Chapter 4 : Chapter 4
Chapter 4. The Highly Confidential Morninglight Manor
Mission location: Morninglight Manor.
Mission objective: infiltrate the manor, remain prepared for combat at any moment, and search for high-value artifacts...
Wait, that is wrong. If that were really the case, she would probably need a million just to cover the evacuation.
By the time Eve returned on foot and finally arrived outside the iconic wrought-iron gate of Morninglight Manor, the hands of her pocket watch had quietly reached midnight.
It was somewhat later than the time she had originally estimated for returning to her nest. Although her time calculation had been slightly off, it was nothing serious.
However, she did not choose to enter through the front gate, even though she possessed a legitimate servant identity and a spare key that allowed nighttime access.
The main reason was...
She wanted to avoid the guard dog lying near the gate. The creature was large and extremely loyal.
The downside was that Eve had only recently integrated into the manor. It had been exactly one week, far from enough time for such a vigilant guard dog to completely regard her as one of its own.
To put it more simply...
She had not fed it enough, and she had not gotten familiar with it.
Therefore, Eve skillfully circled to the side of the manor, stopping beside a section of wall where ivy had completely covered the bricks.
She halted, placed one hand on her hip, and tilted her head slightly upward, looking at the wall that was about three meters high. After a few seconds, she moved.
First she stepped back a few paces, creating some distance.
Then she pushed off the ground, her body shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.
As she approached the base of the wall, her left foot struck the ground while her right foot stepped onto a protruding brick. Using it as leverage, she kicked upward.
After all, even a perfectly vertical ninety-degree wall was just another slope as long as there was the slightest point to push against.
The moment her body rose into the air, her hands had already seized the edge at the top of the wall. Her entire body hung there for an instant.
Next came the strength of her wrists. With nothing but raw, primal force, she pulled herself upward.
With a clean backward flip, her black-and-white figure resembled a butterfly in flight as she effortlessly flipped over the wall and landed inside the manor.
SQUEAK!
“...”
Eve froze in the position she had just landed in. An unusual sensation came from beneath her right foot.
She looked down.
Damn it...
Who threw a rubber duck toy here? Do they have nothing better to do? Instead of floating around in a bathtub, what exactly is it guarding here? Are they trying to stop gentlemen from climbing over the wall?
Eve clicked her tongue and slowly lifted her foot.
SQUEEEAK—
The flattened rubber duck immediately emitted that infuriating sound again, and Eve felt as if it were mocking her.
Fine.
Although it was not to the point of arguing with a rubber duck, taking a step back only made her feel more annoyed the more she thought about it.
With a flick of her boot, Eve sent the yellow duck flying into the dense bushes nearby.
After finishing that, she straightened up and lightly clapped her hands, still wearing those white gloves.
To be fair, the supplies issued by the Hessein Family to their servants were indeed impressive.
Even the dust she had picked up while grabbing the wall bricks disappeared with a single light clap. The gloves were spotless again, carrying the unmistakable aura of expensive craftsmanship.
The Hessein Family never spared such minor expenses.
“Who is there?”
Almost the moment Eve was about to leave, a questioning female voice shattered the carefully maintained silence.
Before Eve could devise the perfect response, footsteps had already approached, and the beam of a flashlight swept over the area.
Although it did not shine directly on her face, the figure of the newcomer soon appeared.
It was a tall woman with a striking figure—one that rivaled Eve’s, perhaps even surpassing it.
She wore the same iconic black-and-white maid uniform, though her version was noticeably more dignified. The skirt extended down to the ankles above her thick-heeled shoes.
Her pale golden hair was tied neatly into a bun, and her blue eyes were hidden behind lenses.
She was the head maid of Morninglight Manor.
Sylvia.
The strict “mother” of the maid staff, nicknamed the terrifying corrector. She radiated an overwhelming presence that made every young maid tremble.
At first glance, Head Maid Sylvia had not clearly seen the figure standing in the shadows. Her tone carried the stern authority of her position.
“Who is that wandering around the manor in the middle of the night without any sense of propriety? State your name, or I will treat you as an intruder.”
A moment later, the flashlight shifted.
Its beam revealed Eve’s profile and the maid uniform identical to her own.
Sylvia narrowed her eyes, adjusting the monocle-like golden frame on the right side of her face. Her brows relaxed slightly, and her lips parted.
“Eve? Is that you, Eve?”
“It is me,” Eve replied calmly.
Since she had already been discovered, there was no reason to remain hidden. She stepped out completely from the shadows by the wall.
Moonlight fell upon her, leaving nowhere to hide her pale skin, silver-white hair, and crimson eyes.
She showed no sign of panic.
She looked as relaxed as an elderly woman taking a leisurely walk after dinner, even wearing a polite smile.
After all, the bold move was often the best one.
“Head Maid Sylvia, you are still awake at this hour?”
“Oh my. Did you forget again? We agreed in private that you could call me Sister Sylvia.”
After confirming it was Eve, the head maid’s expression softened.
She switched off the blinding flashlight and simply observed Eve under the moonlight.
“I just finished putting the little ones to sleep and was conducting my routine night patrol. I happened to be almost finished, so...”
Her attention soon returned to the star of the small nighttime incident.
“But why are you here, Eve? I remember that you were not assigned night duty tonight.”
“...”
There it was.
The inevitable question.
Eve’s mind raced as she sifted through the folders in her mental archive. Soon she came up with an explanation that was nearly perfect.
Her voice was calm, with a hint of grievance.
“It is like this, Head Maid... I went out earlier tonight to buy a few things. On the way back, the bus broke down halfway, which delayed us for quite some time.”
“By the time I returned, it was already very late. I did not want to ring the doorbell and wake everyone, and the gate was locked. Then I heard what sounded like a wild cat nearby, so I came to take a look.”
As she spoke, she moved her right ankle slightly. Her delicate face frowned.
“I think I twisted it a little. I had just crouched down to check it when I heard your voice.”
Head Maid Sylvia blinked in surprise. She glanced at the wall and considered Eve’s explanation.
Did she climb over the wall to get in?
That was far too dangerous. She could easily have been injured.
Wait—she already was injured.
“You twisted it? Is it serious? Let me see.”
As she spoke, Sylvia stepped closer, causing Eve to instinctively step back.
Because the boots completely covered the ankle, it was impossible to see the actual condition. Seeing Eve gently move it without much difficulty, Sylvia finally let out a sigh of relief.
Then her gaze shifted to Eve’s empty hands.
“What about the things you went out to buy?”
“I left them on the bus,” Eve said, lowering her eyes.
“When the bus broke down, everyone had to get off and wait. It was chaotic. When I got back on later, the bag that had been on my seat was gone.”
She shrugged and spread her hands.
“Maybe someone took it by mistake. In any case... it was not anything valuable.”
Petty theft was common in this city. It was full of people who, despite having able bodies, still relied on little tricks to make a living.
At the moment, Eve only wanted to escape from this overly concerned head maid.
The slight frown on her face was not actually because of her ankle.
Something else in her body felt strange.
Tsk...
Of all times, it had to happen now.
Eve complained inwardly while still maintaining her outward composure, careful not to let Sylvia notice anything unusual.