Chapter 114 : Chapter 114
Chapter 114 : Only Vivian was kept in the dark.
Based on her understanding of her father, Baifuli was certain that he would be in the Study at this hour. She walked upstairs directly, lightening her footsteps as her gaze swept across the familiar corridor, trying to find traces of the past within it.
Strange…
She remembered leaving a pot of succulents here before. It had been the kind that could live for decades with only occasional watering. How had it been replaced with a suit of armor on a display stand?
Just as she was puzzling over it, a servant carrying a tray emerged from the corner of the corridor. The servant squinted for a moment to recognize her, then her face lit up with surprise.
“Eldest Young Miss! You have returned!”
“Mm.” Baifuli casually took the tray from her hands and steadied the tea set upon it. “I will take it from here.”
Before the servant could reply, Baifuli tilted her head slightly toward Mia, who stood beside her.
“Take her to eat something. Remember to prepare more—she has quite a large appetite.”
Mia reluctantly clutched the edge of Baifuli’s sleeve. Her stomach was indeed growling. After receiving a gentle pat on the head, she followed the servant away.
Once the corridor fell silent, Baifuli carefully pushed open the double doors of the Study and stepped inside. As expected, the room was lit, and there sat her father—whom she had not seen in a long time.
Constantine had assumed it was merely a servant. Without even looking up, he remained fully absorbed in the financial report in his hands.
Only when the visitor placed the tray upon his desk—intruding into his field of vision despite knowing he was busy—did he show displeasure. Words of reprimand were already forming in his mind.
Silence spread through the room.
Constantine’s expression became quite dramatic. His annoyance turned into seriousness. He had not even clearly seen the figure before him yet—the mere sight of that fiery red hair was enough to change his expression instantly.
But he was, after all, the Hatherin Family Head. What storms had he not weathered?
He set the report aside and feigned composure.
“Ahem… When did you return?”
“Why did you not call ahead to inform me? I could have sent someone to pick you up at the port. Did you just arrive? Have you eaten dinner?”
The string of questions revealed the concern hidden in his heart.
After all, among his two daughters, only Baifuli was willing to communicate with him.
Truly easy to please.
“Father worries too much. Your daughter is not foolish enough to neglect such considerations.” Baifuli teased with a smile as she calmly poured two cups of Black Tea and handed one to him. Instead, she turned the pressure back onto him. “On the contrary, you are still working at such a late hour. Are you planning to worsen your eyesight even further?”
“Ahem… this is the last one. I will go to sleep after finishing it.”
“You had better mean that.”
Constantine felt uncomfortable under her gaze and casually tossed the financial report aside.
Ah… she saw through him again.
Working late into the night, and once his eldest daughter discovered it, she immediately applied pressure in the most direct way.
Ah… it felt as though corpse spots were beginning to appear on his face.
But that was not important.
First, stabilize your mentality. Display the dignity of the head of the family…
Unfortunately, that was impossible.
He could not help but sigh inwardly. Baifuli had grown far too quickly. At such a young age, she already possessed the shadow of a qualified heir.
She resembled her mother very much—able to easily see through others, steady in her actions and decisive in her decisions. The persona she displayed on the surface was also difficult for others to perceive through. Once she fully matured, she would undoubtedly become someone quite formidable.
Of course, Vivian was not inferior either. But if she wished to catch up to her elder sister, it would take a considerable amount of time.
Ideally, the two sisters could complement one another.
Yet unfortunately, the gap between them was far too large.
What a worry…
As their father, he was powerless to change it.
Yet Baifuli seemed almost capable of reading his thoughts. Seeing the contemplative look on his face, she leaned against the desk and took a sip of tea, revealing a faint smile.
“I have already met my younger sister, so you may rest assured. It is not as bad as you imagine.”
“Then… did she mention me?”
“No.” Baifuli tapped her cheek thoughtfully, then added, “And I did not mention you either.”
Constantine: ?
For a moment he could hardly breathe.
Both daughters had not even thought about him at all. People always said daughters were their father’s warm little cotton jackets. These ones did not let the wind through—but they were very thin.
“Next time for sure.”
Constantine rubbed his forehead helplessly and nodded. Just as he was about to speak again, Baifuli interrupted him.
“Enough about me. I have a question regarding my younger sister.”
“Go ahead.”
Baifuli crossed her arms, and the smile on her face gained a hint of seriousness.
“Have you recently placed any people around her?”
Seeing her father fall silent for a moment, she continued.
“As Vivian’s elder sister, it is only natural that I should understand such matters out of concern. Would you not agree?”
Constantine realized he could not hide it from her.
Since she had asked, she most likely already possessed the answer. The real question was merely how he would explain it.
After thinking for a moment, he set down his teacup and clasped his hands together before his nose, adopting an inscrutable expression.
“As you said, I did arrange for someone to watch over and protect her.”
“That person is her Personal Maid.”
“The one called Eve?”
“Yes… you have already investigated?” Constantine looked somewhat surprised, but he continued speaking. “You do not need to worry too much. She has a pleasing appearance and considerable skill. Sending her to Vivian’s side was a decision I made after careful consideration.”
Upon hearing this, Baifuli could not help rolling her eyes.
Careful consideration?
She knew far more than that.
If they were not careful, by the next time they met, his daughter might already have been abducted.
A flower placed beside…
Well, another flower, actually.
And judging from the situation, it was probably Vivian who had taken the initiative. Otherwise, why would she have tried to learn how to adjust it?
“Of course I will not question your judgment,” Baifuli said. Then she cast him a meaningful look. “However… that Personal Maid you selected is probably not as simple as merely being chosen by you. What did she do before this?”
“That is not necessary to ask…”
“It is very necessary.”
Baifuli’s tone was decisive, leaving her father no room to retreat.
The more he hesitated, the more it proved that something was wrong.
Any factor that might influence Vivian—even something seemingly insignificant—was information she needed to possess.
Silence settled in the Study.
The fire in the fireplace crackled softly. The ancestors in the family portraits hanging on the wall seemed to be watching this conversation as well.
Constantine sighed softly and leaned back into his chair.
Finally, he spoke in a low voice.
“Eve… belongs to the Raven Organization.”
The moment Baifuli heard the word “Raven,” her pupils shrank.
This was an organization that operated in the shadows, handling matters that could never see the light of day.
She had heard of them before, but had never come into contact with them. Or rather, she had never had the opportunity.
Rumor had it that Raven maintained connections with only a handful of powerful families.
She had never expected her own father to be one of them.
“You assigned a member of Raven to serve as Vivian’s Personal Maid?” Her voice was no longer completely steady. Her fingertips traced the rim of the teacup.
“Well… actually…” Constantine met his daughter’s gaze somewhat awkwardly. “The position of Personal Maid was Vivian’s own decision. It had nothing to do with me.”
He could not reveal too much about Raven.
Even though the two sisters were direct members of the Hatherin Family, such knowledge would bring them no benefit.
“I know what you are worried about,” he continued. “But I can guarantee that Raven will not act against the Hatherin Family. At least not for now. And they certainly will not harm Vivian.”
“So… does my sister know?”