The Wavering Heart of Hatred

[Thanks to your generous outpouring of resources and Aile’s own talent, she is making rapid progress.]

[At first, it took her three days to learn a spell. Then it became two days, and finally just one day.]

[As Aile underwent immense growth, your heart swelled with joy.
Even though she regarded you as her most hated enemy, you remained utterly unconcerned.

Her face had always been expressionless; upon her arrival, she would curl up and weep when beaten, but now, even tears had forsaken her.

Her emotions were not extinguished, but rather, she silently swallowed everything, praying to her teacher in her dreams each night.

When you punished her, she would simply lower her head and endure it in silence, following closely behind you without a sound unless commanded otherwise.

Though this was hardly beneficial for the young girl’s personal development…
Yet, you held firm in your belief that the girl you had once accompanied would never perish in such circumstances.

Once you concluded the simulation, everything would undoubtedly improve!
Considering it a necessary sacrifice, you resolved not to alter your educational approach, intending to see her training through to the very end.]
****
[Level twenty, level thirty, level forty, level fifty, level sixty.

Aile’s levels soared with the speed of a rocket.

Once she began her studies in the private study, you forbade Chris from any physical assaults, making Aile’s life within the ducal manor considerably more comfortable.

This left her somewhat perplexed, though she harbored no gratitude towards you.

When her level surpassed your own, you decided to grant Aile one day off each week.

From that day forward, you appointed Aile as your personal guard, and she began to accompany you out of your room, attending various activities.

Since your return, you had taken an interest in the plight of orphans.

She followed you to visit orphanages and distribute gruel in the slums, yet her eyes remained perpetually shrouded in ice.

The enforcer of witch hunts, an executioner with bloodied hands—what right did you have to speak of benevolence?
Hypocrisy, a sanctimonious fraud.

She witnessed with her own eyes as you helped a girl from the roadside and found shelter for countless wanderers.

Gradually, she grew accustomed to this life: studying magic, serving as your guard, and sleeping.

Nevertheless, this monotonous routine began to loosen the grip of her hatred.

Your gentle expression, too, made her doubt her own perception.
She found herself plunged into self-doubt.

In fact… she even began to feel that life here wasn’t so bad after all.
With no need to ponder food, clothing, or shelter, she could simply immerse herself in study, free from the need to speak with others, granting her ample time to delve into magic.

It wasn’t that she no longer hated you, but rather, she desperately wanted to ask you… why was it absolutely necessary to kill her teacher?

She yearned to know.

From that day, her level remained stubbornly stuck at sixty.

The more she tried to continue cultivating, the more her inner turmoil intensified.]

The image of her murdered teacher, juxtaposed with you offering warmth to orphans… she couldn’t reconcile them.

Though this was merely a minor setback on Aile’s path to growth, you frantically summoned Chris and Eliza.

“Her level hasn’t budged an inch since the start of this week.”

“It’s quite unscientific.”

Mingqian gazed at the “Aile Growth Plan” before him, falling deep into contemplation.

Typically, the foundation for cultivating magic lay in both talent and resources.

While most ordinary people couldn’t afford expensive resources, Mingqian was different.

He possessed an abundance of wealth.

Chris’s rapid ascent of forty levels in just one year had been precisely because he found the perfect items suited for the young girl.

For Aile, he had poured even more of his financial resources into her.

Chris had spent days traveling to and from black market auctions, solely to procure more advanced resources.

Despite this unrestrained deluge of resources, Aile’s level had stalled.

Sixty.

It was crucial to remember that the true distinction between a master and an ordinary person was ninety levels; beyond that, advancing even a single level became an almost impossible feat.

This stagnation simply didn’t align with Aile’s exceptional talent.

Eliza analyzed softly, “Perhaps her heart is currently undergoing an intense struggle.”
“A struggle?” Mingqian questioned, perplexed.
“Yes. Young girls of this age are sensitive in their thoughts, and perhaps some of Master’s actions have caused her confusion.”

Mingqian pondered for a long time, yet he couldn’t grasp the reason.

Suddenly, Chris had an idea, and she turned to Eliza.
“Sister, let’s not bother with this fickle Master who always craves the new.”

“Let him stew in his troubles all by himself.”
“We still have work to do! Work… it’s all thanks to a certain heartless Master who dumped all of it on us.”

“I sincerely hope that one day I’ll be the one to tie him up in the basement with my own hands.”
“Chr-Chris…”

Eliza blinked, failing to comprehend the situation.

Though she longed to say, ‘You mustn’t be so disrespectful to Master…’
However, just as Aile held a special place in Master’s heart, Chris was equally special.

She was not only Master’s long-time guard but was also often treated by him as a daughter.

And she, being five years her senior, because of the issue of age…
“Age… age… age…”
“Ah… Sister has fallen into a rather troublesome state. Well then, Master, if you still don’t understand, just snatch away her necklace.”
With that, Chris pushed Eliza out of the study.
“Age? Necklace?”
As Mingqian embraced himself, a sudden current surged through his mind.

Aile’s driving force for wanting to grow stronger was revenge.

“It’s hatred! Her hatred is wavering!”

Thus, you resolved to personally push her towards the other extreme.

That day, you brought her to the marketplace, intending to present her with a gift under the guise of a reward.

****

In the Imperial Capital, on the bustling thoroughfare of Commercial Avenue, the throngs of people were as boisterous as ever.

However, unlike usual, a peculiar duo made their appearance.

As a Duke, Mingqian adhered to the maxim of living a secluded life; unless absolutely necessary, he never readily met with others.

His ducal status spared him much trouble, and in the Empire, those who could directly meet him were exceedingly few.

Therefore, even his open appearance amidst the crowd posed no danger.

Nevertheless…

Aile was simply too conspicuous.

Her magnificent golden hair drifted gently with the breeze, and the maid outfit she wore, far from concealing her figure, accentuated her physical beauty to its utmost.

Her thighs encased in tight black stockings, the young girl walked with cautious steps, following closely behind Mingqian.

Mingqian had completely forgotten…

While he had commissioned multiple maid outfits for Aile, he had neglected to prepare any other clothing for her.

Consequently, Aile could only follow him dressed in her maid uniform, yet that wasn’t even the most crucial detail.
The s*ave collar around her neck, a symbol of her servitude, could not be hidden by her maid attire.

Upon closer inspection of the girl’s face, her lips were tightly bitten, and the fires of rage already blazed fiercely in her eyes.

Thus, to the passersby, a truly remarkable scene unfolded.

A man with a look of smug satisfaction (or so it seemed), followed closely by a beautiful young girl, pure in appearance, yet brazenly clad in a maid outfit and a s*ave collar in broad daylight.

Her face was flushed so crimson it looked as though it might drip blood.