Unraveling Audrey’s Mysteries

“Green, I am neither your kin nor your benefactor. Whether you live or die, what concern is it of mine?”

“Find your own path to survival.”

In his memory, the old wizard’s ancient, wrinkled face remained as unyielding as frost, his bony finger tapping Rhine’s temple.

“Remember, it is better to rely on yourself than on others, and better to trust yourself than gods.”

“Child, you must think deeply.”

Chris was deeply anxious, his greatest fear was finding a hanged figure within the room.

“Where are the room keys?” he demanded, shouting at the maids who stood gawking.

“Young Master, the head maid has already sent someone to fetch the spares,” one replied, “The storeroom keeper’s memory isn’t the best; they said it might take some time.”

Chris clicked his tongue in exasperation.

“There’s no time for that! Stand back!”

A silvery-blue surge of energy condensed at his feet.

“Hah!”

He delivered a powerful kick with his right leg, striking the wooden door squarely, sending splinters flying with a sharp crack, then followed with a forceful elbow thrust, breaching the door with swift efficiency.

Rushing inside, he found the handsome young boy seated by the window, chin propped in his hand, his eyes—profound beyond his years—gazing serenely at the blue sky and drifting clouds, embodying the posture of a great sage contemplating existence.

Chris first let out a sigh of relief, his heart, which had been pounding anxiously, finally settling.

“I am Chris Cavendish, and Audrey is my sister. Rhine, I extend my heartfelt apologies on behalf of my sister for her disrespectful conduct towards you, and I am deeply ashamed of my own improper arrangements.”

“I won’t bother with pleasantries, as I’m sure you have no desire to hear them. So, let’s speak plainly: having witnessed the depth in your eyes, I understand that even at your tender age, you possess independent insights into the ways of the world—a path I myself once walked.”

“While you might perceive the Duchy’s acceptance of you as mere ‘kindness’—and indeed, some here do view it that way—I declare, by the name of ‘Cavendish,’ that you are a guest whom we are honor-bound to treat with utmost hospitality. You have every right to choose the lifestyle you desire, provided it lies within our means.”

“As for the reason, Knight Commander Ferren, who brought you back, has already vouched for you with his honor; there is no need for doubt on that front.”

“Should you have any thoughts or requests, please voice them without hesitation. Regarding your position as my sister’s attendant, simply inform me, and you may relinquish the duty at any time.”

Chris felt he had spoken a great deal, some of it grandiloquent, some profoundly sincere, perhaps because he saw a reflection of his past self in the boy, prompting his extensive discourse.

To his bewilderment, despite his strenuous efforts to speak, not a ripple of emotion disturbed Rhine’s face, as if the affairs of the world held no bearing on him.

To suggest he was utterly unmoved would be to liken him to a cold-blooded creature; to attribute it to profound cunning would be unfathomable in a fourteen-year-old child.

He could not fathom the young boy, even knowing the extraordinary experiences the youth had endured.

After a long moment, as if a terribly slow reflex finally connected, Rhine first cast a glance at Chris, who stood rooted in the center of the room, then mechanically adjusted his ‘defiled’ lower body, his vacant eyes gradually regaining their sparkle.

Finally, he silently drew out his quill, returned to the desk, and, in a furious scrawl of Norman script, wrote a series of sentences in his diary:

[You wretched girl! You will pay!]

The evil sorcerer’s attitude towards the ducal family underwent a subtly significant shift—

‘As the ancients proclaimed: to catch a thief, one must first catch their king. Today, to conquer the Cavendish family, one must first subdue Audrey.’

‘Rhine, a Grand Archmage of the High Tower in his forties, found himself utterly subjugated by a mere slip of a girl, unable to lift his head from beneath her skirt. Where would his dignity be when he ventured out again?!’

‘A heavy blow! I must deliver a heavy blow! Strong medicine is needed!’

That night, Rhine, refusing all assistance, stewed in his room, growing increasingly furious. He stomped his feet in exasperation for half the night; for the remaining half, he was engrossed in playing Tetris on his student handheld console.

