The Smile Behind the Manor Door

So that means… they were really going to stay here for a while now?

The second day after Daisy and Viola began their journey was also the day after the disturbance at Baron Borus’s farming town.

The manor estate that had been surrounded by torch-bearing soldiers the previous night had already returned to a peaceful scene beneath bright morning sunlight.

“This is our family’s dining hall and reception room.”

“And here is the courtyard and corridor.”

“Over there is our chapel…”

Along the outdoor viewing corridor lined with marble pillars surrounding the manor courtyard, Baron Borus’s only daughter, Lady Pelinda, elegantly guided Daisy through the estate while introducing its layout piece by piece.

Pelinda wore a gorgeous brand-new dress, her flaxen hair flowing beautifully while emerald-like eyes shone beneath the sunlight.

With two servants accompanying her, every step and gesture carried the refined grace expected of a noble lady.

“Father always modestly calls this place a humble home…”

“But honestly, this estate really isn’t very impressive.”

“It probably can’t even compare to the summer villas owned by ordinary wealthy merchants.”

“I hope Daisy doesn’t laugh at us.”

Daisy… “Miss”…

Daisy still felt slightly awkward hearing that title attached to her for the very first time.

Yet she could not quite explain why.

And since Viola was not beside her at the moment, Daisy could only continue following Pelinda and the servants somewhat nervously while touring the not-so-grand estate.

Last night, the massive army sent maliciously by Viscount Clyde had stormed into Baron Borus’s farming town, terrifying the villagers into hiding indoors.

Although little actual damage was done in the end, Borus still needed to personally reassure the people and stabilize the situation this morning.

Though the cursed commander should have already led Clyde’s forces far away by now, Viola still followed Baron Borus during his inspection tour through town just in case.

Thus, Daisy had temporarily been entrusted to Lady Pelinda for a guided tour of the manor.

Within the Kingdom of Mirandel, noble estates of this era were generally built for extravagance and appearances.

After all, nobles could endlessly squander royal funding while ruthlessly exploiting peasants who dared not resist.

Money was never a concern.

Yet Baron Borus’s estate fell far below the average noble manor of Mirandel.

Everywhere one looked, signs of frugality and simplicity remained visible.

Honestly, it resembled the residence of a stingy but practical merchant more than a noble estate.

Still, regardless of whether it was luxurious, this was the largest home Daisy had ever seen in her life.

As Pelinda explained things while walking ahead, Daisy curiously looked everywhere with sparkling eyes.

“Waaah!”

“How many people are supposed to live in such a huge house?!”

Gradually overcoming the unease of Viola temporarily not being beside her, Daisy openly marveled around her.

At that moment, the morning breeze drifted through the corridor.

A faint elegant fragrance passed by Daisy’s nose.

It smelled like flowers.

The scent came from Lady Pelinda herself.

Not naturally.

Perfume.

Dragons naturally possessed extremely sharp senses of smell.

Even without trying, Daisy could easily distinguish scents most humans would never notice.

For example, Viola naturally carried a faint vanilla-like fragrance.

Katie, who traveled forests constantly, smelled of trees and earth.

Pelinda’s carefully applied perfume, however subtle, still made Daisy slightly uncomfortable.

Her nose twitched as though she might sneeze.

“Hehe…”

“Miss Daisy really says amusing things.”

Ahead of her, Pelinda laughed elegantly while replying over her shoulder without interrupting her graceful pace.

Every movement she made remained perfectly measured.

Every word and gesture seemed practiced according to invisible standards.

Nothing about her behavior felt naturally spontaneous.

She’s really different from Katie…

That was Daisy’s current impression of Pelinda—the second human girl she had truly begun speaking with since entering the outside world.

Everything about Pelinda seemed constrained by invisible rules.

There was no sense of freedom in her movements at all.

Katie, by contrast, had felt like wind through the forest.

Free.

Unrestrained.

Carefree.

…Though maybe not entirely.

In truth, Katie too was merely another powerless person toyed with by the cruel irrational fate of this world.

She had never truly been free either.

Meanwhile, Daisy continued following Pelinda and the servants toward the far corner of the corridor without noticing something.

The instant Pelinda turned her face away after smiling at Daisy—

A faint trace of something conspiratorial flashed briefly across her expression.

“Please follow me, Miss Daisy.”

“Next, I’ll show you the inner sections of the estate.”

“Some rather special places that normally no one visits…”

**

At the same time, outside in the farming town…

“Lord Borus! Are you alright?!”

“Baron Borus! Those suspicious people who arrived last night didn’t harm you, did they?!”

“Lord Borus! Everyone in town was terrified for your safety!”

“Thank the gods you’re unharmed!”

