By the time we arrived at the dining hall, the Duke and Duchess had already taken their seats. The Duke sat at the head of the table, with the Duchess to his right, and beside her was the so-called Little Lady, a girl of about six or seven years old. With her blonde hair and brown eyes, she bore a striking resemblance to the Duchess. On the left side, Young Master Lemi had already taken his seat in silence.
Once the young master was seated, Mary wasted no time in beginning the meal service. As for me, I stood quietly by the side, waiting. That was when I felt a curious pair of eyes on me.
The Little Lady tilted her head slightly, gazing at me with curiosity. When our eyes met, her face lit up, and she waved at me with a sweet smile. Unable to resist, I lifted my hand ever so slightly—keeping the gesture small to ensure it wouldn't draw attention.
At that moment, my gaze met the Duchess's. She turned to me with interest and asked in a softened voice:
"I don't believe we've met before. Are you Lemi's new attendant?"
I bowed my head politely with a gentle smile. "Yes, my lady."
A faint smile appeared on the Duchess's lips, but her sharp eyes studied me carefully.
"What a bold young man," she remarked with a light chuckle. "Not everyone dares to work beside Lemi. I hope you won't run away like the others."
It was impossible not to catch the subtle bitterness in her words. This was, in a way, another test. If I showed even a hint of unease, it would mark me as weak in her eyes. Keeping my expression unchanged, I bowed my head slightly.
"I will do my best, my lady."
At that moment, the Duke intervened.
"I wish you success in your work, Theodore."
After the Duchess's cunning words, his brief and direct remark felt almost… human.
"Thank you, sir," I responded.
Throughout the conversation, the only person who had remained completely silent was the young master. He seemed utterly uninterested in anything being discussed around him. Meanwhile, the Little Lady, Anna, also appeared disinterested in her meal, idly pushing her food around on her plate with her fork.
The Duchess leaned toward her slightly and spoke in a gentle yet authoritative tone:
"Anna, you need to eat. Your lesson is approaching."
The Little Lady let out a small sigh before reluctantly picking up her spoon and beginning to eat.
The rest of the meal was consumed in relative silence. When the Duke stood up, he was the first to leave, calling for my uncle to follow him out of the room. Before long, the Duchess and the Little Lady also departed.
Only the young master remained. Unbothered by everyone's departure, he continued eating in silence, as if nothing in this room concerned him in the slightest.
I stepped back, waiting patiently for him to finish. When he finally did, he stood up and left the hall without a word.
I moved to follow him. As I reached the door, I cast one last glance at Mary. She winked at me, tilting her head slightly with a soft, whispering chuckle.
"Good luck, Theodore. You'll need it."
... ... ...
Following the Young Master in silence, we entered a spacious room on the second floor. The first thing that greeted us inside was a massive window spanning the far wall. Just beyond the glass lay a balcony, its size evident even from a distance. The sunlight streaming in added a gentle warmth to the room, creating a soothing atmosphere.
Beige-colored sofas with wooden detailing lent the space a sophisticated air. However, aside from the windows, the most striking feature was the large black piano standing in the corner of the room. Its polished surface gleamed faintly under the sunlight. I had only heard its sound a handful of times, but it wasn't hard to imagine how it would bring the room to life when played.
For a moment, I was lost in memories. Back when I lived in a town famous for its trade, I frequently encountered musical instruments. I had even worked briefly in a music shop—until the day a violin slipped from my hands, fell to the ground, and got scratched. Forced out of the job, I was made to pay for the repairs, leaving me with a deep-seated trauma regarding musical instruments.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I turned my attention back to the Young Master. He had settled into one of the armchairs, picking up a book from the side table and beginning to read. The soft sound of pages turning blended with the distant chirping of birds outside the balcony, filling the otherwise quiet room.
When I turned to look outside, I was met with a breathtaking sight—a vast garden adorned with flowers, and beyond it, a shimmering pond. The scene looked as though it had been pulled straight from a painting.
"Are you just going to stand there?"
The Young Master spoke without lifting his head. His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority.
I hesitated for only a brief moment before bowing slightly in response.
"I apologize if I disturbed you, my lord."
His eyes never left the pages as he absentmindedly ran a finger along the edge of the paper.
"What's on my schedule today?"
I quickly skimmed through the notes I had taken during last night's exhausting training. I needed to memorize his daily routine in detail, but I didn't want to speak before double-checking my notebook. Flipping to the correct page, I reviewed the day's agenda.
"Other than your afternoon lessons, you have no additional plans, my lord."
This time, he fully closed the book and placed it on the side table. As he took a deep breath, his fingers briefly brushed against the book's cover.
"In that case, have my horse prepared."
I immediately bowed in acknowledgment. "As you wish, my lord."
Just as I turned to leave, his voice stopped me once more.
"And, Theodore."
I halted mid-step and turned to face him. His emerald-green eyes were now fixed on me, carrying an unreadable expression.
"Prepare the Luna, not Orion."
I gave him a respectful nod before leaving the room.
Horse riding wasn't in the schedule—so why Luna?
... ... ...
When I arrived at the stables, Edwin was brushing a horse's mane. As soon as he saw me, he lifted his head and walked toward me. After I explained the situation, he seemed momentarily taken aback, his eyes focusing on me with curiosity as he tried to make sense of it.
"Theodore, are you sure he asked for Luna? You didn't mishear, did you?"
"He said, 'Prepare Luna, not Orion.'"
Edwin let out a deep sigh before walking into the stable with slow, deliberate steps. I followed him. When we stopped in front of a stall, an expression of sympathy settled on his face.
"Theodore, meet Luna. She belonged to the Young Master's mother."
Before us stood a horse with a sleek white coat and a long golden mane, looking perfectly healthy and well-groomed. She truly had a noble appearance.
"Isn't she beautiful?"
"She really is."
"As beautiful as she is, she's just as wild."
Edwin sighed again, extending a carrot toward the horse's mouth to coax her closer.
"No one but Lady Camilla was ever allowed to ride her."
Lady Camilla—she must have been the Young Master's mother.
"No one else has ridden her?"
"No. No matter who tried, she always threw them off. Even the Young Master himself attempted once, but even he couldn't ride her. She doesn't allow anyone to ride on her back except for the Lady."
Edwin fell into a thoughtful silence for a moment. "So why is he asking for Luna now?"
Even as he complained about the Young Master's request, Edwin still stepped into the stall and began preparing the horse. As he adjusted the saddle, bridle, and reins, I stood by and watched.
"Theodore," he said while fastening the saddle, "even if I prepare the horse, I doubt anyone will be able to ride her. Tell the Young Master I can prepare Orion instead."
From the very start, the Young Master's plan had never been to ride the horse. He knew full well that the moment he mounted, Luna would throw him off. His goal was simple—once he was injured from the fall, he would blame me and have me dismissed.
"Please, prepare the horse."
Alright, Young Master. Let's play the game your way.