Rhine conceded that he had initially underestimated his opponent, misjudging his own current strength and underestimating Audrey’s formidable nature, which had inadvertently led to his humiliating defeat yesterday.

As a wizard who prided himself on “strategic planning,” he should have thoroughly gathered intelligence on his opponent before the battle. Only then could he seize upon the enemy’s weaknesses in a formal duel, relentlessly target their sensitive points, and thereby achieve the supreme pleasure of a complete victory.

With a serious and meticulous scientific approach, Rhine documented the “Creepy Rules” whispered among the maids:

1. Please remember, the Young Miss is adorable. If she isn’t, then you are definitely the problem. Do not be afraid; at such times, please seek out Young Master Chris, and the situation will take a turn for the better.
   [PS: Utterly useless, pure psychological comfort. Who would find that little hellion adorable?!]

2. Remember that the library only has a first floor; a second floor does not exist. If you find yourself on the second floor, do not panic. Please retreat to the first floor within three seconds and act as if nothing happened, otherwise the Young Miss’s hostility will instantly max out, and she will do something terrible to you.
   [PS: This sounds familiar. Trespass into my Babel Tower, and you will face my full wrath.]

3. Please do not lie in front of Audrey. If you do, her behavior will undergo a strange transformation.
   [PS: Why isn’t ‘Young Miss’ the subject of this sentence? Could it be… that this doesn’t only apply to the servants? Worth noting.]

4. Please remember, the Young Miss dislikes the Second Master. If you so much as utter half a word about that esteemed person in front of her, quickly admit your mistake; the Young Miss is magnanimous.
   [PS: Family conflict? My investigation reveals that the current Duke Cavendish is Hassan, the eldest son of the former Duke. Let’s provisionally call him ‘The Old Fox’ (he’s proper and decisive, not easily fooled). The Second Master refers to Marin, the second son; let’s provisionally call him ‘Petty’ (reportedly his personality). The youngest son, Philip, is Audrey’s father; let’s provisionally call him ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ (he’s gentle and reserved).]

5. Do not mention marriage! Do not mention marriage! Do not mention marriage! Repeat important things three times! Absolutely do not mention marriage!
   [PS: As the King of Bachelors, I scoff at such fraudulent matters. Marriage is the tomb of love—an eternal truth (a bold assertion).]

6. If you are trying to cheer up Audrey, please disregard rule number three. Well-intentioned lies are permissible; Audrey’s behavior will not turn strange because of them, though there is a ten percent chance she will quickly depart.
   [PS: This is getting stranger and stranger. Does she really possess a passive skill for detecting lies? I need to test this.]

7. If the Young Miss, having removed her glasses, stares intently at you, do not meet her gaze.
   [PS: The consequences aren’t specified. What exactly will happen? My curiosity about this Audrey grows by the minute.]

Navigating among the maids who began their work at dawn, and meticulously organizing his notes, the sun was already high in the sky. Rhine finally had a preliminary grasp of the ‘minefields’ to navigate and the directions for his investigation.

However, when viewed through the eyes of others, the more information he uncovered about the Young Miss of the Cavendish family, the more she became shrouded in an impenetrable veil of mystery.

‘The details still need to be ironed out…’ Rhine mused, staring at his notes.

“May I ask just one question? Audrey… oh no, I mean… the Young Miss, where is she now?”

The maid to whom he spoke looked with pity at this poor child who had suffered inhuman abuse.

‘It’s already quite remarkable that he managed to muster the courage to speak!’

“The Young Miss should be in the furrows in the back garden, I believe. Most noble young ladies prefer flowers and such, but the Young Miss has a unique affection for young crops. The gardener has even complained to us, saying he’s practically become a farmhand. Generally, though, the Young Miss doesn’t allow outsiders into the fields.”

Rhine nodded silently, then rustled away with small, quick steps.

“Ah, how adorable.”

The maids in the room watched the adorable, unruly cowlick on his head bobbing with each step, their opinions, for once, in rare unanimous agreement.

‘Damn it, this short stature is truly inconvenient. The great Mr. Green was far more handsome and dashing.’

However, Rhine’s grumbling, filled with resentment, was audible only to himself.