While Daisy toured the estate with Pelinda, Viola walked beside Baron Borus through the farming town surrounded by peaceful farmlands and neat straw-roofed houses.

Viola concealed herself beneath a long black dress and even mimicked a wide-brimmed black hat with a veil to obscure her appearance.

Beside her, Baron Borus rode an entirely ordinary horse—not even a feathered steed—while several attendants followed nearby.

As worried townspeople called out sincerely from both sides of the streets, Borus smiled warmly and waved repeatedly, doing his utmost to calm public fears.

Viola merely watched coldly from behind her veil without the slightest emotional reaction.

“Lord Borus!”

“Please forgive our incompetence!”

Suddenly, a large group of armed men rushed over from the roadside and knelt before Borus’s horse.

Their clothing, weapons, ages, and appearances all varied greatly.

Together with the guards from last night’s militia station, dozens of unofficial local militia members now knelt in shame beneath the name of Borus’s guard force.

None dared raise their heads.

“As your guards, we completely failed to protect you, your family, and the townspeople from those invaders last night!”

“The difference in numbers and equipment was simply too overwhelming!”

“We utterly failed our duty!”

“We are deeply ashamed!”

“Please rise!”

“Don’t blame yourselves!”

Borus hurriedly tried to comfort them.

Unlike many petty nobles, he displayed none of the arrogance expected of his station.

“It is my fault…”

“In recent years, I focused too heavily on supporting the people’s livelihoods and neglected expanding the militia.”

“You lacked the strength to even protect your own homes.”

“I should be the one apologizing.”

“M-My lord…!”

The kneeling guards became visibly emotional from Borus’s understanding and kindness.

Several even began crying openly.

“Please, everyone, stand up…”

Borus awkwardly tried calming them further from atop his horse.

Then suddenly, from his elevated position, he noticed a gathering in the distance.

“What’s happening over there?”

One of the kneeling guards suddenly stiffened.

Then, like a disciplined soldier delivering a report, he answered solemnly despite his reddened eyes.

“Reporting to Lord Borus.”

“That is the funeral of Old John the shepherd.”

“He failed to return from grazing last night.”

“This morning, his body was discovered out in the wilderness…”

“He likely encountered those suspicious soldiers.”

“Perhaps… because of the kindness you once showed him…”

“He tried to warn you… or seek help…”

By the end, the guard could no longer continue speaking.

Meanwhile, Borus’s face twisted with grief as he finally pieced everything together alongside Viola’s earlier explanation.

Last night, Viola had said a shepherd begged them to save the lord.

Within Borus’s territory lived thousands of people.

Countless families had received his aid over the years.

Many silently carried gratitude within their hearts.

The old shepherd had merely been one unnoticed individual among them.

Yet when disaster struck, he chose to sacrifice his life without hesitation.

“It was him…”

“So it was him…”

“For my sake…”

Baron Borus slowly dismounted his horse.

Then he gazed toward the distant funeral and burst into tears, unable to say another word.

“This region may not suffer from demon attacks.”

“But diverting military funding toward supporting the people was still foolish.”

“Humans bring more disaster into this world than demons ever could.”

“As a noble, did you truly not understand how dangerous the world is?”

Viola finally spoke after remaining silent all morning.

Her voice carried cold emotionless criticism.

“Your kindness caused all of this.”

“You nearly got your entire family killed.”

“…”

Borus covered his face briefly.

Then he turned toward Viola with tearful frustrated eyes.

“Then was I wrong?!”

“Was it wrong for me to want my people to live happier lives?!”

“No.”

“You were correct.”

Viola answered immediately.

Her tone remained cold nonetheless.

“It’s simply that this world is not as correct as you wish it to be.”

Meanwhile, deep inside the manor estate…

Despite the estate itself not being especially massive, the inner structure was surprisingly complicated.

Corridors and stairways twisted endlessly in confusing directions.

“This way, Miss Daisy.”

Pelinda still maintained her elegant noble posture, though her movements had become noticeably hurried.

Eventually, she led the increasingly dizzy Daisy before a hidden room deep within the manor.

Then Pelinda turned toward the two accompanying servants.

“You may both leave now.”

“The next thing may only be shown to Miss Daisy alone.”

“M-My lady?! But…”

The servants hesitated nervously while glancing between Pelinda and Daisy, clearly uncertain.

“I said leave.”

“And do not disturb us.”

Pelinda suddenly raised her voice sharply.

Only after the servants finally departed around the corridor corner did she slowly turn back toward Daisy with another smiling face.

This time, however—

There was something strange hidden within the smile.

Creak—

Pelinda opened the hidden room door.

“Please come in, my little guest.”

“I’m sure there are many things here capable of satisfying someone as innocent and pure as you…”