Matthias proved far more intelligent than Odelliana had anticipated. Taught something once, he mastered it with ease, surpassing the performance of other servants who’d trained and worked here their entire lives. He possessed superior strength, agility, and perception. To top it all off, his striking good looks captivated the attention of the other servants within the annex – all within a week of his arrival.
Of course, this admiration was entirely one-sided. The male and female servants working alongside him made constant attempts at conversation, hoping to befriend Matthias. However, his demeanor remained cold and indifferent. He offered minimal acknowledgement and spoke only when absolutely necessary.
It was a rare spectacle: a single individual ostracizing the majority. The native servants found themselves snubbed by a newcomer, a foreign boy who’d just arrived.
“They must be uneducated.” A voice gossiped. “I heard the young lady rescued him from the slums. Does he have any manners at all?”
“Even if that’s true, isn’t blatantly ignoring someone rude?” another chimed in.
“Look at him fawning over the young lady,” someone else scoffed. “He’s not stupid, just cunning. Sticking with us won’t line his pockets with gold.”
“Speaking of gold,” a voice muttered, “is there any to be gained by sticking with the young lady either? Since the young master’s house arrest, no visitors grace these halls. We’re like worn-out shoes, cast aside.”
Did they not realize the flimsy walls of the annex offered no soundproofing? Or did they simply not care about being overheard? Unfortunately, all the servants assigned here were very young, around Matthias’s age, making it difficult to establish any real authority.
The servants’ idle chatter was nothing new, but Odelliana found it surprisingly useful on occasion, gleaning unexpected bits of information.
House arrest... she thought, a piece of the puzzle clicking into place. Is that why I haven’t been able to reach Blair?
Since arriving in the duchy, Blair hadn’t visited her once. When she’d inquired about him with Magdalene, the head maid, she’d only received a vague response about him being very busy. This isolated annex offered no glimpse into the outside world; news from beyond its walls was scarce.
Further complicating matters, the staff in the main mansion were far more formal and tight-lipped than the young servants here. They rarely engaged in casual conversation, and only spoke when necessary, making leaks of information nearly impossible.
The children here weren’t much better. When Odelliana tried to pry about external affairs, they’d often brush her off with a simple “I don’t know,” forcing her to rely on overheard snippets.
Her only reliable confidant, Matthias, while versatile, wasn’t suited for espionage. Even in her past life, he’d struggled to mingle. Despite his commoner background, his striking appearance and innate air of nobility garnered attention, but therein lay the problem.
He lacked the finesse to navigate conversations. His curt replies and disinterest in others made smooth interactions difficult. As evidenced by the servants’ recent complaints, this tendency persisted.
A week after Blair’s arrival in the capital, Odelliana learned, to her shock, that he’d been placed under house arrest the very day he got there. A life of isolation truly makes one ignorant… she thought bitterly.
Adella’s warning about Blair’s limited ability to assist her now rang true. With him confined, Odelliana was effectively blind and deaf to the outside world.
She had to act. But what use was she without Blair’s network? A wave of dizziness washed over her, momentarily stealing her vision.
The maids here undoubtedly reported her activities to the duke. Trusting them was impossible. With her movements restricted, evading surveillance and sneaking around was out of the question.
Confined and isolated, Odelliana felt like a captured bird, wings clipped and senses dulled. A sense of urgency gnawed at her. She needed more eyes and ears.
Resorting to pen and paper, Odelliana hurriedly wrote a three-page letter to Blair. In it, she inquired about his well-being and, more importantly, expressed her urgent need for new servants – trustworthy individuals from outside the clutches of the duke.
Odelliana sealed the letter and tucked it discreetly under her pillow. The door creaked open, and Matthias entered.