—she had a reputation for treating her servants poorly, well, only her male servants. Jimmy had confirmed this, the only man who managed to survive under her employ by avoiding her entirely.

Cassian couldn't forget how uncomfortable Jimmy had looked when he recounted his first encounter with Lady Katherine. As Cassian mulled over this, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.

"You're here, Cass..." The voice belonged to someone else entirely. It was Jimmy, standing nearby with his girlfriend, Nesha, and Sumina. Beside them was a newcomer Cassian had only seen from a distance—one of Lady Katherine's personal maids, and the most junior of them all. As he approached, she greeted him with an amused smile, though Cassian couldn't figure out why.

He greeted everyone with a simple nod, then addressed her politely, "Greetings, Miss Laureen."

The maid, dressed in her uniform, let her smile widen, her amusement deepening. "No need to be so formal, my love..."

Cassian relaxed and took a good look at her. She had brownish-orange hair, and from her mature appearance, she seemed to be in her mid-thirties—though she could easily be older. Her curvy figure was mostly hidden beneath her maid uniform, but Cassian noticed her waist and chest, slightly smaller than Lucy's, reminding him of the young noblewomen he used to see shopping when he worked around the market.

Her face, like many others he'd seen here, was beautiful. She had mischievous brown eyes, a cute square face, and soft pink lips that curled into a playful smile as she spoke. "The lady's in the bath now, so you can relax a bit."

"Yes, Miss Laureen," Cassian replied, glancing over at Sumina, who was beaming with an excited smile. He figured it was because she wouldn't have to work anymore and could finally enjoy her life with her husband.

"We've already finished the afternoon cleaning, so just relax, like Miss Laureen said," Sumina chimed in when she noticed Cassian looking her way.

Cassian frowned, a bit confused. "Why didn't you call me for the cleaning?"

"We know you usually work out around that time," Sumina replied with a grin. "And don't worry—you'll be the one responsible for cleaning all day from now on."

Laureen, overhearing their conversation, raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, you work out, Cass?"

"Yes, a little bit here and there," Cassian answered, not wanting to delve into the details.

Laureen didn't press the topic further, and the room fell into a brief silence until Sumina suddenly asked, "Oh, I almost forgot—did you read the book I gave you?"

She was referring to the ridiculous book titled Feet is Life, which Cassian still couldn't wrap his head around. He didn't understand how it was supposed to help him, and he even considered whether it might somehow reveal weak spots in his opponents during fights. 'But why feet? Why couldn't it be hands or some other body part?' he wondered.

With a smile, Cassian responded, "I did and also picked up some techniques from it." His face showed a bit of confusion as he added, "But you never explained why I needed to read it?"

Sumina could only give him a pitiful smile and said, "You'll find out in a minute."

Just as she spoke, the door opened, and another woman stepped out, dressed in a maid's uniform. Cassian hadn't spoken to her before, unlike Laureen, but he recognized her. She had a cold, beautiful face framed by a pair of glasses perched on her flawless, slightly sharp but smooth nose. Her piercing blue eyes were emotionless as they surveyed the room. Her age and body were similar to Laureen's, though her figure was more hourglass, with larger breasts and a shapelier butt.

She glanced at Cassian and the others before turning to Sumina. "The lady wants to see you first. The rest of you, wait here," she said with icy precision. Then, looking at Jimmy and Nesha, she added, "You two can go. Laureen, keep him company until the lady is done with Miss Sumina."

She was also Lady Katherine's personal maid, known among the servants for her cold demeanor. Fittingly, her name was Fuyuko, meaning "winter child"—a reflection of her icy presence. Her tone was as cold as her name, yet every word she spoke carried undeniable authority. As Jimmy and Nesha left on her order, they shot Cassian a sympathetic glance, heightening his anxiety. Noticing Sumina's nerves as she entered the room, Cassian hesitated before asking, "Miss Laureen, is Lady Katherine really that strict with her servants?"

He still recalled Tyron's claims that she was good-natured, but now, doubts were creeping in.

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